Excalibur

Amazon.com essential video

This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Deliverance) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Perfect and Definitive!.......2007-08-27

I just saw this film again last night. I first saw it years ago as a teenager and it had a great impact on me then but I can say that with repeated viewings I have extracted more.

Essentially this film is really well crafted. I have to confess that I have not read Sir Thomas Mallory's "La Morte d'Arthur" upon which this film is supposedly largely based but it seems to me that Boorman has threaded together a number of themes of medieval and dark age literature with seamless ease.
King Arthur is, in fact, Siegfried, King Marke and Amfortas (from the Parzifal legend) wrapped into one. This is beautifully expounded by the adoption of effective musical motifs taken from Richard Wagner's mature operas: Gotterdammerung (Siegfried's funeral march), Tristan und Isolde (prelude), Parsifal (prelude). Boorman, in particular, uses the music from Siegfried's funeral march to symbolize the triumph that is Arthur's life as courageous, then noble, then forgiving King - in the manner of the three characters for which he is an effective amalgam. He uses the death motif at the beginning of Siegfried's funeral march during dramatic moments and Wotan's doom prophecy motif for certain isolated moments with Merlin - yes, Merlin here is Wotan according to the use of Wagner's motif but it is particularly fitting.

Of course, the nature of the nordic myths is such that there is a great deal of overlap among the various heroes and Gods and the likes so that one character from one myth is often based on a character from another. It is also the case that many of the myths do get interwoven into some great saga thereafter - think Tolkein's Ring and think Wagner's Ring based essentially on the same sources. What is great about Excalibur is that the integration of the myths is pretty fluid throughout and the central thread is the progression through Arthur's life from naive squire to wise and weary King.

Many other themes are covered here - the wound that will not heal (Lancelot as Tristan - note Wagner linked Tristan to Amfortas so this is fitting here), Perceval (read Parsifal) is the innocent fool who procures the grail to redeem Arthur (Amfortas).
Guinevere is both Isolde and Elsa who is championed by Lohengrin (again read Lancelot here). It's all in there and it's very smooth.

Okay, apart from the excellent integration of manifold myth accompanied to the lush musical Wagnerian tapestries, you have great cinematography throughout - this is how to do myth!
The acting is also top notch - you have young English/Irish stars such as Byrne, Stewart, Neeson, Redgrave, Williamson, Mirren - for the most part before they were particularly famous. There are a couple of really dodgy performers in there as well but the relatively minor roles do not detract from the overall effect.

This film is played as myth, the dialogue is relatively simple but often witty (in the hands of Williamson, for example), but this is exactly what myth is about. The synthesis of music, cinematography and rich drama that incorporates, as I have said, so many nordic myths render this just about the ultimate cinematic portrayal of such myth that you will ever get. It is ideal for people interested in nordic myth e.g. Nibelungenlied, Eddas, Saga of the Walsung, but it is also ideal for teenagers just interested in all the glamour of the chivalrous age - as I was at the time. Probably not for kids though since there is a lot of limb hacking in evidence. This is a symbolic myth telling that has real-world, adult symbolism and is not a children's tale of the type you will get from Tolkien, so in this respect it depends what you want but basically any normal human being should buy this - full of great emotional moments!

A Medieval Fantasy Boldly Brought to Life.......2007-08-26

The screen darkens and words appear referring to a time long gone by...ominous music from Richard Wagner's "Gotterdammerung" begins to swell... suddenly there are towering flames in the night and amongst the trees armored knights spill over a ridge in mortal combat... Welcome to the story of Excalibur and the king who will wield it. From those opening moments I was completely hooked, so it came as a surprise to me that some film critics complained that it wasn't realistic (actual armor was so heavy that knights could not walk around in it) and the dialog too melodramatic (not faithful to the serious tone of Thomas Mallory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" upon which this film is mostly based). But they missed the point here-this is a film constructed solely of myth and legend, of wizards and sorcery, peopled with larger than life characters and so grandly filmed that it won an Academy Award for best cinematography. The sound track is credited to Trevor Jones, but he also makes use of stirring passages from the world of classical music at key points in the film (portions of Wagner's operatic "Ring" cycle and choral music from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana"). Add into this heady mix a few images from Norse sagas (such as the body of a dead hero transported out to sea on a Viking ship) and you end up with what I've always enjoyed about this film-a magical and bold interpretation of the day's of King Arthur aimed at an adult audience. (There are violent battle sequences and nudity-I don't mean to mislead anyone here.)

If at this point you're still hesitating as to whether to buy this DVD or not, I'll leave you with one of my favorite moments: Merlin stands by the water's edge, and as Wagnerian music begins to soar around you Excalibur dramatically bursts through the liquid surface and rises forth in the hand of The Lady of the Lake. (An indelible image that still gives me a thrill each time I see it.)

