I liked it ... it was decent ... but it could have been better (can anybody scream the release of Lord of the Rings, yet?). The effects were surprisingly good, but it just seemed to me that the editing, storyline and performances just didn't know whether to be a big budget blockbuster, or cheap B movie. I wanted to dislike the decision to use Justin Whalin as lead character, Ridley Freeborn the thief (he played the teen Andy in Child's Play 3) ... but on more than one occasion he would surprise me with an above-average deliverance of lines in a scene. Would I have preferred the use of Warrior or Ranger for the lead? Hell, yes, but that's cause I just never liked thieves, of any kind.

Speaking of performances, you'll get some good ones due to a very good cast: Marlon Wayans (he's a Wayans, nuff said) plays comic relief and co-thief Snails, Zoe McLellan plays apprentice Mage Mirina, Lee Arenberg plays the loud Dwarf Elwood Gutworthy and rounding out the quest seekers - Kristen Wilson as Elf Norda.

Oh yeah, and lest I forget the bad guys: Jeremy Irons as the evil Mage Profion and his evil task master Damodar (played by Bruce Payne). You see, Profion has convinced the Council of Mages that young Empress Savina (Thora Birch) is not wise enough to rule the lands of Izmer. Savina wants peace in her kingdom, and desires commoners (everybody else who are not Mages) to have an equal say in the world, as do the rich and powerful magic users. Well, they just won't allow that to happen, so they ask the Empress to give up her seat of power, more to the point - a scepter that controls the Golden Dragons.

Here enters our unlikely heros, a pair of ambitious thieves Ridley and Snails. They stumble into this political controversy, and find themselves forced into finding a red scepter (as well as a few other items) - you guessed it - which controls more powerful Red Dragons. Well, the naughty Mage Profion can't have that, so he deligates Damodar to find it FIRST.

The film continues in honest fantasy fashion from there with lots of twists and turns, and of course - dungeons and dragons. A decent flick, and worth watching ... and I must say, a pretty cool ending.

I can see how it might not thrill D&D fanatics, but I didn't find it wimpy (you want wimpy, watch an early performance of Tom Hanks in Mazes and Monsters - friggin' tragic). In fact, my wife commented that she might still be playing the infamous game, if only it had the depth and entertainment some of the adventures this movie showed. Yeah, the movie could have been, should have been better ... but overall it's fun and dammit ... we NEED more Dragons in the media ... a truly overlooked minority in film.