Dragon Quest: Your Story is a great movie. Having played and loved Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, I went in with high expectations and was not disappointed. Despite not playing Dragon Quest V, I felt really connected to the story and characters in this film. The only nagging aspect of this movie are the weird plot jumps. Throughout the movie, there are several jumps that feel to me as though they are skipping huge plot scenes that should have been incorporated into the film. The ending however, despite popular opinion, really hit home for me. I loved the message that the ending scene portrayed and this scene alone made my opinion jump from a 5 to an 8. Had it been roughly 2 and a half hours, with more character development and more action sequences,this would have likely been a 10 for me. In short, Dragon Quest: Your Story, is exactly as the title says, "Your Story" and I would recommend this to anyone, especially anyone who likes or has played any of the Dragon Quest games.
89 Reviews
Stunning visuals!
eirik123415 February 2020
I have not my self played Dragon Quest V, but as an avid gamer for over three decades, this movie still gave me a lot of good vibes and took me back to some old memories!
The visuals are stunning and only based on that, I would recommend this! It does however fall short in some areas. It feels a little "forced" at times, and the potential is more than what the end product shows.
All in all it was a pleasure to watch, and even though it is nothing revolutionary, it is a good-feel story with stunning graphics!
Good
cow_farm16 February 2020
Found this on netflix after me and my kid (6) have been playing dragon quest builders 2 for a few weeks. It was cool to hear the same music and reactions in the movie as in the game.
We both really enjoyed this movie.
I thought the animation was really high quality even though some reviewers said it was bad.
I'm not sure about the ending and the message it sends (same in the game) but it didn't stop us from wanting to watch it again!
What a trip
emmammurphy-7754018 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I have a basic knowledge of Dragon Quest. I played through IX on the DS, and have seen bits and pieces from others. I watched this film with my brother, who played plenty more Dragon Quest than I have, but neither of us had played through V before: the game this movie was based on, and one of the most beloved in the series' long history.
Knowing how big RPGs just as a genre are, it is wholly impressive that this team managed to fit it into an hour and a half. Especially because this story in particular spans about 30 years or so. I think they did the best they possibly could, with one minor exception, but it's pretty clear that this leads to some pacing issues. It's a little slower in the beginning, but even so, everyone is talking to move the story forward: there's never more than two seconds of silence to digest what just happened. They throw a lot of information at you, and they ask for a lot of your attention. Eight years goes by in about a minute, but we don't really have time to explore the world, how it's changed, what impact that has, because we're onto the next mission.
Probably mitigated if you played the game, and are intimately familiar with the plot. There were a few times in the movie where I thought "Wow, this would make for a really great game," but I don't know if the experience translates so well to a feature length film.
I'm not as familiar with anime, but I felt like some of those tropes were a little intrusive: notably choosing the hand of the heavenly bride. That segment in particular, even though it's important in the long run, felt like it was distracting from Luka's main quest in the moment.
Luka himself wasn't too compelling of a character. Much of the beginning was him complaining, or giving in when things got tough. You're going to be much more involved in his circumstances rather than the character, which I guess is true to the silent protagonist. There's no time for real character building anyway.
I thought it was a good call to fast forward through the intro via the video game styled opening. Rather than just used for pandering, it was functional: giving the audience a glimpse into the history of this universe while easing fans into this this new interpretation.
Dragon Quest V never saw a release out in the west until the remakes due to poor sales, and the additional demands an English translation would put on an SNES cartridge. Despite that, a lot of the plot elements are pretty predictable. The series is the gold standard for other RPGs, and it is a thirty year old game. It could be more noticeable because of how condensed the plot is, but I can't say that this is too far off from my DQ experience either. From what I gather, they stay really close to the source material.
But, even so, DQ has always been about experiencing the journey: exploring new worlds with your troupe. There has always been a lot of quirky charm, either through the dialogue, or monster designs. That part is true to form. I loved the soundtrack: this orchestra pulls from all over the series' long history, and even some stuff you wouldn't expect like the bad luck sound effect from Fortune Street. It reminded me of playing the games, and it was just a good, whimsical, wonderful feeling to be sucked back into this world.
This is also an impressive looking movie. I got used to the new designs pretty quickly, but the standout element for me was the textures. You could see unique skin pigmentation, which I can't think of another animated movie that does that. I guess it's one of the benefits of using CGI. The lighting is also great for establishing the tone of the scene, and the visual effects, especially in the last third, are incredible. But everything happens so quickly, and you have to remember so much, that you can't really take it in. Everything is moving. I'm sure the landscapes are also beautiful, but I can't remember more than two establishing shots of locations. We're so centred on Luka and his journey that much of the cinematography is focused on him, so he's almost all I remember seeing two days after initial viewing.
I think the realism in this case works best for the message of the ending.
