Dragonslayer
Picture: B- Sound: B- Extras: D Film: B-
The dark ages, medieval
times, and even fantasy have all taken their toll on the world of
filmmaking. There is something about
this genre that never translates over to film the way that it should. Looking back on the history of cinema it is
hard to recall any fantasy-based films that have been successful either
financially or critically, with exception of the recent Lord of the Rings
explosion. One reason perhaps is the
fact that these films never get the money needed in order to make them into the
productions that they should or could be.
It is such a risky market, but the 1980’s saw some of the biggest
explosions of this genre. The
Beastmaster (1982), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the
Destroyer (1984), Legend (1985), and Willow (1988) are just
an example of this. While some were
turning towards sci-fi based action others were going for more straight on
action as with the Indiana Jones saga (reviewed on this site).
One film that in some ways
started before these others was 1981’s Dragonslayer, which is the story
about a young apprentice who must take the place of the recently deceased
Wizard in an attempt to stop a King from sacrificing virgins to a dragon. The king made a deal with the dragon in an
attempt to make peace, but is he willing to go to the lengths of sacrificing
his own daughter? Starring as the young
apprentice is Peter MacNicol, making this his debut film before going on the
following year in Alan J. Pakula’s poignant Sophie’s Choice. MacNicol never really went onto bigger
things, but he managed to appear here and there in the 1980’s and then in the
90’s get a bigger break in TV; appearing in shows like Roswell, Chicago Hope,
and Ally McBeal. His performance in Dragonslayer
is acceptable considering his carries the movie, and it’s his first role. The rest of the cast is comprised of other
half-knowns or older English actors such as Ralph Richardson, this being on of
his last pictures along with Time Bandits.
Making its way to DVD
land, Dragonslayer is given a fair 2.35 X 1 transfer that looks ok, but
nothing spectacular. The biggest
problems are in the darker scenes as the blacks are never deep enough and
detail can be a problem from time to time.
Lighter scenes have occasional smearing and this appears to be a
recycled analog transfer most likely dating back to the LaserDisc. Believe it or not, but this film was
actually given 70mm blow-up prints, but this DVD does not demonstrate the type
of quality. Even the remixed Dolby
Digital 5.1 soundtrack sounds more like a Pro Logic source with most of the
action taking place in the forward portion of the soundstage. Considering the $18 million dollar budget,
and the lack of big actors, the money mostly went to its visual effects (on the
Dragons in particular, which were running so late, exhibition preview prints
had to watch sketches in place of final effects).
Disappointing to this
release is the exclusion of any supplements, not even a lousy trailer! With the cult status of this film, the
long-awaited DVD, and the market being flooded with extras, it is hard to
believe that this film did not get any treatment whatsoever! Boo.
Why Paramount is not going more in the way of extras to enhance their
catalog is beyond anyone. Fans will
certainly appreciate the fact that Dragonslayer is finally on DVD, but
this average edition makes any consumer slightly hesitant, even in the world of
fantasy some things do come true.
- Nate Goss
