They say that as one gets older, one gains more wisdom. However, as I leveled up, I only found myself becoming nerdier. A few months back, my spouse and I went antique shopping. We were not looking for anything in particular but just browsing for fun. It was then that we found a Dragonlance comic book. We are not comic book collectors, but we took that copy home and found a new obsession. This led me to find a copy of Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight (DDoAT). Even though this movie came out in 2008, we had yet to see it. That is, until now. So, without further ado, let’s talk about this lovely abomination.
The Plot of Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
DDoAT kicks off with a group of friends reuniting after a five-year separation to embark on their individual quests. This adventuring party consists of Tanis Half-Elven, Sturm Brightblade, Caramon Majere, Raistlin Majere, Flint Fireforge, and Tasslehoff Burrfoot. As the group arrives at their meeting place, they realize that Seekers have overrun their home base of Solace. The Seekers are a religious order working with the Dragon Highlords. These baddies are searching for the mythical Blue Crystal Staff. It is believed that the staff will help them advance their evil plot. Luckily enough, our heroes run into Riverwind and Goldmoon, bearers of the staff. The newly formed group aims to discover the secrets of the Blue Crystal Staff, take on hobgoblins, and save the world.
The Cast of Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Below is a table representing the Heroes of the Lance. There was some cross-referencing with the Dragonlance Wiki; I would not have pegged some of these classes with my 5E knowledge.
| Actor/Actress | Character | Class |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Raistlin Majere | Wizard of High Sorcery |
| Lucy Lawless | Goldmoon | Cleric/Barbarian |
| Michael Rosenbaum | Tanis Half-Elven | Fighter |
| Jason Marsden | Tasslehoff Burrfoot | Rogue |
| Fred Tatasciore | Flint Fireforge | Fighter |
| Rino Romano | Caramon Majere | Fighter |
| Marc Worden | Sturm Brightblade | Knight of the Crown |
| Phil LaMarr | Riverwind | Fighter/Barbarian |
| Caroline Gelabert | Laurana Kanan | Fighter |
| Michelle Trachtenberg | Tika Waylan | Barmaid also listed as a Fighter/Rogue |
Thoughts on Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
With only the knowledge of what I have read in the Dragonlance comic books, I had high hopes for this film. My background with this IP is limited, but I have heard good things. Plus, who does not like a story about fighting hobgoblins? After popping the DVD into my PlayStation, I understood the ratings I saw online.
I must set the scene for animated movies released in 2008. This was the year we saw Futurama: Bender’s Game, Horton Hears a Who!, and Kung Fu Panda. Animation was booming in this era of movies. However, this is where DDoAT fell short as a casual viewer. The animation style combined both 2D animation and computer-generated 3D elements. It is rough to look at. Sure, it could have been a cutting-edge move for the time. However, it missed the mark.
Fortunately, the storyline and voice acting substantially improved the quality of the film. It is a fun film about a group of friends who try to save the world. There are epic battles and moments of humor peppered throughout the movie. When you close your eyes, it is the epic quest one looks for when they pop that DVD in. I had fun watching it, even when the 3D dragons flew across my screen. Would I recommend this film? Maybe not to my harsh friends. However, to someone just looking for a fun time goofing on a silly movie? Any day of the week. In the end, I would even watch it again.
Odds & Ends
If you want to get on the streaming action, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV. Additionally, if you want some summer reading, check out Margaret Weis’s site for some books. Finally, for another deep dive into older IP, I recommend my article on D&D: The Animated Series.