Most people would agree that the number one rule of creating fiction would be to never acknowledge that the work is fiction. It can feel like an insult to the people who invested so much of themselves and their time into the experience.
However, it's better to keep an open mind: there are always exceptions to these rules. When it's clever, when it's done right, it could work. And it's sort of the point for any creative endeavour to evoke a reaction from people, no matter what that might be.
When the heavenly hero threw the blade through the gate to Nadiria(?) everything went quiet for the first time in the film. Things stopped moving for the first time in the film. Because we were so invested in the story up to this point, me and my brother were completely still as well. For the first time, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. It stopped following clichés of the genre.
But that doesn't necessarily mean that it came completely out of nowhere. Across the last third, you got a few hints that this was a story that happened many times before. They point this out in the dialogue. Initially I thought maybe this was a nod to the other games in the Zenithian arc, but it makes more sense that it was the virus who was corrupting the core programming to be more meta. I imagine you could catch a lot more information in the second or third viewings, not just relevant to this plot point.
I don't know who Nimzo was supposed to be. I can't recall the name of the wizard who was the villain before. But the expectation was that the world was at stake, and I think that expectation was met. Surpassed, even.
"Textures off. Gravity off. Collision data off." No matter how powerful we were told to believe Nimzo could be, I don't think he could have topped that. There was just this unsettling feeling about seeing it happen: this brazen display of power that was so simple for our new villain to do. It was so unnatural to this world, and in that moment, that's when we were able to most connect with our main character. As an aside, technology going wrong is one of my bigger irrational fears, so I may have gotten some nightmares out of this scene.
The core message is good too. John Lennon said: "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." and it's applicable here. It's okay to follow your passions no matter what other people think, and it's important to be kind to yourself too. It's especially relevant for today's world.
Just like with the silent protagonist, the audience was supposed to imprint themselves on Luka, to really follow through on the "your story" subtitle, applying it both to the fictitious world, and the real one. It's a lovely thought.
The visuals across the board were great here. It's definitely memorable.
My brother and I both laughed when the slime turned out to be an antivirus program, and then transformed into Erdrick's sword from the first game. It's silly, but that's kind of on brand. It felt a little anticlimactic too, though.
This part needed more time. But every part in this movie needed more time.
I could definitely see this being divisive, and angering a lot of people who were looking for that fantastical escapism, or looking for a completely faithful recreation of the climax. My brother didn't like it much either.
But then, you might be more encouraged to try out the actual game. Or rather, re-experience it. I feel like the film crew should be allowed to have some level of personalization on this project, and this little love letter to the fans wasn't the worst thing to go out on. It could have been expanded on, for sure, but like the games, it's more about the journey. We definitely went on a journey.
I don't know if I could recommend it to anyone, I don't know if I would watch it again. But I'm happy it exists.
What we got was one of the best video game to movie adaptations that we could hope for. It's surprising how much these films have changed in the last couple years. Games are a big part of our culture, with passionate fans who are just looking for that respect to the source material. Like Luka. I'm glad that the film industry is recognizing that these stories are just as meaningful as books, or comics, or television, so we can have that diversity. Find new ways to enjoy what we love, and introduce new audiences to it.
Knowing how big RPGs just as a genre are, it is wholly impressive that this team managed to fit it into an hour and a half. Especially because this story in particular spans about 30 years or so. I think they did the best they possibly could, with one minor exception, but it's pretty clear that this leads to some pacing issues. It's a little slower in the beginning, but even so, everyone is talking to move the story forward: there's never more than two seconds of silence to digest what just happened. They throw a lot of information at you, and they ask for a lot of your attention. Eight years goes by in about a minute, but we don't really have time to explore the world, how it's changed, what impact that has, because we're onto the next mission.
Probably mitigated if you played the game, and are intimately familiar with the plot. There were a few times in the movie where I thought "Wow, this would make for a really great game," but I don't know if the experience translates so well to a feature length film.
I'm not as familiar with anime, but I felt like some of those tropes were a little intrusive: notably choosing the hand of the heavenly bride. That segment in particular, even though it's important in the long run, felt like it was distracting from Luka's main quest in the moment.
Luka himself wasn't too compelling of a character. Much of the beginning was him complaining, or giving in when things got tough. You're going to be much more involved in his circumstances rather than the character, which I guess is true to the silent protagonist. There's no time for real character building anyway.
I thought it was a good call to fast forward through the intro via the video game styled opening. Rather than just used for pandering, it was functional: giving the audience a glimpse into the history of this universe while easing fans into this this new interpretation.
Dragon Quest V never saw a release out in the west until the remakes due to poor sales, and the additional demands an English translation would put on an SNES cartridge. Despite that, a lot of the plot elements are pretty predictable. The series is the gold standard for other RPGs, and it is a thirty year old game. It could be more noticeable because of how condensed the plot is, but I can't say that this is too far off from my DQ experience either. From what I gather, they stay really close to the source material.
