Books being turned into movies seems to be a popular thing among hollywood these days. Some are good others are bad, but mostly bad. Mostly because fans of the books complain that the film strays too far from the books or remains too true to it that it feels forced. I rarely watch these kinda of movies although I did love Lord of the Rings and Interview with the Vampire. But mostly they are just cash ins with no real thought into them. Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is not one of them but it came close.
I started reading Dragonlance in my first semester of college (started with Dragonlance Legends) and found it to my liking. I found the characters interesting and while the story was meh, it still kept me engaged.
Dragonlance was introduced as a setting for the table top, RPG Advance Dungeons & Dragons and to date there are over 150+ books and novels in the franchise. This movie focuses on the more popular band of heroes called the Heroes of the Lance which began with Dragonlance Chronicals (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning) . This is (to my knowledge) the first time any of the Dragonlance novels have been put to film so it was nice to see this series get reconised today as it was twenty- six years ago.
When I heard it was going to be animated, I was excited. I don't care how the movie was done, just as long as it was done right. I visited the website annnnd...wow. They weren't serious were they? The backgrounds look beautiful but as the character animation? Oh boy. Might as well have been a student film. The project was being handled by a studio in India known as Toonz Entertainment which I found to be an interesting choice. I have never heard of them before this film so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did look them up but found little so I was a little concerned. Originally, the film was supposed to have been released in theaters but was dropped, probably due to no funds. Well let's dive into this shall we?
So our film starts off with a narraitor telling us how the world of Krynn is in bad shape due to the Gods abandoning their people more then 300 years ago. The evil goddess, Queen Takhisis wants to take over the world (Of Course!*) and to do so she leads an army of Dragons, and other nasties.
Cut to the Inn of the Last Home, where a woman named Tika Wayln (one of the Heroes) is cleaning up the room where she talks to an old "storyteller" wizard by the name of Fizban (who we will find out later who he is).
Cut to where our film ACTUALLY begins at, with Tanis Half Elf walking through the forest on his way back to the Inn and to Soloace (the town where many of the Heroes of the Lance come from). Upon his walk back, he stumbles upon an old friend of his, Flint Fireforge a grumpy old dwarf who keeps denying that he is old. Flint asks Tanis if he found the answer he went to search for which was to find out about the Gods and where they have gone. Not long after (this movie does skip a lot...it's only 90 minutes), the two are ambushed by a bunch of goblins who are looking for a certian item of great power, a Staff to be exact. Of course our Heroes win the fight and they are joined by Tasselhoff or Tas for short, another old friend.
They soon reach the Inn where they meet up with their other old friends (read Soulforge for more info on them). Our Group contains so far:
Strum Brightblade: A squire to the Knights of Solamnia.
Caramon Majere: A Warrior and twin brother to Raistlin
Raistlin Majere (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland): A mage whoes health is in bad shape and twin brother to Caramon
Tanis Half Elven: A half elf who is seen as the leader of the Campanions.
Tasslehoff Burrfoot: A Kender who isn't so innocent all the time (he's the group's rogue so to say).
Flint Fireforge: A gruff Dwarf and old friend of Tanis's.
We find that 5 years ago, our heroes made a promise to meet back at the Inn. Kitiara (Caramon and Raistlin's Half Sister) is not among them but instead sends a letter to them, without explination as to why she isn't there. We also find out that Solas has been taken over by a religious sect called Seekers, and they are searching for an artifact called the Blue Crystal Staff. Switch to a argument between the Mayor of Solace and two newcomers to the area, Goldmoon and her companion Riverwind. Goldmoon (voiced by Lucy Lawless) has in her possession a mysterous staff with unique healing abilies as she demonstrated when she healed the Mayor who fell into some very unconvincing CG fire.
*Note here! The authors of the book, Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman make a cameo in this scene. They are in the background*
Goldmoon is delcared a witch and pretty soon we have ourselves a little fight, that and our goblin friends are back. Our Heroes decide it is time too leave. They fight off the goblins and head off on their journey which will make them the Heroes of the Lance in later novels. As they stop to rest they are joined up again with Goldmoon and Riverwind who are Plains people. Goldmoon (a princess of her tribe) decibes how she got the strange staff (which is the blue crystal staff) when Riverwind (her love intrest) found it. After a brief introduction (and warning glances between Tanis and Riverwind) Goldmoon and Riverwind join the campanions.
The next day, they set out again only to be attacked by Draconians (part of the Highlord's army. The bad guy) and the group is forced into the woods where they are attacked by the undead. After Raistlin performs a spell that allows the undead to talk through him, the group is transported to another location (in the book centaurs rescued them) where they rest and meet Pegisi (flying horses) the campanions are told to go to Xak Tsaroth to retrieve the Disks of Mishakal which contain writings about the True Gods. The flying horses take the heroes as far as they dared, upon landing Goldmoon notices smoke coming from where their village was. They are met with descrution and murder of their tribe. At least that's what I gather. They enter the fortress of Xak Tsaroth or as close as they are going to get with the Dragon Highlord's army marching around. What follows is probably my favourite part of the novel, Raistlin performs a spell of friendship on a gully dwarf (one of the inhabitants of the ruins) named Bupu (who Raistlin ends up befriending as the series goes on) She leads them to the Black Dragon who guards the disks.
