Rating: 
Summary: In The Tradition of Great Fantasy Films
Review: Dragonslayer is a well-made fantasy adventure that is as artistic and entertaining as the Lord of the Ring novels by Tolkien, and should be elavated to the level of such fine fantasy films as Excalibur and Willow. Peter Macnichols (best known for the character of the comedic lawyer John Cage in the tv series Ally Mcbeal), looks very young and plays the role of the title character. He is given the task to destroy the dragon that has been the cause of virgin sacrifices in a world of medieval wizardry and Christian pageantry. Look for Ian Mcdiarmund(the Emperor from the Star Wars films) as a sanctimonious priest wearing white. The film is excellent in its use of special effects, exotic and romantic landscapes, and music. Any fan of fantasy and fiction would agree that Dragonslayer, though not very popular, is nevertheless a magnificent film in the genre. Five Stars for action, adventure, romance and breathtaking visual effects.
Rating: 
Summary: Held together with grime and gore.
Review: Old wyrm Vermithrax terrorizes the fiefdom of Urland. Through a pact with the King, it exacts a fearsome sacrifice from the people - a maiden to be devoured at each equinox. Instead of indulging in carnality, however, the villagers mount an effort to find a necromancer powerful enough to slay the old dragon. The band's search comes to an end many leagues from Urland - at the decrepit citadel belonging to an aging wizard, Ulrich. To the band's dismay, Ulrich falls in a skirmish, and it is his overconfident, arrogant apprentice Galen who sets out to accomplish the impossible - to slay a dragon.Though its plot possesses an interesting combination of cliche and counter-cliche, "Dragonslayer" never seems to pull all of its elements into a dynamic whole. There are a few excellent performances, mostly minor roles: John Hallam's spectacular performance as Tyrian, a ruthless mercenary; Sydney Bromley as the grumpy Hodge, the old wizard's faithful servant; even Ian McDiarmid's (Emperor Palpatine) performance as a Christian priest is convincing and well-done. However, the main characters are a terrible downfall. Peter MacNicol is terrible as Galen, or in any serious role at all (the first time I ever saw him was in his role of Renfield in "Dracula: Dead and Loving It", and that's the only way I'll ever see him). Caitlin Clarke is especially unpleasant as the gruff and masculine Valerian. Perhaps the reason why the film fails - slowly but surely - is because it tries to unite so many tried-and-true fantasy elements, for no reason at all: it's a coming of age story, it's a tale of the end of the age of magic, of ruthless monarchs, of innocent love, etc. Each could have been done significantly better individually - and was, but elsewhere, but when brought together they combine into a soulless, drab fantasy experience. A word must be said about the film's PG rating, which is surprising in view of all the gore, however fake-looking it may be. Just as a sampler, the viewer gets glimpses of characters dying with arrows buried in their bellies, a dead body graphically devoured by drakes, several people convincingly burning, a suicide by dagger (a la Juliet), and so on. A PG-13 seems more appropriate. It's a sad fact, but it seems that a good deal of fantasy movies are novelties than works of cinematic art.
Rating:
Summary: A classic in Fantasy!
Review: This movie is about the greatest one' I have seen, well you know what I am saying. IT's action packed, full of surprises, romance, humour. I'd suggest this to anyone. I have this movie, and have watched it many, many, many times, and it still hasn't bored me yet! It's just like the title, a Dragonslayer, goes off, to none the less Slay dragons. Wizards, and bad guys the whole works. The graphics are amazing, and the Dragon's look real. So check it out! You don't know what your missing!