But, even so, DQ has always been about experiencing the journey: exploring new worlds with your troupe. There has always been a lot of quirky charm, either through the dialogue, or monster designs. That part is true to form. I loved the soundtrack: this orchestra pulls from all over the series' long history, and even some stuff you wouldn't expect like the bad luck sound effect from Fortune Street. It reminded me of playing the games, and it was just a good, whimsical, wonderful feeling to be sucked back into this world.
This is also an impressive looking movie. I got used to the new designs pretty quickly, but the standout element for me was the textures. You could see unique skin pigmentation, which I can't think of another animated movie that does that. I guess it's one of the benefits of using CGI. The lighting is also great for establishing the tone of the scene, and the visual effects, especially in the last third, are incredible. But everything happens so quickly, and you have to remember so much, that you can't really take it in. Everything is moving. I'm sure the landscapes are also beautiful, but I can't remember more than two establishing shots of locations. We're so centred on Luka and his journey that much of the cinematography is focused on him, so he's almost all I remember seeing two days after initial viewing.
I think the realism in this case works best for the message of the ending.
Most people would agree that the number one rule of creating fiction would be to never acknowledge that the work is fiction. It can feel like an insult to the people who invested so much of themselves and their time into the experience.
However, it's better to keep an open mind: there are always exceptions to these rules. When it's clever, when it's done right, it could work. And it's sort of the point for any creative endeavour to evoke a reaction from people, no matter what that might be.
When the heavenly hero threw the blade through the gate to Nadiria(?) everything went quiet for the first time in the film. Things stopped moving for the first time in the film. Because we were so invested in the story up to this point, me and my brother were completely still as well. For the first time, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. It stopped following clichés of the genre.
But that doesn't necessarily mean that it came completely out of nowhere. Across the last third, you got a few hints that this was a story that happened many times before. They point this out in the dialogue. Initially I thought maybe this was a nod to the other games in the Zenithian arc, but it makes more sense that it was the virus who was corrupting the core programming to be more meta. I imagine you could catch a lot more information in the second or third viewings, not just relevant to this plot point.
I don't know who Nimzo was supposed to be. I can't recall the name of the wizard who was the villain before. But the expectation was that the world was at stake, and I think that expectation was met. Surpassed, even.
"Textures off. Gravity off. Collision data off." No matter how powerful we were told to believe Nimzo could be, I don't think he could have topped that. There was just this unsettling feeling about seeing it happen: this brazen display of power that was so simple for our new villain to do. It was so unnatural to this world, and in that moment, that's when we were able to most connect with our main character. As an aside, technology going wrong is one of my bigger irrational fears, so I may have gotten some nightmares out of this scene.
The core message is good too. John Lennon said: "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." and it's applicable here. It's okay to follow your passions no matter what other people think, and it's important to be kind to yourself too. It's especially relevant for today's world.
Just like with the silent protagonist, the audience was supposed to imprint themselves on Luka, to really follow through on the "your story" subtitle, applying it both to the fictitious world, and the real one. It's a lovely thought.
The visuals across the board were great here. It's definitely memorable.
My brother and I both laughed when the slime turned out to be an antivirus program, and then transformed into Erdrick's sword from the first game. It's silly, but that's kind of on brand. It felt a little anticlimactic too, though.
This part needed more time. But every part in this movie needed more time.
I could definitely see this being divisive, and angering a lot of people who were looking for that fantastical escapism, or looking for a completely faithful recreation of the climax. My brother didn't like it much either.
But then, you might be more encouraged to try out the actual game. Or rather, re-experience it. I feel like the film crew should be allowed to have some level of personalization on this project, and this little love letter to the fans wasn't the worst thing to go out on. It could have been expanded on, for sure, but like the games, it's more about the journey. We definitely went on a journey.
I don't know if I could recommend it to anyone, I don't know if I would watch it again. But I'm happy it exists.
What we got was one of the best video game to movie adaptations that we could hope for. It's surprising how much these films have changed in the last couple years. Games are a big part of our culture, with passionate fans who are just looking for that respect to the source material. Like Luka. I'm glad that the film industry is recognizing that these stories are just as meaningful as books, or comics, or television, so we can have that diversity. Find new ways to enjoy what we love, and introduce new audiences to it.
Terrible Voice Acting
dkawashima11 February 2021
Decent, but not perfect
jwwalrath-227-8548716 March 2020
The computer animated Dragon Quest: You're Story is based on the plot of the video game Dragon Quest V from the 90's. It's alright.