Motion Picture Sidenote: Appearing here are several stars before they became famous-Patrick Stewart (Star Trek's Capt. Picard), Liam Neeson ("Schindler's List"), and Helen Mirren (recent Academy Award winner for Best Actress in "The Queen").

What is used from your lust..Shall be mine...And you'll have it!.......2007-07-10

By Excalibur I SWEEAARRR IT! John Boorman's masterpiece
of Arthur should be seen from everyone.It is a classic
tale that seems to be filmed every 7-10 yrs. I still
believe this is the best version.For the performances
from Nicole Williamson(uuummm! Hello OSCARS???)Gabriel
(I just plain kick a$$)Byrne and many more! The fact
this is Rated R just enhances the movie that much more.
Sorry Kiddies but if you are looking for a nice/soft
version of King Arthur and Merlin with the long grey
beard you will be very dissapointed,for the EX does
NOT F#$K AROUND! The directing is flawless and the
music is ONE of the best in film history!Totally
recommend in any AMAZONERS DVD shelf!!! BUY IT
WATCH IT....LIVE IT!.........All I can give you
is my love....."THAT'S THE ONE THING OF YOURS I DON'T
WANT!I WILL COME AND TAKE CAMELOT BY FOOOOORRRCCEE!"
BRILLIANT BOORMAN....JUST BRILLIANT!LONG LIVE THE EX!

Excaliber.......2007-05-28

One of my all time favorites!! Its great to have it in dvd collection now too. A must have for the medival-King Arthur etc fans!!

Dated, but still greaat to watch........2007-05-14

I had forgotten how interesting this movie was -- a little frustrating with its mixing of the legends, but a good watch and a fun reminder of how film styles have evolved in recent years.

Average customer rating:

Micro fantasy film
This dragon is the BEST!!!
Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon
Dragonslayer
Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon

Dragonslayer
Starring: Peter MacNicol , Caitlin Clarke , Ralph Richardson , John Hallam , and Peter Eyre
Director: Matthew Robbins
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AUHOM
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com essential video

Despite its box-office failure in 1981, Dragonslayer was gradually recognized as one of the finest fantasies to emerge from the post-Star Wars boom in special effects. It's still one of the best adventures of its kind, featuring one of the most fearsome fire-breathing serpents in movie history. Ominously named Vermithrax Pejorative, this ill-tempered monster terrorizes the peasantry of sixth-century England, feeding on maidens sacrificed by a duplicitous king until a sorcerer's apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol, long before Ally McBeal) is recruited as a reluctant hero. Aided by a tenacious beauty (Caitlin Clarke) and his resurrected mentor (Ralph Richardson), Galen confronts the soaring beast in a breathtaking climax. Employing a then-innovative technique called Go-Motion to animate the dragon, the special effects are still dazzling, and stunning locations in Scotland and Wales allow director Matthew Robbins (cowriter of Steven Spielberg's feature debut, The Sugarland Express) to maintain a vivid atmosphere for the wealth of movie magic. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Micro fantasy film.......2007-08-27

I have admitted previously that I am not a big fan of fantasy films with magic, fairies and unicorns in them. However, this being the first of the genre I was exposed to as a child left an impression on me. It was one of those movies they ran all the time on HBO when we first got cable. Seeing it as an adult is another matter all together.

Nearly 30 years before Ally McBeal, Peter McNichol plays an ernest peasent boy / sourcerer's apprentice who is approached by a group of equally concerned peasents in a neighboring village. Twice a year on the summer and winter equinox, they sacrifice a virgin to appease a dragon. They are looking for help so they don't have to keep giving up their damsels and hope to emplore the skills of the sourcerer. Peter McNichol joins the group in their trip back to their home village, and discovers quite by accident that the leader of the group is a woman disguised as a boy. She said since she was born, her father has dressed her as a boy to keep her from the virgin lottery. It's given her many opportunities that she otherwise would not have had, let alone increase her chances of staying alive.

What I liked about this movie best was the relationship between the crown and it's subjects, and the struggle of the haves and have nots. Like the masquerading boy says to Peter, her father is poor and cannot afford to pay the bribes to say out of the lottery. They have to resort to other means of avoidance. Their king is arrogant and uncaring, saying only a few of their children are being sacrificed and it's not really a concern. When his own daughter, Princess Elsbeth, learns that her name is not on the list of possible sacrifices, and some of the townspeople are paying bribes to stay out of the lottery, she altruisticly puts herself as the one and only in the grab bag. When the king witnesses this, he is of course terrified, but she announces that she will give up her own life to appease for the risk they have taken and she had not due to her status. The dragon, of course, is then slayed by our hero. But, the damsel in distress (Princess Elsbeth) is not rescued, but still gives up her life. She's the real hero of this story.

