MovieChat Forums > Dragonslayer (1981) Discussion > The old wizard dying makes no sense to m...

The old wizard dying makes no sense to me.

posted 7 years ago by UpSideSunny (104)
8 replies | jump to latest

What was the point of that?

"Here, take this dagger and stab me with it. You can't harm me".
*Stabs with knife*
*Dies*

What purpose did it serve? In the end he was still dead since even when the apprentice threw his ash in the water, he came back only to be "destroyed" a couple of scenes later.

If the point was to allow the apprentice to become a wizard, he simply could have given the apprentice the amulet and send him to go slay the dragon. In that way he could remain at home and be available to the apprentice to teach him later on or whatever.

If the point was to show others that he was a real wizard, then that was a failure since he just died in front of them, and nobody other than the apprentice saw his momentary resurrection near the end of the film.

It seems very unnecessary and stupid to me.

[–] TaraCicora (12) 7 years ago

His intent was to kill the dragon. He was also ready to die (he mentions as much at the beginning). His body was never strong (due to age) enough to make the journey so he arranges his own death and has his student carry his body (the ashes) and his power (the amulet) to the dragon. He then resurrects to kill the dragon. He used the apprentice. Very simple.

[–] Ace_Spade (9610) 4 years ago

Very sensible reply.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 3 years ago

Sensible reply and pulled exactly from the film's dialogue (no disrespect to TaraCircora)

It's EXPLAINED in the FILM, albeit in passing

[–] Ace_Spade (9610) 3 years ago

It's amazing what people can miss while watching movies.

[–] PaladinNJ (21608) 2 years ago

That's the way I understood it.

[–] Otter (24464) 7 years ago

Because the father/mentor/teacher character ALWAYS dies, so the hero can come into his own.

It's right there in The Hero's Journey, and screenwriting 101.

[–] urrutiap (1123) 3 years ago

well if you paid more attention in the beginning and pretty much the whole movie, the wizard saw the future and everything that would happen.

also that amulet it really wasnt that important anyway. It may have jumpstarted Galen's magic abillities even though it took awhile for a spell to work but he was doing fine without the amulet when he fought the dragon with the spear

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14757) 3 years ago

Part of the reason the old wizard did things the way he did, wasn't just so he could slay the dragon in the best way possible. He knew Galen would never make for a good wizard unless he got out of his comfort zone (such as puttering around his master's lab) and learned how to use his knowledge of magic for practical use. The only way to do that was go out into the world and face the problems the world dealt him. It was also a good opportunity for him to experience all the things he couldn't have when stuck back in the lab, such as learning how society (like in the kingdom) worked.