There are at least about five things in this film that are illogical and make no sense. None of these are disbelief-suspension issues--they are stupidity issues.
For example:
(1)(a) The entire village holds a big celebration for the protagonist after he magically causes a landslide that puts a bunch of rocks in front of the dragon's lair, because, apparently, everyone is absolutely certain the dragon has been killed, despite the fact that all that has happened is that the protagonist has used a spell to create a landslide, and despite the fact that there is absolutely no evidence that the dragon has actually been killed by the landslide, no evidence that the dragon has even been injured by the landslide, and no evidence that it wouldn't be a simple matter for the dragon to remove enough rocks from the entrance to its lair for the landslide to represent any more than a minor annoyance.
Because the villagers, desperate for a miraculous salvation were quick to believe that Galen had killed the dragon in the landslide, and Galen believed he had as well. Besides, it's not like they could go into the cave to look for proof of death. That was a big-ass landslide and the only cranes that existed in the dark ages were found near sea water.
(1)(b)Even the protagonist himself is certain that he has killed the dragon, despite the fact that he apparently has psychic powers, as we learned when he remotely viewed a member of his party being killed despite not actually seeing it with his eyes.
Not psychic powers, magic powers. Galen's master Ulrich was seen in the very beginning demonstrating similar powers of foresight. Galen clearly has that gift too, even if it's debatable that it's Galen doing it himself and not Ulrich, who put his spirit inside the amulet before he died. In fact, I'm convinced it's Ulrich giving Galen the visions.
(2)(a) The princess clearly commits fraud on the lottery and publicly admits to having done so, yet the results of her fraud are allowed to stand by the only person whose vote that matters, her father, the king, who just a minute before, thought that the lottery was legitimate and was nevertheless about to nullify it merely on grounds that his daughter's name was drawn even though in a completely fair way. The reason--because the princess said she wanted the result to stand, and this somehow vetoes what the king wants. Who cares what she says though?
There was no public outcry because it's likely the other villagers admired her for the way she bucked the system (and as for the king, it's equally likely that the King was aware of the fraud he was committing himself and that he neither knew, nor cared about a common girl masquerading as a boy. Nobles often had a certain disconnect with their vassals, they were content to rule over them without actually getting to know who they were ruling. Valerian did what she did to avoid a situation she could otherwise do nothing about. As for the Princess, she did what she did to correct an injustice. The princess even blatantly says so during that scene. If you're rich enough, you could buy your name out of the lottery despite the insistence that there are no exceptions. Elspeth substitutes her name for everyone else's for all the times she was unjustly excluded from the lottery. Her life for all the other girls in the kingdom sparing them the way she was spared in every choosing. It's very poetic.
(2)(b) And why would anyone other than a suicidal person go through such efforts to ensure she is killed by a dragon, no matter what the circumstances? There is no indication that the princess is suicidal.
Elspeth acted out of guilt. It's obvious in the film that the news that she's been exempted from the danger of the lottery because of who she is troubles Elspeth greatly. She did what she did to right a wrong, with the hope that her life would make up for all the others sacrificed in the name of an unfair system.
(2)(c) And doesn't anyone care about the good of the state--presumably having a princess would avoid the turmoil of a succession squabble after the king's death. The princess is apparently the only child of the king. Everyone should be interested in ensuring that she does not die. None of this makes any sense.
Perhaps, but King Cassiodorus was the one who came up with the lottery in the first place. He made the bed, he had to lie in it. It's basically his own fault that his daughter died. If there was a crisis of succession after the events of the film, it was of his own making. Clearly though, Urland is in a worse situation when we leave it. I just don't know why Galen and Valerian didn't go back to Craggenmoor to start their new life together. The place was essentially Galen's at the end of the film, and he had Ulrich's old books and scrolls if he wanted to continue persuing sorcery. If not? Hey, free kindling!