This dragon is the BEST!!!.......2007-08-26

So what if the special effects didn't cost $200 million. Did you see 'Hulk'? It was horrible. Some silly looking 'video game Hulk' bouncing around the city'. Ridiculous. Did you see 'Spider-Man'? A good film, but the CGI effects showed exactly what 'Spider-Man' is: a special effect. 'Dragonslayer' doesn't have those highly expensive CGI effects. What it does have (way back in 1981) is a fine cast, lead by a sorceror's apprentice (regardless of what some say about Peter MacNicol's casting, I thought he was perfect), and Sir. Ralph Richardson, perfect as the sorceror, a good supporting cast, and a 'model' dragon that easily puts the dragons in 'Dragonheart', 'Reign of Fire' and the silly 'Eragon' to shame. Frequent Spielberg/Lucas visual effects man Dennis Muren ('E.T.', 'The Empire Strikes Back', 'Jedi', 'Jurassic Park', etc.) also worked on this film, and it shows. This dragon is the real thing. Ancient and scaly, bitter, terrifying, and unsympathetic. It's simply menacing. This is a beast that nightmares are made of. And this dragon was shot WITHOUT the aid of computers. Yet the effects look BETTER than today's CGI monstrosities. This dragon is truly a work of art. The bar has been set with 'Dragonslayer', so another filmmaker is going to have to do it better than Matthew Robbins' excellent fantasy, and that won't be easy. I do hope Paramount and Disney (they co-produced the film) put out a 2-disc set. A documentary about the making of the film featuring Dennis Muren, Matthew Robbins, and some of the cast members would certainly be entertaining, and well worth the purchase.

Spears, Scales, and Spells; The Best Way to Watch a Dragon .......2007-08-12

A novice magician finds himself taking the place of his recently killed mentor to help a group of villagers do one thing they can't seem to manage on their own - they want him to help them carve up a dragon. Along the way he finds that not everyone is happy with this notion; apparently the king of the area has issued a lottery amongst the people and, as long as virgins are fed to the dragon at a decent pace, the dragon doesn't happen upon the kingdom or the towns and their wonderfully crafted straw roofs. This leads to other angles that come out of the proverbial blue, including love and treachery, the place where dreams go to die, and the cost of doing anything - even if you think you are ding the "right" thing.

One of the things I've noticed throughout the years is that movies can be deceptive in a number of ways. First of all the movie itself can be deceptive, secondly there can be deception on the part of the mainstream media when they talk about movies, and then there's the little lie that box-office sales oftentimes tells. Many times a person can be led to thnk that a movie isn't good because of the money it makes when, in act, it was simply overlooked by the public for one reason or another. That was the thing about Dragonslayer - it was overlooked when it was made and, sometimes, it still finds itself on the wrong side of memory.

While Dragonslayer is one of those movies that doesn't really get the credit it deserves, it really does deserve to be on the big stage with a lot of the better fantasy movies ever made. Not only are the effects beautifully-rendered and the story one that people will find themselves in love with, but it is also a tale that deals with the question of humanity and monstrosity and what, exactly, can change even the darkest hearts. When I first watched this movie I was six, not exactly a film critic then but still knowing a good movie when I saw it, and I was amazed by the things that existed in the movie. There was one scene in particular that stuck with me; in a cavern filled with fire, I saw a man that looked almost incapable of being infamous walk across liquid flame and explain the duality of what men oftentimes consider "good" and how it co-exists with "evil."
It was an amazing lesson to hear then; it is still an amazing speech to hear now.

Personally, I like movies that deal with dragons and I like those that deal with spells BUT I like both to be rendered well. In Dragonslayer you find both of them done in a way that lets even the movie layman fall in love with the visuals, and the plot simply strengthens that effect. These things, combined with the fact that the movie has never really cost that much to watch, makes this movie more than a common entry into the world of fantasy. It makes it part steal, part love affair, and something for all types of audiences.
I recommend it highly.

Dragonslayer.......2007-07-15

I loved The Dragonslaayer. It was a very intense movie. Lots of action and the acting was superb.

Imagine "Jaws" in Medieval Times, except with a Dragon.......2007-04-29

I caught about 10-15 minutes of "Dragonslayer" on TV a few months back, which was my first exposure to this film, and I determined right then and there to eventually purchase it. When I finally bought it I watched it TWICE, something I rarely do.

THE STORY: A medieval kingdom is harrassed by a dragon, apparently the last of its species. The people decide to appease the horrific beast with regular sacrifices of virgin maidens. The virgins are selected through a questionable lottery system. When the King's daughter is picked for sacrifice, the monarch employs a sorcerer's apprentice, Peter MacNicol, to slay the dragon.

"Dragonslayer" takes the "Jaws" route by not fully showing the beast until well into the second hour of the film. Prior to that revealing moment the film expertly builds up a heap of horrific anticipation concerning the creature. The first virgin sacrifice scene is particularly terrifying. When we finally DO see the monster it's definitely not a let down. Many viewers attest that this dragon is the best dragon to ever appear in film, even though the picture was made in 1981.