Rating: 
Summary: Relic of a lost age......1982
Review: Galen (a pre-pre-pre Ally McBeal Peter Mcnichol) studies magic under the tutelage of Ulric (Ralph Richardson) in the dingy confines of the dying mage's home in Craggenmore. Ulric, nearing the end of his life foresees that an end to the age of wizardry is also at hand. Unfortunately, soem aspects of the age of magic - namely the dragons - cling to life tenaciously, if not maliciously. The Urland king, Casiadorus, keeps the dragon Vermithrax at bay by sacrificing young women (as long as they're from poor families) to it. When the king's subjects, hoping to rid themselves of this lottery and the dragon at the same time, enlist Ulric's aid, the King (fearful of anything that would disturb his careful order), has the aged wizard killed. The last of the wizards gone, it falls to Galen to rid cold, dreary and poor Urland of the Dragon. With Ulric's amulet but also the love of Valerian, an Urland woman who had to "become" a man to escape the king's lottery, Galen battles both King and the Dragon. "Dragonslayer" is about transitions - with pagan magic giving way to a christian, faith-based society, and wizards who bend nature to their will, ceding authority to those who offer the cross and the promise of salvation for those who bend themselves. The writers miss one important element - giving the dragon, not charachter, but the hints that he and Ulric are in fact different shades of a single existence. They are both old, crabby, tortured by age, and the remaining vestiges of an all but dead age. "Dragonslayer", though old, isn't exactly dated. It excels over the weaker "Dragonheart" though (or actually because) lacking CGI, the FX crew had to work some wizardry of their own. Echoing Jaws and Alien, the writers keep the dragon suitably off camera for much of the movie, but seem to give up the battle by the time Vermithrax makes an entrance. Once rising from a lake of fire, Vermithrax gets plenty of full body shots that negate his size and menace, as if, now revealed, he held no surprises. Sometimes, there's a lull, and you think the dragon will appear out of nowhere - then cut to a shot of the dragon soaring in the distance. The producers also get some mileage out of their actors -Richardson as the doddering Ulric, Peter Macnichol as the apprentice wizard, and alone without an accent, but also John Hallum as Tyrian, the King's evil enforcer, who brings an almost Shakespearean nuance to the role ("....but comes a doubter...!"). Also, watch for Ian Mcdarmid (the once and future emperor of Star Wars) as a missionary who aims to banish the dragon, and Caitlin Clarke as the spunky Valerian. But most of all, it's impossible to forget that this movie comes from a lost age of its own - the pre-CGI era, circa 1982, when we had to satisfy ourselves with such primitive and unmemorable films like E.T., Poltergeist and Wrath of Khan, and no feat of cinematography seemd beyond men.
Rating:
Summary: A fantasy classic
Review: Back in 1981, a fantasy classic was released that has stood the test of time surprisingly well. Dragonslayer was part of that wonderful early/mid 80's series of fantasy films that tried to cash in on the success of Star Wars. But it got swallowed up in the competition and never gained the popularity it deserved. And as it stands, it proves to be one of the best fantasy films of all time. Sure, the plot is simple: A dragon terrorizes a kingdom unless they offer sacrifices. When a group of villagers attempts to recruit a wizard (Sir Ralph Richardson), to help fight the dragon, the King's soldiers kill him. Thus the task of fighting the dragon is left to his apprentice Galen -- played decently by "Ally McBeal's" Peter McNicol. But the King is fearful and unappreciative. Director Mathew Robbins takes the story very seriously and never let's it stoop to camp. Other contenders in the fantasy genre (Willow, Dragonheart) veer off into comic book territory to keep it kid friendly. And while Dragonslayer CAN be appreciated by children (Lord knows I loved it as a kid), it's far darker and violent than one might expect, making it more of a cousin to Excalibur and Conan the Barbarian. The thing that stands out in Dragonslayer is the dragon. Called Vermithrax, this dragon is not only a truly memorable achievement in special effects, it's also downright scary! Indeed, showcasing a fine blend of models, puppetry and blue screen, the ILM crew does an incredible job bringing the dragon to life. It's body and fire breath are awesome to behold, and is far more gripping and "real" that the CGI beasts in Dungeons and Dragons. Though Dragonslayer does have a pace that can drag in some parts, it's a film that serves to remind us of the importance in balancing great FX and a good story. Something the CGI drenched Hollywood has forgotten. Now, where's the DVD?
Rating:
Summary: Film fantasy at its Best
Review: This movie is one of the best renderings of a Dark Age fantasy world ever put on film. Great to finally have it in widescreen on DVD, though the print quality could be better. As noted by other reviewers, the quality and attention to detail in all facets of production are singularly excellent. The Dragon remains in a class by itself, depicted with chilling realism as the great fearsome beast of nightmares. Most highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Good fantasy movie!
