Gamernode: Columns - DVD Review: Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

DVD Review: Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action and violence
Release Date: January 15, 2008
Run Time: 90 minutes
IMDB Link

If you grew up reading fantasy novels, chances are you're familiar with Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis' Dragonlance series. The books are a staple in fantasy fiction, and contain some of the genres most beloved and renowned characters. The story revolves around the land of Krynn, which was abandoned by the light gods more than 300 years ago. Unfortunately for its friendly inhabitants, the dark gods have made a comeback. Cue the group of random heroes who traverse the land and fight all sorts of monsters in order to save the world.

When I heard that we were being treated to an animated Dragonlance feature, I was very, very excited; finally, I thought, Dragonlance would get a chance to shine in the mainstream. With a cast including Keifer Sutherland, Phil LaMarr, Lucy Lawless, Michelle Trachtenberg and others, it was sure to be a hit! How naïve I was.

Despite having an excellent source material, Dragonlance: Dragons of the Autumn Twilight falls short in just about every department you can imagine. Even the very beginning of the feature will leave you shaking your head, as you bear witness to what looks like Beast Wars animation in the Dragonlance logo. (Which, by the way, goes on way too long for what it is.)

The animation woes aren't specific to the title screen, either. In what was a very stupid move, the film contains both 3D and 2D animation. The problem? Like I said, the 3D animation looks like early 90s CG, and the 2D animation belongs in an 80's Saturday morning cartoon, not a feature film in 2008.

If you're a Dragonlance fan, I bet right now you're reading this with a single tear running down your cheek, asking "Surely the content can make up for those shortcomings!" I'm sorry to say they don't.

What begins as issues with the presentation and techincal aspects of the movie ends with issues in every other area. For starters, this is a PG-13 movie for violence, yet there's very little violence, and what we do see is extremely poorly done. Since it's all hand-drawn (which, I admit, was a nice attempt at being unique), moments with a lot of action actually stutter and lag visually for a bit. Imagine loading into an area in World of Warcraft with a lot of people just hanging out, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Now, when I talk about the lack of violence, I'm not complaining because the movie isn't violent enough. Rather, the movie TRIES to be violent but just decides halfway through, "You know what? Screw it. We're a cartoon!" I'm talking full blown dwarven axe to the chest as an instant kill - yet not a single drop of blood. Or a person dramatically cutting away at a fallen opponent who's offscreen, yet when we pan out they're completely intact, and look like they're napping due to the jarred storyline instead of being slaughtered by an angry half-elf. That all changes when 3D baddies are involved, though. Stick them with something sharp, and they'll bleed a little until the wound vanishes in the next screen and their armor isn't even damaged.

When it comes right down to it, Dragonlance: Dragons of the Autumn Twilight relied too much on the original material. If you aren't familiar with the book, you aren't going to know what the hell is going on. Even Hickman has said in the past that the first book should be split into two movies; guess the makers of this one didn't listen.

If only the producers spent less budget on Hollywood voice talent which was largely miscast, and put more money towards the actual animation and editing, then maybe we'd have a serviceable film for Dragonlance fans, much like DC and Marvel's animated DVD features do their thing for comic fans. As it is, this is an affront to anyone who has ever loved the books, and I sure hope someone else gets a shot at the next Dragonlance film.

CONTENT - 1/5
Oh God, where to start. There's far too much material to cram into this short of a time slot, and what is crammed in doesn't flow well at all. People unfamiliar with the books will have no idea what the hell is going on, and people who loved the books will be pissed that the only character with any sort of build-up is Tanis.

VIDEO - 2/5
From a technical standpoint, I suppose there's nothing wrong with the output. From a stylistic one, though, it's a mess. Crappy 3D with dated 2D? Yeah, it would work assuming the 3D monsters weren't fighting the 2D heroes in half the scenes.

AUDIO - 3.5/5
There's 5.1 and 2 channel sound available, so if you have a system you can get something out of it. At times the music seems a little too loud, and turning it up to hear the talking will annoy your neighbors. Despite the list of big names, no one really stands out. (Except Phil LaMarr, but that's just because he uses the EXACT same voice as he did for Green Lantern. Close your eyes, and you'll hear John, not Riverwind.)

EXTRAS - 0.5/5
The two extras on the disc are basically Powerpoint presentations of preliminary artwork. Sadly, the line-art preview looks better than the final product.

REPLAY - 1/5
Unless you're the type who loves to get drunk with friends and laugh at old 80's cartoons, once you finish this you'll likely put it away for good.

OVERALL SCORE - 1/5

If you're a huge fan of the Dragonlance series and pick this up, be forewarned that you will eventually regret it. Sure, at first it seems okay, then at the end it seems like it picks up, but when it's all said and done, this straight-to-DVD animated feature falls short in every area. I sure hope Weis and Hickman didn't have to clear this before it went to print...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
•