The biggest issue with this is that it's trying to cover the plot of a game that spans the main character's life over thirty years and takes several hours to complete within the span of an hour and forty-three minutes. This really feels like a highlight reel. A lot of tonal switches, too. The lead Luca's first third of his story is really glossed over quickly. The intro starts with using images from the original game, but it's really confusing to those new to the story. Too many characters are introduced too quickly through tiny pixel images and it's hard to tell who is who and what's going on.
That having been said, this film is a nice ride. It's got a sense of fun to it and definitely captures the feel to the games. The computer animation is bright and colorful. The trademark DQ series character design from Akira Toriyama (also the creator of Dragonball Z) is adapted pretty well into 3D animation.
Also, this may be worth sticking through to the finale. I don't think everyone's going to like it, but it's definitely something.
Overall, this is something I probably won't revisit, but glad I did. I think DQ fans will probably like this. I think this may go over well with children, too.
The biggest issue with this is that it's trying to cover the plot of a game that spans the main character's life over thirty years and takes several hours to complete within the span of an hour and forty-three minutes. This really feels like a highlight reel. A lot of tonal switches, too. The lead Luca's first third of his story is really glossed over quickly. The intro starts with using images from the original game, but it's really confusing to those new to the story. Too many characters are introduced too quickly through tiny pixel images and it's hard to tell who is who and what's going on.
That having been said, this film is a nice ride. It's got a sense of fun to it and definitely captures the feel to the games. The computer animation is bright and colorful. The trademark DQ series character design from Akira Toriyama (also the creator of Dragonball Z) is adapted pretty well into 3D animation.
Also, this may be worth sticking through to the finale. I don't think everyone's going to like it, but it's definitely something.
Overall, this is something I probably won't revisit, but glad I did. I think DQ fans will probably like this. I think this may go over well with children, too.
An ode to Dragon Quest and a tribute to fans
Williwatch4 May 2020
What a great homage that was. I remembered so many moments of playing the games while watching this movie. Such good times. I loved how they told this story making you feel a part of it. The movie looks stunning by the way, the visuals are so great!
It may not be for everyone, obviously directed to fans of the franchise but I hope some people will get to know this universe and even go after the games.
It may not be for everyone, obviously directed to fans of the franchise but I hope some people will get to know this universe and even go after the games.
Just stunning.
darkapple13 February 2020
At the moment i am seeing that the movie had the score of 4.9 and this is really unfair , the movie is absolutely stunning visually , a classical hero story for the all time fan of the franchise the Jrpgs, or classical shounen animes. Watching it in HD is an absolute delight, the 3D is top noch with the textures ,details and movements in most of the film that it kept me on my toes all the time looking at all the small details. Sometimes there s some small things that set me off like some scene when the are running or some of the textures... Anyway again the film is a lovely nostalgic yet modern trip especially for the fan of the series or the japanese animation fan in general.
I gave it a 9 ,a score I wouldn't give all that easily .
Great retelling of a classic game hampered by major issues
ddobson-8677720 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I have been a fan of the Dragon Quest games since I played the game this movie is based off of, Dragon Quest V, and having recently finished Echoes of Elusive Age and loved it, I was excited to watch this beloved tale in movie form. While I liked it overall, it does have some issues that could have been easily rectified.
I'll start off with what I liked: The graphics looked pretty good despite not having Akira Toriyama do the characters and they all had a lot of personality and were endearing, especially Bianca. I liked how they integrated mechanics from the game into the movie such as monster recruitment and the liberal use of the cutely-named spells from the game such as Swoosh and Kafrizzle. The villainous Ladja was also very well done.
Now the bad and the ugly: It suffers from major pacing issues, especially early on where it is really rushed. I understand the challenge of fitting a game as long as DQ V into a moderate-length film, but they should have included Luca and Bianca's childhood adventure in CGI instead of rushed scenes from the game itself, as I get that many people unfamiliar with the would probably not know who Bianca is when she was introduced; if they made the movie 20 minutes longer they could have alleviated this issue, but I am assuming they probably didn't have the budget, sadly.
The other big issue comes ~10 minutes before the movie ends, when a certain demon lord fails to make an appearance and is instead replaced by some smarmy 4th-wall shattering jerk who shows up and reveals that none of the events were real and then insults the protagonist and, by extension, the audience (who is the real a loser, the guy who just plays a video game or a guy who spends many unpaid hours writing a virus that nets him no money and does nothing but ruin said game for some guy he doesn't even know?).
Much more startling are the implications of the "game" depicted in the movie that start to veer into Black Mirror territory if you think about it. Wiping someone's memory and having them live this character's entire life thus not only assuming his identity but also starting a family seems like the sort of thing that would cause a massive psychotic break after the game ended and the user is slammed back into reality. Also, while I enjoyed DQ V from behind a controller and screen, I don't know why ANYONE would want to experience the life of that game's protagonist first-hand, watching your father die, then spending the majority of your life as either a slave and then a statue. I would have gladly lived out the life of the Luminary from DQ11 (or just about any other DQ protagonist), but seriously Luca's life sucked overall. This sort of creepy tech-horror stuff is good for Black Mirror, but it has no place in anything Dragon Quest. I get the point they were trying to make, but it isn't 1992 anymore and video gamers aren't thought of a losers now the way they were then and we don't need them to ruin this movie's ending to white-knight for us.
