Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Director: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Action
Release Year: 2023

評論：《龍與地下城：盜賊榮耀》

導演：喬納森·高斯汀、約翰·法蘭西斯·達利
主演：克里斯·潘恩、蜜雪兒·羅德里格茲、雷吉-尚·佩吉、賈斯蒂斯·史密斯、索菲亞·莉莉斯、休·格蘭特
類型：奇幻/冒險/動作
上映年份：2023

Introduction

The world of Dungeons & Dragons is no stranger to adaptation attempts, but Honor Among Thieves finally strikes the perfect balance between a rich fantasy world, thrilling action, and laugh-out-loud humor. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, this film not only pays homage to the beloved tabletop role-playing game but also delivers an accessible, entertaining experience for newcomers. Blending heart, creativity, and spectacle, the movie sets a new standard for fantasy-adventure films in the modern era.

引言

龍與地下城：盜賊榮耀 是多次改編的 Dungeons & Dragons 世界中，終於成功達到完美平衡的一部作品。由喬納森·高斯汀和約翰·法蘭西斯·達利共同執導，這部電影既向經典的桌上角色扮演遊戲致敬，也為新觀眾提供了輕鬆易懂的娛樂體驗。憑藉豐富的情感、創意和視覺震撼，該片樹立了現代奇幻冒險電影的新標杆。

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a charming bard and former thief, who is on a quest to reunite with his daughter after being betrayed by a former ally. Alongside his tough-as-nails barbarian companion, Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), Edgin assembles a mismatched crew to recover a powerful artifact and confront Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a deceitful rogue turned ruler, who has taken Edgin's daughter under his manipulative wing.

Joining their journey is Simon (Justice Smith), an insecure sorcerer with untapped potential; Doric (Sophia Lillis), a resourceful druid who can shapeshift into various animals; and Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page), a stoic and morally upright paladin. Together, they must navigate a world filled with magical creatures, devious traps, and treacherous foes, all while facing personal challenges and forming unlikely bonds.

劇情概要

故事圍繞著埃金·達維斯（克里斯·潘恩 飾），一位風度翩翩的吟遊詩人兼前盜賊，他踏上了尋找女兒的旅程，此前他被一位昔日盟友背叛。與他一起的是他的忠實夥伴——剛毅且充滿戰鬥力的野蠻人霍爾加·基爾戈爾（蜜雪兒·羅德里格茲 飾）。埃金組建了一個形形色色的團隊，旨在尋回強大的神器，並面對已成為統治者的騙子弗吉·菲茲威廉（休·格蘭特 飾），他利用手段將埃金的女兒置於自己的掌控之下。

隊伍中還包括性格內向、潛力未被發掘的術士西蒙（賈斯蒂斯·史密斯 飾）、能夠變身為多種動物的德魯伊多里克（索菲亞·莉莉斯 飾），以及正義感十足的聖武士森克·延達（雷吉-尚·佩吉 飾）。他們共同穿越充滿魔法生物、狡猾陷阱和邪惡敵人的世界，同時面對個人挑戰，並在旅途中建立起不尋常的友情。

Strengths of the Film

Faithful Representation of the D&D World

Honor Among Thieves is a love letter to the Dungeons & Dragons universe. From iconic monsters like gelatinous cubes and mimic chests to spells and magical items lifted directly from the game, the film oozes with authenticity. The screenplay cleverly incorporates gameplay elements such as teamwork, improvisation, and even comical failures, making it feel like a tabletop session brought to life. Longtime fans will appreciate the attention to detail, while newcomers will find the world immersive and easy to follow.

Stellar Cast and Performances

Chris Pine shines as the charismatic and quick-witted Edgin, bringing both humor and vulnerability to the role. Michelle Rodriguez’s Holga adds a layer of brute strength and loyalty, with her dry humor complementing Edgin’s quips. Regé-Jean Page’s Xenk steals every scene he’s in, hilariously playing the archetypal paladin with unwavering seriousness that contrasts beautifully with the group's chaos. Hugh Grant’s Forge is a delightfully slimy villain, balancing menace and comedy with ease. Each actor brings their character to life, creating a dynamic ensemble that feels authentic and engaging.

A Perfect Blend of Action, Humor, and Heart

The film deftly balances thrilling action sequences with moments of humor and emotional depth. The heists are cleverly constructed, filled with traps, magical surprises, and inventive problem-solving that mirrors the unpredictability of a real D&D campaign. The humor is sharp and varied, from visual gags to witty banter, and never feels out of place. Beneath the spectacle, the movie explores themes of redemption, family, and self-discovery, giving it an emotional core that resonates.

Creative Visuals and World-Building

The visual effects and production design are top-notch, bringing the fantastical world of Dungeons & Dragons to life in vivid detail. From lush forests and towering castles to fiery dragon battles, the film is a visual feast. The action choreography is inventive, particularly Doric’s shapeshifting druid sequences, which showcase fluid transformations mid-battle. The film also includes an engaging maze sequence featuring iconic creatures like displacer beasts, highlighting its ability to surprise and delight audiences.

