The dreamscape opening dialogueless sexy scene to start this movie immediately elicits a what- the-heck-is-going-on feeling. The next thought, as soon as opening credits are done, the Christopher Reeves look must have been so super duper cool in 1984. I feel like I want a whole list of Reeves look lookalikes. I watched Arena with Paul Satterfield not that long ago (speaking of movies I should write about on here!) and had a similar thought. Then there's the fact that Jeffrey Byron's character is named Paul.... (was the writer a Satterfield fan??) odd connection? Just weird? Anyway...
I've heard that in the 80s the lines of separation between fantasy and sci fi were much more blurred. The Dungeonmaster definitely showcases that and I like that aspect of the film. The cheesy special effects are perfect for the movie. Yes, give me space travel and lasers, and sci fi armor, right next to magic and fantastical monsters. Yea it's cool. Super cool.
As for the "dungeonmaster" himself, he's lived over a thousand years, travels the galaxies, is pale skinned, wears a cape... yes, definitely a space vampire. He has an obstacle course that nobody out there in the cosmos can conquer. When you see it, it kinda makes one wonder if the universe is filled with bumbling idiots. When we get to see the obstacles, they're reminiscent of the haunted houses I remember visiting as a kid at the local fairgrounds.
Then, despite having cool magic powers handed to him, we're lead to believe that Paul wants nothing to do with the experience except he's gotta save his girlfriend, Gwen. I'm thinking, yes save her but also take advantage of the fact that you're basically now a super hero. And, there doesn't seem to be any real danger, just freaky weirdness and a fun metal show with WASP. (Of course, metal is another integral part of the Sci Fi and Fantasy milieu). Be a little hopeful, Paul! The odds of saving Gwen seem very good even from the onset and you could come out with some big gains. No need to be so distraught!
Of note... Even though it doesn't last long, the claymotion stone statue looks pretty cool. More of this would have made the movie infinitely better.
Then when the dungeonmaster gets the hots for Gwen, we're left contemplating, it's this just another challenge? I mean, the dungeonmaster controls everything. He gave Paul the magic laser wristband, teleports everyone around, gives Paul a cool name "Excalibrate", and the sci fi padded suit of armor. Okay, he's thousands of years old, been traveling through space, and is suddenly attracted to this human woman? And he's convinced she's way too good for Paul? Ten seconds ago dungeonmaster was touting how rare it was to find a warrior as badass as Paul. This is hilarious!
And handcuff lasers.
And Battle Truck (speaking of another movie I should write about!!) style dune buggies chasing each other with the most weak laser battle ever. (I made a movie with friends in high school that had similar laser effects) It's still cool. Finally, in this scene, Gwen kicks some butt and she doesn't need a talking computer to do it, just lasers. And the desert bad guys speak jawa. The desert chase may be the best part of the movie.
Lessons of logic to be learned from Rage War/ The Dungeonmaster:
1. Yelling can be the quickest and surest way of problem solving, especially if you have a sweeeeeet pun in mind.
2. Cool guys smoke cigarettes, wear leather jackets, and have nicely processed hair. These guys may also be psychopathic murderous aholes.
3. Police care more about what kind of donut is available than the incredibly odd person they just arrested
And so we continue...
Another take on Mestema, the dungeonmaster, maybe twin to Vigo from Ghostbusters 2?
In the end, The Dungeonmaster is a brutally mediocre movie. Or maybe it's just that it's pretty much a bunch of short movies and it was tough to string the plot together through them. Oh well. It's still worth seeing once.
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