Review: If one expects this movie to send an important social message, i.e., how to save the world or to support veganism; well then one will end up feeling disappointed. On the other hand if one if is looking forward to watch a fun and entertaining fantasy movie, well, then one is in for a real treat. Dragonslayer VHS is a funny little movie about a magician's apprentice whom is given the quest to rid a nation from a dragon. Peter MacNicol does a commendable job and one wonders why he is on that sorry show, i.e., Allie Macbeal. Here he shows his true range as an actor and he displays alot more talent then I thought he was capable of. It does not hurt that the woman who first is disguised as a boy turns out to be quite attractive and definitely a good love interest.
Rating: 
Summary: Dragonslayer Drags On
Review: Take one over-zealous sorcerer's apprentice add one nasty, evil dragon and the end result is "Dragonslayer," a medieval fantasy which lacks the charm of "The Princess Bride" and the intelligence of Arthurian legend. For two hours the film subjects its viewers to stereotypical stock characters and acts of aggression which are too violent for young watchers. Although the special effects are quite good given the date of production, it's not enough to hold one's interest without helping the bland dialogue along.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy films of all time!
Review: I simply loved this movie when it came out about 20 years ago, and was happy to find it available again. It's a phenomenal story about a young apprentice who misinterprets his Master's final instructions, and whose ensuing arrogance thrusts him into a series of confrontations which he is ill equipped to handle (not the least of which is with the dreaded dragon in the title). However, the young but unlikely hero accepts the responsibility of the repercussions of his actions, and sets out to set things right again, despite being overwhelmed by the tasks. Peter MacNicol is fantastic as the young apprentice Galen, and presents an entirely different character to those played in Ghostbusters (where he became typcast as an effette scholar) and Ally McBeal (where he is being typcast as an effette sexually repressed lawyer). Sir Ralph Richardson is the perfect choice for the aging master sorcerer, Ulrich, and makes you believe in magic in a world where magic is dying out along with the dragons. The scenery and costumes are first rate, with incredible detail to capture the genuine feel of life in the Dark Ages (they even paid attention to the STITCHING on the clothes! ). Finally, this is one of the last films to utilise Ray Harryhausen's special effects, in the days before computer graphics...and his work with the dragon when it finally comes forth for battle is simply astounding and hair raising.
Rating:
Summary: Dragonslayer: Breathing Reel Fire and Magic
Review: "Drangonslayer" is easily in the top five sword and sorcery movies ever made, if not the best next to "Excalibur," a film of similar poetic magic and action. The cinematography is filled with dark, mysterious landscapes of rising steam,fogs, mists, fire, and strange sounds, and it does what most great films do: transports one to a different world. Ralph Richardson, as the wizard, is wonderful, and it was unfortunately one of his last performances, which adds extra power to his quirky but great performance. The rest of the actors, save Peter MacNicol, are English, and for a bit, MacNicol sems a wee bit awkward, but as the movie progresses,his performance gains strength, as the plot calls for him to be strong.The pace is somewhat slow but all the better the savor the magic of the atmosphere; there is a scene in the quiet forest, when you can here the beat of drangonfly wings. The dragon is only partially glimsed at first and we want to see more and this is a superb way to build up suspense, for when we do see the dragon, diving with outstretched wings, burning a village, it is astonishing. Phil Tippet, master animator, did most the animation of the dragon and it is easy to see why he was chosen by Steven Spielberg to help out on "Jurassic Park." Take a close look at the T-Rex and he looks amazingly like the dragon in "Dragonslayer." This is the Dark Ages and many of the key scenes are properly shot in darkness and through mists. With the final battle with the dragon, as thrilling as you will ever see, we really appreciate the power and magesty of this dragon and in another wonderful scene, as Richardson is shown a dragon scale, he has pity on this dragon, an old and ancient foe, sad to see the last of its kind. There is also an appropriately soaring and magical mucic score by Alex North, one of his last, and one of his best. The movie is somewhat violent and has very modest nudity and might not set well with some younger viewers, but when I was younger I loved magical movies like "Drangonslayer," full of fear, magic, wonderful sights and sounds, and the belief that dragons are real, fearful presences yes, but dwelling in the hot mists of ancient caves."Dragonslayer" is a magical masterpiece that will last.
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