The Gamers: Dorkness Rising Watch it, NOW! :)

[BTM]

Several months back I watched one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time: The Gamers: Dorkness Rising.  It's a semi-sequel to the movie The Gamers, made by a low budget film company called Dead Gentlemen.  

Admittedly, when I saw the previews, my expectations weren't too high, looked a bit too much like chessy, shot on video crapfest from some kind of Renaissance Fair, but I popped it in anyway.

Boy, was I wrong!

The film is freaking HILARIOUS!.  Yes, it looks rather low budget, but that actually works with the overall tone and cheesiness the film is going for.  

Plot: Basically, the film bounces back and forth between a group of gamers playing D&D and the characters they play in the fantasy world.   The movie begins with three of the gamers (in character) being defeated by an evil magician, a product of a mod DM Lodge has created.  Unwilling to accept defeat, Cass (the "Rule Lawyer" of the group) demands another rematch, this time he wants more players.  

In order to expand the group, they bring in Cass's ex-girlfriend Joanna (there's a funny scene where she enters the game store for the first time, and about half a dozen guys in the background perk up and take notice) and Lodge creates a paladin character to help the team up ("Cop!").  The rest of the gang includes Gary, who plays a female wild mage (who is alternately played by the actor in drag or an actual female).  He's the guy that's less concerned about the actual game than he is keeping himself entertained, and prone to do just about anything when he gets bored (like fry an innocent peasant just to speed up the pace of the story.)  Finally, there's Leo, who decides to play a Bard this time around (he's the type of player who tends to end up as "arrow bait".)

Basically, the film is a love letter to gaming written by and starring gamers.  If you've EVER played a table top RPG game before, you'd definitely enjoy this film.  In addition to fantasy action, we take some breaks in the film to get a peak at the characters and their lives outside the game world (we get to see, for instance where Cass got the inspiration for his character), and there's a minor subplot about Lodge and his writer's block, but most of the action takes place around a table or two.  As neat a bonus, fans of table top gaming may recognize various cameo appearances by popular people in the industry, including one of Monte Cook, the primary writer for the third edition of D&D.

There's a lot of funny "gaming" moments in this film I'm sure people can relate to.  In one scene Cass and Gary's characters are being controlled by a demon wizard, when Cass protests that he didn't even get a saving throw.

Lodge: What's your spell resistance?
Cass: Nine.
Lodge: Well, his is 31, so you would have to roll a 22 to beat him.  Now, I'm not a math genius, but I don't think that's possible with a twenty-sided die.
Cass: A nat 20 beats anything, regardless.
Lodge: Yeah, but you only have a five percent chance of rolling that.
Cass: Can I at least try?  I mean, I do at least get a roll, don't I?
Lodge: Fine.  Go ahead and roll.
(Cass blows on his dice...and rolls a one.)

Anyway, like I said, great movie.  If you have Netflix, you can put in your queue, and I highly recommend you do so.  :)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Gamers_Dorkness_Rising/70104325?lnkce=seRtLn&trkid=222336&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=907425302_0_0

Now for some funny quotes from the movie!

Gary: [voice-over] What is that?
Lodge: [voice-over] The Heart of Therin. Legend has it the gem is composed of solid light.
Gary: [voice-over] Can I steal it?
Lodge: [voice-over] Well, considering it is one of the holiest symbols of the church and that the cathedral is swarming with paladins, that would most likely be suicide. Go right ahead.


Gary: I'm a wild mage. WILD! But you losers can call me "sorceress". That's right. I'm playing a chick.
Leo: Dude, you hot?
Gary: Seventeen charisma.
Leo: Wanna have sex?
Gary: Totally.
Leo: Great! I seduce him, uh her.
[Leo rolls his die]
Leo: Yes! I can totally seduce any homophobe with that roll!
Lodge: We *haven't* started yet. You guys *haven't* met!

[Paquita]

Oh yay!  My husband plays RPGs with his friends but I'm not allowed since girls have been deemed a distraction .

Ooh and Netflix has the first one as an instant play! < OK maybe that's not the first one - Is the first one available on Netflix?  I don't think you mentioned that Kelly Labrock was in it.

[BTM]

Ooh and Netflix has the first one as an instant play! < OK maybe that's not the first one - Is the first one available on Netflix?  I don't think you mentioned that Kelly Labrock was in it.

Actually, that one is a different film entirely, although it does seem to have the same theme.  Dunno if it's any good or not.  The first "The Gamers" film is, as far as I know, only available on their website (but I think someone uploaded it to youtube as well.)

[Javakoala]

Oh yay!  My husband plays RPGs with his friends but I'm not allowed since girls have been deemed a distraction .

Ooh and Netflix has the first one as an instant play! < OK maybe that's not the first one - Is the first one available on Netflix?  I don't think you mentioned that Kelly Labrock was in it.

Paquita, I can agree with your husband. You would definitely be a distraction. A very nice one, but still, you can't have your party answering the DM with "Huh?" every time something gets said.