DVD Review: Dragonslayer
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this movie has some graphic violence and a genuinely scary dragon. Baby dragons gnaw on the Princess' disembodied limbs. There's brief nudity and a virgin sacrifice theme.
- Families can talk about how to decide whether to fight, compromise, or run. How have you seen those questions presented? What adjustments might be difficult for Valerian after the way she grew up? What was the point of having both the king and the priest claim credit for defeating the dragon? What do you think about the princess' decision? Why did she say that putting her name on all of the tiles "certified" the lottery?
DRAGONSLAYER follows the quest of sorcerer's apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNichol), who sets out to kill a dragon and stop a cycle in which virginal girls are sacrificed in order to keep the beast from destroying an entire kingdom. Galen makes a valiant attempt at killing the dragon, but when the beast returns, Princess Elspeth discovers that her father, the King, has kept his daughter's name off of the list of girls to be sacrificed. As another sacrifice day draws near, Elspeth puts her name on the list and Galen decides to battle the dragon again, unaware the creature is guarding a nest filled with eggs that are on the verge of hatching.
This medieval fantasy-adventure is filled with moral dilemmas, giving kids a lot to think about. For example, the king negotiated a terrible deal with the dragon, but it was better for his people than the uncertainty they had before. This poses the question, when the community is at risk, how do you decide what to do? And, Galen doesn't know what he doesn't know. He thinks because he knows a few tricks, he has enough magic to defeat the dragon. He's wrong, of course, and the princess dies because of his mistake. But when the time comes, and he has to know the right moment to destroy the amulet, he is able to trust himself, and he gets it right. Dragonslayer also reveals a world in which religion eventually replaces magic.
Dragonheart
How to Train Your Dragon
The Flight of Dragons
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