Directed by Matthew Robbins. With Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson. Dragonslayer Blu-ray : amzn.to/3lxUqbQ Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray : amzn.to/3Ujna7h
I remember seeing this as a kid - still remember most of the plot. It surprises me that so few people know this movie. Such a delightful example of low-budget 80s fantasy.
It wasn't a low budget film: it was middle to high for a special effects film. Dragonslayer's budget was $18 million, jointly produced by Disney and Paramount. That would be over $60 million today. Here are the budgets of two of its contemporaries: Raiders of the Lost Ark, $20 million, and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, $10.5 million. The special effects were done by ILM, Lucasfilm's studio. It lost to Raiders at the Academy Awards for Best Special Effects.
Well, 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 view it as more of a HORROR movie, albeit with a medieval setting.
I remember seeing this as a kid at my best friend's birthday party. I remember it was an awesome movie, and there were a bunch of 11-year-olds filled with pizza and Dr. Pepper. Is awesome childhood memory.
A very underrated movie for 1981. This movie had incredible sound effects practical facts and monster effects and this trailer doesn’t give it justice because they’re not using the actual good music from the movie.
I remember the first time I saw the teaser trailer for this film. It showed the young boy in the dragons lair, jumping over rocks. There was fire all around. Than in an ominous moment, the dragon rose up and you could only see its teeth. What a trailer
Love how they don’t show the Dragon, so it would be an awesome surprise in the theater. They would never do that now The showmanship of film making is gone.😢
@@PeppermintGentleman Probably nothing at all. Only made the comment due to how much this film initially revolved around having a "dragonslayer lance", and it proceeded the book series by a few years.
@@PeppermintGentleman It wasn't meant to be taken literally. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment about a "dragon lance". This film was one of the first to really focus on the dragon as much as it did, with the production values it had, and was in a way a live action version of The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dragonslayer was a Disney film as well). It's also the first film I had seen that made a big deal about the actual dragon lance. There's likely no real connection there at all, but it wasn't meant to be taken seriously anyway. Hell, there's more of a connection to the video game Dragon's Lair than anything, especially because Don Bluth had previously worked at Disney prior to developing the game and the font for both the film and game are identical.
I saw it on opening night. It was a great trailer. But the music in the trailer is far different from that used in the film, and it is my primary issue with the film. The music heard here in the trailer is from Gustav Mahler's epic First Symphony ("The Titan"). It's thrilling, romantic and melodic. When it came to the film, we got something far different. Alex North was hired to write the score. Instead of comping anything new for it, however, he simply adapted his un-used score for Stanly Kubrick's 2001: A Space Oddesey. Kubrick's decision to keep the classical temp score was not known to anyone until the night of the premiere. North attended with his wife. Also present were the studio bosses who had ordered Kubrick to use an original score. He defied them with impunity. But the use of classical music was specifically praised by critics, and the soundtrack album became an unexpected hit. But it was an insult deeply felt by North. (I cannot imagine the embarrassment felt by North attending a premiere only to learn your creative efforts were discarded, and without notice. Had he simply been told, he likely would have stayed home that night.) Anyway, North's score for 2001 - I mean, Dragonslayer - was largely atonal, dark in tone, and, with a nod to more general audiences, without any good "songs". It was a movie made for 10-15 year old boys, and preferably those who didn't listen to Mahler. I'm mulling making this film a project by writing an all-new score as if Mahler's Titan (and other of his his symphonies) were the temp track. But that would require completely re-recording everything, including dialogue, sound effects, etc. A lot of work. But since any effort would also a necessitate a new cut of the film, too, maybe I'll make a cut and make a complete appraisal.
Starting character with stats of 21 strength, 18 constitution, 18 dexterity, 18 intelligence, 18 wisdom, and 18 charisma; the best character EVER!!! Everyone is going to be so impressed with her....
Christ all mighty! Seems we can't discuss, or even so much as hear about ANY movie more than ten years old anymore without hearing the frigging word "remake".
Well, Damsel (2024) just did indirectly with a “subverted” female girlboss in the helm. It was dull and unengaging so commonplace with today’s Hollyweird so not banking on a direct remake on this.
I actually liked damsel it was done pretty good not as preachy as I thought it be but I wanna watch this dragon slayer movie I’d much rather have a film about a Man saving the girl from a dragon, I’ve only really saw that in sleeping beauty and it was cool and romantic.
I detest this crappy current Hollywood remake trend! And would never encourage and endorse it. In fact, I'm personally declining to see any movie that are remakes anymore - boycotting them in a word.
Кино
I remember seeing this as a kid - still remember most of the plot. It surprises me that so few people know this movie. Such a delightful example of low-budget 80s fantasy.
It wasn't a low budget film: it was middle to high for a special effects film. Dragonslayer's budget was $18 million, jointly produced by Disney and Paramount. That would be over $60 million today. Here are the budgets of two of its contemporaries: Raiders of the Lost Ark, $20 million, and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, $10.5 million. The special effects were done by ILM, Lucasfilm's studio. It lost to Raiders at the Academy Awards for Best Special Effects.
Maybe because it’s bad.
@@thesos0 nahh
@@thesos0I bet you're pretty young and think anything not from "your" generation is old and bad.
Well, 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 view it as more of a HORROR movie, albeit with a medieval setting.
I remember seeing this as a kid at my best friend's birthday party. I remember it was an awesome movie, and there were a bunch of 11-year-olds filled with pizza and Dr. Pepper. Is awesome childhood memory.
I heard of its time one of the best dragons I've ever seen
A very underrated movie for 1981. This movie had incredible sound effects practical facts and monster effects and this trailer doesn’t give it justice because they’re not using the actual good music from the movie.
