DRAGONSLAYER (1981)

DRAGONSLAYER (1981)

Tagline: In the Dark Ages, Magic was a weapon. Love was a mystery. Adventure was everywhere... And Dragons were real.

(Action, Fantasy, Vermithrax Pejorative) [PG]

No. In fact, if it weren't for sorcerers, there wouldn't be any dragons. Once, the skies were dotted with them. Magnificent horned backs, leathern wings... soaring... and their hot-breathed wind. Oh, I know this creature of yours... Vermithrax Pejorative.

Oh man, in this one we are taken back to the dark ages where a kind made a pact with a freakin dragon. In exchange for a steady diet of virgin sacrifices, the dragon leaves the king’s kingdom alone. Only now the next virgin in line is the king's daughter and he is going to need a young wizard apprentice named Galen and companions to slay the dragon and save his daughter. 

Gotta love dark-ages politics. I guess this dragon is considered one of the best ever filmed even to this day. They actually went through painstaking efforts on this thing to make it epic and they definitely succeeded. Using a newer version of stop motion called “go-motion” which was computer programmed resulting in smoother transitions. They also made a giant dragon and used several models as well. Unlike some of the other “swords and sorcery” movies of the day, this thing had a giant budget and some really solid acting talents brought in so that really helps this film out. 

To be honest, I have glossed over this thing for almost 4 decades now because I am must not all that into fantasy dragon stuff, but here we are. I was wrong. I should not have passed on this one till now. If I have a few complaints it’s that, outside of a few sorcery “Jedi-like” scenes including, “moving rocks”, the first 45 minutes of this storyline drag along at a snail’s pace with a few sections that introduce the characters, but if you throw out the solid acting, this would have felt very generic. 

Acting wise this is Peter MacNicol’s first theatrical role. He is still to this day probably best known as the creepy dude from GHOSTBUSTERS II and plays Galen in this. Ralph Richardson is solid in this as Ulrich, but my favorite role of his is still the “Supreme Being” in TIME BANDITS. Caitlin Clarke who plays Valerian is also pretty good in this. She continued acting till 2001 and is probably most famous for playing Simone in CROCODILE DUNDEE. Valerian is quite the motivational speaker in this...(sarcasm). 

At least in part inspired by “St. George and the Dragon”, they end up doing a pretty great job with a simplistic story but as per usual. I could have done without the first half hour. When you consider this thing was filmed in 1980, the effects are stellar and the final act especially is outstanding. I also like when I want these characters to live. The only person I really didn’t care for was the king that shows up. Even one of the main soldiers chasing Galen has a fun personality. 

I have to give this one a 6 out of 7 just for lack of finding anything major to pick on. Overall it’s the best of the 1980s dragon flicks I’ve seen and when you start looking at “best of” lists of dragon movies this flick always pops up somewhere on that list. 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

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