[FilmReview]Dragonslayer(1981)6.9/10

AcaveattoanyonewhoisgoingtowatchDRAGONSLAYERforthefirsttime,thismedievalkingdomadventureisnotyourusualDisneyfare,inspiteofitisacoproductionbetweenWaltDisneyandParamountPicture.Ostensiblyposturingasawarmed-overstoryofacallowsorcerer’sapprenticeGalen(MacNicol),whotakesthebatonfromhismasterUlrichofCragganmore(Richardson,looksashadeoff-color,butsprightlywhenhefinallyrisestotheoccasion),thelastsorcerer,toslayagargantuan,fire-breathingdragonnamedVermithraxPejorativewhichhasbeenwreakinghavoconthekingdomofUrlandforyearsandcanonlybeappeasedbythesacrificeofvirgingirlstwiceayear(thereasonbehindthevirginalobsessionisnotdisclosedthough).EmboldenedbybecomingthenewownerofUlrich’smagicamulet,afterthelatterissomehowweirdlydispatchedevenbeforesteppingoutfortheexpedition,Galenfindshisbeginner’sluckbyinvokingalandslidetosealthedragon’sden,avictoryhetakesasasignthatheisthenextsorcererinthemaking,butnotintheeyesofKingCasiodorusofUrland(Eyre)andhiscynicalCaptainoftheRoyalGuardTyrian(Hallam),Galenisinterned,onlywhenPrincessElspeth(Salaman),thevirgindaughteroftheking,isselectedasthenextsacrifice(muchowingtoherownguilt-riddenconscienceanddeath-seekingmartyrdom),Galenisreturnedwiththeamuletandsetsouthissolomissiontokillthedragonandrescuetheprincess.Justwhenwenaivelypresumesthattherestoftheplotwouldgoexactlylikethat,DRAGONSLAYERdefiesourwontedexpectationeverywhichway:Galensurvives,bytheskinofhisteeth,hisheroicbutbotchedattempt,hedoesn’tevenfallinlovewiththesaintlyprincess(whomeetsaghastlypayoffthatisessentiallystartling)tobeginwith,itisthetomboyValerian(Clarke)hetakesashineto;Ulrich’sseeminglycavalierdepartureisnotwhatitseemstobe,aresurrectionisfairlypreordained;whatismore,Galenmightnotevenbecutitforasorcereratall(thoughtheendinggivesanambiguoustouchofthat),andtherealdragonslayermightstayforeverundisclosedandthemass,likeasnot,willworshipabogussavior,thatissomefoodforthought!MoreakintoJohnBoorman’sEXCALIBUR(1981)thananynumberofbright-coloredsword-and-scandalperiodadventurer,MatthewRobbins’filmismostlyshotinNorthWalesunderasomberhueandadornedwithaprimitivelook,anditslandscapeandtopographyconducestoanotherworldlypresenceofanancientmagicrealmthatisrightlyonpoint.ButtherealMcCoyhereisthespecialeffectsandstate-of-the-artanimatronics,createdbythecompanyIndustrialLightandMagic,itisOscarnominated(inconcertwithAlexNorth’splangentscore),mostlyforthefruitionofanundergroundlakeflickeringwitheitherflamesorwill-o’-the-wisp,andthehorrificallyformidabledragonitself(whichfaresbetterinitsdanklairthanthepre-CGIsimulacranearthefirmament),imagineittobeseenthroughtheeyesofitsaudienceatthen,DRAGONSLAYERisquiteadarkfantasythatdulygrindsoutallthethrillsandchills,andoccasionallywhenyouleastexpectit.referentialentries:JohnBoorman’sEXCALIBUR(1981,7.2/10);PeterJackson’sTHEHOBBIT:THEDESOLATIONOFSMAUG(2013,6.9/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。