Twins Arnie pregnancy covered the arms situation I guess I don't know I just see code 😭
I remember the first time I saw the teaser trailer for this film. It showed the young boy in the dragons lair, jumping over rocks. There was fire all around. Than in an ominous moment, the dragon rose up and you could only see its teeth. What a trailer
This is so much similar to the Netflix movie Damsel.
@@redrobotmonkey except damsel is a gender swapping nonsense flick.
The most underrated trailer ever.
That movie was amazing 😮
One of my favorite 1980s fantasy. The dragon special effects were phenomenal and still look good today.
Agree 100%
I remember her hair and flower crown and wrists. Thought of this movie out of nowhere, today.
Love how they don’t show the Dragon, so it would be an awesome surprise in the theater.
They would never do that now
The showmanship of film making is gone.😢
And thus Dragonlance was born and the world of D&D would never be the same again.
What exactly is the connection to Dragonlance?
@@PeppermintGentleman Probably nothing at all. Only made the comment due to how much this film initially revolved around having a "dragonslayer lance", and it proceeded the book series by a few years.
@@Neonmirrorblack I'm only even more confused about why you mentioned it, then. But I've certainly made even farther reaching connections before.
@@PeppermintGentleman It wasn't meant to be taken literally. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment about a "dragon lance". This film was one of the first to really focus on the dragon as much as it did, with the production values it had, and was in a way a live action version of The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dragonslayer was a Disney film as well).
It's also the first film I had seen that made a big deal about the actual dragon lance. There's likely no real connection there at all, but it wasn't meant to be taken seriously anyway.
Hell, there's more of a connection to the video game Dragon's Lair than anything, especially because Don Bluth had previously worked at Disney prior to developing the game and the font for both the film and game are identical.
This was a great movie!
Hey, my anvil!
Thank you.
Such an underrated movie!
I saw it on opening night. It was a great trailer. But the music in the trailer is far different from that used in the film, and it is my primary issue with the film. The music heard here in the trailer is from Gustav Mahler's epic First Symphony ("The Titan"). It's thrilling, romantic and melodic. When it came to the film, we got something far different. Alex North was hired to write the score. Instead of comping anything new for it, however, he simply adapted his un-used score for Stanly Kubrick's 2001: A Space Oddesey. Kubrick's decision to keep the classical temp score was not known to anyone until the night of the premiere. North attended with his wife. Also present were the studio bosses who had ordered Kubrick to use an original score. He defied them with impunity. But the use of classical music was specifically praised by critics, and the soundtrack album became an unexpected hit. But it was an insult deeply felt by North. (I cannot imagine the embarrassment felt by North attending a premiere only to learn your creative efforts were discarded, and without notice. Had he simply been told, he likely would have stayed home that night.) Anyway, North's score for 2001 - I mean, Dragonslayer - was largely atonal, dark in tone, and, with a nod to more general audiences, without any good "songs". It was a movie made for 10-15 year old boys, and preferably those who didn't listen to Mahler. I'm mulling making this film a project by writing an all-new score as if Mahler's Titan (and other of his his symphonies) were the temp track. But that would require completely re-recording everything, including dialogue, sound effects, etc. A lot of work. But since any effort would also a necessitate a new cut of the film, too, maybe I'll make a cut and make a complete appraisal.
"You can not hurt me."
the book is great too
Great movie🤯👏
What a great movie for a 6-7 year old to see, but I sure was confused by the skinny dippin' scene back then XD
There's also some pretty violent and gory scenes in THIS movie.
ONE OF THE BEST DRAGAN FILMS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND THAT GOES FOR THE SOUNDTRACK AS WELL 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲
The first film to use "Go-Motion" animation for the dragon Vermithax Pejorative.
Phil tippet.❤
Starting character with stats of 21 strength, 18 constitution, 18 dexterity, 18 intelligence, 18 wisdom, and 18 charisma; the best character EVER!!! Everyone is going to be so impressed with her....
And I bet you bitch and moan about Indiana Jones too, right?
Dragonslayer 1981 is an American Dark Fantasy film that is co-production by Paramount and Walt Disney Production.
George R.R. Martin considers Vermithrax to be the best dragon in cinema. I would have to agree.
I wonder if this movie was the inspiration for Berserk
X the Eliminator!!
Its like those AI dark fantasy tiktok videos
Looks like King Kong but with a dragon. 🤔
I'm in. 👍
Is this the guy from Crazy Like A Fox??
Peter McNicol..its a shame he doesn't recognize how good he was in this role.
Sounds like scratch place-holder soundtrack to me.
The Best Like Indiana Jones
They should remake this one
Christ all mighty! Seems we can't discuss, or even so much as hear about ANY movie more than ten years old anymore without hearing the frigging word "remake".
Well, Damsel (2024) just did indirectly with a “subverted” female girlboss in the helm. It was dull and unengaging so commonplace with today’s Hollyweird so not banking on a direct remake on this.
And in 2015, Russian remake was called I am Dragon.. Much better than Millie's version too. @@ophanimangel3143
I actually liked damsel it was done pretty good not as preachy as I thought it be but I wanna watch this dragon slayer movie I’d much rather have a film about a Man saving the girl from a dragon, I’ve only really saw that in sleeping beauty and it was cool and romantic.
I detest this crappy current Hollywood remake trend! And would never encourage and endorse it. In fact, I'm personally declining to see any movie that are remakes anymore - boycotting them in a word.
I love how this movie is made in 1981 and is better than 98% of the garbage made in 2024. lol
yeah even netflix's Damsel starring Millie Bobbie brown totally ripped off this one!!
Because back then, imagination, technique, craft, understanding of narrative, and in camera trickery was standard.
Now it’s algorithms, and cgi.
Agree