(3) The protagonist's love interest clearly commits fraud on the lottery by pretending to be male her whole life. After she admits to having been female, the king should have at least considered forgoing the lottery one year and making her the sacrifice, as a penalty, putting her in jail, or, at the very least, putting her name in the pot a few times to increase her chances. She should have one lot for each year she skipped out, at the very least. Instead, she is given the same treatment as everyone else, and it is as if her fraud never occurred. All of this, with no outcry, despite the fact that everyone knows that the princess' name is never put in the pot and everyone is clearly upset about that, even though, presumably, she's the future ruler.
I'm actually unsure on this issue about whether it's common knowledge you could buy your way out if you were rich enough and Elspeth was the only one being lied to or if it was just a rumor among the bitter commoners that turned out to be true, but common knowledge or not there was nothing the people could do about it. Valerian was raised as a boy to avoid the lottery, that much is true. But it's very different from the princess' situation. Valerian's fraud was fear of an unavoidable situation. Elspeth's name was deliberately kept from the lottery by those who created and maintained it.
(4) A tiny nonmagical shield made by a peasant girl protects the protagonist against a torrent of fire so large that was blown at him for so long that it would have easily disintegrated a 10-story building. There is no way any kind of shield could protect someone from that sort of onslaught. The fire completely engulfed his entire person for several seconds, and was quite intense and hot. He used no spell to protect himself. He should have suffocated AND burned to death.
You forget what the shield was made of -- Vermithrax's own scales. Dragon scales protecting the wearer from fire is an old fantasy trope. Besides, not even Valerian knew for sure if the shield would actually work or not. As for suffocation, that wasn't an issue. It is impossible to suffocate after 14 seconds.
(5) The wizard tells the protagonist to destroy the amulet, and that he would just know when to do it. Nevertheless, when the time comes, the wizard tells him to destroy the amulet. The wizard should have just said, "I'll tell you when to destroy the amulet, but if I'm out of earshot, do it when it gets really bright." The wizard is trying to make it seem like a big mystical thing by telling him that he'd know when the time came to destroy it, but it really isn't a big mystical thing.
Is it now. You're trying to say that a wizard whose life essence is bound to a magic amulet isn't mystical? To quote some people I know, "It's magic, you don't have to explain it". Ulrich's instructions were to wait until the best time, but he must destroy it while there was still life in him. So while yes, he could have given Galen explicit instructions about destroying it, he chose to trust his apprentice.
Regardless of all of the above, the lead actor Peter MacNicol is a total cheeseball, and that alone would've ruined the film.
That was the point. Galen isn't a swashbuckling hero, he's a barely competent sorcerer's apprentice. No one takes him seriously, except the villagers had they not seen the rock slide with their own eyes. I thought he did an excellent job as the unlikely hero. Everybody has the same reaction to him, they're like "This weenie is going to slay our dragon? Seriously?" In that respect, he gets an A+ for his performance.
What a terrible film. None of this is a matter of disbelief-suspension, which is what silly people say in response to someone pointing out problems like this. Disbelief-suspension is what you do in response to the fact that there's a dragon, or magic. You have to suspend your disbelief in dragons and magic to watch movies like this, and everyone knows that. All of the above are matters of logic. These are serious flaws in this movie.
This is probably the worst fantasy film I have ever seen. I am having trouble thinking of a worse one. The 6.8 rating here at IMDb that this currently has is laughable. This movie deserves no higher than a 2 or 3 from anyone.
I'm sorry you think that, but the genre's called FANTASY for a reason. It's not supposed to be realistic. However, judging by the nature of your complaints, my friend I'm going to suggest that you give the film a rewatch to allow it to convince you. This time, I recommend you watch with your eyes open.
Dragonslayer isn't perfect, but very few films are. I admit it drags a bit, but everything that occurs builds up to the reveal of the dragon, and it's well worth the wait when we finally see Vermithrax Pejorative in all her glory.
By the way, I can think of a worse fantasy film off the top of my head: Eragon.
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