I've heard some complain that the protagonist, MacNicol, was wrong for the role. Nothing could be further from the truth. He's easy to relate to because he's a flawed human being with naive, boyish qualities, not a larger-than-life superhero (like, say, Conan or Beastmaster). I've also heard some complain that the heroine, Caitlin Clarke, is too "man-ish" looking. Well, duh, that fits into the whole sacrificial lottery plot. When Caitlin ultimately and uncertainly dons a dress and make-up she's woman enough.

The Dark Age sets/costumes/locations really impressed me. If you're in the mood for a top-of-the-line medieval flick with castles, dungeons, forests, villages, fair maidens, kings, sorcerers, etc. this is the one to see.

"Dragonslayer" was an inexplicable flop when it was released in 1981, perhaps due to the glut of similar-themed pictures at the time. Regardless, it can now be treasured on DVD. It took me over 25 years to witness its magnificence but I finally did.

Average customer rating:

HD-DVD version

Dragonheart [HD DVD]
Starring: Dennis Quaid , David Thewlis , Pete Postlethwaite , Dina Meyer , and Jason Isaacs
Director: Rob Cohen
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000O179F4
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Customer Reviews:

HD-DVD version.......2007-06-22

Okay folks, I am guessing you have seen this movie as it is quite a few years old now so I will not bother going into the details of it. If you wish to know more about the plot then check it out on imdb.

The big question is, how did it fare being transfered to HD-DVD? Well to sum it up I would say brilliantly. The video transfer is crisp and detailed, it does suffer a tad with film artifacts but this is the best we are ever going to see it that is for sure.

The audio transfer is absolutely superb.

You want HD-DVD? Well this is as good as it gets for this title.

Average customer rating:

Great movie for kids,
"We are the reason why cousins should never marry."
Sophisticated production with a Gigantic Heart.
Romantic Adventure
Great Childrens Entertainment..

Quest for Camelot
Starring: Jessalyn Gilsig , Andrea Corr , Cary Elwes , Bryan White , and Gary Oldman
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305123454
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Amazon.com

Following their animated/live action hit Space Jam, Warner Bros. jumped into the fully animated feature competition by playing it safe, giving the Arthurian legend a conspicuously Disneyesque facelift. Ingredients from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Pocahontas are evident in the tale of a girl named Kayley (Jessalyn Gilsig) whose father, a Knight of the Round Table, is killed by Sir Ruber (Gary Oldman), a maniacal brute who steals Excalibur and threatens to seize King Arthur's Camelot. Kayley enlists the blind, reclusive knight-aspirant Garrett (Cary Elwes) to brave the Enchanted Forest and retrieve the magic sword, and their adventure is (of course) fraught with danger. Adding extra punch to the movie's commercial appeal, the soundtrack songs are performed by big names like LeeAnn Rimes and Celine Dion. And if that's not enough to hold a kid's attention, there's a two-headed dragon ("we're the reason cousins shouldn't marry") voiced by Eric Idle and Don Rickles. With so much talent involved, it's entertaining but uninspired, although cleverly harmless riffs from Dirty Harry, Taxi Driver, and other movies spice up the adventure with enjoyable pop-culture references. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A magical feature-length animated adventure brimming with laughter and song! A heroic young girl, a handsome blind hermit and a comical two-headed dragon join forces to recover King Arthur's magical sword Excalibur after it is stolen by an evil enemy.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie for kids,.......2007-02-13

I bought this for my grandchildren and they love it. They watch it all of the time.

"We are the reason why cousins should never marry.".......2006-09-24

Plot in a nutshell - Baron Ruber (voice of Gary Oldman) wants all the power & wealth in the land, is thus expelled from the Round Table for it, and vows revenge on King Arthur (voice of Bond star Pierce Brosnan) and all who inhabit his realm. Years later, Ruber steals the sword Excalibur and plunges Camelot into chaos. The only hope is Kayley (voice of Jessalyn Gilsig), the plucky, super cute farm girl tomboy teen-aged daughter of a Round Table knight Ruber killed years ago, who manages to rope a blind forester/former stable boy named Garrett (voice of Cary Elwes) and a two-headed dinosaur/dragon mutant (voiced by Don Rickles and Eric Idle) into helping her retrieve Excalibur. Comedy, chaos and mayhem ensues.

Maybe not the best animated feature ever made, but still enjoyable in its old fashioned Disney kind of way. Combination of traditional hand-drawn animation set against CGI backgrounds makes for a beautifully uneven visual feast. Characters are fairly likable and good-natured enough not to annoy anyone.

Based on the book "The King's Dam0sel" by the late Vera Chapman.

Sophisticated production with a Gigantic Heart........2006-05-13

It might be easy for the rushed and hurried to quickly label this gentle animation as just another passable direct-to-video disneylike flick, but hold on, this isn?t one of them. This is a generous, colorful, thoughtful sophisticated movie, which achieved even more than it was intended. Particularly in one scene, which elevates this movie to the epic level.

