Mazes and Monsters [DVD]

As far as "So bad it's good" films go, this is the crown jewel, a true gem, the Citizen Kane or Godfather of crappy after-school specials. The absurd fact that "Christians" in the early eighties up through the nineties had a freakout over Dungeons and Dragons of all things and were so threatened by it they had to make a movie to try to scare parents and kids really elevates this movie of a week to pure comedy gold, as does a young Tom Hanks cartoonish overacting and terrible lines like "Beware the sacrilege!" If you're wondering what this movie is about, basically it's about a group of young college kids obsessed with Dungeon and Dragons (for copyright reasons it's changed to "Mazes and Monsters") who rope in a slightly unhinged transfer student Robbie (Hanks) to be their fourth player. Over the course of the film Robbie freaks out in a scene more hilarious than all of Tom Hanks eighties comedy movies combined (yes, even Money Pit) and then proceeds to believe he's his character in the game fighting off rubber monsters and then contemplating suicide at the Twin Towers (yes, you read that right). There are so many scenes of terrible dialogue and over the top performances (the detective investigating Robbie's performance is a true delight who probably inspired the Book Cop from Seinfeld) that you'll be laughing from start to finish over this supposed drama film that turned out to Tom Hanks most hilarious comedy film. If you're a D&D fan who finds the eighties panic over the game to be hilarious or you just love cheesy acting and dialogue, this is a true classic, one of my favorite films.

After-school specials hit their peak in the 80's. Usually these films were low-budget, overly dramatic, overacted, hamfisted stereotyped sermons about the dangers of a particular topic. This film is all of that, only with Tom Hanks. We get it, Dungeons and Dragons can destroy your life. We also got the sub-plot of the damage that is caused when parents and their children don't address loneliness and emotional trauma in healthy ways. But, ironically, this film reveals some depth about understanding depression. If you finish it, you'll either realize that you were so depressed that you actually wanted to finish this movie and that you probably need to see a counselor, or you'll become depressed because you have nobody to talk to and nothing better to do with your time than to finish this movie and that you probably want to see a counselor so that you have somebody to talk to. Let's face it, nobody is watching this with another person. And no, your cat doesn't count as a person. Neither does your spouse/significant other/roommate who fell asleep 15 minutes into it. "But," you might argue, "didn't you finish the film?" Yes, yes I did. And my wife was asleep, I don't have a dog, and I probably should see a counselor. It could be worse. I could have a cat.

Its such a ridiculous hit piece on D&D its meme worthy. I love how ignorant and stupid the writing was . They set up that all the kids paying the game have a bad home life and bad relationships with their parents and possibly mental illness BEFORE they even play the game. Thus undermining their own narrative that D&D is the Cause of them breaking down and going crazy. The concept hat the game is addictive and promotes anti-social behavior is so backwards it cute, like having an ass for a face and wearing gloves on your feet. D&D is such a social game its pretty much just excuse to gather around a table for five hours, drinking, smoking and talking with your friends, and oh yeah maybe advancing the campaign. This is just as ridiculous as the hit pieces on video games. Modern puritans find something cool and fun and try to convince people its the work of Satan. So take it from a level 14 Fighter 5th edition "Stay away from the Devil's Chess", especially if your a normie.

I repeat, this is NOT a fantasy. The sappy intro music should have told even the simplest of simpletons that much. It's also not a hit piece on D&D and it doesn't look down on the people who play this game. Take a step back. Forget there is a game going on in the background, and study the characters. There is even a bit of foreshadowing going on at the beginning. My kids actually wanted to watch this one with me but it was their bedtime. to be perfectly honest there is nothing in here a child can't see. other kids may find it rather boring. My kids would actually enjoy it for the simple fact that they enjoy sociology (yeah we're weird....sue me...) they also enjoy fantasy and anything related to D&D, unfortunately this is not that. The game takes a backseat. the majority of the film is all about building the characters and showing how each one has a personal battle that only they can fight (who doesn't!?) Still a good movie unless you're looking for naughty armor, men in furry underpants and people waving magic swords over their heads.

Brand new disk in a sealed box. DVD is working properly.

In terms of anti-Dungeons-&-Dragons-panic-inducing films, this is canon. I remember watching this on TV in the 80s when I was a kid. Along with the urban myths I'd heard about kids going crazy from playing D&D, it gave D&D a forbidden aura, and made me want to try it out. The anti-RPG perspective of this film (and Rona Jaffe's novel of the same title) is so campy it's quaint and enjoyable. Watch it again and again to see Tom Hanks in top form. ;)

This movie is dumb. Like really dumb. But in a way it was hilarious. Approach with caution.

I first watched this movie on TV in the 1980's. It was good then and is still good now. An early example of Tom Hanks talent.

I spent 3 weeks placing orders with various retailers to get hold of a copy of this film, and was over the moon when I as told that this was being despatched. Sadly, the actual DVD has been ripped from a VHS, and ripped badly. The quality of the film is terrible, and the last 10 mins are corrupt. This is not the fault of Zoverstocks - it is the fault of Pegasus entertainment. (http://www.pegasus-ent.com/) I would urge you to avoid getting the DVD version of this film - you will be disappointed.