A brood of fire-breathing dragons emerges from the earth and begins setting everything ablaze, establishing dominance over the planet.A brood of fire-breathing dragons emerges from the earth and begins setting everything ablaze, establishing dominance over the planet.A brood of fire-breathing dragons emerges from the earth and begins setting everything ablaze, establishing dominance over the planet.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations total
Scott Moutter
- Jared Wilke
- (as Scott James Moutter)
Featured reviews
This is a movie that I've been aware of for many years but never watched because of the critical and viewer reviews. Finally, early this summer of 2018, I watched it and it's become one of those movies that, no matter what part of the movie I stumble upon, it's very hard for me not to watch it, again, until the end. Yes, it's a bit farfetched, but so is The Matrix. The acting is top notch and the dragon is very well designed and presented. It's as life-like as any other "monster" in the movies. So I say disregard what you've read or heard and give it a shot. Maybe you'll totally disagree with me. But maybe you won't and you'll actually enjoy escaping from the real world and enjoy it. Only one way to know for sure...
This was a bit different than one expected. There was no nonsense, no tongue-in-cheek humor or special-effects just for the sake of it: this was simply a humans vs. dragons story taking place in the future. No laughs and nothing hokey, which is what I expected. They played it straight, simply as a fight story between the two parties.
Yes, there were credibility problems with the story but overall, it was good escapist adventure. The dragons were realistic-looking, the scenery dreary but the story interesting and intense in spots.
I wouldn't buy it, but I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a night of adventure on film. You could do a whole lot worse, especially with two young actors who have arrived as stars: Christian Bale and Matthew McConnaughey.
Yes, there were credibility problems with the story but overall, it was good escapist adventure. The dragons were realistic-looking, the scenery dreary but the story interesting and intense in spots.
I wouldn't buy it, but I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a night of adventure on film. You could do a whole lot worse, especially with two young actors who have arrived as stars: Christian Bale and Matthew McConnaughey.
Seems like I'm in a minority enjoying this one! It amazes me that so many people are quick to put the boot in to this (admittedly) silly but entertaining b-grade post-apocalyptic thriller yet line up to watch the absolutely awful and overblown Star Wars movies. Yes, I said b-grade, because despite the budget being close to $100 million, that's exactly what it is, a b-grade sci fi movie, no more, no less. Fans of Roy Ward Baker's 'Quatermass and the Pit', Larry Cohen's 'Q: The Winged Serpent' and Tobe Hooper's 'Lifeforce', all of which 'Reign Of Fire' reminded me of at various points, will enjoy this one more than the Blockbuster crowd. Christian Bale ('American Psycho') and Matthew McConaughey ('Frailty') are both pretty good as the leader of an underground community and a hardass military man respectively, who both have different approaches to their shared problem - the ongoing threat of dragon attacks. Yes, in this future dragons are real and have devastated the world, and only a handful of human survivors exist. Once you can accept that premise, and some of the "scientific" explanations for the why and wherefores of the dragons, you're in for a wild ride. No-one's gonna argue this is a great movie, but it's a lot of fun, and I recommend it, especially with beer and pizza.
As long as you're not expecting the best movie ever made, you'll enjoy this film. It's well-acted, well written, visually depressing (as a post-apocalyptic story should be), and inspiring. If you're a pop culture geek, you'll love all the faces you'll recognize from other projects such as the Dark Knight Trilogy, 300, Gotham, and Game of Thrones. You'll even spot homage to Star Wars in an old-school play! This movie was fun and moving.
Sure, it was cheesy and low budget, but the indomitable Rob Bowman didn't pull any punches in this futuristic drama about dragons. Giving a scientific edge to a creature based in fantasy, this film proved to be a rather refreshing step in science fiction, which means it won't be a well received one. Even if this film barely makes its money back, at least it leaves the door open for other fantastic ideas in the science fiction genre.
As for the film, the technical side was excellent. Bowman, a former television director proves he can do just as well with a 50 million dollar budget (?) and a tough to sell idea. Both Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey were believable as care taking heroes. Their bipolar dynamic was especially excellent, creating tension not just in beliefs but also in culture and devotion to country. McConaughey was especially good as Van Zant (which was well cast, considering he is an actual southerner), bringing a role to his resume which I had never seen. All in all, a decent film to watch. 7/10
As for the film, the technical side was excellent. Bowman, a former television director proves he can do just as well with a 50 million dollar budget (?) and a tough to sell idea. Both Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey were believable as care taking heroes. Their bipolar dynamic was especially excellent, creating tension not just in beliefs but also in culture and devotion to country. McConaughey was especially good as Van Zant (which was well cast, considering he is an actual southerner), bringing a role to his resume which I had never seen. All in all, a decent film to watch. 7/10
Did you know
- TriviaThe flame breath was inspired by the bombardier beetles, small carabid coleopters. Their peculiar defense mechanism involves the ejection from their abdomen of two different chemicals, which react and produce a hot noxious spray. This was the actual base for the dragons' breath, as explained by Dan DeLeeuw: "our art director, Mike Meaker, had seen an African beetle with a similar defense mechanism. It sprayed a chemical out its rear and made sparks to ignite the stream. So our idea was that there are two glands at the back of the dragon's throat, producing chemicals. The dragon spits out the liquids with muscles constricting the glands. When the two streams cross 15 or 20 feet in front of the dragon they naturally combust." Before actually spitting fire, the dragons pull back and shake their head -- then thrust it forward violently. This behaviour was once again based on spitting cobras.
- GoofsVan Zan and Alex tell Quinn that there is only one male dragon and, like fish, the females lay their eggs and the male makes a "pass" to fertilize them. Yet when Quinn discovers the egg inside the downed dragon, there is an embryo visible, which should only happen AFTER fertilization.
- Quotes
Denton Van Zan: Envy the country that has heroes, huh? I say pity the country that needs them.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Troldspejlet: Episode #27.3 (2002)
- SoundtracksFire
Written and Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy of Experience Hendrix LLC/MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $60,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $43,061,982
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $15,632,281
- Jul 14, 2002
- Gross worldwide
- $82,150,183
- Runtime
- 1h 41m(101 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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