History YMMV / DungeonsAndDragons2000

* SpecialEffectFailure: The CGI at best looks like a high end UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 cutscene, this is particularly obvious on the dragons, who often look low-rez and move robotically. Similar to Solomon, the film's VFX supervisor, Grant Boucher, was also a fan of the game, and even consulted on the appearances of the dragons.

* NarmCharm: You cannot deny that whilst the Movie narmy as hell. There is a lot of heart and effort put into it.

* HamAndCheese: Jeremy Irons revels in ChewingTheScenery here. As such, some people who have seen the film consider him the only good part of it.

* OnlyHereForGodzilla: Many viewers tune in only to appreciate Jeremy Irons' hilariously over-the-top acting (with some love thrown towards Bruce Payne's ColdHam performance).

** In a movie filled with much scenery-chewing, Creator/ThoraBirch stands out as the worst performance by putting in as little effort as humanly possible. Of particular note is the scene where Empress Savina verbally spares with Profion. Creator/JeremyIrons hamming it up like there's no tomorrow contrasting with Birch showing not an ounce of emotion is a sight to behold.

* TearJerker: Whatever your opinion on Snails was, Ridley's anguished BigNo at his death and subsequent HeroicBSOD at the Elf village was still sobering, especially when he reveals he blames himself for getting them involved, and when Marina tries to console him and [[InnocentlyInsensitive ends up making him feel even worse.]]
-->'''Marina:''' I'm sorry about Snails.\\
'''Ridley:''' I'm sure you are.\\
'''Marina:''' He died for a good cause.\\
'''Ridley:''' ''[[TranquilFury A good cause?]]'' What cause is that? The Empress against Profion? ''Politics.'' I'm through with all that. I'm not going to die over some power struggle...between a couple of greedy Mages.\\
'''Marina:''' No, you're wrong-\\
'''Ridley:''' No, ''you're'' wrong! '''''Mage!''''' You never had to live on the other side. You know what? Snails was right. [[DespairEventHorizon There is nothing we can do to change it]] ... [[ItsAllMyFault and if I had listened to him, he would still be alive.]]
** Again at the end, when Ridley is giving last rites to his friend. He tries to brag about how he finally got the recognition he wanted ... and nearly breaks down in tears.
--->'''Ridley:''' Well, I'd ... I'd better get going. Don't want to be late for my own knighting ceremony. '[[IronicEcho Ridley the Savior]]', heheh ... heh ... heh ... ''I'm gonna miss you, pal.''
** A DeletedScene has Ridley explaining his dislike of mages: His father, a commoner, had come up with the design for a flying carriage. Unable to take someone with no training doing that, the mages ''erased his mind''.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: Tried with the film's {{Novelization}}, which changed several aspects for the better. Snails becomes here the OnlySaneMan (the polar opposite of his role in the movie), the Dwarf's name is actually used, and the film's good deleted scenes are reinserted.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The costume design is cheap and shoddy all around, but bonus points go to Damodar's entire look. ''Bright blue lipstick'' in a fantasy setting would be tacky even on a female character, putting it on the villain's [[TheDragon burly main henchman]] is a whole separate level of laughable.

** As WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic puts it, "Profion" sounds like a name for a heartburn medication.

* CriticalBacklash: While the film hasn't received the widespread vindication of being actually considered "good", a growing consensus among audiences -- especially following the game's NewbieBoom of the mid-late 2010's, way after the film came out -- is that it's actually quite faithful to the game in a very accidental way, that being it displays a typical ''D&D'' session by amateurs with loads of plot holes, cheesy acting, and a tenuously-coherent story. Once you imagine the movie taking place in the heads of a bunch of schoolkids playing ''D&D'', the DM playing Profion and hamming it up and [[RuleOfFun everyone just goofing around and having fun]], it becomes easier to swallow in a SoBadItsGood way.

* VindicatedByHistory: Well...''kind of''. A growing trend among watchers is to take the movie as the visualization of a session of the tabletop game, the argument being that 'your standard D&D game contains tons of plot holes, cheesy acting and a tenuously-coherent story'. Once you imagine the movie taking place in the heads of a bunch of schoolkids playing D&D, the DM playing Profion and hamming it up and [[RuleOfFun everyone just goofing around and having fun,]] it becomes easier to swallow.

* VindicatedByHistory: Well...''kind of''. A growing trend among watchers is to take the movie as the visualization of a session of the tabletop game, the argument being that 'your standard D&D game contains tons of plot holes, cheesy acting and a tenuously-coherent story'. Once you imagine the movie taking place in the heads of a bunch of schoolkids playing D&D, the DM playing Profion and hamming it up and [[RuleOfFun everyone just goofing around and having fun,]] it becomes easier to swallow.

* FashionVictimVillain: Damodar's blue lipstick, although it may have been due to a drug problem (the [[FantasticDrug in-setting drug]] Sannish — think morphine if it came from dogs instead of poppies — dyes the users lips blue). Either way, you see it and think,[[Series/{{Friends}} "Ichiban Lipstick for Men!"]]

