Dragonslayer (1981) Coming from Paramount

[DukeTogo84]

It's all over the 4K threads, but this is finally getting a release.

https://yes.b2bwave.com/products/view/153299



Also on 4K and 4K Steelbook.

[AmishParadise]

They have 3 UPC's listed for this for those not aware.

(191329240045) BLU-RAY | SRP: 18.99
(191329240021) 4K-UHD | SRP: 27.99
(191329240038) 4K-UHD STEELBOOK | SRP: 33.99

[DukeTogo84]

This is one I haven't seen since I was MUCH younger, so it will be nice to finally revisit. I love me some fantasy films from the 80's.

[cakefactory]

I just watched this on paramount plus a couple weeks ago. It holds up WAY better than just about every other 80s fantasy movie. Here’s hoping they gathered some bonus features. That barebones dvd is so insulting to such a great movie.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I just watched this on paramount plus a couple weeks ago. It holds up WAY better than just about every other 80s fantasy movie. Here’s hoping they gathered some bonus features. That barebones dvd is so insulting to such a great movie.

I saw it on Prime Video, I think, a couple of years ago, and I thought the practical effects were better than anything you see nowadays.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Surge92

I saw it on Prime Video, I think, a couple of years ago, and I thought the practical effects were better than anything you see nowadays.

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.

[Catastrophe]

This is crazy.

When Dragonheart was announced, everyone thought it was Dragonslayer.

When I saw this thread, I though it was another one for Dragonheart but nope!

Either way, this news is exciting. Hopefully we get an official statement soon. It'll be interesting to see who's releasing it.

[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.

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

It's all over the 4K threads, but this is finally getting a release.

https://yes.b2bwave.com/products/view/153299

Also on 4K and 4K Steelbook.

Wow, finally! This movie was so awesome on a huge screen back in 1981. The sound was killer too. RIP Caitlyn Clarke.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by JMDiaz718

Wow, finally! This movie was so awesome on a huge screen back in 1981. The sound was killer too. RIP Caitlyn Clarke.

She passed away way too soon from cancer.

Super excited for this release. The only issue I had with the DVD was the obvious f/x panels for the dragon. If they can fix those and get a nice 4k scan it will be huge.

[MikeK84]

Oh, it's about freakin' time for this one already!

[hanshotfirst1138]

AT LAST!! Probably no extras, but hey.

[Deadend45]

Ah. I did not know it was a joint disney-paramount production. If only Splash was. But anyways I want this.

Is it a Paramount Presents?

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Deadend45

Ah. I did not know it was a joint disney-paramount production. If only Splash was. But anyways I want this.

Is it a Paramount Presents?

I don't think any Presents titles have gotten a SteelBook.

[emmet otter]

This is great news!! Hope to see original audio with decent extras.....and please stick with the original cover on that steel

[Rayjg]

Great North score. Can’t wait.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Great Goldsmith score. Can’t wait.

Alex North.

[albabe]

Originally Posted by emmet otter

This is great news!! Hope to see original audio with decent extras.....and please stick with the original cover on that steel

I love the Poster. Painted by my old friend Catherine Jeffrey Jones.

[Morrisminormk1]

Anyone not have the digital code included with their steelbook?

[Dragon78]

This one has been on my most wanted list for a long time. I really hope there will be special features for this one, it really deserves it.