Dragonslayer

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Despite its box-office failure in 1981, Dragonslayer was gradually recognized as one of the finest fantasies to emerge from the post-Star Wars boom in special effects. It's still one of the best adventures of its kind, featuring one of the most fearsome fire-breathing serpents in movie history. Ominously named Vermithrax Pejorative, this ill-tempered monster terrorizes the peasantry of sixth-century England, feeding on maidens sacrificed by a duplicitous king until a sorcerer's apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol, long before Ally McBeal) is recruited as a reluctant hero. Aided by a tenacious beauty (Caitlin Clarke) and his resurrected mentor (Ralph Richardson), Galen confronts the soaring beast in a breathtaking climax. Employing a then-innovative technique called Go-Motion to animate the dragon, the special effects are still dazzling, and stunning locations in Scotland and Wales allow director Matthew Robbins (cowriter of Steven Spielberg's feature debut, The Sugarland Express) to maintain a vivid atmosphere for the wealth of movie magic. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Micro fantasy film.......2007-08-27

I have admitted previously that I am not a big fan of fantasy films with magic, fairies and unicorns in them. However, this being the first of the genre I was exposed to as a child left an impression on me. It was one of those movies they ran all the time on HBO when we first got cable. Seeing it as an adult is another matter all together.

Nearly 30 years before Ally McBeal, Peter McNichol plays an ernest peasent boy / sourcerer's apprentice who is approached by a group of equally concerned peasents in a neighboring village. Twice a year on the summer and winter equinox, they sacrifice a virgin to appease a dragon. They are looking for help so they don't have to keep giving up their damsels and hope to emplore the skills of the sourcerer. Peter McNichol joins the group in their trip back to their home village, and discovers quite by accident that the leader of the group is a woman disguised as a boy. She said since she was born, her father has dressed her as a boy to keep her from the virgin lottery. It's given her many opportunities that she otherwise would not have had, let alone increase her chances of staying alive.

What I liked about this movie best was the relationship between the crown and it's subjects, and the struggle of the haves and have nots. Like the masquerading boy says to Peter, her father is poor and cannot afford to pay the bribes to say out of the lottery. They have to resort to other means of avoidance. Their king is arrogant and uncaring, saying only a few of their children are being sacrificed and it's not really a concern. When his own daughter, Princess Elsbeth, learns that her name is not on the list of possible sacrifices, and some of the townspeople are paying bribes to stay out of the lottery, she altruisticly puts herself as the one and only in the grab bag. When the king witnesses this, he is of course terrified, but she announces that she will give up her own life to appease for the risk they have taken and she had not due to her status. The dragon, of course, is then slayed by our hero. But, the damsel in distress (Princess Elsbeth) is not rescued, but still gives up her life. She's the real hero of this story.

This dragon is the BEST!!!.......2007-08-26

So what if the special effects didn't cost $200 million. Did you see 'Hulk'? It was horrible. Some silly looking 'video game Hulk' bouncing around the city'. Ridiculous. Did you see 'Spider-Man'? A good film, but the CGI effects showed exactly what 'Spider-Man' is: a special effect. 'Dragonslayer' doesn't have those highly expensive CGI effects. What it does have (way back in 1981) is a fine cast, lead by a sorceror's apprentice (regardless of what some say about Peter MacNicol's casting, I thought he was perfect), and Sir. Ralph Richardson, perfect as the sorceror, a good supporting cast, and a 'model' dragon that easily puts the dragons in 'Dragonheart', 'Reign of Fire' and the silly 'Eragon' to shame. Frequent Spielberg/Lucas visual effects man Dennis Muren ('E.T.', 'The Empire Strikes Back', 'Jedi', 'Jurassic Park', etc.) also worked on this film, and it shows. This dragon is the real thing. Ancient and scaly, bitter, terrifying, and unsympathetic. It's simply menacing. This is a beast that nightmares are made of. And this dragon was shot WITHOUT the aid of computers. Yet the effects look BETTER than today's CGI monstrosities. This dragon is truly a work of art. The bar has been set with 'Dragonslayer', so another filmmaker is going to have to do it better than Matthew Robbins' excellent fantasy, and that won't be easy. I do hope Paramount and Disney (they co-produced the film) put out a 2-disc set. A documentary about the making of the film featuring Dennis Muren, Matthew Robbins, and some of the cast members would certainly be entertaining, and well worth the purchase.

Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon .......2007-08-12

A novice magician finds himself taking the place of his recently killed mentor to help a group of villagers do one thing they can't seem to manage on their own - they want him to help them carve up a dragon. Along the way he finds that not everyone is happy with this notion; apparently the king of the area has issued a lottery amongst the people and, as long as virgins are fed to the dragon at a decent pace, the dragon doesn't happen upon the kingdom or the towns and their wonderfully crafted straw roofs. This leads to other angles that come out of the proverbial blue, including love and treachery, the place where dreams go to die, and the cost of doing anything - even if you think you are ding the "right" thing.

One of the things I've noticed throughout the years is that movies can be deceptive in a number of ways. First of all the movie itself can be deceptive, secondly there can be deception on the part of the mainstream media when they talk about movies, and then there's the little lie that box-office sales oftentimes tells. Many times a person can be led to thnk that a movie isn't good because of the money it makes when, in act, it was simply overlooked by the public for one reason or another. That was the thing about Dragonslayer - it was overlooked when it was made and, sometimes, it still finds itself on the wrong side of memory.