Kayley, is chased by bad guys, and instead of your typical Indiana Jones like, brass and drums chase scene orchestral score..you are unexpectedly treated with an lovely, gentle, vaguely eerie song, (The Prayer) providing a big contrast with the intense and aggressive horse chase. (and its NOT in slow motion) "I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go...". Instantly you?re really worried with the mother, and those mildy cartoony villains become a real textured menace. They really made this work, and this movie is applause worthy for this scene alone.

Romantic Adventure.......2006-03-21

Quest for Camelot is my favorite movie. I love how a blind man can be so efficient and how a young girl can see him beyond his abilities.

Great Childrens Entertainment.........2006-02-22

I ordered the Quest for Camelot dvd for the wonderful Steve Perry video that was included on the disc. Having never watched the movie before I was pleasantly surprised. My 10 year old loves the movie and she loves the games that are included on the disc.

Average customer rating:

Perfect and Definitive!
A Medieval Fantasy Boldly Brought to Life
What is used from your lust..Shall be mine...And you'll have it!
Excaliber
Dated, but still greaat to watch.

Excalibur [HD DVD]
Starring: Nigel Terry , Helen Mirren , Nicholas Clay , Cherie Lunghi , and Paul Geoffrey
Director: John Boorman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000JLSLZG
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Raised by merlin, young Arthur draws the mystical sword of Excalibur from the stone and becomes King. He grows to manhood and with his wife Guenevere and first knight Lancelot unites the country and founds the Knights of the Round Table. But the love between Lancelot and Guenevere, and the treachery of his sister Morgana and son Mordred cause King Arthur's pride to jeopardize the kingdom. An epic battle between the knights of good and evil decides the fate of Camelot,

Customer Reviews:

Perfect and Definitive!.......2007-08-27

A Medieval Fantasy Boldly Brought to Life.......2007-08-26

What is used from your lust..Shall be mine...And you'll have it!.......2007-07-10

Excaliber.......2007-05-28

One of my all time favorites!! Its great to have it in dvd collection now too. A must have for the medival-King Arthur etc fans!!

Dated, but still greaat to watch........2007-05-14

I had forgotten how interesting this movie was -- a little frustrating with its mixing of the legends, but a good watch and a fun reminder of how film styles have evolved in recent years.

Average customer rating:

Dont rent from Amazon
Great action
A earth shattering brake through!!!!
DTS does work - Great Movie!
A Classic Dragon Fantasy Film

Dragonheart - Collector's Edition
Starring: Dennis Quaid , David Thewlis , Pete Postlethwaite , Dina Meyer , and Jason Isaacs
Director: Rob Cohen
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783225814
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com essential video

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 lighthearted 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 (and voiced by Sean Connery), after they realize 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 honor 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.

Customer Reviews:

Dont rent from Amazon.......2007-01-12

I rented this, and once downloaded it stated that my client license was up. Tech support couldnt help me, and instead just refunded my money. It was nothing but a waste of time.

Great action.......2006-02-14

While not as good as the Mummy, this movie is really great because of the violent action. Kicks the quinn out of the kiddie kid kid sequel.

A earth shattering brake through!!!!.......2006-02-13

I thought it was great!! What I mean to say is, that I thought computerziation was at its best,(to a certain excetent). Like in that one secen, when Draco was trying to eat Bowen; but besides that, I thought it pretty good!!

DTS does work - Great Movie!.......2006-01-21

To get to the DTS encoding you must click on the 5.1 selection instead. It then jumps to DTS. I discovered this after a little experimentation. It's just a glitch in the DVD, but DTS DOES work! The move has superb visual effects and sound. Well worth the price!

A Classic Dragon Fantasy Film.......2005-08-05

Plot: In a revoltion by the village against his father/the King, Enion -- the young Prince and apprentice of knight Bowen (Dennis Quaid) -- is injured. As the injury could be fatal, the Queen rushes him to a dragon with the request of it's healing power. To do so, the dragon must give half of his heart to the Prince (and, of course, he does). Yet once Enion bcomes King, he disregards any teachings of the Old Code from Bowen and becomes a cruel and corrupt young man, bringing only choas to his time of reign. From here, feeling that the dragon is the reason for Enion's rebellion, Bowen vows to slay every single dragon left in existence. But once he comes upon the last dragon left (Sean Connery with vocal duties only, as the dragon is CGI), he finds him impossible to defeat. They resort to friendship instead, and Bowen gives the dragon a name: Draco (after the constellation). They team up, traveling village to village, having Bowen to pretend he slays an evil dragon (Draco) that is inhabiting whichever current village they are working (this humorous scam being done for money, of course). But soon, the past catches up to both of them and they run into the old village now cruelly run by Enion. They, with the assistance of the villagers, decide to over-run Enion and his small army. With the help of Draco, it seems possible. But Enion ends up capturing Draco. Bowen must kill Enion and save Draco, but discovers a connection between the two that makes such a task much more difficult than he'd imagined. I've given most of the plot here, but I won't say too much about this part, because it is indeed the center of the climatic drama. All I can say is that Bowen must choose between two very difficult decisions!

