Movie Review: Dragonquest

Dragonquest

The Asylum, USA, 2009. 

This movie has nothing to do with Japanese "Dragon Quest" RPG-series. 

Evil monk Kirill (Brian Thompson, known as alien bounty hunter form "X-Files") awakes a dragon. Young boy Arkadi (Daniel Bonjour) peeps girl next door and smokes magic herbs. Grandfather (Gary Miller-Youst) scolds him and says that evil is coming from the east. Grandfather gives him a pendant. Arkadi is the only hope to save the world. 

Arkadi

Arkadi is a naughty boy

Pendant of virtues

Kirill's troops attack King Agmar's (Richard Lund) army. Arkadi must find warrior Maxim (Marc Singer, known for "Beastmaster" movies and "V") before it is too late.  In forest he meets Xena-wannabe warrioress Katya (Jennifer Dorogi), friend of Maxim. Maxim tells that Arkadi must find the Stones of virtue (Patience, Diligence, Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Kindness and Humility) i.e. Arkadi must also learn not to be a jerk. 

Fire dragon

Kirill

Katya

During the mission Arkadi gets swallowed by giant serpent (thrice), gets thrown into a dungeon and facing other challenges. Also Kirill uses dark forces to hypnotize people. King's advisory Anson (Russell Reynolds) who looks like evil parallel universe Mr. Spock, is one of those who becomes Kirill's servant. Jason Connery (Sean's son, known as "Robin of Sherwood") makes almost a cameo-length role as dungeon prisoner named Stranger.  Marc Singer's acting looks weird. He pulls his face like a pirate, arrr!

Maxim and Katya

Stranger

Of the Asylum directors Mark Atkins is a very industrious one. Between 2004 and 2015 he has directed 18 movies (not all of them to the Asylum) with four Dragon-themed films. He has also worked as a cinematographer in 42 films and  also as editor, writer and various other tasks.

Arrr!

Despite the bad acting and bad effects the story is a notch above average. Dragonquest uses traditional hero's journey story to convey some positive values to the targeted teen audience. In the beginning Arkadi is a hedonistic slacker who has to grow up to be a responsible adult. I never thought the Asylum would combine a fantasy film with public service announcement. Don't do drugs kids and follow the Seven heavenly virtues so you'll get a girl and a cool pet dragon! 

This movie seems to have been filmed in the same location as other Mark Atkins film "Princess of Mars." Effects are not great, especially dragon looks quite terrible. Other magic effects are acceptable TV-movie level. The movie is average for an Asylum movie, quite bad but still reasonably fun campy adventure.

Another positive plus is the ending epic metal song "Hold The Memory" by Ravenswood:

Rating: Average (for a low budget fantasy adventure) 

Starring: Marc Singer, Brian Thompson, Jason Connery, Daniel Bonjour, Jennifer Dorogi, Russell Reynolds, Jack Goldenberg, Richard Lund, Jonathan Nation, J. Scott, Mona Lee Goss, Elvis Naumovski, Jay Beyers, Aleta Mackey, Aoni Jackson, Jonathan Goetz, Lina Naujokaite, Matthew Farhat, Gary Miller-Youst, Maria Olsen, Jason Yorrick, Lala Hensely, Kai Elle, David Neyts, Alexander Hutchinson, Delaney Roberts, Patti Moore, Melissa Sidnam, Chief Elliott Sidnam, Emmanuel Douglas, William Dailey, Nicholas Krall, Steven Gillan, Michelle Rawlings, David Nelson, David Simmons, William Christopher Rose, Emily Springhorn, Vivian Brunstein, Artie Fiske, Koco Limbevski, Pierre Nasnas, Emilien De Falco, Sex Henderson 

Director: Mark Atkins