Rating: 
Summary: Finally here!
Review: I have been waiting for this DVD for 2 years! This story was well done and until very recently the dragon in this film was unmatched by any special effects standard. I think that even today it stands in the top 2 most realistic dragon renditions ever. I loved this movie as a kid and now I get to add it to my DVD collection, finally.
Rating: 
Summary: DRAGONSLAYER gets its wings.
Review: It's about time this cool little movie gets to DVD. Overlooked at time of release, this flick had some state of the art fx, and a great story to boot. Should look and sound nice digitally. This is an example of why DVD is such a cool format, this flick came out in '81 and you can watch it the way it looked in the theater (if not better). A recommended slice of fantasy/adventure.
Rating:
Summary: It's About Time!
Review: I can remember watching DRAGONSLAYER in the movie theatres during my high school years, and, as I understand it, the DVD transfer is going to be upgraded from what was released on Laser Disc not long after the film's theatrical run.This has always been one of my favorite stories to come out of the Great (19)Eighties of film. The Go-Motion Effects by ILM were at the beginning of their use in feature films, but that doesn't stop this dragon from crawling around caves in search of the inadvertant hero sent to serve as slayer. Also, the flying sequences clearly influenced the effects of later films (DRAGONHEART, REIGN OF FIRE, etc.). As a matter of fact, among my circle of friends, I don't know of a "dragon" picture, per se, that doesn't warrant comparisons back to DRAGONSLAYER. One great dragon. One great sorcerer. One great hero. And one great (surprise, surprise!) sidekick (of sorts). DRAGONSLAYER is one great film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best of its genre
Review: The 80s were a curious era for fantasy movies. After "Star Wars", the public seemed ready for stories featuring imaginative qualities. (Star Wars itself is a fairy tale thinly disguised as science fiction). "Conan the Barbarian" also helped make pseudo-historical stories about ancient times popular. And still, movie directors didn't seem to quite grasp a hold of what a good fantasy movie should contain. Of the often mediocre sword-and-sorcery affairs the 80s produced, "Dragonslayer" stands out. "Dragonslayer" is a tale of a sorcerer and a dragon that he must destroy. It is a fantasy story in the most classical sense of the word, a dark tale where good must win, but often at great expense, in this story in no less than two deaths, one of which will greatly surprise the audience. Perhaps it was the dark tone of the story that turned contemporary audience off the movie, but I regard it as its greatest asset. The special effects might look just a little out-dated, but they still hold well for audience today. The acting is again a slight problem, just a little contrived fo the most part, with the exception of the sorcerer, performed by the great British actor Richardson. But the focus is not as much on the characters as on the atmosphere and the tale itself, particularly the great dragon herself, ancient and evil and yet having its own reasons for its actions. What emerges is not a quirky or childish movie, but a fairy tale which is not quite black-and-white in its outlook. The sorcerer's implied sympathy for the dragon underscores this element of the story. Dragonslayer's atmosphere holds true to the darker world of old fairy tales. I recommend it warmly.
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Summary: A fantasy that rivals the best of them
Review: I won't go into the plot of the story .... This is one of few fantasy movies that actually feels and looks like a fantasy movie. The costumes, the coming of Christianity with the fading of the wizarding race, etc. are beautifully combined for semi-historic realism. The special effects used for the dragon are amazing enough to rival any ILM computer generated dragon if not exceeds it in realism. I so can't wait for this to come out on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: killer mid-evil flix about a dragon
Review: I loved this show when I was a kid! I still think it's the best movie done about a dragon.. The graphics are really good for being produced in "1981". I hope to see paramount release the dvd soon.
