Verdict
Summary
Dragonworld is truly a gem of a family film with its sweet soul, gorgeous UK and Romanian locations, and impressive practical effects that make the dragon look even better than Universal’s Dragonheart. The whole thing is geared for kids and families, who might turn their nose up at it nowadays, but I found it very palatable and agreeable as a soft fantasy film.
Plot:
An American orphan boy is adopted by his Scottish relatives and grows up alongside a dragon.
Review:
American child Johnny (adorable Courtland Mead) is orphaned and travels to Scotland where the grandfather he’s never met is waiting to adopt him. Johnny must adjust to living in a huge dilapidated castle in a remote area of the highlands, and he befriends a little dragon that seems connected to him somehow. Where’s the dragon from? A magical realm, apparently, and the boy names it Yowler, and together they grow up big and strong, but while John (played as an adult by Alastair Mackenzie) grows up completely oblivious to technology and such modern luxuries, he relishes his relationship with his dragon friend, which grows into a huge, flying (but friendly) beast. When a documentary crew comes around filming castles and such, Yowler’s existence is a shock to the crew, and they spill the beans to a local Scottish baron who tries swindling the dragon from John, who naively signs a contract allowing his beast to be exploited in an amusement park called Dragonworld. As Yowler is all but forfeited to be a zoo attraction, John’s broken heart is mended by a pretty young American woman who tries to help him save the dragon and restore it to its rightful “owner,” who has a lot to learn about the ways of the world.
From Full Moon / Moonbeam and director Ted Nicolaou (Subspecies), Dragonworld is truly a gem of a family film with its sweet soul, gorgeous UK and Romanian locations, and impressive practical effects that make the dragon look even better than Universal’s Dragonheart. The whole thing is geared for kids and families, who might turn their nose up at it nowadays, but I found it very palatable and agreeable as a soft fantasy film. The score by Richard Band is good too. What’s to complain about? Followed by a sequel.
Full Moon’s Blu-ray release of Dragonworld looks remarkably sharp and clear in widescreen high definition, and it comes with a featurette, and a conversation with the director and the producer Charles Band.
