User reviews

The kids will love this. Some adults may remember this fondly. I am one of the aforementioned adults; one who cannot wait for this to (finally) be released on DVD.

This is a charming tale of a boy who finds a dragon and must figure out how to keep him. In spite of Courtland Mead, this was quite enjoyable, and belongs in any Dragon collection.

The principal photography isn't anything to write home about, nor are the performances. I think, for me, it was the execution of the Dragon which made this so endearing to me.

I was always quite fond of this movie for its heart.

It rates a 7.4/10 on the Kid's Scale from...

the Fiend :.

This is a great movie for "family night". No violence, harsh language or situations. It's the basic Good vs. Evil type movie. Children of all ages will enjoy this movie, but I believe that children between 2 and 8 will enjoy it most. My son was 1 yr. old the first time he saw the movie and he really enjoyed it. Boy finds a baby dragon and they grow up together to adulthood. Adults may find this movie a bit 'sappy' but the kids will really enjoy it. If you tear up easily, take out your hanky's... there is a slightly sad scene toward the end of the movie. This is one of those movies that younger children will want to watch over and over again.

If you're big on deep plotlines and hate predictability, I cannot recommend this movie. This is basically a children's film where good triumphs over evil and everyone ends up happily. The effects aren't nearly what today's modern kid is used to (no Jurassic Park/Star Wars I caliber computer animation here), but it is a gentle and sweet story that sucked *me* in, and I'm 20. It's a good movie for children to see--no violence, no language--and it introduces them to the beauty and a wee bit of the mythology of Scotland in a way that they will probably find entertaining. Parents might find the movie a bit tedious, but at least it doesn't pander to that obvious kind of low humor where people are repeatedly getting hit with various objects. Stick around for the lovely scenery and Sam MacKenzie's beautiful Scots brogue (why my roommate and I remained glued to the screen). In an era when heros are all-too-often covered in blood and even the cartoons are cursing like sailors, it's a nice little film that, while predictable, you can at least trust not to pollute any minds.

It's not quite as sweet as 'Lassie' or as visually stunning as 'E.T.' but Dragonworld is an overall pleasant story. It is a bit too short, and slightly dated, but there is probably enough charm and magic for a young audience that has not been lobotomized by modern entertainment, cartoons, crude humor, action figures and all that jazz.

After his the death of his parents, young John McGowen moves to Scotland to live with his uncle in the family castle. One lonely afternoon he wishes for a friend, and five minutes later he finds a baby dragon. We jump ahead twenty years, and John now lives alone in the McGowan castle with his dragon buddy, and nobody disturbs them, until a crooked business man finds out about the dragon and tricks John into selling him to his theme park. At first, John is relieved because he needs the money to pay off back taxes, but soon he finds out that his dragon is mistreated, and with the help of his new girlfriend and her father, they try to break him out. Happy ending.

The dragon is a mix of three different effects, and only one of them works. There is a stop motion miniature, a cg dragon which flies, and a full size animatronic head and neck which breathes fire. Only the animatronics are competent.

I think the appropriate age range for this movie would be around seven to twelve. Adults can enjoy this too, but not as much. Dragonworld is likable, but not lovable.