At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Dragonslayer has all of the quintessential components of a classic fantasy fiction story. Adventure, romance, the unlikely hero, magic and of course a dragon. Watch this if you enjoyed movies like Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, The Beast Master, Dark Crystal, Legend, Willow, Jason and the Argonauts, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.

A powerful but weary wizard, threatened townspeople in need of a savior, a young apprentice short on life experiences, a corrupt King, and a very powerful and aging dragon combine to make the greatest dragon and sorcerer movie made to date."Are you afraid of dragons? No, in fact if it weren't for sorcerers there wouldn't be any dragons." I saw this movie in the theater as a kid and I've watched it a dozen times since on television. I love it. Everyone plays their part perfectly. The wizard's keep has the appearance you'd imagine. The dragon's lair is scary and the dragon is as realistic as any creature of that size I've seen on the big screen. Even the journey the apprentice takes through the woods takes you back to a medieval time that never existed.This is a great movie that is under-rated on IMDb as of this review, but reasonably rated 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. The story is wonderful, the scenes are set well, the actors are perfectly cast, and only a few things could have been slightly better, which is why I've given this a 9 out of 10. I have yet to see another "dragon movie" that is Dragonslayer's equal.

This is one of the best sword and sorcery films out there. It is very good - especially the visual effects (amazing for the time era).The story is sorta reminiscent of "King Kong" or "Clash of the Titans" (among other films) in the way there is a beast of sorts after a helpless woman and a young dashing hero out to rescue her. Dragonslayer has a stereo-typical scenario but so wonderfully done.Dragonslayer is not a movie of epic portions but is a good movie to watch on a day when you have time to spare. If you are into movies about dragons, wizards and heroes then give Dragonslayer a try. It's one of the better quality movies of this type.9/10

I caught about 10-15 minutes of "Dragonslayer" on TV a few months back, which was my first exposure to this film, and I determined right then and there to eventually purchase it. When I finally bought it I watched it TWICE, something I rarely do.THE STORY: A medieval kingdom is harassed by a dragon, apparently the last of its species. The people decide to appease the horrific beast with regular sacrifices of virgin maidens. The virgins are selected through a questionable lottery system. When the King's daughter is picked for sacrifice, the monarch employs a sorcerer's apprentice, Peter MacNicol, to slay the dragon."Dragonslayer" takes the "Jaws" route by not fully showing the beast until well into the second hour of the film. Prior to that revealing moment the film expertly builds up a heap of horrific anticipation concerning the creature. The first virgin sacrifice scene is particularly terrifying. When we finally DO see the monster it's definitely not a let down. Many viewers attest that this dragon is the best dragon to ever appear in film, even though the picture was made in 1981.I've heard some complain that the protagonist, MacNicol, was wrong for the role. Nothing could be further from the truth. He's easy to relate to because he's a flawed human being with naive, boyish qualities, not a larger-than-life superhero (like, say, Conan or Beastmaster). I've also heard some complain that the heroine, Caitlin Clarke, is too "man-ish" looking. Well, duh, that fits into the whole sacrificial lottery plot. When Caitlin ultimately and uncertainly dons a dress and make-up she's woman enough.The Dark Age sets/costumes/locations really impressed me. If you're in the mood for a top-of-the-line medieval flick with castles, dungeons, forests, villages, fair maidens, kings, sorcerers, etc. this is the one to see."Dragonslayer" was an inexplicable flop when it was released in 1981, perhaps due to the glut of similar-themed pictures at the time. Regardless, it can now be treasured on DVD. It took me over 25 years to witness its magnificence but I finally did.GRADE: A-