Dragonslayer | Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke | Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a...

Dragonslayer | Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke | Dragonslayer

DVDs:

Dragonslayer

	Dragonslayer Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke Paramount, 2003 average customer review:based on 114 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon

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.

for more information click here

Dragonslayer

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

Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon

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.

for more information click here

This dragon is the BEST!!!

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.

for more information click here

DRAGONSLAYER: The movie with the best dragon.

I was 9 years old when this movie first came out in 1981, but I never got to see it. DRAGONSLAYER has both excellent production values and outstanding special effects that still hold up very well today. The set locations (Scotland and Wales) I found to be especially beautiful and attractive and very fitting for the medieval feel of the picture. The film's dragon, creatively named "Vermithrax Pejorative", is wholly convincing and adds immensely to the story and, I think, is the STAR of the show. The pyrotechnics (fire effects) are also handled superbly throughout. Dennis Muren was Visual Effect Supervisor for DRAGONSLAYER. The previous year (1980) Muren had worked on George Lucas' THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and the following year (1982) he supervised E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL for Steven Spieldberg.
The only real drawback to the picture, I think, is the casting for the lead; Peter MacNicol. MacNicol's presence as a young dragon-slaying hero is weak and just does not fit him. He's not the hero type. I would've much rather seen someone like Matthew Broderick play the part. The means by which the dragon is destroyed is also disappointing. He's not killed by the DRAGONSLAYER, but by an exploding wizard (?) ... I don't get it. The DVD also does not have any extras, no trailers, no making-of features and no commentaries, just the bare bones. Regardless, the film is worth seeing, if not just for the outstanding dragon effects.

for more information click here