Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 24, 2023

It may not be quite fair to say "they don't make them like they used to" because the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies really upped the Dragonslayer style and aesthetic, but for its day, on a much smaller budget and scale, without the backbone of a couple of cherished novel trilogies at its back, Dragonslayer did something rare in cinema: it made a dark Fantasy film that is well made, almost free of needless humor and nonsense, and managed to sort out well defined character exposition and narrative depth at the same time. The film is a complete package of storytelling, characters, pace, setting, special effects, photography sound...the entire cinema medium is well represented here, making Dragonslayer a near perfect example of what this medium is all about. Eh, they really don't make them like they used to.

A terrible dragon is terrorizing the medieval land of Urland in the 6th century. Representatives from the kingdom seek the assistance of the wizard Ulrich (Ralph Richardson) to defeat the dragon immediately -- Urland has been delivering virgins to appease the dragon, and their princess (Chloe Salaman) has rigged the lottery system they use in order to sacrifice herself next. But when Ulrich is killed, the task to confront the dragon falls to the wizard's apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol).

Dragonslayer might not be entirely unique, but it is certainly noteworthy as a film that is focused, with very few frills or extraneous content, and the result is a film that moves quickly, builds content and characters efficiently, and places it all in a handsome, smartly photographed frame. The lean narrative may be of the straightforward adventure type, but the supporting content, particularly character growth and interaction, only serve to elevate the focal content beyond the quest and help build a worthwhile story with a human core, even though a decidedly inhuman character lies at the center and serves as the driving focus and antagonist. But notice it is titled Dragonslayer, not merely "Dragon." Its focus is on the human who will confront it, and the adventures he undertakes and the maturation he develops along the way. Of course, the film builds towards a climactic confrontation between man and beast, but the film is at its best in developing, albeit often darkly, the world and the players in it, not content to simply drop nobodies into something but build the story forward from a human perspective, allowing the fantasy to shape, not to drive, the story.

In all ways, this is a real movie experience that defines the medium in many ways, for its technical artistry, its fantastical story, and its essential humanity. That is not to mention its visual effects, which even decades removed from its making look terrific, even up against modern CGI which still can't match a good practical model. Sure, some of the effects are a little lacking and dated, but the film oozes realism when life-sized dragon props enter the frame and command the screen, instantly making movie magic. Add in seamlessly designed costumes and effortlessly integrated locations and Dragonslayer is about as seamless, and wonderful, a movie as they come.

Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Paramount releases Dragonslayer to the UHD format with a particularly wonderful 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that presents the film looking as if fresh out of theaters. It is essentially a buffed-up version of the concurrently released Blu-ray, which itself looks striking, here offering the same base with sharper textures and superior colors. Certainly, the Blu-ray is so good that often the UHD feels like it's improving by degrees, not by leaps and bounds, presenting textures with sharper definition and colors with deeper adherence to accuracy, but still the UHD does these things better, and that is reason enough to pay the premium. The image clarity and textural elegance are first-class. It's incredible how filmic and sharp it looks, with every worn bit of clothing, each stone, and all the wooden accents delivering world-class definition in every single frame. Grain management is spectacular. Grain is a hint more visible on the UHD, a little more naturally organic, rendering the film looking about as good as it can in terms of natural film texturing and overall razor-sharp clarity. It's a treat!

The Dolby Vision color grading offers a modest boost over the SDR Blu-ray. It's still fairly airy and light, but there's a superior fullness to the picture, healthier skin tones, deeper and more lifelike grays, and more satisfying earthen colors, all of which are the primary shades seen throughout the film. The UHD's Dolby Vision grading shines brightest, perhaps ironically, in low light, where black levels are perfect and shadow detail is exquisite. The opening titles whites are livelier and the red more pronounced and menacingly deep. There are no print faults and no encode issues. If only Paramount released every catalogue release with this level of TLC. This is one of the finest the studio has ever offered and easily one of the best looking of any catalogue UHD on the market from any studio. Fans are going to be overjoyed.

Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dragonslayer's Dolby Atmos audio mix is a beast. The track demonstrates it excellence in the opening moments. A prominent instrumental presentation, rich in low end extension, and seamless stage engagement are the hallmarks, all of them in practically perfect working order and balance. A few moments later, the stage is literally filled with screams, the first of many full bodied surround elements that seamlessly draw the listener into the film. Indeed, there is a sense of stage immersion and size at play here, and the track never fails to offer deep, prominent sound elements that pull the listener into both action and world ambience. The former is a treat with all of the prominent depth that is matched by clarity and, again, legitimate stage presence across the front and through the rears. Meanwhile, small ambient effects within castles and out in the world paint a vital sonic picture of what is happening through the film and pull the listener into each and every locale. The overhead speakers are not prominently engaged with discrete effect after discrete effect, but what they offer is a greater fullness, used to support existing content rather than place audio where it otherwise was previously absent. Dialogue is clear and center positioned throughout the film.

Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release of Dragonslayer includes an audio commentary, a multi-part making-of, a trailer, and screen tests. A digital copy code is included with purchase. No Blu-ray is included.

• Audio Commentary: Director Matthew Robbins and Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro talk about the film in a well-spoken and complementary manner. They cover external filmmaking details but also break down the picture's themes, structure, cast, score, and much more.
• The Slayer of All Dragons (1080p): A five-part feature.
  
  
  • Welcome to Cragganmore (11:08): Exploring the Tolkien influence, production origins and backgrounds, the technology that made the film possible, Disney's reach into casting, actors and performances, and more.
  • A Long Way to Urland (9:21): Character details, production design, photography, and costumes.
  • Vermithrax Pejorative (17:48): An in-depth look at the dragon seen in the film, from inspirations to final design on the screen.
  • Into the Lake of Fire (13:34): Building key props and set pieces, from simple to complex, with much of the focus on dragon parts.
  • The Final Battle (13:45): As the title suggests, this piece looks at the complex making of the film's final 15 minutes.
• Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:58).
• Screen Tests (1080p, 15:42): Full dress rehearsals.

Dragonslayer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In many ways, they really don't make them like this anymore. Here is a film that is fully focused, completely immersive, and pretty well seamless. The acting is great, the characters are well drawn, the story is engaging, the photography and lighting are terrific, and the film's push to story and structure, aiming to satisfy its core audience rather than appeal to all viewers, really is something special in its sum. This is a great movie all around that plays extraordinarily well in 2023 and will assuredly play just as well in the decades to come. Parmount's UHD is a treat. Video and audio are nearly perfect and the supplemental content is excellent, too. Dragonslayer earns my highest recommendation.