DRAGONKEEPER – A Review by John Strange
Dragonkeeper is a joint Spanish and Chinese animated film based on the book by Carole Wilkinson (who has a screenwriting credit along with Pablo I. Castrillo, Ignacio Ferreras, Rosanna Cecchini, and Xianping Wang). The version presented to me via a screening link is dubbed in English for US audiences with a different cast of voice actors.
The premise of the film is that in ancient China after a clash with the humans, dragons are banished from the kingdom. Years later, a young girl an orphan girl named Ping comes to live with the woman tasked with feeding the remaining dragons hidden in captivity.
Ping must learn of her abilities and, more importantly, learn to master those abilities, if she is to save the egg of the last dragons.
I like the way they portrayed the dragons. They are powerful but, like Superman, have weaknesses that their opponents can use against them. Also, like the man of steel, they are good and honorable.
The Emperor, his family, and his men use the dragons without a thought to what is just and right. It is left for little Ping to right this wrong.
Parts of the story will not make sense to the younger kiddos. But older kids will like this story.
This is a fun “good vs evil” story with plenty of action. The animation is excellent. I really enjoyed the story.
Director: Jianping Li, Salvador Simó
Cast (Voice): Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffiths, Anthony Howell and Bill Bailey
MPAA Rating: PG (for violence, thematic elements and scary images.)
Selig Rating: 4.5 Stars
Runtime: 99 Min.
Release Date: 09/27/2024 (UK & Irish cinemas)
Language: English
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
Movie Site: DRAGONKEEPER Official Site
Trailer: DRAGONKEEPER Official Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