This movie could have gotten a 9 or a 10 if not for the glaring issues. Definitely worth a watch for fans, but I can see people unfamiliar with Dragon Quest struggle with it.
I'll start off with what I liked: The graphics looked pretty good despite not having Akira Toriyama do the characters and they all had a lot of personality and were endearing, especially Bianca. I liked how they integrated mechanics from the game into the movie such as monster recruitment and the liberal use of the cutely-named spells from the game such as Swoosh and Kafrizzle. The villainous Ladja was also very well done.
Now the bad and the ugly: It suffers from major pacing issues, especially early on where it is really rushed. I understand the challenge of fitting a game as long as DQ V into a moderate-length film, but they should have included Luca and Bianca's childhood adventure in CGI instead of rushed scenes from the game itself, as I get that many people unfamiliar with the would probably not know who Bianca is when she was introduced; if they made the movie 20 minutes longer they could have alleviated this issue, but I am assuming they probably didn't have the budget, sadly.
The other big issue comes ~10 minutes before the movie ends, when a certain demon lord fails to make an appearance and is instead replaced by some smarmy 4th-wall shattering jerk who shows up and reveals that none of the events were real and then insults the protagonist and, by extension, the audience (who is the real a loser, the guy who just plays a video game or a guy who spends many unpaid hours writing a virus that nets him no money and does nothing but ruin said game for some guy he doesn't even know?).
Much more startling are the implications of the "game" depicted in the movie that start to veer into Black Mirror territory if you think about it. Wiping someone's memory and having them live this character's entire life thus not only assuming his identity but also starting a family seems like the sort of thing that would cause a massive psychotic break after the game ended and the user is slammed back into reality. Also, while I enjoyed DQ V from behind a controller and screen, I don't know why ANYONE would want to experience the life of that game's protagonist first-hand, watching your father die, then spending the majority of your life as either a slave and then a statue. I would have gladly lived out the life of the Luminary from DQ11 (or just about any other DQ protagonist), but seriously Luca's life sucked overall. This sort of creepy tech-horror stuff is good for Black Mirror, but it has no place in anything Dragon Quest. I get the point they were trying to make, but it isn't 1992 anymore and video gamers aren't thought of a losers now the way they were then and we don't need them to ruin this movie's ending to white-knight for us.
This movie could have gotten a 9 or a 10 if not for the glaring issues. Definitely worth a watch for fans, but I can see people unfamiliar with Dragon Quest struggle with it.
Bad ending
rxfzjxi29 May 2020
It is AMAZING for fans, but might not be for everybody
deltakerebus14 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
First of all. This movie has it's strongest impact if Dragon Quest 5 was a part of your childhood. I'm not sure I can recommend this to anybody doesn't have a strong emotional attachment to the source material.
Despite what you may have heard. The biggest issue is not the ending, it's the pacing. This movie has severe pacing issues. These issues come about from trying to cram too big of a story into an 1 hour 40 minutes movie.
For example. The movie cuts out the childhood section between the protagonist and and his childhood friend Bianca. Without such, why would anybody who's not familiar with the source material, care about who Bianca is when she's introduced. The movie jumps all over the place, so much so I would imagine for someone unacquainted with the game, it's hard to care or have any level of investment.
I feel like if this was an animated series, cutting the budget into more screen time and less visual work. Despite possibly losing how beautiful this movie looks, that extra time in the oven could've made it a way better overall experience. Not only for me, but also for people who had no idea what this movie is based on.
Speaking of beauty, yes this movie is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Easily, one of the prettiest 3D animated movie's that I have ever watched. It's just so nice to look at. Backgrounds are so vivid and full of life, and the characters despite not using Akira Toryamas art, still look great.
This movie is brilliant, I didn't even care about the ending and the butchering of the source material. The original ending was boring anyway. Grandmaster Nimzo is a very hollow villain, who has no build up, besides his name being thrown around. The twist ending, although it shocked and confused me at first, was a much wiser choice.
Ultimately, I feel like the movie really doesn't deserve all the criticism it's getting. It's looks so visually beautiful, makes amazing use the Dragon Quest music to enhance so many moments. It was very entertaining, and an amazing nostalgia ride. Overall a great watch all the way through.
Despite what you may have heard. The biggest issue is not the ending, it's the pacing. This movie has severe pacing issues. These issues come about from trying to cram too big of a story into an 1 hour 40 minutes movie.