Long story short Goldmoon uses the Blue Crystal Staff's Holy powers to destroy the dragon but not without being hit in the process. She is presumed dead. Angry, Tanis yells at the Heavens, cursing the Gods that they required a human sacrafice. However, in the light there stands Goldmoon, all healed and well. She is now a true cleric of Mishakal.
The Heroes return to Solace where they find that dragons have attacked and burned it. Raistlin perfoms a...well seeming usless spell complete with odd animation. By the way..all the dragons in this movie are 3D animated. Which doesn't work well with the film's low budget 2D animation. They meet Gilthanus, an elf who was also captured and who is also Tanis's cousin. It's not long before our Heroes escape and take refuge at the Elven City.
Too speed this up, our heroes are asked to lead an attack against Pax Tharkus to save slaves that were captured from Solace and the elven city from the Highlord's control. Only reason to watch this scene? To see Flint dress up like a woman to get past guards.
And we reach the climax of our film, the battle! Which reminds me a lot like Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings but anyway! The Highlord, Verminarrd (who I think is a cleric of Tahkisis.) He curses the Heroes with horrifying images through use of Tahkisis's power. As it looks like doom for our Heroes Fizban (remember the old guy who randomly pops up?) is seen in front of Takhisis and then reviels his true form as Paladine the God of Light. Of course Takhisis calls Bullshit! and transforms into her 5 headed dragon form and the two fight. The Heroes are released from their torment and defeat Verminarrd.
Cut to a flowery meadow, where the Heroes witness the marriage of Goldmoon and Riverwind. Tanis takes some time to talk with Raistlin who mentions the Dragon Lances and how they need them. The movie ends with a shot of blue dragons flying and a mysterious woman who we learn is Kitiara (GASP). And that's the end
The Animation is pretty poorwith stock images used sometimes and there is a crap load of up close shots. The animation is choppy in some areas or not consistant and the characters look like they come out of a 90's toy commercial. It's still worth checking out though. It follows the book closely sometimes using direct quotes from it. Sadly it's only 90 minutes long and it feels rushed.
The music is beautiful and so are the backgrounds. The voice acting is okay and even Kiefer Sutherland does a good job at Raistlin.
And I am tired.
*OF COURSE joke from That Guy With The Glasses.com
I started reading Dragonlance in my first semester of college (started with Dragonlance Legends) and found it to my liking. I found the characters interesting and while the story was meh, it still kept me engaged.
Dragonlance was introduced as a setting for the table top, RPG Advance Dungeons & Dragons and to date there are over 150+ books and novels in the franchise. This movie focuses on the more popular band of heroes called the Heroes of the Lance which began with Dragonlance Chronicals (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning) . This is (to my knowledge) the first time any of the Dragonlance novels have been put to film so it was nice to see this series get reconised today as it was twenty- six years ago.
When I heard it was going to be animated, I was excited. I don't care how the movie was done, just as long as it was done right. I visited the website annnnd...wow. They weren't serious were they? The backgrounds look beautiful but as the character animation? Oh boy. Might as well have been a student film. The project was being handled by a studio in India known as Toonz Entertainment which I found to be an interesting choice. I have never heard of them before this film so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did look them up but found little so I was a little concerned. Originally, the film was supposed to have been released in theaters but was dropped, probably due to no funds. Well let's dive into this shall we?
So our film starts off with a narraitor telling us how the world of Krynn is in bad shape due to the Gods abandoning their people more then 300 years ago. The evil goddess, Queen Takhisis wants to take over the world (Of Course!*) and to do so she leads an army of Dragons, and other nasties.
Cut to the Inn of the Last Home, where a woman named Tika Wayln (one of the Heroes) is cleaning up the room where she talks to an old "storyteller" wizard by the name of Fizban (who we will find out later who he is).
Cut to where our film ACTUALLY begins at, with Tanis Half Elf walking through the forest on his way back to the Inn and to Soloace (the town where many of the Heroes of the Lance come from). Upon his walk back, he stumbles upon an old friend of his, Flint Fireforge a grumpy old dwarf who keeps denying that he is old. Flint asks Tanis if he found the answer he went to search for which was to find out about the Gods and where they have gone. Not long after (this movie does skip a lot...it's only 90 minutes), the two are ambushed by a bunch of goblins who are looking for a certian item of great power, a Staff to be exact. Of course our Heroes win the fight and they are joined by Tasselhoff or Tas for short, another old friend.
They soon reach the Inn where they meet up with their other old friends (read Soulforge for more info on them). Our Group contains so far:
Strum Brightblade: A squire to the Knights of Solamnia.