Dragonheart succeeds in not only a humorous and fantastic movie, but also a heart-warming one. The ending (supported by the wonderful score) brought tears to my eyes, and the story is one that will stick with any viewer for quite some time. Although the CGI dragon is a turn-off to some, be assured that for the effects available at the time, these guys used the best. Also, as for the DVD, there are some great special features including inside looks at Draco, the effects, the story, etc. This is an adventure/fantasy film perfect for almost any age and I would certainly recommend at least a rental. If you're into dragons or just fantasy in general, Dragonheart is a must-see!

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie!
Didn't hold my interest ....
Nice story
A Wonderful Family Fantasy Movie
Such a cute movie

George and the Dragon
Starring: Jean-Pierre Castaldi , Carl Chase , Joan Plowright , Simon Callow , and Paul Freeman
Director: Tom Reeve
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MGUZCU
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Description

The first crusade to free the Holy Land has ended. A mass of weary knights, squires, soldiers of fortune and priests are making their way home across a Europe that has changed forever. An age of legends and mystery is about to unfold.

George, a handsome English knight, unsettled by the horrendous bloodletting he witnessed in Palestine, desires to hang up his sword and settle down to a quiet, peaceful life. On returning to England, George heads north where he's heard the land is good and the population sparse and of a kindly King named Edgaar.

He finds King Edgaar in a terrible state. His beautiful daughter, Lunna has recently disappeared. In return for a small plot of land, George agrees to search for Princess Lunna. With Edgaar's faithful servant, Elmendorf, George sets out.

George discovers both the princess and the truth behind her strange disappearance. The quest now set before them ends in a love, a lie and a legend that has lasted a thousand years.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie!.......2007-09-06

I almost didn't buy this because of ho-hum reviews here but I'm happy I did! It has a great cast and excellent performances by everyone involved. I would highly recommend it unless your looking for a serious, historically accurate film - this is a funny fantasy that will give you many laughs and leave your heart warmed!

Didn't hold my interest ...........2007-07-03

I love knight-period movies and took a chance renting this one, but I have to say it was quite a disappointment and I only managed to get through the first hour of it -- Save your money and watch "First Knight" with Sean Connery & Richard Gere instead ...

Nice story.......2007-06-11

This was nice, but then I'm a sucker for knights and tales of magic.
Obviously not a 'Hollywood' masterpiece and will never come close to "Pirates of the Caribbean" or even the Hallmark "Merlin" but its a nice Saturday afternoon movie, add it to your collection!

A Wonderful Family Fantasy Movie.......2007-06-09

I am a grandfather, and I watched this movie with my three-year-old grandson, and we both really enjoyed the movie. I found nothing in this movie that would be questionable for children. Some might think the big fight near the end would be too violent for kids, but this grandson clearly understood that the bad guys were being beaten. I have to say 'beaten' because I don't recall the movie showing anyone being killed. Even when the priest was struck, and 'blood' gushed out, it turned out to be his secret wineskin that was cut! Then, even though the movie didn't show it actually happen, my grandson figured out that the dragon had eaten the final bad guy! While, the movie was simple enough for a preschool boy to understand, it was entertaining enough for his grandpa to enjoy it as well. And, Grandma, walking in and out of the room, said she wanted to watch it when she had time! This is a very enjoyable family fantasy movie.

Such a cute movie.......2007-06-08

The other reviewer is correct, there is nothing historically correct about this movie. It's not a serious movie at all. I first saw this when it ran on the Sci-Fi network & after seeing it knew I would order it when it became available on DVD. It's a very cute movie. It's humorous, entertaining, has it's dramatic moments, good story line, memorable characters, etc... What I really like about this one is that it roots for the dragon rather than against it. It's also a movie that I think would be good for the family to watch together. I don't recall there being anything very questionable about it. There aren't alot of movies out there that I would feel comfortable watching with my nieces and nephews, but this would be one of them. So, those with kids would probably like this movie for a family movie night.