While Dragonslayer is one of those movies that doesn't really get the credit it deserves, it really does deserve to be on the big stage with a lot of the better fantasy movies ever made. Not only are the effects beautifully-rendered and the story one that people will find themselves in love with, but it is also a tale that deals with the question of humanity and monstrosity and what, exactly, can change even the darkest hearts. When I first watched this movie I was six, not exactly a film critic then but still knowing a good movie when I saw it, and I was amazed by the things that existed in the movie. There was one scene in particular that stuck with me; in a cavern filled with fire, I saw a man that looked almost incapable of being infamous walk across liquid flame and explain the duality of what men oftentimes consider "good" and how it co-exists with "evil."
It was an amazing lesson to hear then; it is still an amazing speech to hear now.

Personally, I like movies that deal with dragons and I like those that deal with spells BUT I like both to be rendered well. In Dragonslayer you find both of them done in a way that lets even the movie layman fall in love with the visuals, and the plot simply strengthens that effect. These things, combined with the fact that the movie has never really cost that much to watch, makes this movie more than a common entry into the world of fantasy. It makes it part steal, part love affair, and something for all types of audiences.
I recommend it highly.

Dragonslayer.......2007-07-15

I loved The Dragonslaayer. It was a very intense movie. Lots of action and the acting was superb.

Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon.......2007-04-29

I caught about 10-15 minutes of "Dragonslayer" on TV a few months back, which was my first exposure to this film, and I determined right then and there to eventually purchase it. When I finally bought it I watched it TWICE, something I rarely do.

THE STORY: A medieval kingdom is harrassed by a dragon, apparently the last of its species. The people decide to appease the horrific beast with regular sacrifices of virgin maidens. The virgins are selected through a questionable lottery system. When the King's daughter is picked for sacrifice, the monarch employs a sorcerer's apprentice, Peter MacNicol, to slay the dragon.

"Dragonslayer" takes the "Jaws" route by not fully showing the beast until well into the second hour of the film. Prior to that revealing moment the film expertly builds up a heap of horrific anticipation concerning the creature. The first virgin sacrifice scene is particularly terrifying. When we finally DO see the monster it's definitely not a let down. Many viewers attest that this dragon is the best dragon to ever appear in film, even though the picture was made in 1981.

I've heard some complain that the protagonist, MacNicol, was wrong for the role. Nothing could be further from the truth. He's easy to relate to because he's a flawed human being with naive, boyish qualities, not a larger-than-life superhero (like, say, Conan or Beastmaster). I've also heard some complain that the heroine, Caitlin Clarke, is too "man-ish" looking. Well, duh, that fits into the whole sacrificial lottery plot. When Caitlin ultimately and uncertainly dons a dress and make-up she's woman enough.

The Dark Age sets/costumes/locations really impressed me. If you're in the mood for a top-of-the-line medieval flick with castles, dungeons, forests, villages, fair maidens, kings, sorcerers, etc. this is the one to see.

"Dragonslayer" was an inexplicable flop when it was released in 1981, perhaps due to the glut of similar-themed pictures at the time. Regardless, it can now be treasured on DVD. It took me over 25 years to witness its magnificence but I finally did.

Average customer rating:

Micro fantasy film
This dragon is the BEST!!!
Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon
Dragonslayer
Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon

Dragonslayer [Region 2]
Starring: Peter MacNicol , Caitlin Clarke , Ralph Richardson , John Hallam , and Peter Eyre
Director: Matthew Robbins
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0001KZNME

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Customer Reviews:

Micro fantasy film.......2007-08-27

This dragon is the BEST!!!.......2007-08-26

Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon .......2007-08-12

Dragonslayer.......2007-07-15

I loved The Dragonslaayer. It was a very intense movie. Lots of action and the acting was superb.

Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon.......2007-04-29

Average customer rating:

The Rage of Gina

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00078Y0Y2

Product Description

The triangle of Gina, Judy, and Woody came to head where Gina discovered the secret of the Dragonslayer Sword and the Heaven Sword. Vowed to get her man. The final of the Dragonslayer Sword triology ties up all the loose ends with flair, fanfare and fantastic fight scenes. It is indeed a fitting ending to a brilliant story.

Rising Son Legend of the Dragonslayer Sword II

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Rising Son Legend of the Dragonslayer Sword II

Manufacturer: Jalisco Films
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Binding: DVD

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Dolby Digital Dolby Surround

ASIN: B000PBNCYU

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The legend of the Dragonslayer Sword is a classic story of greed, power, friendship and love. Told in spectacular scenery with unbelievable sword fights and kung fu confrontations.

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Legend Of The Dragonslayer Sword

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English Language version

ASIN: B000UPQZZ4

Product Description

In the closing years of the Yuan Dynasty in China the courts were corrupted, natural disasters were rampant, there were uprising everywhere. The people live in fear. Many swordsmen and kung fu masters voiced their complaints but they were not united. Rather they fought for supremacy by trying to be sole owner of the Dragonslayer Sword. Steven and Susan were from two different kung fu clans and fate brought them together amidst chaos and mayhem for the Dragonslayer Sword. One driven by love, the other by doing the right thing, the two fought against all odds to live a normal life. Reality dealt them a hand that results in bloodshed and tragedy. It was up to their son Woody to discover the secret of the Sword. The LEGEND OF THE DRAGONSLAYER SWORD is a classic story of greed, power, friendship and love. Told in spectacular scenery with unbelievable sword fights and kung fu confrontations, this movie will move you like no other you have seen before.

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