Plot: What’s it about?
Damodar (Bruce Payne) made a crucial mistake when carrying out his master’s orders, an error which cost him his life. At least, in a sense. He is now a member of the living dead, but even death hasn’t dampened his drive for vengeance. A hundred years have passed, but Damodar still seeks to exact his revenge, even if it has to be on the ancestors of those who vanquished him. He has searched the world to find an artifact of power, such power that he could destroy his enemies. He wants to locate an orb that has the power to awaken a powerful dragon, which if he succeeds, means widespread destruction. When word of his quest reaches the Empire of Izmer, the land he wants to conquer, a group is dispatched to thwart his plans. But can this group manage to defeat Damodar yet again, or will he have his revenge?
As dull and pathetic as rolling dice to act out fantasy battles sounds, it has to be more fun than watching a movie based on that prospect. No one rolls dice in Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God unless you count the producers, who gambled their funds on a total bust. The original Dungeons & Dragons movie was bad, but laughable at the same time. This sequel is just plain and even by The Sci/Fi Channel standard for low rent cinema, this one is a bomb. The special effects look like low budget visuals from a Sega Dreamcast game and no, that is not an exaggeration. I like bad movies, frequent readers know that. But Wrath of the Dragon God is so bad, even the nerds it was made to entertain will be bored to tears. So if you want Dungeons & Dragons, stick to the basement and roll the dice there.
Video: How does it look?
Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I had heard this film was shot in high definition, but if it was, it doesn’t show. This is a lackluster presentation, especially for a movie made less than a year back. You will see debris and grain, which is inexcusable for such a new release, not to mention digital artifacts on a frequent basis. I don’t know how in the world this transfer made it through the quality control, but it should have been redone.
Audio: How does it sound?
I wasn’t as disappointed with the audio, but the included Dolby Digital 5.1 option doesn’t offer much beyond the basics. The surrounds are used from time to time, but not with much power or depth, just kind of basic, generic surround presence. So scenes that should seem epic and grand, come off as staged, which doesn’t help an already lame experience. I heard very little kick from the bass, which is a shame, as there were plenty of chances to showcase the subwoofer. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release will probably be best known for having the most dull, worthless audio commentary track ever, one even dedicated fans are likely to fall asleep in. I’ve heard some bad ones, but man, this is like double strength sleeping pills. This disc also includes two brief featurettes, but these are mere promotional tools, so not even really worth a look.
