Dragonheart [DVD] [1996]

In the closing paragraph of his 1996 review of Dragonheart, noted critic Roger Ebert summed up this adventurous fantasy quite nicely: "While no reasonable person over the age of 12 would presumably be able to take it seriously, there is nevertheless a light-hearted joy to it, a cheerfulness, an insouciance, that recalls the days when movies were content to be fun." That's precisely the quality that makes Dragonheart so appealing, despite the fact that it didn't exactly take flight and breathe fire at the box office. The movie takes itself seriously without sacrificing the wit and cleverness that make it so entertaining.

It's about the last of the great dragon slayers, Bowen (Dennis Quaid), who teams up with the last of the great dragons, Draco (voiced by Sean Connery), after they realise that killing each other would put them both out of business! So they devise a bogus dragon-slaying act that's a huge hit as they tour from village to village. Later, they must rouse the peasantry against the loutish Prince Einon (David Thewlis), whose life was once saved by Draco, but who now violates the "Old Code" of honour with a ruthless reign of terror. As Ebert rightly noted, Dragonheart is no masterpiece, and its story (which was originally conceived as a darker, more serious drama) isn't likely to capture everyone's heart (dragon or otherwise). But it's full of exciting action, witty dialogue and gallant heroism, and in the presentation of a realistic talking dragon it's a milestone in computer-generated special effects, far surpassing the breakthroughs of Jurassic Park three years earlier. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

2.35 Wide Screen
DVD 9
Czech\French\German\Italian\Polish\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English French German Italian Spanish
2.0 Stereo Czech Polish
Dolby Digital 5.1
2.0 Stereo
Documentary
Out Takes
Television Spots
Archives
Feature Commentary
Production Notes
Filmographies
Theatrical Trailer
Teaser Trailer
Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\German\Norwegian\Portuguese\Swedish

Long ago, when majestic fire-breathers soared through the skies, there lived a knight who would come face-to-face and heart-to-heart with the most remarkable creature that ever existed. Dennis Quaid stars with the voice of Academy Award Winner Sean Connery in director Rob Cohen's heroic adventure that blazes with fantasy humour, and the most amazing special effects since Jurassic Park! Co-starring David Thewlis, Pete Postlethwaite, Julie Christie and Dina Meyer, this epic adventure will move and thrill the entire family.