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The Dungeonmaster
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = The Dungeonmaster
| image = Dungeonmaster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director =
| producer = Charles Band
| writer =
| starring =
| music =
| cinematography = Mac Ahlberg
| editing =
| distributor = Empire Pictures
| released =
| runtime = 73 minutes
| language = English
| country = United States
| studio = Charles Band production
}}
'The Dungeonmaster' (originally 'Ragewar: The Challenges of Excalibrate' and 'Digital Knights') is a 1984 American anthology fantasy film produced by Charles Band, and is split up into seven distinct story segments, each written and directed by a different person: Dave Allen, Band, John Carl Buechler, Steven Ford, Peter Manoogian, Ted Nicolaou and Rosemarie Turko. The film's theme was influenced by the popularity of Disney's 1982 film 'Tron' and the roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons.
Principal photography began in 1983 but the film was not completed until 1984. The film features an appearance by the heavy metal band W.A.S.P. The film is known for the line of dialogue "I reject your reality and I substitute my own". A sequel to the movie was shot and edited in 1988, but never completed.
Plot
Paul Bradford (Jeffrey Byron) is a skilled computer programmer who lives with his girlfriend, Gwen (Leslie Wing), and "X-CaliBR8", a quasi-sentient personal computer that Paul programmed and which he interacts with via a neural interface. Gwen is jealous of Paul's unusually close relationship with X-CaliBR8, to whom Paul has given a female voice, and fears that their relationship will be destroyed by Paul's reliance on X-CaliBR8 for his various day-to-day activities.
One night, Paul and Gwen are both transported to a Hellish realm presided over by Mestema (Richard Moll), an ancient, demonic sorcerer who has spent millennia seeking a worthy opponent with whom to do battle. Having long defeated his enemies with magic, Mestema has become intrigued with technology, and wishes to pit his skills against Paul's, with the winner claiming Gwen. Arming Paul with a portable version of X-CaliBR8 (which takes the form of a computerized wrist band), Mestema begins transporting Paul into a variety of scenarios in which he must defeat various opponents. Most of the challenges involve Paul using his X-CaliBR8 wristband to shoot people, monsters, and objects with laser beams.
After Paul completes Mestema's various challenges, the two engage in a final battle, which takes the form of a fist fight in which Paul kills Mestema by throwing him into a pit of lava. After Mestema dies, Paul and Gwen are transported back to their house, where Gwen expresses her acceptance of X-CaliBR8 and suggests that she and Paul get married.
Cast
* Jeffrey Byron - Paul Bradford, a skilled computer programmer who invented X-CaliBR8
* Richard Moll - Mestema
* Leslie Wing - Gwen Rogers, Pauls girlfriend
* Phil Fondacaro - Stone Canyon People
* Cleve Hall - Jack the Ripper
* Anthony T. Genova III - Desert Soldier
* Lonnie Hashimoto - Samurai
* Chris Holmes - W.A.S.P. Guitar Player
* Michael Steve Jones - Desert Soldier
* Peter Kent - Zombie
* Blackie Lawless - W.A.S.P. Singer
* Paul Pape - Police Officer (uncredited)
* Randy Piper - W.A.S.P. Guitar Player
* Randy Popplewell - Desert Soldier
* Tony Richards - W.A.S.P. Drummer
* Felix Silla - Desert Bandit
* Kenneth J. Hall - Wolfman
* Jack Reed - Mummy
* John Carl Buechler - Ratspit
Segments
* "Stone Canyon Giant" (David Allen)
* "Heavy Metal" (Charles Band)
* "Demons of the Dead" (John Carl Buechler)
* "Slasher" (Steven Ford)
* "Cave Beast" (Peter Manoogian)
* "Desert Pursuit" (Ted Nicolaou)
* "Ice Gallery" (Rosemarie Turko)
Release
Scream Factory released the film on DVD for the first time in October 2013, along with 'Contamination 7', 'Catacombs' and 'Cellar Dweller' as part of the second volume of their 'Scream Factory All-Night Horror Marathon' series.
Shout! Factory released 'The Dungeonmaster' on a double feature Blu-ray along with 'Eliminators' in December 2015.
In pop culture
In 'MythBusters', Adam Savage quotes this movie.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/2WFFhicVeXI Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210204155720/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WFFhicVeXI Wayback Machine]:
The film is referenced in the 11th episode of 'Sword Art Online Abridged' by Something Witty Entertainment.
References
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