Dragonslayer (1981) Coming from Paramount

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

Yes, he's the worst.

He's not as bad as the other one, The Disc Father or whatever he was called. Is that guy still around?

The Digital Bits mentioned Stranger Things Season 3 was coming, and it never happened. Lost some credibility with me after that.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

He's not as bad as the other one, The Disc Father or whatever he was called. Is that guy still around?

The Digital Bits mentioned Stranger Things Season 3 was coming, and it never happened. Lost some credibility with me after that.

Netflix realized they could do what Disney+ was doing and avoid discs altogether while keeping that subscription money pumping.

[By_His_Strypes]

This might be the title I'm most excited about currently. I don't know if I believe the Paramount Presents rumor, as I don't think they've done a steelbook yet?, and it seems like there will be a steelbook version, unless that's something like an exclusive from someone other than Paramount.

[MifuneFan]

It being a Presents title is pure speculation on his part, there is nothing to suggest it will be.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Netflix realized they could do what Disney+ was doing and avoid discs altogether while keeping that subscription money pumping.

I always saw Stranger Things as the exception because The Duffer's really wanted those on physical media. Only problem is that they overproduced those and limited them to Target and they ended up on the discount bin pretty quickly. It was like 4 months ago when a few of these "insiders" were mentioning Season 3 was coming soon. Well, nothing happened there and I even bugged Bill Hunt about it, and he was like "it's coming".

[AmishParadise]

The original artwork to the Italian movie poster by Italian illustrator Bruno Napoli.


(Click on the preview image above to view the full size image.)

[Dragon78]

Nice artwork, never sen that one before.

[drush9999]

I love 80s era fantasy/sword and sorcery artwork.

[Gmamalis6]

If director Matthew Robbins approved and supervised the new restoration of the film, definitely it will be under its Paramount Presents series (probably it's a Almost Famous situation I believe, a 4K Steelbook release and later a standard release and a Blu-ray with Slipcover from Paramount Presents).

[Number_6]

From comments in this thread and the other Dragonslayer thread I’m getting the impression that some aren’t too keen on the possibility of this being a Paramount Presents release.

Forgive my ignorance, but other than the limited number and higher price point, what would be the objection to that type of release?

[Justin_Playfair]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Eh, I most definitely wouldn't go THAT far, the blue-screen lines are really obvious compared to anything from CGI days, and some of the full-scale props are clunky (the baby dragons in particular), and the rotoscoping on the spear in a couple scenes does look pretty chintzy. But, the stop-motion effects are some of the absolute best examples of their techniques ever filmed, and the movie's incredibly strong and dingy production design means nothing sticks out as looking really fake or artificial, and the grim and gritty looking cast really sells it, apart from Peter Macnicol's weird accent, but he's supposed to be kind of a little cretin so it's OK. The script's also pretty good, character motivations are much more complex than usual for the most part and the plot is more intricate than these things usually are.

It's a really great-looking movie. The score's also probably only second to Conan the Barbarian when it comes to 80s fantasy scores.

The only real problem with it is that ending. And I guess arguably the way

[Show spoiler]our hero gets sidelined in the climax, but I sort of like that. I kind of think the title is referring to the wizard and the story's more about how a clever old wizard used his stupid apprentice to get him in the place he could kill the dragon with the least amount of walking possible, as opposed to Galen being a big hero.

Great movie! I will be buying it right away. It's been towards the top of my want list for many years.

Great comments. I agree with everything you wrote, particularly regarding the baby dragons being a weak point from an effects perspective, though for me it didn't diminish the impact of what they did.

As for the ending and the title, my thought has always been that the title is deliberately misleading / ambiguous with respect to who it referenced. For most of the movie it seems clear who "Dragonslayer" referred to, but at the end there are at least three people it could be, though one

[Show spoiler](the king)

only in a sarcastic / ironic sense.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Number_6

From comments in this thread and the other Dragonslayer thread I’m getting the impression that some aren’t too keen on the possibility of this being a Paramount Presents release.

Forgive my ignorance, but other than the limited number and higher price point, what would be the objection to that type of release?

I'm not seeing the objection, just speculation that this is going to be a general release.

[Dan_Shane]

Originally Posted by mpengle

However, and I am sure it won't be a popular opinion, but I also remember that I found this movie fairly boring when I saw it in the 80s. Isn’t the dragon also only in it for like 10 minutes?

It's called "building suspense."

And it's superb.

[mpengle]

Originally Posted by Dan_Shane

It's called "building suspense."

And it's superb.

Haha, if you think this was a superb version of how to build suspense, you haven't seen enough movies. Seems odd for me to say that on a bluray forum designed around movies....heh

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

He's not as bad as the other one, The Disc Father or whatever he was called. Is that guy still around?

The Digital Bits mentioned Stranger Things Season 3 was coming, and it never happened. Lost some credibility with me after that.

A lot of titles are "coming" then cancelled, like the original releases of The Abyss and True Lies. Don't blame the messenger, blame the company, if you're looking for "credibility."

[Bubbles-11]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The Disc Father or whatever he was called. Is that guy still around?

Yes.

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by mpengle

I will absolutely buy this when it releases if for no other reason than the nostalgia trip it will take me on during the re-watch. However, and I am sure it won't be a popular opinion, but I also remember that I found this movie fairly boring when I saw it in the 80s. Isn’t the dragon also only in it for like 10 minutes? No offense to those who love it, I am just trying to remember the details myself.

I think the alien in Alien was onscreen for less time. The dragon here is seen in bits throughout the first part of the movie. It’s talons, tail, etc. make early appearances.

Also, if I remember correctly, the sword Galen uses is called Dragonslayer. Not sure if they actually use the wording in the movie.

[emmet otter]

We also gotta remember that when Jaws was in production, they wanted to show the shark quite a bit but was unable to due to shark mechanical problems during making which then showed less of it. Look how that movie turned out.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

A lot of titles are "coming" then cancelled, like the original releases of The Abyss and True Lies. Don't blame the messenger, blame the company, if you're looking for "credibility."

I think I’ll just blame you.

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

A lot of titles are "coming" then cancelled, like the original releases of The Abyss and True Lies. Don't blame the messenger, blame the company, if you're looking for "credibility."

Can I blame you for always being a "douchebag"?