Cavaleiros & Dragões

Starring: Cecily Fay & Dylan Jones. Directed : Mark Atkins.

I interviewed Cecily Fay earlier on my blog,She is amazing woman,Nay,Athlete with swords who deserves tons of accolades and roles in the future.

Without seeing her wonderful turn in this film, She can better any number of baddies with a sword or two and do some stunts,That well,Someone taller might not try.

The special effects,Actually thats kind of rude explanation of how we can see Gargoyles,Dragons and other assorted creatures.

The plot where the Gargoyles come from is very creative and once seen,Makes you anticipate.

Hate to go and on about Cecily Fay,Because Dylan Jones is very good as male lead and breaks all kinds of molds of heroes past.

This was mostly filmed in Wales and it looks great for on-location.

Firstly, let's establish the facts: This is one of the many films produced from The Asylum, they can usually be found on the SyFy channel or Movies for Men. So, we have: A ridiculous title, an even more ridiculous story, wooden acting, extremely clunky dialogue and mega drive standard CGI.

Of course, for the reasons I just listed Dragon Crusaders is an absolute turd of a film. It would be easy to go on a rant, but I will refrain from that temptation. The fact is that Asylum films know their place, all those involved surely know what they are making, and these films that they make tend to actually make a profit, so fair play to them. Calling these films B movies is probably too much of a compliment, maybe Z movie, but they certainly deserve to be a genre in their own right. As long as you know what you are getting in too, have a strong alcoholic beverage at your side, then films like Dragon Crusaders are more entertaining and certainly funnier (intentionally or not) than anything Adam Sandler or Nancy Meyers ever produce.

I can't believe this film actually made it through production. I thought there was a recession going on in the world but there still seams to be people out there with money to throw away (albeit a miserly sum). The whole thing feels like a Live Roleplaying session on a weekend. Every single close up of a weapon supposedly hacking or stabbing, pathetically portrayed worse than beginners stage night at the local primary school. The actors are so cardboard, they could be recycled for cereal packets. The CGI could well have been done by a self taught enthusiast in their bedroom late one night. The sounds of people running in terror, gives the impression of crowds fleeing, then the camera pans around and 4 to 5 is all there is. They should be running for their lives, but a gaintily trot is all your given. The only realism of the whole thing is the horses, and they act better too.

Why was this film even made?

Did the people who made it watch it as a serious piece of work and think people were going to love it? It maybe fits into the 'so bad, its funny' category. The budget is so low it really doesn't give the film a chance. I would think from the point of view of someone that knows nothing about making films that the fantasy genre is the one genre you cant get away with a low budget?

Another tip if your going to make a film set in medieval times don't shoot the film in ruined castles as they wouldn't have been ruined at that time! Also use old stuff in general.....the pirates boat they board looks like what it is a brand new holiday cruiser. The type of boat you might hire for a boating holiday not one you would expect cut throat pirates to be on. Did the pirates in between raping and pillaging do some nice sightseeing making sure they maintain the boat to a high standard?!?

The cgi is poor. The gargoyles remind me of the ones off ghostbusters.

In conclusion this film looks like a group of middle aged office staff on an outward bound course running about waving puny looking axes and swords at each other. The script is non descript play the movie on mute and make your own up it will be better. The acting is bad but its a bad film so maybe the actors didn't have much chance either!

the only highlight for me was the tiny sword woman she was hot!

A bunch of Knights Templar on the run after breaking with their king come across a village being attacked by pirates. After some argument about whether or not they should intervene or be on their merry way before the kings men catch up to them they decide to help out. Later they learn that one of the villagers, a young woman, is being held captive aboard the pirate ship. They commandeer a boat and go out to get her not realizing she has cursed the ship with an amateurish attempt at magic. Anyone who has spilled blood and boards the ship is cursed to become a gargoyle. It never occurred to this not-too-astute novice witch that those who have spilled blood and board the ship might do so on her behalf. And so unwittingly she cursed her rescuers, the Knights Templar, who must now odyssey for a cure.

Well now, lets see.....what did I like about this movie? On the up side I thought the dragons looked okay. As well, there was a not-bad-looking agile swordswoman about 4 feet tall who likes to strike a pose after she kills. On the down side, the movie seems budget-challenged; one gets the impression that the dragons and effects siphoned off most of their funds leaving little left over for a better wardrobe for the Knights Templar (their Knight Templar outfits looked like something handed out by a homeless shelter) and a tighter script (especially better lines for the Knight Templar who liked to crack wise; he was so not funny).

Listen, these are working people on a budget who are making an effort to entertain and make a living. I appreciate that. But certainly a little better script and directing could have given their limited resources more mileage since we all know that tons of money cannot save a bad script, and that, conversely, limited funds can go a long way with a good one. Hmmm, so lets see: 1 star for effort + 1 star for the dragons + 1 star for the sword-wielding short chick + 1 star for the movie in general. That's my rational folks. 4 stars. Love, Boloxxxi.