Dragonslayer (1981)

Dragonslayer (1981)
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A special-effects laden medieval fantasy adventure, Dragonslayer centers on the attempts of a young sorcerer's apprentice to defeat a vicious dragon and save a lovely young maiden. Peter MacNicol stars as the young Galen, an aspiring magician under the tutelage of the aging Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). A nearby village turns to the pair for help when their leader begins proffering sacrifices of young virgins to satisfy a vicious dragon. The two immediately set out for battle, becoming even more determined when a courageous princess offers to sacrifice herself to the creature. Unfortunately, Ulrich's failing abilities force Galen into the center of the conflict, where the uncertain young boy must prove himself under fire. The suitably mythic if somewhat predictable story is told straightforwardly, culminating in a spectacular battle against the beast, featuring Academy Award-nominated visual effects. Despite its visual flair and relatively positive reviews, the film received mediocre response at the box office, as some criticized the film's violence as too intense for its intended younger audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Starring:
Peter MacNicolCaitlin Clarke, (more)
Director(s):
Matthew Robbins
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG
Format(s):
DVD  | Digital SD
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Synopsis of Dragonslayer

A special-effects laden medieval fantasy adventure, Dragonslayer centers on the attempts of a young sorcerer's apprentice to defeat a vicious dragon and save a lovely young maiden. Peter MacNicol stars as the young Galen, an aspiring magician under the tutelage of the aging Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). A nearby village turns to the pair for help when their leader begins proffering sacrifices of young virgins to satisfy a vicious dragon. The two immediately set out for battle, becoming even more determined when a courageous princess offers to sacrifice herself to the creature. Unfortunately, Ulrich's failing abilities force Galen into the center of the conflict, where the uncertain young boy must prove himself under fire. The suitably mythic if somewhat predictable story is told straightforwardly, culminating in a spectacular battle against the beast, featuring Academy Award-nominated visual effects. Despite its visual flair and relatively positive reviews, the film received mediocre response at the box office, as some criticized the film's violence as too intense for its intended younger audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
109 mins

Complete Cast of Dragonslayer


Director(s):
Matthew Robbins
Writer(s):
Matthew RobbinsHal Barwood
Producer(s):
Hal Barwood
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG(Suitable for Teens, Brief Nudity, Violence, Mild Violence, Questionable for Children)
Categories:
Sci-Fi & FantasyAction / Adventure
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    Raif C.

    I still remember seeing this movie in the theater some 25 years ago. Yes, the story is as old as storytelling itself but it is a good story full of learning lessons for the characters and viewers alike. Oh yeah, the final battle is as good as Star Wars stuff even without all the computer graphics. And the epilogue of the King taking credit is a great and unfortunately realistic twist. The Dragon is THE BEST ONE yet - simply a ferocious animal filled with killing mayhem.

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    Eric H.

    Review 415: '81 fantasy tale relying on FX so advance they didn't exist until 7 years later for Willow, but still suffers poor script & far too little dragon footage for such a title, but what a great cover image!

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    WILLIAM H.

    i seem to watch this movie every 10 years and every time i watch it there is always a little something i missed before. i did notice this last time that some of the actors just didnt seem to have their hearts in all the sceens but all the special effects where very good for that time.

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