Mazes and Monsters
by Steven Hilliard Stern
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anne Francis, Murray Hamilton, Peter Donat, Tom Hanks, Wendy CrewsonDirector: Steven Hilliard Stern
Brand: Trinity
Cinematographer: Laszlo George
Composer: Hagood Hardy
Composer: Judith Lander
Editor: Bill Parker
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full length, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-25
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: T-2483
Studio: Trinity Entertainment
Product features:
- Bound together by a desire to play Mazes and Monsters , Robbie and his four collegemates decide to move the board game into the local legendary cavern. When Robbie starts having real life visions, the line between reality and fantasy fuse into a harrowing adventure. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG Age: 692865248330 UPC: 692865248330 Manufacturer No:
Movie Reviews of Mazes and Monsters
Movie Review: Games Without Borders
Summary: 5 Stars
"Mazes and Monsters" was part of the Reagan-era moral panic over the Dungeons and Dragons game. It was an '80s afterschool special,a made-for-TV movie about the dangers of gaming. It was back when fundamentalists considered it occultic, diabolical, and dangerous. This movie was made in response to the infamous Dallas Egbert case at the University of Michigan. While it turned out Egbert was dealing with drug abuse, perfectionist parents, and his closeted homosexuality, D&D was blamed. The late creator of D&D, Gary Gygax, was besieged with hate mail when "Mazes" was released.
"Mazes" begins as a typical,slice-of-life drama. Kate Finch is dealing with her divorcing parents. Daniel has a perfectionist, materialistic father. Jay-Jay, with his wild assortment of hats,plays it out of the closet-he dresses as Noel Coward for Halloween-his mother is a diva (Jay-Jay is a prototype for the hat-wearing,flamboyant Ryan in Disney's High School Musical) Finally,there's Robbie (Tom Hanks),who's got an alcoholic,Nancy Reagan-like mother. The four come together with their Mazes&Monsters game. The first half hour of the movie plays it straight (except for Jay-Jay) However,when Robbie slays a "Gorvil" (think of one of those green monsters from the OLD Star Trek),he descends into madness. Robbie's cheesy visions take the movie into campy territory. He takes on the persona of Pardu,a holy man. He tells his girlfriend Kate that they have to "love each other without making love" (indeed,the wizened sage in his visions commands him to be celibate)--one wonders why conservatives lambasted D&D. It promotes abstinence! It prolongs virginity! Why aren't Dungeonmasters being bankrolled for abstinence-only programs? Robbie's quest leads him into NYC. He encounters thugs,as well as a madman,in his quest for "The Two Towers" ("That's Tolkien!" Daniel exclaims) At the World Trade Center, Robbie nearly kills himself to reunite with his lost brother,but his friends save him. In the end, Robbie still thinks he's in the game. He still believes he's Pardu. The scenes at the WTC are poignant. Indeed, Hanks' performance is quite natural and convincing. He's awkward and sympathetic.
"Mazes" makes for good viewing. It's the "Reefer Madness" of the '80s. Hanks has a good early role. Despite the sappy theme song "Friends forever" and the turgid script, Hanks and the ensemble cast rise above it.
As a DVD,"Mazes" gets a mixed reviewing. It looks like a TV show... from the '80s. Still,quite good. The "scene selection" is pretty mediocre&difficult to use. Unfortunately, there aren't any special features.
"Mazes" is a window on the world of the early D&D controversy. Pour yourself a flagon of mead, and raise it to Gary Gygax!
Summary of Mazes and Monsters
Bound together by a desire to play Mazes and Monsters Robbie and his four college classmates decide to move the board game into the local legendary cavern. When Robbie starts having real life visions the line between reality and fantasy fuse into a harrowing adventure.System Requirements:Running Time - 100 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG UPC: 692865248330 Manufacturer No: T-2483Similar DVD Movies
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