Dragonheart (1996)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Rob Cohen

Writers (WGA):

Patrick Read Johnson (story) &
Charles Edward Pogue (story) ...

Release Date:

31 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

You will believe.

Plot:

The last dragon and a disillusioned dragonslaying knight must cooperate to stop an evil king who was given partial immortality.

Plot Keywords:

Dragon | King | Evil King | Knight | Honor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15	10:30 PM	AMC
Thur. July 16	3:15 PM	AMC

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Bowen
David Thewlis	...	King Einon
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Gilbert of Glockenspur
Dina Meyer	...	Kara
Jason Isaacs	...	Lord Felton
Brian Thompson	...	Brok
Lee Oakes	...	Young Einon
Wolf Christian	...	Hewe
Terry O'Neill	...	Redbeard
Eva Vejmelková	...	Felton's Minx (as Eva Vejmelkova)
Milan Bahúl	...	Swamp Village Chief (as Milan Bahul)
Peter Hric	...	King Freyne
Sandra Kovacicova	...	Young Kara
Kyle Cohen	...	Boy in Field
Thom Baker	...	Aislinn's Chess Partner

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action/violence.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #34567) | France:U | Iceland:12 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12/9 | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bratislava, Slovakia

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Excerpts from the music score have been used in dozens of movie trailers and even for a special projection at the 1997 Oscars. The main theme was also used as interstitial/credits music during the U.S. telecast of the 2004 Olympics.

Goofs:

Continuity: The flights on Brother Gilbert's arrow change during his first archery scene.

Quotes:

Bowen: Don't clutter up a clever scheme with morality.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Light and the Dark: The Making of 'Face/Off' (2007) (V)

Dragon Fun To Watch In This Mostly-Enjoyable Fantasy

This was kind of a hokey Class-B fantasy-adventure story but with Grade A special effects (with the dragon) and sound. Those visual and audio treats make it worth watching. This was early "demo"-type DVD disc, exhibiting some excellent surround sound when very few other DVDs were as audibly as good.

The story begins a bit slowly but once the dragon appears it's a fun and fascinating movie to watch. A decade ago when this came out, I marveled, "It's amazing how they can make strange creatures so lifelike." Of course, FX has only gotten better and better.

For me, the dragon was the only endearing character in the movie. Dennis Quaid plays the good guy, but he's mostly annoying in here. I think it was his fake raspy voice that was irritating. In all, a fun movie.

At any rate, the movie is pure medieval fantasy and theology but entertaining enough for kids and adults. There is no bad language in here.