This is the lower-budget cash-in sequel to the Quaid/Connery movie 'Dragonheart' and this review has minor spoilers. Most of the film isn't all that wonderful, despite great music (particularly the song over the closing credits) and nice scenery. The plot is predictable and undemanding (the talisman contrivance is sheer corn on the grill in this case!) some of the acting is no better than average and the special effects (like the dragon) are smaller and weaker than in the first movie. Worst of all, the 'hero', a stable-boy, seems to care only about becoming a knight and, having 'befriended' the not-much-more-than-a-baby dragon, exploits him shamelessly to achieve this.
Fear not! true heroes soon show up in the shape of two mysterious orientals, Lian (tiny Broadway star Nora Figueroa) and her ancient mentor (Henry O) both of whom are deliciously inscrutable. Lian is the good guys' one-woman army, dealing with all comers barehanded and without breaking a sweat in a series of brilliantly choreographed fight sequences (think 'Kill Bill', but with a five foot nothing 'Bride' who needs no sword to trash her armed and armoured opponents over and over again). As she squares up to the first half dozen or so, her worried mentor tells her: 'Be gentle with them'! It's really a kids film, so don't expect blood and guts the kung fu is beautiful, funny and harmless, like some of Jackie Chan's best work. Villain, Harry van Gorkum provides a great contrast to the deadpan pair, swaggering way, way over the top. All three are perfect, especially Figueroa, and it's a shame she didn't do any more movies after this.
Another review here complains because the hero didn't 'get the girl'. I guess some people will never look beyond Hollywood clichés to see that there is no 'girl' here, while the bold hero gets just what she deserves, which mercifully doesn't include the lame self-serving guy. It's unusual and refreshing for a woman to take such a powerful and unqualified tough-guy role, and though this movie may not be technically as good as the original, I found it a lot more fun. You'll agree if you like tough princesses!
Fear not! true heroes soon show up in the shape of two mysterious orientals, Lian (tiny Broadway star Nora Figueroa) and her ancient mentor (Henry O) both of whom are deliciously inscrutable. Lian is the good guys' one-woman army, dealing with all comers barehanded and without breaking a sweat in a series of brilliantly choreographed fight sequences (think 'Kill Bill', but with a five foot nothing 'Bride' who needs no sword to trash her armed and armoured opponents over and over again). As she squares up to the first half dozen or so, her worried mentor tells her: 'Be gentle with them'! It's really a kids film, so don't expect blood and guts the kung fu is beautiful, funny and harmless, like some of Jackie Chan's best work. Villain, Harry van Gorkum provides a great contrast to the deadpan pair, swaggering way, way over the top. All three are perfect, especially Figueroa, and it's a shame she didn't do any more movies after this.
Another review here complains because the hero didn't 'get the girl'. I guess some people will never look beyond Hollywood clichés to see that there is no 'girl' here, while the bold hero gets just what she deserves, which mercifully doesn't include the lame self-serving guy. It's unusual and refreshing for a woman to take such a powerful and unqualified tough-guy role, and though this movie may not be technically as good as the original, I found it a lot more fun. You'll agree if you like tough princesses!