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Dragonslayer

Dragonslayer (1981)

tomatometer

81

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 26
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 5

An atypically dark Disney adventure, Dragonslayer puts a realistic spin -- and some impressive special effects -- on a familiar tale.

60

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2

An atypically dark Disney adventure, Dragonslayer puts a realistic spin -- and some impressive special effects -- on a familiar tale.

audience

59

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 23,824

My Rating

Movie Info

A special-effects laden medieval fantasy adventure, Dragonslayer centers on the attempts of a young sorcerer's apprentice to defeat a vicious dragon and save a lovely young maiden. Peter MacNicol stars as the young Galen, an aspiring magician under the tutelage of the aging Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). A nearby village turns to the pair for help when their leader begins proffering sacrifices of young virgins to satisfy a vicious dragon. The two immediately set out for battle, becoming even more

Oct 21, 2003

Paramount Pictures

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All Critics (27) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (5) | DVD (13)

The film excels as a visual exercise, as a study in adolescent psychology, and even as astute political analysis.

November 26, 2012 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A well intentioned fantasy with some wonderful special effects, Dragonslayer falls somewhat short on continuously intriguing adventure.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
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Verges on the nasty for the nippers; sails close to déjà vu for fantasy fans; fated, probably, to damnation by faint praise.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
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The scenes involving the dragon are first-rate. The beast is one of the meanest, ugliest, most reprehensible creatures I've ever seen in a film, and when it breathes flames it looks like it's really breathing flames.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mr. Robbins's overall accomplishment is one of creating a mood, and he does this well enough to make up for the film's occasional cumbersomeness.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An unknown treasure of a fantasy film and well worth a look for fans of the genre.

November 26, 2012 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine
Empire Magazine

This film has smoky atmosphere, medieval sets, and rugged terrain strange enough to suggest far-off mythic lands; moreover, its special effects are positively staggering.

November 26, 2012 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Vintage fantasy epic is great, despite a too-graphic death.

December 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

Saint George and the '80s

February 5, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion
CinePassion

entertaining adventure

November 8, 2004
Shadows on the Wall

Looked far better when released due to tech aspects.

October 25, 2004

So-so dragon story with an amusing Ralph Richardson performance.

July 19, 2004
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A fun little fantasy flick.

May 27, 2004
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Dragonslayer transports us to a mysterious, exotic, and convincing ancient world.

January 31, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice
Spirituality and Practice

Audience Reviews for Dragonslayer

This is one of the earliest fantasy films that dared to present a dragon and actually managed to pull it off. The story of the mage apprentice who has to step up to protect a realm from the fire-spitting monster is rather simplistic and we learn very little about the characters that inhibit it. The film still has a very unique and somewhat disconcerting atmosphere, which makes up for a lot. It's also smart enough to hide the dragon from our sights for the longest time. Once it enters the scene, it's pretty damn convincing even by today's standards. Even though the plot is far from generic and always keeps you uncertain about what's happening next, the movie does not manage to grip you entirely. Especially by today's standards it feels aged. The dragon is still impressive, though.
July 2, 2006
ironclad1609

Super Reviewer

This is not as terrible a film as I originally believed it to be. Actually I never really thought it was that terrible at all, but I may have been being a bit generous just because I enjoy these kinds of movies. The pace of the film is incredibly slow and lacks any sort leading character or protagonist for the audience to relate to or have things explained for them. Not all films need this sort of thing, but in a film like this, it's absolutely necessary. The effects work is fantastic and the story is pretty good, but it creeps along without a proper focus. The gore peppered throughout the film is also a bit jarring. Now, I like gore, but it feels out of character for what the filmmakers were trying to achieve with this. It tries to play things realistically and just let the gore be the gore, but it doesn't work well within the confines of a PG-rated environment. Personally, I enjoy it, but it is problematical, and contains definite allusions to J.R.R. Tolkien - intentional or not. :)
March 12, 2008
FilmFanatik
Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Dragonslayer (1981) (DE)
  • Dragonslayer (1981) (UK)
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