Dragonslayer (1981) Coming from Paramount

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

I have Dragonslayer on betamax from a recording my family did of it off TV in the mid 80s, but probably haven't actually seen the film in 30 years. How well has this film aged? (from the posts so far in this thread, pretty decently).

Very, very well. Apart from the bluescreen looking predictably dated with colors not matching and the very small amount of rotoscoping it looks like it could have been filmed much more recently, and the commitment to using almost all authentic-looking/sounding actors and grounded, naturalistic sets means nothing looks really out of date and funky like most 80s fantasy flicks.

[AmishParadise]

And if all else fails, use your imagination.

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

I have Dragonslayer on betamax from a recording my family did of it off TV in the mid 80s, but probably haven't actually seen the film in 30 years. How well has this film aged? (from the posts so far in this thread, pretty decently).

Like Alien, Dragonslayer has aged extremely well. Great movie.

[DukeTogo84]

Guessing the date will be in February, but lets see if we get a confirmation soon.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Guessing the date will be in February, but lets see if we get a confirmation soon.

I speculated this might be a timely release to tie-in with the new Dungeons and Dragons movie, so it could be a March release.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by starsteam

I speculated this might be a timely release to tie-in with the new Dungeons and Dragons movie, so it could be a March release.

Possible for sure. We'll see. We don't know their February slate and usually the leaks happen for the first month without any title confirmations. Either way if it's Feb/March, as long it comes out is what matters.

[MifuneFan]

Based on the order date, I'd guess a February 21st release date.

[Cardboard_killer]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

And if all else fails, use your imagination.

Works for my sex life.

[Deadend45]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

How well has this film aged? (from the posts so far in this thread, pretty decently).

A lot better then recent CG fests.

[orrman]

This movie has always had such a heavy sense of authenticity to it. A confidence in its convictions and storytelling that seemed so anomalous to the majority of vapid and cheeseball movies of the 80s. From start to finish, the whole journey is captivating and cathartic.

Also, when I saw this, I was a preteen, but I immediately fell in love with Caitlin Clarke. Honestly, I think she was my very first crush in life. I was simply hypnotized by her whenever she was on screen. Decades later, via the interwebs, I was curious what else she'd done in her career since and was devastated to learn she died in the early 2000s. I still think of her fondly from time-to-time.

I can't express my utter joy that this beautiful, enthralling movie is finally getting the presentation it so rightfully deserves. I hope they spared no expense for this release because this movie requires it.

[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.

[Dragon78]

I have been waiting for this one for a while, glad it is getting a blu ray and 4K releases, hope it gets some actual special features. Too bad many of the cast members have passed away.

[Talyn]

About time to see this is happening! Long time coming!

[cakefactory]

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.

It's an 80s effects movie, so yeah, the monster is only actually on screen for like 15 minutes. That's pretty standard for the time. The movie does a good job of doling out the footage and keeping mention of it in the foreground so it feels like its presence is there most of the time, but I don't think you even see its head till almost an hour in, and then the stop motion I think is limited to two sequences (a big first confrontation and the climax, both in the back third).

[AmishParadise]

From The Digital Bits for what it's worth...

"Moving on to Paramount, retail sources are starting to indicate that the studio is planning to release Matthew Robbins’ Dragonslayer (1981) on 4K Ultra HD in January, with at least one listing the title for release on 1/10/23. I can confirm—based upon multiple sources—that the title is indeed coming and that it may even be a Paramount Presents title with at least one or two newly-created special features."

We shall see soon enough I suppose.

[Dragon78]

That would be nice if is a Paramount Presents release.

[MifuneFan]

Digital bits has no new info there, they're literally citing the same Canadian retailer source that was posted on this site. He also confuses street dates with order dates.

[shamus]

its streaming on Amazon prime.

[Dan_Shane]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

I have Dragonslayer on betamax from a recording my family did of it off TV in the mid 80s, but probably haven't actually seen the film in 30 years. How well has this film aged? (from the posts so far in this thread, pretty decently).

I watched it recently on Amazon Prime, and it definitely stands the test of time.

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Digital bits has no new info there, they're literally citing the same Canadian retailer source that was posted on this site. He also confuses street dates with order dates.

Yes, he's the worst.