電影亮點

忠於《龍與地下城》世界的呈現

盜賊榮耀 是一封寫給 Dungeons & Dragons 世界的情書。從膠質立方體和模仿怪等標誌性怪物，到直接源自遊戲的法術和魔法物品，影片充滿了真實感。劇本巧妙地融入了團隊合作、即興創作以及搞笑失敗等遊戲元素，讓觀眾感覺彷彿親身參與了一場桌上遊戲冒險。資深粉絲會欣賞細節的用心，而新觀眾則會發現這個世界既迷人又易於理解。

出色的演員陣容與表演

克里斯·潘恩憑藉飾演風趣且機智的埃金大放異彩，為角色注入了幽默與脆弱感。蜜雪兒·羅德里格茲飾演的霍爾加以堅韌和忠誠為角色增色，她的冷幽默與埃金的妙語連珠形成了完美的互補。雷吉-尚·佩吉飾演的森克，每次出場都引人注目，他將聖武士的剛正不阿演繹得既嚴肅又令人捧腹。休·格蘭特的弗吉是一個令人討厭但又有趣的反派，將威脅與喜劇感拿捏得恰到好處。每位演員都賦予角色真實感，塑造了一個動態十足的團隊。

動作、幽默與情感的完美結合

影片在動作場面、幽默和情感深度之間找到了絕佳的平衡。劫掠場景設計巧妙，充滿陷阱、魔法驚喜和創意解決方案，展現出如真實 D&D 冒險般的不可預測性。幽默元素既鋒利又多樣化，從視覺笑點到機智對話，都不顯突兀。在視覺震撼之下，影片探討了救贖、家庭和自我發現的主題，賦予其能引發觀眾共鳴的情感核心。

創意十足的視覺效果與世界建構

視覺效果和場景設計堪稱一流，將《龍與地下城》的奇幻世界以細膩生動的方式呈現出來。從茂密的森林到高聳的城堡，再到壯烈的巨龍戰鬥，影片是一場視覺盛宴。動作設計充滿創意，特別是多里克變身為不同動物的畫面，展示了戰鬥中流暢的即時變化。此外，迷宮場景中經典怪物如幻影獸的出現，也令觀眾大為驚喜。

Weaknesses of the Film

Predictable Plot

While the story is enjoyable, it doesn’t break new ground in terms of narrative structure. The central plot—a ragtag team on a quest to stop a power-hungry villain—follows familiar beats seen in countless fantasy and heist films. However, the film’s execution and charm largely make up for this predictability.

Limited Exploration of Certain Characters

While the main cast is strong, some characters feel underdeveloped. Justice Smith’s Simon has a compelling arc of self-confidence but could have benefited from more depth. Similarly, Sophia Lillis’s Doric, while visually striking and resourceful in action, doesn’t have as much backstory or screen time to explore her motivations. These limitations don’t derail the film but leave certain elements feeling slightly underserved.

A Slightly Overstuffed Narrative

At times, the film feels like it’s juggling too many subplots and lore, which can make the pacing uneven. Some moments could have been streamlined to allow for more focus on character relationships or world-building.

電影的不足之處

劇情略顯老套

雖然故事十分有趣，但其敘事結構並未開創新局面。核心情節——一群性格迥異的隊伍聯手對抗貪婪反派的故事——遵循了眾多奇幻和劫掠電影的常見套路。不過，憑藉精彩的執行和角色魅力，這種可預見性影響並不大。

部分角色刻畫略顯不足

儘管主角群的表現出色，但部分角色的發展略顯薄弱。例如，賈斯蒂斯·史密斯飾演的西蒙有一條關於自信成長的有趣故事線，但可以有更多的挖掘。同樣，索菲亞·莉莉斯飾演的多里克，雖然在動作場面中很搶眼，但她的動機和背景故事未得到充分展現。這些限制並未嚴重影響影片，但讓某些角色感覺稍顯平面化。

敘事略顯繁雜

影片有時似乎試圖處理過多的支線情節和背景設定，導致節奏略顯不均衡。部分情節若能更簡化，或許能讓角色關係和世界建構有更多發揮空間。

Themes and Messages

At its heart, Honor Among Thieves is about the power of friendship, teamwork, and redemption. Each character begins the journey with flaws and insecurities but grows through their shared struggles and triumphs. The movie also celebrates the idea of embracing failure as part of the process—a theme that resonates deeply with the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons. This underlying message, combined with its humor and action, makes the film both entertaining and meaningful.

主題與訊息

影片的核心是關於友誼、團隊合作和救贖的力量。每位角色都以缺點和不安全感開始旅程，但在共同的努力和成功中成長起來。影片同時慶祝了失敗作為過程一部分的意義——這一主題深深契合 Dungeons & Dragons 的精神。這種底層訊息，結合幽默與動作，使影片既充滿娛樂性又富有意義。

Critical Reception

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and audiences. Many have praised its lighthearted tone, strong performances, and faithfulness to the source material. While some have noted its adherence to genre tropes, the film’s charm and creativity have earned it a place as one of the most successful adaptations of a tabletop game.

評論回響

龍與地下城：盜賊榮耀 收到了壓倒性正面的評論。許多觀眾和評論家讚揚其輕鬆幽默的基調、出色的演員表現以及對原作的忠誠。儘管部分人指出其沿襲了奇幻冒險的老套元素，但影片的魅力和創意成功地為其贏得了眾多好評，也讓它成為桌上遊戲改編中最成功的案例之一。

Conclusion

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a triumphant blend of action, humor, and fantasy that captures the spirit of the beloved game while standing on its own as a crowd-pleasing adventure. With its likable characters, stunning visuals, and engaging story, the film is a treat for fans and newcomers alike. It strikes the perfect balance of being fun, heartfelt, and exhilarating, proving that the Dungeons & Dragons franchise still has plenty of magic left to offer.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

結論

龍與地下城：盜賊榮耀 是一部成功結合動作、幽默和奇幻元素的電影，既捕捉了這款經典遊戲的精神，也作為一部令人愉悅的冒險影片獨立存在。憑藉討人喜歡的角色、震撼的視覺效果和引人入勝的故事，該片對粉絲和新觀眾來說都是一次愉快的體驗。它在輕鬆有趣、感人肺腑和令人興奮之間找到了完美的平衡，證明了 Dungeons & Dragons 系列依然擁有無窮魅力。

評分：★★★★☆（4/5）