Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King
by Uli Edel
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alicia Witt, Benno Fürmann, Julian Sands, Kristanna Loken, Samuel WestDirector: Uli Edel
Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
Writer: Uli Edel
Producer: Alan Latham
Producer: Andreas Grosch
Producer: Andreas Schmid
Producer: Andrew Somper
Writer: Diane Duane
Writer: Peter Morwood
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.78:1
Running Time: 134 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-28
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King
Movie Review: Dark Kingdom: Dragon King
Summary: 5 Stars
The Sci Fi Channel recently aired the excellent mini-series, Dark Kingdom: Dragon King. This is a moving and beautifully done remake of the classic legend The Ring Of The Nibelungs.
The cast included: Benno Fürmann as Eric/Siegfried, Kristanna Løken as Brunhild, Alicia Witt as Kriemhild, Samuel West as King Gunther, Julian Sands as Hagen, Max Von Sydow as Eyvind, Robert Pattinson as Giselher, and more. This strong cast had a chemistry that effectively brought this Germanic/Nordic legend to life.
Coming down in time to us from the Nordic "Volsunga Saga" and Germanic myth "Das Nibelungenlied", this is the legend of a Blacksmith who slays a dragon and becomes a King, as well as being one of the greatest yet tragic love stories ever told - that of Siegfried and Brunhild. Although this retelling changes Brunhild, who was originally Odin's favorite Valkyrie into a mortal but Amazonian Queen of Iceland, this didn't stray too far from the inspirational legends.
The story is told mainly from Siegfried's point of view, with Brunhild on the peripheral (I remember the legends as being told mainly from Brunhild's side). Escaping an onslaught led by twin barbarian kings, young Prince Siegfried is taken in by kindly blacksmith Eyvind, who changes the boy's name to Eric to save him from the twin king's search. Eyvind raises Eric as his own son. Fate steps into Siegfried/Eric's life when a meteorite brings him and Brunhild together for the first time. Although she returns home to Iceland, the two are never very far apart in spirit, and he vows to go to Iceland and win her.
In the interim, Eric travels to Burgund, which is being ravaged by the dragon Fafnir, who has a legendary horde of gold. Eric forges a sword from the metal left by the meteor the night he met Brunhild, and uses it to slay Fafnir. He bathes in the dragon's blood, making himself invincible. But then, is visited by the Nibelungs, the People of the Mist, who claim the treasure. When Eric takes the Ring as the treasure's rightful owner, the Nibelung inform him there is a curse on any who takes even one piece of the treasure. Eric ignores this warning.
Hailed as a hero, Eric leads a battle between Burgund and the Twin Kings, then is awakened to his true identity as a King in his own right. But then the plotting begins. The King Gunther and his advisor Hagen want to keep Siegfried tied to the house of Burgund, and plot to have Siegfried marry the King's sister, Kriemhild. Siegfried's wine is laced with a potion to make him love the princess, and forget about Brunhild. Then King Gunther announces his desire to wed Brunhild himself, and asks for Siegfried's help in winning the deadly contest Brunhild has set in place. That's when things truly start getting twisted. Let's just say Fafnir was the easiest, most benign challenge the young hero faces in his life. At least with the dragon, you know where you stand and what dangers you're really facing. Much preferable to slimy treachery!
Of course, The Crowgrrl especially loved the ravens in the movie. (OK, I'm a corvidophile!) There were ravens depicting Huginn and Muninn, Odin's own messengers, and one that was a messenger/familiar of Brunhild. OK, the pet falcon of Burgund was pretty cool, too.
The Crowgrrl (www.crowgrrl.com) HIGHLY recommends this movie, a stellar component of any DVD collection!
Summary of Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King
IN THE TRADITION OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS COMES A BRAND NEW EPICFANTASY.A FANTASY-ADVENTURE STORY BASED ON NORDIC MYTHS OF THERING OF THE NIBELUNGS ABOUT THE SON OF A SIMPLE SWORDSMITH WHOREPEATEDLY SAVES HIS COUNTRY, NOT KNOWING THAT HE IS HEIR TO ATHRONE.Similar DVD Movies
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