Dragonslayer: The 80s Dark Fantasy That Should Have Been A Hit
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Have you seen the 1981 fantasy film Dragonslayer? It might be one of my favorite films I have covered on Living In The Past. In this video we will take a look back at why this film is so special and why it is worth revisiting right now.
Living In The Past is a channel about revisiting pop culture from the past. Hosted by Jeremy Scott and Devin Kleffer (along with Carl the Intern), these two (three) friends can’t help but revisit the movies and TV shows that they loved from their younger years. Come along and get a little nostalgic with us as we look back, enjoy, and ask the important question: is it still OK to like this stuff?
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It's a masterpiece!
What I most appreciated about this movie was its portrayal of a medieval world that happened to have a handful of dragons and magic that requires a great deal of skill and energy to do anything with. No pristine castles with towering stone sculptures and wizards conjuring things with a wave of a hand. It feels like a lived in world, a world where a grouchy geriatric dragon can be a kingdom's biggest problem.
Well said! Yeah, the world has a realism and grit to it is enjoyable and for me, surprising.
Dragon Heart is the movie I hate more than any other! I hate that it exists in the same world as Dragonslayer, and that it claims to actually have a dragon in it, which it doesn't; ironically, it's way more of a Disney movie than Dragonslayer.
I loved it although I did think casting two Americans as leads in a film of mostly English actors was rather odd. Ralph Richardson was brilliant.
I have often wondered that if some of the casting was different the film would have been more successful at the box office.
It's a masterpiece and i hope Dragonslayer never gets a remake.
I can't disagree with you. The more I revisit this the more I think is a singularly unique film that has no equal. What a treasure this film is.
RIP Caitlin Clarke.
Somehow I missed this in the 80's and only saw it for the first time recently. It blew me away
Yeah. I saw it back in the 80s and was aware of it, liked it even. But it hit me just how special it is while I was preparing to make the video. I have a new love for it. I have watched it three times with my kids since I made the video. Haha!
I watched it a few days ago.
Then immediately watched it again.
I agree. The world created in this was amazing.
Yeah, I really don't categorize THIS movie as a "FANTASY FILM" along with the juvenile likes of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Dragon Heart. I think it's more of a HORROR movie, albeit with a medieval setting, where the dragon is a real MONSTER.
Interesting. I always thought of it as fantasy which would include the sub-genre of fantasy horror. I will consider your comment some more though. Thanks for commenting.
I have this in my DVD collection as I think it is a great film.
When the eclipse starts, it just created a huge foreboding for me. That and it seemed to be such a Dark Age where only 2 were left of an ancient world: one last dragon and one last sorcerer and the eclipse ending starting a new age.
Love that view of the scene. Well said!
Imagine seeing it in the cinema. I saw it as a kind, and when it was over, I saw I'd hardly touched my popcorn.
It was a masterpiece of a film! I was 19 when I saw it in the theater. I had no idea at the time it was primarily Disney as well as Paramount.
I remember seeing this as kid and I never till years later realized that it was a Disney movie. Like you said it still holds up today. The dragon design is no joke. The whole movie is dark as hell! I just don’t understand why it didn’t make it. This movie like The Thing or The Dark Crystal are masterpieces. I guess people back then just didn’t get it.
I think you are right, people seemed to not get it. I think it is such an unknown 80s gem. I think I am becoming a Dragonslayer evangelist. Haha!
Stone classic and a childhood fave of mine.
This is simply better than Jackson's LOTR on every level---save the music. Alex North's score I consider one of the very few greatest ever written.
I'm an original DragonSlayer fan. I watched it in my 80s youth. I didn't know it was a box office failure. I didn't know it wasn't viewed as not that great of a movie. I liked it. As I grew up, I noticed that it was one of the great movies that few talk about.
I also watched the original Clash of the Titans/ the animated Lord of the Rings, and liked those a lot as well.
One of my favorite places to live in my 80's youth was Sicily. So, Clash of the Titans and really, DragonSlayer and Lord of the Rings meant something to me. Even though DragonSlayer and Lord of the Rings are really in a later time that Clash of the Titans. Clash is Greek; the others are Medieval ages stuff. Well, Sicily has it all.
I've been watching it every few years since it came out. I last saw it about 6 months ago. Always classic.
Yeah, it is soooo good. I really feel like I rediscovered something I had forgotten about.
@@livingthepast Speaking of forgotten gems, Jame Purefoy starred in a film called Solomon Kane in 2009 that nobody saw. I know when I'm looking to find a fantasy film I have never seen it can be almost impossible. If you've never seen it I recommend you give it a try. It's dark like Dragonslayer and Purefoy gives a great performance. The fight choreography is first rate too. You might like it. I loved it. However, beware, when it comes to fantasy films I am overwhelmingly easy to please. LOL.
Never seen it but it has been on my radar. After your recommendation I am going to check it out.
This film and "The Black Cauldron" in 1985 were two Fantasy films I saw growing up that were very formative to my tastes in Fantasy and it helped that by 1983 I was already playing AD&D because a few of my friends from school and I saw the Player's Handbook in my Local Game and Hobby store in walking distance of my house.
I went back every other week after getting paid to mow lawns in my neighborhood for $10/each and bought a new 1st Edition AD&D Book from that store until I had what I needed to play. Dragonslayer has a special place in my heart, even with the strange hairstyles and the Wizard made me want to play D&D as a Wizard.
Thanks for commenting. I had similar interactions with the film and D&D.
Never heard of it
I give a look
The cult following has been a hit
fu this flix sold so many DVDs.
This movie still holds up. I did a watch-a-long to it on my channel a year or two ago and grew up watching it on video disc. The big vinyl kind.
I can't agree more with you on the craftsmanship of this movie. I could go on a whole rant just on that. Lol
It really does still hold up. I was blown away on my rewatch. This film is stellar.
Also, just subscribed to your channel. Thanks for mentioning it. I will check out your Dragonlsayer vid ASAP.
@@livingthepast Don't get too excited. Lol Thanks for the sub. I need to upload some new vids for you 😊
I really like this film.
i did My movie exam presentation on this movie. IT was awsome
That is awesome!
Keep up the good work!
I am still waiting for a digital release on iTunes.
Totally worth it IMHO.
I may have never seen this. I will have to check it out. My favorite dragon movie is Reign of Fire.
I really enjoyed Reign of Fire.
Yes this was good. Dragonheart was meh. Ralph Richardson is on another level, he comes from hat Alec Guinness/John Gielgud era.
Watch Anthony Hopkins doing the Hamlet speech as JG, RR and Larry Olivier. Also this dragon has the best name and design.
I love this stupid movie, and always have. I still don't totally get why it was SO hated back in the day, and is so forgotten now. OBVIOUSLY not perfect...but it nails the ending in a way fantasy stories rarely do imo, even the ones based on Tolkein
Saw this as a double-feature with Clash of the Titans on my 12th birthday about 700 years ago (okay, it was 1980-sometimes or another). Dragonslayer still holds up. Yeah, the effects are a bit dated, but I’d take some rough dragon compositing over a full CGI world anytime.
What a great double feature!
Shirlly duvall died
Love this movie. I was a D&D freak as a kid so this was/is right up my alley. I'll have to revisit it thanks for the memory !
You're welcome! Yeah, I was into D&D too and this really took hold of my imagination.