For example. The movie cuts out the childhood section between the protagonist and and his childhood friend Bianca. Without such, why would anybody who's not familiar with the source material, care about who Bianca is when she's introduced. The movie jumps all over the place, so much so I would imagine for someone unacquainted with the game, it's hard to care or have any level of investment.
I feel like if this was an animated series, cutting the budget into more screen time and less visual work. Despite possibly losing how beautiful this movie looks, that extra time in the oven could've made it a way better overall experience. Not only for me, but also for people who had no idea what this movie is based on.
Speaking of beauty, yes this movie is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Easily, one of the prettiest 3D animated movie's that I have ever watched. It's just so nice to look at. Backgrounds are so vivid and full of life, and the characters despite not using Akira Toryamas art, still look great.
This movie is brilliant, I didn't even care about the ending and the butchering of the source material. The original ending was boring anyway. Grandmaster Nimzo is a very hollow villain, who has no build up, besides his name being thrown around. The twist ending, although it shocked and confused me at first, was a much wiser choice.
Ultimately, I feel like the movie really doesn't deserve all the criticism it's getting. It's looks so visually beautiful, makes amazing use the Dragon Quest music to enhance so many moments. It was very entertaining, and an amazing nostalgia ride. Overall a great watch all the way through.
Amazing movie until the horrible ending!
timac111 March 2020
This movie was so great, amazing and exciting story, incredible animation and was never dull. I never played the games but really enjoyed this anime until the very end when the ending jut undermined and killed the whole movie. It felt unnecessary and out of left field which was so disappointing.
The end will surprise you...
nathpeix28 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
...in a bad way. The while movie is kind of boring and the characters are uncanny. French dub sucks and the end, despite being a love letter to video games, is incredibly naive and pulls you away from the movie. To be honest I couldn't finish the game back when I played the game on Nintendo DS thus the end of the movie disappointed me even more.
Dragon Quest
WeAreLive9 May 2020
The film was really great!! Visually stunning CGi, really nice soundtrack, and to tell you the truth.. the plot twist at the end made me shed my tear!! You could feel how much love was given by these creators.. they really do admire the DQ series..
There's only few problem with the screenplay, but it's understandable.. like FFVII, old game like these couldn't be retold within an hour and a half.. They've already trued their best in adapting and keep up with the best possible.. I truly enjoy the film :))
Also the dub was pretty good.
There's only few problem with the screenplay, but it's understandable.. like FFVII, old game like these couldn't be retold within an hour and a half.. They've already trued their best in adapting and keep up with the best possible.. I truly enjoy the film :))
Also the dub was pretty good.
Decent videogame movie
Rectangular_businessman27 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I must confess I never played the original game in which this movie was inspired; in fact, my only familiarity with the Dragon Quest franchise was watching the 1991 anime series during my childhood.
I still remember the initial backlash this movie got, having a much lower score here on imdb for a while. I assume the reason of that negative reception was the plot twist reveal near the conclusion of the story, but personally I don't think the movie was nowhere as bad as some reviews claimed.
In fact, it was a fairly enjoyable adventure flick which does adapt many conventions from Japanse roleplaying games into a 3D format, with a rather pleasant visual style (Even it occasionally resembles the cutscenes from a videogame, though considering the final plot twist, maybe such kind of aesthetic was pretty apt)
Sure, I can understand perfectly well why the fans would have preferred an entirely faithful adaptation of the original game, but even after the controversial plot twist reveal, the movie still shows a lot of love for this world and its characters, particularly in the way the main character confronts the villain, delivering a decent anti-escapism message without deriding the fans. (Something I wish Hollywood was able to learn)
And I really appreciate that, even from the perspective of a casual viewer with not much knowledge of this franchise.
I still remember the initial backlash this movie got, having a much lower score here on imdb for a while. I assume the reason of that negative reception was the plot twist reveal near the conclusion of the story, but personally I don't think the movie was nowhere as bad as some reviews claimed.
In fact, it was a fairly enjoyable adventure flick which does adapt many conventions from Japanse roleplaying games into a 3D format, with a rather pleasant visual style (Even it occasionally resembles the cutscenes from a videogame, though considering the final plot twist, maybe such kind of aesthetic was pretty apt)
Sure, I can understand perfectly well why the fans would have preferred an entirely faithful adaptation of the original game, but even after the controversial plot twist reveal, the movie still shows a lot of love for this world and its characters, particularly in the way the main character confronts the villain, delivering a decent anti-escapism message without deriding the fans. (Something I wish Hollywood was able to learn)
And I really appreciate that, even from the perspective of a casual viewer with not much knowledge of this franchise.
Discreet, but deliberately injured near the end
kerorogio17 May 2021
Transposition of the most beloved chapter of the saga, in terms of plot. Nothing particularly complex, especially in this summary in CG, but it must be considered the traditionalist soul of the original series, which compared to the more changing and modern Final Fantasy (from the same software house), was deliberately anchored to the origins as an alternative.
