Did you know that the fourth sequel to Dragonheart was released in 2020? No? Then you haven’t missed much. The Fantasy adventure with Dennis Quaid (Journey into the Self) has surprisingly morphed into a DTV franchise, although the effects have only evolved marginally since the first film in 1996.
In Dragonheart a hunter becomes a dragon friend
Dragonheart from Fast and Furious director Rob Cohen is set in a fairytale Middle Ages, where knight Bowen (Dennis Quaid) teaches the heir to the throne Einon (in adulthood: David Thewlis) to become a good king. When Einon is seriously injured, half a dragon heart saves his life. The other half is still throbbing in the body of the monster Draco. Einon turns out to be a tyrant and Bowen blames dragons for it. He hunts them until, years later, there is only one left: Draco. An unusual friendship develops between the two and so they go into battle against Einon.
Universal
Dragonheart
From today’s perspective, the visual effects of the adventure are no longer convincing. But Dennis Quaid makes a likeable hero and Draco, originally voiced by Sean Connery, has so much (Scottish) charm that it’s easy to overlook his CGI appearance. The buddy movie also features a despicable villain in David Thewlis, while the ensemble cast includes Pete Postlethwaite (Inception), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Julie Christie (When the Gondolas Wear Mourning) and Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers). is rounded off.
These Dragonheart sequels exist
Four years after its theatrical release, Dragonheart was reinvigorated in the direct-to-video space. There are now the following sequels, some of which take place before the events of the first film:
The original stars don’t return in the later films, but a few prominent voices still appear in them. For example, in Part 4 you can hear Star Trek captain Patrick Stewart speaking a dragon. Only part 1 is really worth seeing.
This is how you can watch Dragonheart
Dragonheart releases today, December 31st. broadcast on Sat.1 from 10:25 p.m. If you stick with it, you can sway into the New Year with Dennis Quaid.
If you have already planned the night elsewhere, you can watch the repeat on January 1st from 1:10 p.m. The fantasy adventure is also part of the Joyn+ catalog.