Paladin: le dernier chasseur de dragons

Live action movies with the word "dragon" in the title have a long history of being disappointing budget films. This is not one of the rare exceptions but for what it is, it's entertaining.

The scenery and sets are very well done. The dialogue is natural and the actors pull it off well. The costumes are pretty good too with a few minor issues. For example - when Kate is helping Will put on the livery it looks and sounds like she's using a snap rather than a button.

The plot is obvious and predictable but that is to be expected in a B-flick. Also expect the dragon to look unfinished. The shape and color of it look great but the texture is too cartoonish, the shadows are wrong, etc. and the actors' eye lines are a bit off in spots.

All in all it's definitely worth watching one time but I won't be putting it in my collection.

OK, I've just about had it with egotistical prats who wave their so- called credentials around and rubbish sincere efforts to entertain them! Yes, I realise that I am probably "using" Dawn Of The Dragonslayer to vent my spleen over many reviews that appear on IMDb hyper-criticising low-budget movies that, if push came to shove, they couldn't anywhere-near match even if they had the best screenwriter in the world!

Dawn Of The Dragonslayer is one such movie. Yet some idiot who claims (NOT to brag he/she/it says!) that it is a well-educated person with refined tastes and yet didn't seem to realise that people DO have different tastes (thank God) and we aren't all like itself. I am only glad that I didn't read "it's" review before watching the movie because I might have allowed it to put me off and missed a damned good effort to entertain me. Yes, I watch movies to be entertained - not tested to the extremities of my deductive powers. I get more than enough of that in real life (and yes, I DO have one!).

Actually, the only reason I looked at the reviews was because I felt that this movie was grossly underrated and wanted to know why. Now, unlike the overcritical reviewer I have no desire to blow any trumpets other than on behalf of the folk who put all their efforts into producing a couple of hours (more or less) of fun for people with nothing better to do than watch movies. However, just so that my co- reviewer doesn't run away with the idea that I am some sort of simpleton who is easily pleased, let me say that I have university degrees including one in film production and my IQ is officially in "genius' level (for what that's worth!). Until my retirement, I operated my own independent studio (mostly making docos - not dramas) and so I do know a little bit about the industry. My protagonist clearly does not!

As I say, when I sit down to watch a movie, I do it to relax and be entertained. Having so said though, whilst I honestly don't enjoy highly convoluted political or crime dramas that require lots of attention simply to figure out what's happening, I don't get onto IMDb and slate them because, even though I may not enjoy the genres, I CAN see the skills that go into making them. Dawn of the Dragonslayer is a fantasy so who's to say whether it is believable or not? Both lead roles are, I felt, very well handled by young novice actors who seemed to me to be well-directed. Sure, there wasn't much new about the story - but who cares? IT WAS FUN!! And, as I say, I watch movies for fun! End of story!

If the "knockers" are so dissatisfied, why don't they put their money where their mouths are and make a better movie. Then we can see what their fellow-critics have to say about THEIR efforts! Now that could be fun too!

For those interested in a fantasy epic akin to Lord of the Rings, with huge battles and action sequences, you may want to give this one a pass and stop reading here. If you don't mind a medieval romance film with a hint of fantasy and a dragon, then this might be for you.

The writing is good, and the sets and wardrobe are also well done. The filming locations in Ireland are breathtaking. The actors and actresses suit their roles, and the chemistry between the leads is fantastic. Their on-screen relationship blossoms naturally, without feeling forced.

Despite what some people on here may groan about with regard to the special effects, the dragon is actually quite good. It doesn't have that typical "SyFy Original" feel to it. But it doesn't have that Hollywood-budget finesse either.

You can tell this was a passion-film, with all persons involved working to make a quality film they could be proud to release with the budget and equipment they had to work with. The IMDb score does not reflect the true quality of Dawn of the Dragonslayer. My rating of 7/10 is based on this film alone, and not my feelings for it when compared to other films.

I have never seen people be more hard on a film! For it being an indie film this hits all the points I was looking for. I really enjoyed it, and my wife unexpectedly did so as well. I'm not offering excuses for them, but you have to compare Apples to Apples. One reviewer mentioned the classic "Dragonslayer" from the 80's, which was a really good movie - but the budgets were night and day differences. Dragonslayer had an $18mil. budget and that was in 81'. I've seen a ton of movies that were hard to watch and this was def. not one of them. This hit on all the places they needed to. Writing, acting, and the VFX for good. If you are a fantasy fan, allow yourself to get drawn in and you'll enjoy the film. If you are expecting Dragonslayer, you may not get what you wanted. I gives this a two thumbs up and looking forward to what else they bring in the future.

(First, I'm going to state that I am a well-educated person, with refined tastes. This is not meant to be perceived as a brag, but should rather help you trust me instead. Furthermore, I will let you know that -secondly- I created this account out of frustration caused by the other reviews. I just HAD to share my 2 cents with the rest of the world, in the hopes that -who knows?- perhaps I could save somebody 2 hours (or so) of his or her life. And last, but not least, I'm not alone in this opinion. So, here goes...)

I'm sorry, but it's more than obvious that my fellow reviewers and I have been watching two different movies altogether. Please, let me know whether there's another movie with the same title released within the same time period that I may actually enjoy. Otherwise this must be the ultimate proof that tastes are indeed, very different (which is kind of sad, since the other reviewers seem to be pretty clever people). Because, let me tell you, the one I watched can barely be called a movie whatsoever. In fact, what I've seen is this:

• a shallow script that left me with the impression that the writers had absolutely no idea about what they wanted to do with the story, where to move things, or how to tackle the action;

• computer animated graphics that would feel more at home in a B-rated video game (the "texture feel" of the dragon felt way different compared to the surrounding scenery - and a beautiful one that was, kudos to the guys that took care of that part, which is one of the reasons I gave this thing a grade above zero, another being that it seems they paid some effort in order to do this movie, too bad they couldn't pull it off eventually);

• terrible, terrible acting for the most part, except perhaps for the female roles (+1 to the final grade), dubbed by dubious fight motion choices and pre-high-school dialogue lines.

The general feeling, besides "Jees, who's going to give me all this time back?" was that I've already seen everything this movie (I keep calling it that out of respect for the people who really tried to make something of it, except that they failed by a long shot) had to offer, just WAY better. I hope that other people finally see it for what it really is, a failed effort and a general waste of time, otherwise I may start to think that there's something wrong with me and the people who share my opinion about this... movie, people whom I generally call at least smart.