Dragonslayer

Starring:Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson, John Hallam, Peter Eyre, Albert Salmi, Sydney Bromley, Chloe Salaman, Emrys James, Roger Kemp, Ian McDiarmid, Ken Shorter, Jason White, Yolanda Vazquez, Douglas Cooper, Alf Mangan, David Mount, James Payne, Chris Twinn
Director: Matthew Robbins
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

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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:

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.

Young Galen has the hots for a girl dressed like a guy.......2007-04-17

Galen goes a trip, when his master is killed.

DRAGONSLAYER: The movie with the best dragon........2007-04-03

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.

All Hail Vermithrax Pejorative!.......2007-03-28

I was eleven when this film came out, and it was instantly one of my favorites - and still manages to be.

The dragon Vermithrax is hands down the best dragon ever created for film. There has not been a single movie with a dragon since that has managed to create the look and feel of what a dragon should be better than Vermithrax. Reign of Fire's creatures were close, but Vermithrax takes the title.

On that note, I can't help feel sorry for the old girl. Sure, people think she's evil, but really she was just a mother looking out for her young. Little ones gotta eat, y'know. People aren't always the top of the food chain, something we always seem to forget.

A good family movie if your kids are say 11 or older. Yes, there's violence, yes, there's a baby dragon gobbling up a girl (eating through her ankle more specifically) but it's no more violent or gory than the recent LOTR movies.

If you love Dragons, you'll love Dragonslayer.

One of the smallest big-budget films I have seen........2007-02-28

"Dragonslayer" is one of my favorite 1980's fantasy pieces. Sadly, it was obscured by the bigger flicks--"Clash of the Titans," "The Dark Crystal," "Never-Ending Story" and the perennial "Princess Bride,"--plus the other bigger-budget SF films, Star Trek II-V and Star Wars V-VI. For me, I like that it is not the big budget spectacular that the other films were, and did not have the distracting all-star gala-feel that "Titans" had. Similar to the City of Reno, it is the one of the smallest big-budget films I have seen.

Hence, we are treated to two unknowns--Peter MacNicol (Ghostbusters II, Alley McBeal, 24) and Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Darth Sidious) in a "don't blink or you'll miss him" role as Brother Jacobus. Lucas would agree--this enhances the story, since you focus on the film, rather then the distracting game of "Where's Waldo" that familiar faces can breed.

The film is essentially a milieu piece--the faux Middle English middle England that is the basis for all post-Tolkien fantasy. But the theme is the arresting thing: it is about the corrupt leadership that makes a deal with the devil (or the dragon in this story) to keep the peace at the price of a pentannual sacrifice of a fair virgin.

This deal itself is corrupt--suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune instead of taking up arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them--but the corruption runs deeper. First, the king and other nobility exempt their daughters, sending the peasant girls instead. Much like wartime drafts.

The second issue is how this set up affects Valerian. When her father disguises her as a boy to avoid the draft-lottery, he inadvertently alienates her from herself and he sexuality. When she dons the dress at the effigy-burning, she embraces who she is, especially her sexuality. The dance with Galen is symbolically obvious.

Lastly, Casiodorus Rex is so base, so superficial that he claims credit for slaying the dragon. In retrospect, this was to be expected.

This film is full of heroics. We have Galan mantleing himself as a wizard--no angst, no refusals of the call, but brash gusto. Valerian courageously end-runs around the corrupt king and hires a dragonslayer. The Blacksmith forges the spear behind the back of said corrupt king. (This is a perfect Daddy-Daughter team-up.) Princess Elspeth gives her life in order to save the peasants--a reverse Marie Antoinette. And then Ulrich the Wizard takes James bond's advice and dies twice to slay the dragon.

The coda-ending was a gag, but the gag worked, since it rounded out the theme of the corrupt system, and Galan and Valrian turning their back to the whole mess, and making their way . . . and with magic in the air.

The special effects still stand up. Instead of doing the Harryhausen stop-motion (as was done in "Titans"), they opted for go-motion, puppetry, and animation. The overall effect is eerily realistic, and aportent of things to come. In fact, the SFX stand up to the next great dragon movie, "Reign of Fire."

The film is rated PG, but I suggest a PG-13 rating, due to the graphic deaths of Princess Elspeth and Brother Jacobus (the gnawing lizardlings and the charred body were too much), and the "revealing" skinny-dipping scene. Parents beware.

Average customer rating:

Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon
Young Galen has the hots for a girl dressed like a guy
DRAGONSLAYER: The movie with the best dragon.
All Hail Vermithrax Pejorative!
One of the smallest big-budget films I have seen.

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

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Customer Reviews:

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

Young Galen has the hots for a girl dressed like a guy.......2007-04-17

Galen goes a trip, when his master is killed.

DRAGONSLAYER: The movie with the best dragon........2007-04-03

All Hail Vermithrax Pejorative!.......2007-03-28

One of the smallest big-budget films I have seen........2007-02-28

Average customer rating:

The Rage of Gina

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Average customer rating:

Rising Son Legend of the Dragonslayer Sword II

Manufacturer: Jalisco Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Dolby Digital Dolby Surround

ASIN: B000PBNCYU

Product Description

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.

DVD:

DVD