The film has a more defined style than the typical lazy Toriyama's models. A functional choice for the transition to 3D, which I think is absolutely positive. Bianca in particular shows her young age better and, although a little more energetic than the video game version, she has been made very pleasant. In general, we are faced with an absolutely decent job, especially considering the fluctuating levels of Japanese transpositions made in computer graphics. Some perplexities remain in the appearance of some monsters, but it can be overlooked.
More difficult to judge is the eternal dilemma of which girl the hero should choose. It is true that one of them is traditionally the most popular, mostly due to its weak past relationship, but it is also true that there has always been a heated debate among fans about who was the best. In the Snes video-game, the choice had no particular advantages and the girls had even become three in the Nintendo DS remaster. The choice will displease someone, but the gimmick used is unexpected, and being the sentimental element an essential component of mid-adventure, they could not postpone it.
The real problem comes in the final part. Without giving you too much anticipation, well, they ruined everything. Wanting to exploit the nostalgia, they interrupted the immersion, and at that point, the protagonist's reflections will hardly be able to involve the viewer.
If they had continued on the classic script, improving the passage of some central parts,especially regarding Alus, I would have appreciated it more. Overall, the viewing was enjoyable, and I enjoyed the occasionally clunky moves, it really suits the reference product.
The film has a more defined style than the typical lazy Toriyama's models. A functional choice for the transition to 3D, which I think is absolutely positive. Bianca in particular shows her young age better and, although a little more energetic than the video game version, she has been made very pleasant. In general, we are faced with an absolutely decent job, especially considering the fluctuating levels of Japanese transpositions made in computer graphics. Some perplexities remain in the appearance of some monsters, but it can be overlooked.
More difficult to judge is the eternal dilemma of which girl the hero should choose. It is true that one of them is traditionally the most popular, mostly due to its weak past relationship, but it is also true that there has always been a heated debate among fans about who was the best. In the Snes video-game, the choice had no particular advantages and the girls had even become three in the Nintendo DS remaster. The choice will displease someone, but the gimmick used is unexpected, and being the sentimental element an essential component of mid-adventure, they could not postpone it.
The real problem comes in the final part. Without giving you too much anticipation, well, they ruined everything. Wanting to exploit the nostalgia, they interrupted the immersion, and at that point, the protagonist's reflections will hardly be able to involve the viewer.
If they had continued on the classic script, improving the passage of some central parts,especially regarding Alus, I would have appreciated it more. Overall, the viewing was enjoyable, and I enjoyed the occasionally clunky moves, it really suits the reference product.
Visually stunning and truly Nostalgic for video game fans!!
cloud_fenrir16 February 2020
I unintentionally watched the film, thought the CG seems pretty nice from the trailer.. and that's the best decision I've made this year!!
The film was really great!! Visually stunning CGi, really nice soundtrack, and to tell you the truth.. the plot twist at the end made me shed my tear!! You could feel how much love was given by these creators.. they really do admire the DQ series..
There's only few problem with the screenplay, but it's understandable.. like FFVII, old game like these couldn't be retold within an hour and a half.. They've already trued their best in adapting and keep up with the best possible.. I truly enjoy the film :))
The film was really great!! Visually stunning CGi, really nice soundtrack, and to tell you the truth.. the plot twist at the end made me shed my tear!! You could feel how much love was given by these creators.. they really do admire the DQ series..
There's only few problem with the screenplay, but it's understandable.. like FFVII, old game like these couldn't be retold within an hour and a half.. They've already trued their best in adapting and keep up with the best possible.. I truly enjoy the film :))
It's Dragon Quest 5 but kinda simplified.
goliv040534 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not saying that it's a bad movie but it could be better. What this film gains in CGI it loses a little in story but it's not so bad. The film's story could have been expanded a bit, the world building the same. The game on which this movie was based is great, so there are plenty of things that can be adapted for the screen. The plot twist on the ending was kinda lame with VR stuff. However, I think that while they failed in this aspect they brought the ending as a tribute to the long-time fans of the franchise. My rating will be 7, but as I said: The film could be better or even more explored.
The ending RUINS the film! No spoilers.
Odd_Adoxographer23 February 2020
Although the game's story is condensed heavily, it is still well done. Everything that's important is here, and of course, the animation is stunning.
Unfortunately, they completely ruin the film by changing the ending in a BAD way. Like, I was so baffled by the ending that I'm like, I'm never seeing this film again.
Extremely disappointed.
Unfortunately, they completely ruin the film by changing the ending in a BAD way. Like, I was so baffled by the ending that I'm like, I'm never seeing this film again.
Extremely disappointed.
