Anton van Beek, David Gelmini and Steve Kirkham take a critical look at some of the very latest cinema, 4K UHD, Blu-ray and streaming releases...

Review Ratings

★★★★★= Excellent

★★★★= Good

★★★= Average

★★= Below Average

★= Abysmal

DRAGONSLAYER (1981) 
4K UHD (US Import), Out now. Paramount. Cert: PG

★★★★★

The 1980s was a golden age for sword ’n’ sorcery movies, unleashing such delights as Conan the Barbarian (1982), The Beastmaster (1983), Krull (1983), Legend (1985) and Willow (1988) on cinema audiences. At the forefront of this fantastical fare was director Matthew Robbins’ undeserved 1981 box office flop Dragonslayer.

Peter MacNichol plays Galen, a sixth-century sorcerer’s apprentice who - following the unexpected death of his master Ulrich (Ralph Richardson) - answers the call to rid a distant kingdom of a ferocious dragon. Twice a year Urland’s King (Peter Eyre) holds a lottery to choose a female virgin to be sacrificed to the monster, a process many of the locals (including Caitlin Clarke’s Valerian) are understandably keen to be rid of. However, the King is perfectly content to let things continue as they are, as long at it keeps the dragon at bay - particularly as the system is rigged to ensure that his daughter (Chloe Salaman) can never be chosen.

Stemming from an era when Hollywood studios weren’t afraid to make family movies that might actually scare kids, Dragonslayer is an unusually dark outing for a movie with Disney money behind it (Dragonslayer was the studio’s second co-production with Paramount, following the Robert Altman’s musical version of Popeye). It’s also a tightly focused film with little in the way of extraneous sub-plots to foil its narrative momentum; grabbing you by the scruff of the neck and dragging you through some slightly awkward early scenes as it powers towards unveiling its secret weapon: Phil Tippet and team’s ‘go-motion’ creation Vermithrax Pejorative, still the greatest dragon to ever grace a cinema screen. A practical creation whose menacing - and all too convincing - physical presence subsequent CGI efforts like Draco and Smaug simply cannot match.

Previously only available on DVD, Paramount’s stunning new 4K restoration is a feast for the eyes, showcasing the film’s incredible technical artistry like never before. Meanwhile, a new Dolby Atmos sound mix brings even greater depth and impact to the score and sound effects. Thankfully, Paramount’s US 4K UHD release is region-free (unlike the Blu-ray version, which is locked to Region A), making it a hasslefree import for UK-based fans with the necessary set-up. A good thing too… with the physical media-averse Disney the UK rights holder, the chance of seeing a release on this side of the Atlantic seems incredibly unlikely.

Extras:★★★

Not content with giving the film a 4K overhaul Paramount also serves up a modest, but informative selection of bonus features, most of which were created especially for this release. First up is a commentary with director Matthew Robbins joined by fellow filmmaker (and fan) Guillermo del Toro for an in-depth discussion of the making of the movie.

Further insights into how Dragonslayer came to the screen are to be found in the hour-long, fivepart retrospective documentary, The Slayer of All Dragons. With sections covering the film’s origin, its cast and, of course, the creation of its unforgettable creature effects, the superb doc features interviews with many of the key behind-the-scenes players, alongside rare production photos and outtakes.

Also on offer are several screen tests (featuring leads Peter MacNicol and Caitlyn Clarke, plus unsuccessful auditionees Maureen Teefy and William Squires) and a trailer.

AvB

TRANSFORMERS: 6-MOVIE 4K UHD STEELBOOK COLLECTION (2007-2018) 4K UHD & BD. Out now. Paramount, Cert: 12 ★★★

With Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the seventh film in the blockbuster sci-fi-action franchise, having exploded into cinemas this Summer, Paramount is giving fans a chance to revisit the previous six live-action Transformers movies with this deluxe new 4K UHD box set.