** Damodar [[MindRape mind-raping]] Marina with the mind worm... thing, coming out of his ears.

* NightmareFuel: Profion is normally such an over-the-top ham that it's pretty much impossible to take him seriously, but when Damodar reports back to him after losing the scroll to Marina, he lapses into [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness icy, soft-spoken]], [[FauxAffablyEvil affable,]] ''[[TranquilFury terrifying]]'' anger. He curses Damodar with a parasite that will slowly kill him from the inside out, watches impassively as Damodar writhes in agony, and warns him that he will not tolerate another failure.
-->'''Damodar:''' It was ... a mistake. It will not happen again.
-->'''Profion:''' Now there you are right. ''And here's why...''

* TheScrappy: Snails is quite hated. It's rather telling that everyone else in the film gets more laughs than [[PluckyComicRelief the intended comic relief]], even if those laughs are unintentional. His stereotypical and obnoxious nature feels horribly out of place and even more annoying, with Marlon Wayans' performance doing little to alleviate this. While some people felt [[spoiler: his final scene]] redeems him a bit, or at least makes him pitiable, others celebrated him [[spoiler: exiting the film]].

* TakeThatScrappy: Snails getting brutally beaten [[spoiler:to death by Damodar]] scored the latter points by those who hated Snails. However, note AlasPoorScrappy. [[spoiler: Snails']] agonized screams as Damodar [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown practically tortures him to an inch of his life]] are ''way'' too real...

-->'''Marina:''' I'm sorry about Snails.
-->'''Ridley:''' I'm sure you are.
-->'''Marina:''' He died for a good cause.
-->'''Ridley:''' ''[[TranquilFury A good cause?]]'' What cause is that? The Empress against Profion? ''Politics.'' I'm through with all that. I'm not going to die over some power struggle...between a couple of greedy Mages.
-->'''Marina:''' No, you're wrong-
-->'''Ridley:''' No, ''you're'' wrong! '''''Mage!''''' You never had to live on the other side. You know what? Snails was right. [[DespairEventHorizon There is nothing we can do to change it]] ... [[ItsAllMyFault and if I had listened to him, he would still be alive.]]

-->'''Ridley:''' Well, I'd ... I'd better get going. Don't want to be late for my own knighting ceremony. '[[IronicEcho Ridley the Savior]]', heheh ... heh ... heh ... ''I'm gonna miss you, pal.''

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: After spending the whole film as an annoying comic relief sidekick, Creator/MarlonWayans actually turns in an effective dramatic turn in Snails' last moments, really selling how brutal his end is while making a previously obnoxious character seem genuinely valiant.

* TookTheBadFilmSeriously:
** Creator/ThoraBirch, unlike Creator/JeremyIrons, who just had fun going over-the-top with his role.
** Also Creator/TomBaker. Though he is immune to this trope, [[AdamWesting in the same way]] Creator/WilliamShatner is.

*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuTUgkhfXmU "Do not let them escape"]] scene is a good example. It looks like he's about to laugh and it's not helped by the fact [[WhatAnIdiot that he's really slowly telling them to hurry]].

* TheScrappy: Snails is quite hated. It's rather telling that everyone else in the film gets more laughs than [[PluckyComicRelief the intended comic relief]], even if those laughs are unintentional. His stereotypical and obnoxious nature feels horribly out of place and even more annoying, with Marlon Wayans' performance doing little to alleviate this. While some people felt [[spoiler: his final scene]] [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap redeems him a bit]], [[AlasPoorScrappy or at least makes him pitiable]], [[TakeThatScrappy others celebrated him]] [[spoiler: exiting the film]].

** Creator/ThoraBirch, unlike Creator/JeremyIrons, who just [[HamAndCheese had fun going over-the-top with his role]].

* VindicatedByHistory: Well ... ''kind of''. A growing trend among watchers is to take the movie as the visualization of a session of the tabletop game, the argument being that 'your standard D&D game contains tons of plot holes, cheesy acting and a tenuously-coherent story'. Once you imagine the movie taking place in the heads of a bunch of schoolkids playing D&D, the DM playing Profion and hamming it up and [[RuleOfFun everyone just goofing around and having fun,]] it becomes easier to swallow.

* AnticlimaxBoss: [[spoiler:Profion is [[JustDesserts devoured]] by a dragon while gloating.]]

* AwardSnub: As [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9yYVyrEmxA highlighted by]] Webvideo/CinematicExcrement, the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward didn't nominate the movie for anything, even with some egregiously questionable acting between Thora Birch's DullSurprise and everyone else's HamAndCheese. (the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, on the other hand, nominated it a lot, though [[Film/BattlefieldEarth stiff competition]] led to no awards)

* EvilIsCool: Irons's scenery-devouring performance as Profion is easily more entertaining than the performance of the heroes, who range from passable to forgettable to flat to obnoxious.