A fantastic retelling of a superb game
jjgamingplus14 February 2020
I was a little confused at the choice of straying away from the Akira Toriyama art style, but I have to say that the style of the film has grown on me. The film combines a number of characters from the games and includes just enough reinterpretation of the source material to keep longtime fans guessing at what's coming next.
extremely disappointing
jc66699917 February 2020
This movie's first flaw is the pacing. everything happens too fast and if not familiar with the series, and the game this movie is based on specifically, you're going to get lost pretty fast. its second flaw is that it's made for fans of the series and disregards appealing to anyone else. it's nothing but fan service and nods to the game nonstop. not a good thing. but the third flaw is its most serious flaw: the ending. it completely throws away the whole story up to that point in the dumbest twist possible in an attempt to appeal even more to long time fans of the video games. as if it was necessary at that point in the movie. and i understand what they tried to do but it just doesn't work, when i realized what was happening with the ending i lost all interest and felt i had wasted my time watching the movie up to that point.
the cgi, animation and character design are gorgeous, even with the changing of the way humans look from the original designs by akira toriyama. the monsters look better than ever but the voice acting and humor are just ok, standard for a japanese animation movie. huge disappointment for a long time dragon quest fan.
the cgi, animation and character design are gorgeous, even with the changing of the way humans look from the original designs by akira toriyama. the monsters look better than ever but the voice acting and humor are just ok, standard for a japanese animation movie. huge disappointment for a long time dragon quest fan.
A fanfare for people who played the game years ago
chibilola16 August 2019
As someone who played Dragon Quest V, long ago the story beats and characters are there. After the fact, I really appreciated the efforts that provided the excitement and with the context of your story.
All the bits and pieces of what makes Dragon Quest is present, and if you have played the game I'm sure it'll recall the moments and emotion that'll yearn for the world you know and love. Which is the point.
This isn't going to change your experience with your adventure, only reignite it.
All the bits and pieces of what makes Dragon Quest is present, and if you have played the game I'm sure it'll recall the moments and emotion that'll yearn for the world you know and love. Which is the point.
This isn't going to change your experience with your adventure, only reignite it.
Tight retelling of DQ5 - the end smashes you in the face
clarkmick3319 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Movies based on video games rarely get things right so was not expecting too much from this however I got to say things in the story remained quite true to the source.... however I think this would have been better as an anime mini series as the pace is all over the place and the tone seems quite dark at the start then gets really light and comical then drops back into dark.
I was weirder out by the seemly teenage characters getting married and having kids.... but looking past that the story near the end and fight scenes are very entertaining... then the ending .... oh boy..... it was a surprise .... but not a good surprise.... no it's like a poo in your shoe type surprise.... yes all the reality is revealed to be game.... (so how does the baby making work?!) .... the "virus" character tells the hero to grow up and stop being a loser .... and I was like wow this guy is right! Those fan boys and girls who cling to these alternate realities are pretty much losers.... it is pretty much a giant middle finger to the fans and those who play said games and have fond memories. I think this surprise was not great and kind of burned anyone who was a fan
How can people rate this low
pampu-1519915 February 2020
I have no idea how can people rate badly this movie, i have never played a single dragon quest ever but this movie was so good both visually and as storytelling that i almost cried at the ending, it blasted me with an ending message that almost anyone that watch these kind of movie can relate to.
Pacing doesn't exist
jamiebcartwright2 March 2020
I'll be blunt, i hated this movie.
I don't know anything about Dragon Quest apart from that it is a very popular RPG game in Japan but I am a fan of the art director and fantasy worlds in general so jumped into this with optimism.
It all falls apart. Let's break it down:
I hated it. The only redeeming factor is that I acknowledge the time and effort that went into the animation of it but everything about it sucked.
It all falls apart. Let's break it down:
- The film doesn't have any sense of pace or story telling direction. You jump through ludicrous names, locations and events all within 9 minutes of the movie with time skipping, character development flying by and by 25 minutes in, I had no idea who anyone was or any kind of connection to any character because the film doesn't allow you to digest what is happening. It's GO GO GO.
- The art style is pretty wack. It can look pretty in scenes but doesn't look anything like Akira Toriyama's art which it's based on and it looks incredibly plastic. Also, the characters eyes are really far apart and there is a lot of derpy faces going on. It's like it wanted to be Anime but realistic at the same time?
- The animation is very weirdly distracting and loose. Every character never stops fidgeting or moving. For example, when two characters are "trying" to explain something, they're hopping all over the place and overly emoting like crazy so it just distracts you.
- Dialog flies by waaaay too fast. This causes issues in that one; you have really got to play attention to the subs and two, if you're watching the dub they talk faster than your brain can acknowledge.
I hated it. The only redeeming factor is that I acknowledge the time and effort that went into the animation of it but everything about it sucked.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
