Sad (or triumphant, however you look at it) as it may be, this short film actually out Dungeons-and-Dragons the official "Dungeons and Dragons" movie that came out years before. By brilliantly and hilariously segueing between the real players and the fantasy characters their actions affect, this film authentically captures what a true tabletop role playing game (RPG) session entails, and the fun of imagining how your decisions plays out in-game.Despite the fact that this film had practically no budget, and all parties on both sides of the camera have little to no experience, the writing, direction, and editing more than compensate for these issues, as many of the jokes roll 20 and score a direct hit.If you've ever cast the die, or were curious about what is the appeal of tabletop RPGs, then you must find a way to see this film at least once in your lifetime.

The Gamers shows five guys involved in a role playing game in their dorm on a Friday night. As they play the game, scenes from the story are acted out, inter-cut with the discussion in the dorm. It is an incredibly simple adventure, and the five are interrupted several times by an angry resident who is trying to study.I was surprised to see so many positive reviews by people who seem to know about gaming. Do gamers actually like this movie? Do they find it authentic? All I can say is, if this is what gaming is usually like, I don't feel like I'm missing out. I have to believe that people are coming up with more complex stuff than what these guys pretend to play.Spoilers: In their adventure, they start out in a tavern. They kill an angry guy they had met on a previous adventure, then get a message from a princess who wants to be rescued. They get into a fight in a forest with some bandits, then enter a dungeon and kill the evil Shadow. The way the movie ends is with the characters from the scenes depicted the adventure bust into the dorm room and kill the kids playing the game, who are their real-life counterparts. It's short and cheap, and apparently a lot of people who have played D&D think it's funny. I thought it seemed kind of stereotypical in how it portrayed the guys playing the game, but maybe this is how most games really sound.

As someone who has never really played an RPG, I'd just like to take the time to comment. I used to think of gamers as a pathetic lot who couldn't socialize in a real world and therefore had to find a fantasy land in which to associate with other introverts. Now I know I was right...but the movie was hysterical and I can sympathize a little better. Though short, the plot was catchy and the jokes, even if I missed a few were fairly apparent and quite amusing. With all the appropriate characters of any good story and a wit scarily similar to my own, I can honestly say I was at least giggling throughout the entire film. Just sit back and take it for what it is...a movie about life as a few know it made with $500 and a roll of the dice.

This little movie is vastly better than it had any real right to be. When sitting down to watch a movie made about fantasy roleplaying by gamers on a shoestring budget, I was ready to cringe. Instead, the whole thing was well-paced, always funny and professional in every way (given the budget constraints). The DVD purchase is highly recommended. I eagerly await the next Dead Gentlemen production.