Dragonheart Review

Dragonheart


Release Date: 12th December 1996 - Australia

Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 103 minutes

Budget: $57,000,000

Box Office Gross: $115,267,375 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

When the young, weak King Einon gets wounded in battle, a dragon named Draco heals him by giving him a part of himself that's now inside him. However, it turned Einon into a bloodthirsty king, or so it seems. Twelve years later, a dragonslayer called Bowen encounters Draco, and the two team up as a travelling duo, where they perform an act only known by themselves. Supposedly, Bowen slays Draco repeatedly for the reward money he collects from the villagers. Bowen and Draco have to save the kingdom from the tyrannical rule of the now-evil King Einon, who still has a part of Draco and part of him connected to Draco.

Cast

Dennis Quaid - Bowen

Sean Connery - Draco (Voice)

David Thewlis - King Einon

Lee Oakes - Young Einon

Pete Postlethwaite - Gilbert

of Glockenspur

Jason Isaacs - Lord Felton

Julie Christie - Queen Aislinn

Dina Meyer - Kara
Peter Hric - King Freyne
Brian Thompson - Brok
Terry O'Neill - Redbeard

Peter Hric - King Freyne

Eva Vejmelkova - Felton's Minx

Milan Bahul - Swamp Village Chief

Sandra Kovacicova - Young Kara

Kyle Cohen - Boy in Field

Thom Baker - Aislinn's Chess Partner
John Gielgud - King Arthur (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Rob Cohen

Story/Executive Producer - Patrick Read Johnson

Story/Screenplay - Charles Edward Pogue

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Herbert W. Gains

Producer - Raffaella De Laurentiis

Co-Producer/Second Second Assistant

Director - Hester Hargett

Casting Director - Margery Simkin

Production Designer - Benjamin Fernandez

Supervising Art Director - Maria-Teresa Barbasso

Art Director - Ján Svoboda

Dragon Designs - Phil Tippett

Set Decorator - Giorgio Desideri

Costume Designers - Thomas Casterline

and Anna B. Sheppard

Makeup Supervisor - Giannetto De Rossi

Chief Hair Stylist - Mirella De Rossi

Director of Photography - David Eggby

Second Unit Director of Photography/

Camera Operator - Buzz Feitshans IV

Camera Operator - Igor Meglic

Stunt Coordinator - Paul Weston

Sword Trainer/Choreographer - Kiyoshi Yamasaki

Special Effects Supervisor - Kit West

Special Effects Coordinator - John Baker

Microlight Coordinator - Brian Johnson

Visual Effects Supervisor - Scott Squires

Visual Effects Pre-Production Co-Supervisor -

Alex Seiden

Visual Effects Producer - Judith Weaver

Effects Producer - John Swallow
Visual Effects Art Directors - Mark Moore

and Craig Lewis (Uncredited)
Digital Effects Supervisors - Euan K. MacDonald
and Kevin Rafferty

Matte Painter: Illusion Arts - Bill Taylor
Character Animation Supervisor - James Straus

Supervising Digital Effects Artist - Barry Armour
Supervising Character Animators - Rob Coleman

and Doug Smith

Lead Digital Character Modeller - Paul Giacoppo

Concept Artists - David Dozoretz

and Jonathan Rothbart
Film Editor - Peter Amundson

First Assistant Editor - John M. Taylor

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson

Special Sounds Designer - John Pospisil

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael C. Casper,

Daniel J. Leahy and Bill Varney

Dragon Foley Artists - John Roesch

and Hilda Hodges

Music - Randy Edelman


Awards

1997 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Scott Squires, Phil Tippett,
James Straus and Kit West (Nominated)


Review
As a teenager, I used to think DRAGONHEART was overrated since I thought the movie introduced me to David Thewlis's character as the hero instead of Dennis Quaid's. However, David's role turns out to be a bloodthirsty villainous king, and Quaid is the leading protagonist. Now I realise it was a great fantasy movie by director Rob Cohen. Fitted together are the solid acting of Quaid and Thewlis and the appropriated and applied comical slapstick. The well-known music by Randy Edelman and, most importantly, the dragon character Draco, brought to life by CGI and the voice of Sean Connery.

DRAGONHEART was surprisingly entertaining but a lively and pleasant flick that keeps the heart and takes viewers on an unforgettable journey.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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