Product: Dragonheart: A New Beginning (2000)
Rating: 5.0
A "Dragonheart" for the kid in all of us
I'll admit, I kept my expectations low when I saw this, since I was aware it was a direct-to-video sequel. But I found the ending of the original "Dragonheart" quite depressing, so I wanted to check this one out anyway. I actually ended up liking it quite a bit! This is definitely aimed at a younger audience (in the bonus features, the producer even said that she wanted to do a sequel aimed at a younger audience - and she's the same producer from the original "Dragonheart"), but I think even some adults will find it entertaining. It's a good, family-friendly movie, and it does have a much happier ending than the first. I thought that Drake was actually pretty well rendered, and the costuming and set seemed pretty authentic for a direct to video movie. Also, the choreography was quite well done in the fighting sequences. And the scene where Drake is learning how to breathe fire is a riot! So, taken for what it is, a family-friendly "boy and his dragon" story, with themes of friendship and loyalty, I think it's really quite a good movie. Let's just say I've seen a lot worse. (And again, it's also good to see if you found the ending of the first movie too depressing).