Caramon Majere: A Warrior and twin brother to Raistlin
Raistlin Majere (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland): A mage whoes health is in bad shape and twin brother to Caramon
Tanis Half Elven: A half elf who is seen as the leader of the Campanions.
Tasslehoff Burrfoot: A Kender who isn't so innocent all the time (he's the group's rogue so to say).
Flint Fireforge: A gruff Dwarf and old friend of Tanis's.
We find that 5 years ago, our heroes made a promise to meet back at the Inn. Kitiara (Caramon and Raistlin's Half Sister) is not among them but instead sends a letter to them, without explination as to why she isn't there. We also find out that Solas has been taken over by a religious sect called Seekers, and they are searching for an artifact called the Blue Crystal Staff. Switch to a argument between the Mayor of Solace and two newcomers to the area, Goldmoon and her companion Riverwind. Goldmoon (voiced by Lucy Lawless) has in her possession a mysterous staff with unique healing abilies as she demonstrated when she healed the Mayor who fell into some very unconvincing CG fire.
*Note here! The authors of the book, Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman make a cameo in this scene. They are in the background*
Goldmoon is delcared a witch and pretty soon we have ourselves a little fight, that and our goblin friends are back. Our Heroes decide it is time too leave. They fight off the goblins and head off on their journey which will make them the Heroes of the Lance in later novels. As they stop to rest they are joined up again with Goldmoon and Riverwind who are Plains people. Goldmoon (a princess of her tribe) decibes how she got the strange staff (which is the blue crystal staff) when Riverwind (her love intrest) found it. After a brief introduction (and warning glances between Tanis and Riverwind) Goldmoon and Riverwind join the campanions.
The next day, they set out again only to be attacked by Draconians (part of the Highlord's army. The bad guy) and the group is forced into the woods where they are attacked by the undead. After Raistlin performs a spell that allows the undead to talk through him, the group is transported to another location (in the book centaurs rescued them) where they rest and meet Pegisi (flying horses) the campanions are told to go to Xak Tsaroth to retrieve the Disks of Mishakal which contain writings about the True Gods. The flying horses take the heroes as far as they dared, upon landing Goldmoon notices smoke coming from where their village was. They are met with descrution and murder of their tribe. At least that's what I gather. They enter the fortress of Xak Tsaroth or as close as they are going to get with the Dragon Highlord's army marching around. What follows is probably my favourite part of the novel, Raistlin performs a spell of friendship on a gully dwarf (one of the inhabitants of the ruins) named Bupu (who Raistlin ends up befriending as the series goes on) She leads them to the Black Dragon who guards the disks.
Long story short Goldmoon uses the Blue Crystal Staff's Holy powers to destroy the dragon but not without being hit in the process. She is presumed dead. Angry, Tanis yells at the Heavens, cursing the Gods that they required a human sacrafice. However, in the light there stands Goldmoon, all healed and well. She is now a true cleric of Mishakal.
The Heroes return to Solace where they find that dragons have attacked and burned it. Raistlin perfoms a...well seeming usless spell complete with odd animation. By the way..all the dragons in this movie are 3D animated. Which doesn't work well with the film's low budget 2D animation. They meet Gilthanus, an elf who was also captured and who is also Tanis's cousin. It's not long before our Heroes escape and take refuge at the Elven City.
Too speed this up, our heroes are asked to lead an attack against Pax Tharkus to save slaves that were captured from Solace and the elven city from the Highlord's control. Only reason to watch this scene? To see Flint dress up like a woman to get past guards.
And we reach the climax of our film, the battle! Which reminds me a lot like Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings but anyway! The Highlord, Verminarrd (who I think is a cleric of Tahkisis.) He curses the Heroes with horrifying images through use of Tahkisis's power. As it looks like doom for our Heroes Fizban (remember the old guy who randomly pops up?) is seen in front of Takhisis and then reviels his true form as Paladine the God of Light. Of course Takhisis calls Bullshit! and transforms into her 5 headed dragon form and the two fight. The Heroes are released from their torment and defeat Verminarrd.
Cut to a flowery meadow, where the Heroes witness the marriage of Goldmoon and Riverwind. Tanis takes some time to talk with Raistlin who mentions the Dragon Lances and how they need them. The movie ends with a shot of blue dragons flying and a mysterious woman who we learn is Kitiara (GASP). And that's the end
The Animation is pretty poorwith stock images used sometimes and there is a crap load of up close shots. The animation is choppy in some areas or not consistant and the characters look like they come out of a 90's toy commercial. It's still worth checking out though. It follows the book closely sometimes using direct quotes from it. Sadly it's only 90 minutes long and it feels rushed.
The music is beautiful and so are the backgrounds. The voice acting is okay and even Kiefer Sutherland does a good job at Raistlin.
And I am tired.
*OF COURSE joke from That Guy With The Glasses.com
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