Average customer rating:

Made me sit back down to watch with my son
AWESOME!
Surprisingly Good
Great!
An Awesome Movie

Dragons - Fire & Ice
Starring: Dragons
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002HODWM
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Amazon.com

Dragons: Fire and Ice is a visually and dramatically impressive animated adventure inspired by a line of Mega-Bloks toys, the same way that Mega-Bloks' rival Lego's Bionicle products yielded the Bionicle: Mask of Light and Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui features. By comparison, Dragons may be the superior entertainment, perhaps no less cluttered in its mythic storytelling than the Bionicle franchise but framed and paced far more like a handsome, live-action movie. Set in a time of legend, the film concerns a shattered truce between two warring kingdoms, Draigar and Norvagen, whose earlier peace was established through the wisdom of dragons. Each side blames the other for the disappearance of those winged creatures, though that tragedy was brought about by a manipulative ambassador. But it is Draigar's prince and Norvagen's princess, unbeknownst to them, who possess special powers granted by the Dragon King to heal the old rift. Above-average family viewing. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Made me sit back down to watch with my son.......2007-08-26

I almost walked away to do other things after I started the DVD player but I generally like to at least screen the things my seven year old watches, and eventually I just got tired of standing so I sat down. It is fast moving with lots of action and develops the plot well. Also, unlike many other movies based on toys, if I hadn't known that it was based on the Megablocks toys I would never have noticed the relationship (outside of the credits). A nice touch is that the two main human characters have faults to go with their strengths that make them interesting.

AWESOME!.......2007-07-14

My daughter and I loved this movie! We couldn't wait til Metal Ages came out. I think the ending of this movie might be a tad graphic. My daughter was 3, almost 4 and it made her uneasy the first time...we just talked it out though.

Surprisingly Good.......2006-04-19

My little brother was jabbering about this for days when he discovered that Megabloks had made a movie. I was a little skeptical at first. I thought the movie wouldn't be any good or the bad guys might be too scary for him.
Turns out, after looking all over for a movie store that had it for rent, it was a really good movie! Everyone enjoyed it, even me! The story was good, the bad guy(s) were mean and creepy, and the dragons were AWESOME!!! They were my favorite part; aside from Princess Kyra and her cool martial art skills.
I was happy that the main guy in a movie got shown up for once.
Kyra and Dev had a short fighting sequence and Kyra must've knocked the prince down at least three times!
The dragons were very cool! The wing flaps and tail movements were very realistic. The legs were realistic too, but the dragons didn't walk that much.
Anyway, it was a great movie and I'm glad I had the chance to watch it. If you like dragons, creepy wizards, and sword fights, you will love this movie!!!
Now, if only Megabloks could make their building toys as good as their movies.

Great!.......2005-08-22

I'm getting this for my brother's B-Day, (He's a real fan of the movies and sets.) and I must say, it wasn't bad! It's fun....fantasy like, ya know? I think it's pretty cool! :)

An Awesome Movie.......2005-07-02

While Dragons: Fire and Ice did not have the best animation it could have, the excellent storyline more than made up for it. It is rare these days to find an animated movie that has an actual plot to it. Hats off to Dragons! A movie well-worth the time of any dragon lover.

Average customer rating:

A childhood favorite of mine!
Enjoyable Medieval Quest Film
Worst. Movie. Ever.
Improved picture and sound quality, fully restored!
''Jolly Good Show'!'

The Magic Sword
Starring: Basil Rathbone , Estelle Winwood , Gary Lockwood , Anne Helm , and Liam Sullivan
Director: Bert I. Gordon
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00094ARW8
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Description

Mythical monsters and noble knights come to colorful life in this enchanting and engaging adventure. Filled with "special effects sure to amuse and horrify" (LA Herald-Examiner), The Magic Sword is an "all-out children's fairy tale" (Motion Picture Herald) and a "rousing good time" (The Film Daily)! When the evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) kidnaps the beautiful Princess Helene (Anne Helm), the brave young George (Gary Lockwood) makes it his mission to save her and earn her royal hand in marriage. But George must first survive the seven curses that plague the way to Lodac's castle. Though he has a speedy horse, invincible armor and a magic sword, will George's weapons and resolve be enough to defeat Lodac's ghastly ghouls and deadly demons?!?

Customer Reviews:

A childhood favorite of mine!.......2007-05-28

I first saw this movie as a child in B&W on Saturday afternoon matinee on channel 9 (WGN - Chicago). This was my first medieval movie I had ever seen and due to it I am still a science fiction & fantasy fan. About twenty years later I saw a color version on television. And here I am fifteen years later buying it as a keepsake/memory. This MGM version blew the previous two veiwings away. The picture, color and sound quality was superb. I am extremely happy with my purchase of this item.

Enjoyable Medieval Quest Film.......2007-02-08

Evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) takes his revenge on the King by abducting Princess Helene (Anne Helm) to feed her to a dragon in a week. Ambitious courtier Sir Branton (Liam Sullivan) proposes to go alone to rescue her. The obscure, but noble, protagonist, Sir George (Gary Lockwood), uses the gifts of his good-witch foster mother, Sibyl (Estelle Winwood), to re-animate six knights to go after the Princess, his vision-love. Lodac guards his castle with seven curses, including the double-headed dragon. The movie plays out straightforwardly to the expected conclusion using the technology of the early 1960's. It's all good fun.