Rating:
Summary: dragonslayrer
Review: Most anyone who is old enough to have seen this movie in the theater like I did was probably blown away by the special effects. The movie is top notch for its day and it still looks good. Contrary to other reviews, this was a big budget special effects movie, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) doesnt work for pennies, they are one of the best special effects companies in hollywood. This is a classic fantasy movie that is very dark in nature the way any good fantasy film should be. It has edge of your seat action and suspense. It is definitely worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: A hidden gem, a classic in the fantasy genre
Review: In 1981, there came a movie from largely unknown cast and crew. The most famous of them was Sir Ralph Richardson, who starred in several films alongside Sir John Gielgud, his best friend and contemporary knighted actor. Despite its box-office failure, this film became a cult classic, spawning several other fantasy films in its wake and prompting others to greatness. Peter MacNicol (who currently is on Ally MacBeal and played the eccentric art gallery worker in "Ghostbusters II") got his first acting goal here alongside Caitlin Clarke and Chloe Salaman, and other actors including Albert Salmi (who also was in "Caddyshack"), Emrys James (who played Otto Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank"), and Star Wars' Emperor Palpatine himself (Ian MacDiarmid) continued their film careers. Directing this film was Matthew Robbins ("Batteries Not Included") and he wrote the script alongside frequent writing partner Hal Barwood. I really don't know why this film failed. The story does plod a bit, but it's a great fantasy story. The musical score by Alex North is triumphant and reminiscent of the old 60s medieval formula. The dragon here was created by "Go-Motion" by Phil Tippett (who also worked on Dragonheart!!) and it looks quite well, especially considering when this FILM WAS MADE. The acting's not perfect, but most of the actors put in a fine job (especially Sir Ralph Richardson, in one of his last film roles). Director Matthew Robbins directs this with a no-nonsense approach and avoids using campy humor and styles to bring you pure fantasy. It's typical of the genre and while some of the fight scenes were staged kinda amateurishly, this is still a hidden gem of hollywood. Watching this film, you can tell the creators didn't care for trends in the industry and wanted to please only the fantasy fans and perhaps the adventurer in anyone. FANTASY FANS AND EVEN DIE-HARD LOYALISTS, HUNT THIS MOVIE DOWN. While I enjoyed "Dragonheart" and "Willow" immensely, there's a certain edge to this film that I enjoyed better; while Walt Disney Pictures co-produced this film, THIS ISN'T THE USUAL DISNEY-ESQUE FILM. There is some violence here and even some partially gritty scenes that wouldn't particularly shock the adult, but for little kids, you'll have to consider it (especially involving the death of the dragon and its young). Overall, a hidden classic. I'm surprised it isn't even on DVD yet! You'd figure with all the fans out there that enjoyed this movie that they would've released it on DVD. Perhaps they will, but until then, catch it on TV if you can or rent it. "Dragonslayer" will please even the most jaded fantasy fan and if you look the past some of the mechanics of the film and its old age (even so, the dragon is still cool), you will enjoy this. This just goes to show you that even if a movie flops at the box-office, they can sometimes rise from the ashes and become one of the greatest films of all time.
Rating:
Summary: A fantasy classic
Review: This is one of the best fantasy movies I've ever seen. I rank this right along with Excalibur. I never tire of watching Dragonslayer over and over--everytime I watch it I discover something new that I never noticed before. It has the perfect balance of storyline and special effects, not too much of either. Even after watching it about 10+ times over the years, it still keeps me on the edge of my seat. I know the special effects aren't as sophisticated and overpowering like they are in many movies today, but they are very effective as well as impressive. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD....
Rating:
Summary: What a fantasy movie should be
Review: I read some of the negative reviews of this movie and came up with the kind of person that I believe doesn't like this movie. A "Typical" kid who has been raised on CGI effects, and doesn't appreciate the merit of go-motion and puppetry. The other type of person who doesn't like this movie is the parent who is upset that there is too much gore in this movie for their rugrats to view it. That being said, this is a wonderful fantasy movie. The characters and plot are all spot on (This is not Citizen Kane). The films star is the best dragon ever put on celluloid (even after Reign of Fire). My only complaint is Where is the DVD? My VHS copy is wearing down because I watch it so much. If they can transfer dreck like The Sword and the Sorcerer to DVD why can't they do that with this one. This is a great movie period.
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