** Sannish was first mentioned in the 3rd edition ''Book of Vile Darkness''-- which came out 2 years after the movie, suggesting that the book may have been trying to justify Damodar's look.
* FridgeLogic: The Empress attacks with a flock of Golden Dragons, AKA Fire monsters. The Mages counterattack with … fireballs and Red Dragons!? So, you're attacking a creature immune to fire with fire...?

*** Not to mention his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVjE-WdGm2Q&feature=related utterly ridiculous facial expressions]] when Profion puts that worm … thing in his brain.

** Similarily, Marina screaming "I'M NOT!" Sounds like a goose honking.

** In a movie filled with much scenery chewing, Creator/ThoraBirch stands out as the worst performance by putting in as little effort as humanly possible.
*** Of particular note is the scene where Empress Savina verbally spares with Profion. Creator/JeremyIrons hamming it up like there's no tomorrow contrasting with Birch showing not an ounce of emotion is a sight to behold.
* NightmareFuel: Profion is normally such an over-the-top ham that it's pretty much impossible to take him seriously, but when Damodar reports back to him after losing the scroll to Marina, he lapses into [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness icy, soft-spoken, affable,]] ''[[TranquilFury terrifying]]'' anger. He curses Damodar with a parasite that will slowly kill him from the inside-out, watches impassively as Damodar writhes in agony, and warns him that he will not tolerate another failure.
-->'''Damodar:''' It was...a mistake. It will not happen again.

* OneSceneWonder: Creator/TomBaker and Creator/RichardOBrien both steal the film in what little screentime they have.

* SoBadItWasBetter: The film was an absolute train wreck, but it also had a lot of heart. It was the pet project and a true labor of love for Courtney Solomon and it shows with some truly impactful moments and endearingly bad performances. If anything, the film's problems mostly come down to Solomon trying way too hard to make the best movie possible when it was clearly beyond his means. Comparatively, the sequel ''Film/DungeonsAndDragonsWrathOfTheDragonGod'' was infinitely more competent but often considered SoOkayItsAverage. The word there is "often" of course - [[BrokenBase there are some fans who prefer the sequel and would rather this movie didn't even exist]].
* TakeThatScrappy: Snails getting brutally beaten [[spoiler:to death by Damodar]] scored the latter points by those who hated Snails. However, note AlasPoorScrappy. [[spoiler: Snails's]] agonized screams as Damodar [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown practically tortures him to an inch of his life]] are ''way'' too real...

-->'''Ridley:''' No, ''you're'' wrong! '''''Mage!''''' You never had to live on the other side. You know what? Snails was right. [[DespairEventHorizon There is nothing we can do to change it]]...[[ItsAllMyFault and if I had listened to him, he would still be alive.]]
** Again at the end, when Ridley is giving last rites to his friend. He tries to brag about how he finally got the recognition he wanted...and nearly breaks down in tears.
-->'''Ridley:''' Well, I'd...I'd better get going. Don't want to be late for my own knighting ceremony. '[[IronicEcho Ridley the Savior]]', heheh...heh...heh...''I'm gonna miss you, pal.''

* VindicatedByHistory: Well...''kind of''. A growing trend among watchers is to take the movie as the visualization of a session of the tabletop game, the argument being that 'your standard D&D game contains tons of plot holes, cheesy acting and a tenuously-coherent story'. Once you imagine the movie taking place in the heads of a bunch of schoolkids playing D&D, the DM playing Profion and hamming it up and [[RuleOfFun everyone just goofing around and having fun,]] it becomes easier to swallow.

* EvilIsCool: The villains are ''way'' more entertaining than the heroes, and nothing speaks this trope more than having TheDragon [[spoiler: kill TheScrappy]]. WebVideo/TheDistressedWatcher compared that scene to as if Darth Maul had killed Jar Jar Binks in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''.

* FridgeLogic: The Empress attacks with a flock of Golden Dragons, AKA Fire monsters. The Mages counterattack with … fireballs and Red Dragons!? So, you're attacking a creature immune to fire with fire!? WTF!?

* LoveToHate: Okay Profion's not really a good villain, but Creator/JeremyIrons' beautifully over the top performance makes him the most entertaining part of the film.

* CompleteMonster: The wicked [[EvilSorcerer Damodar]] is [[Film/DungeonsAndDragons first]] the [[TheDragon right-hand-man]] of Profion, seeking to dominate all Izmir. Damodar kills those in his path to recover a map that leads to the staff of dragons, torturing the heroine Marina for its location as well. Seemingly slain, Damodar [[Film/DungeonsAndDragonsWrathOfTheDragonGod returns]] a century hence while killing more people to obtain the Dragon Orb to awaken the evil Faluzure, the DragonGod of Decay and Undeath. Killing and torturing even more people, Damodar requests the dragon burn all Izmir to massacre the people, all for petty revenge on their ancestors for his first and well-deserved end.