The first time I saw the movie was from a $1 bargain bin version from "Treasure Box Collection," a good value, especially since it was bundled with a second film, "King Arthur: The Young Warlord". I enjoyed their "The Magic Sword" but wanted it with a better quality picture. The MGM version has an excellent picture and sound.

The MGM version has an additional four-minute scene about 30 minutes into the film, in which a harassed Princess Helene breaks free of her prison cell and meets Little People kept in cages for eating. Lodac returns her to her cell. The Little People show up later to release George from his bindings in the dungeon and are otherwise not explained.

The one and only annoyance of the MGM version compared to the "Treasure Box Collection" version is that MGM's has a different aspect ratio and sizing. The MGM version is wider, but cuts off portions of the scene that appear at the bottom (or maybe top as well) of the TBC version. While the letterbox aspect ratio is standard, why don't they show the entire movie however the aspect ratio falls out? For me the difference was most noticable in George's dungeon scenes. This quibble does not mean that the MGM version is not the one to choose.

There are no extras.

Worst. Movie. Ever........2006-04-19

Having always been a huge fan of classic adventure fantasy romps like the aforementiond Jack the Giant Killer, Jason and the Argonauts, and the many Sinbad outings, I fully anticipated enjoying The Magic Sword with the same kind of childish enthusiasm. I couldnt believe my luck at finding this DVD in the bargain bin at my local retailer for only 5.50!!! Basil Rathbones name alone sold me this movie.

I really really want my 5.50 back. The so called special effects are ludicrous. The props are ridiculous, and the makeup is beyond laughably bad. Basil Rathbone is doing his best to ham it up as the evil sorceror Lodac, but just barely manages to phone it in. What a waste of the talent that gave us Sherlock Holmes and Sir Guy of Gisbourne. I cant tell if the rest of the actors even realize theyre in such a bad movie, or if they know and just dont care. The awkward pauses between every line in the actors vocal exchanges and movements seem to suggest that they are waiting for some idiot with a cue card to tell them what to do. Even Mr Rathbone suffers from this affliction. Blame this on the somewhat less than classic Director Bert L Gordon.

I actually tried to watch this movie three times before I managed to get all the way through it, just to say I could. I put this on my shelf next to Godzilla's Revenge in the "How in the heck can this movie even exist" department, never to be watched again. Unless youre a movie masochist, blind, deaf, or just have a few dollars with nothing else in the entire world to spend it on, DONT WASTE YOUR TIME.

Improved picture and sound quality, fully restored!.......2006-03-25

2 or 3 years ago I purchased the magic sword on DVD. It was the Alpha video version. This MGM version is so much better then the Alpha version. The picture is clear, the sound is crisp (thank you MGM). Also this is the full version (120 minutes). The alpha version cut out a 3 minute segment where 2 dwarfs sneak into the princess's cell and try to grope her.

The special effects are dated (the movie did come out in 1962), but the story and characters are great. This is a really great "good VS evil" film. A true underated classic. Great for the whole family (kids and adults).

''Jolly Good Show'!'.......2005-12-18

"The Magic Sword" is one of B-movie producer/director Bert I. Gordon's best known films. Granted, it's no masterpiece, but it is enjoyable on it's own terms. The plot, very loosely based on the 'St. George And The Dragon' legend, has a princess (Anne Helm) kidnapped by evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) and hunted by lovesick George (Gary Lockwood). Aided by his foster mother Sybil (Estelle Winwood) a good witch, George vows to save the princess and destroy Lodac. Although this plot has been done to death, it's the acting by the splendid Rathbone and Winwood which keeps this film consistently entertaining. Add some modest, but impressive special effects, and you have a very entertaining minor adventure for the family. Beware: this public domain film is available on several cut-rate DVDs, but only the newly released one from MGM/UA home video is worth the price. They have a beautiful print of the film (it was originally released by United Artists) which contains a fun theatrical trailer. This is the one to get! [phillindholm]

Average customer rating:

fine Hedy Lamarr vehicle

Dishonored Lady
Starring: Morris Carnovsky , Paul Cavanagh , Douglas Dumbrille , James Flavin , and Margaret Hamilton
Director: Robert Stevenson
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0006IUDUS
Release Date: 2004-12-21

Customer Reviews:

fine Hedy Lamarr vehicle.......2005-11-19

Following a series of badly-received films, M-G-M allowed Hedy Lamarr to set up her own production unit inside the studio where she could develop properties that were tailor-made for her. DISHONORED LADY was one of the films she made during this time, based on a play written by Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes (and originally staged on Broadway by renowned Guthrie McClintic). She plays a sophisticated magazine designer who abandons her hedonistic lifestyle, only to be implicated in a murder. She co-stars with her husband at the time, John Loder, and they have a good onscreen rapport. With Dennis O'Keefe and Natalie Schafer.

DVD:

DVD

DVD