REIGN OF FIRE

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Izabella Scorupco and Gerard Butler
Director: Rob Cohen
Running Time: 102 mins
Certificate: 12

Out to buy on DVD 2nd June

While working on the extension to the Jubilee Line, engineers disturb the layer of a creature that has laid dormant for thousands of years. Eighteen years later and the Earth is in ruins and the human race is on the verge of extinction. Living in small remote communities, the few remaining humans are living in extreme conditions. One group of survivors is headed by Quinn (Bale). His small castle commune in Northumbria is doing what they can just to get by until an America military outfit visits them. Lead by Van Zan (McConaughey), he announces that he plans to fight and take back the Earth from the Dragons.

Dragons destroy the world is a great concept for a Hollywood blockbuster and this movie delivers most of the thrills that you might be expecting.

Director Rob Bowman (X-Files: Fight for the Future) brings an action packed apocalyptic vision of a future under the rule of the fire breathing menace and he does it very well. You cannot complain about the look of the movie, as the medieval designed sets and special effects are top-notch. The dragons are especially good and are complimented by brilliant pyrotechnics.

The performances from Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey are also good. Bale brings a certain amount of dignity to his character and McConaughey is a suitably over-the-top cocky American. Izabella Scorupco looks as beautiful as ever in is a more positive and strong female role.

The only main complaint is that I would have like to have seen more of the Dragons. Their destruction of the Earth is not shown in great detail only in newspaper clippings and still images. Whether this was to do with budget restraints or the current social attitudes towards the destruction of cities and excessive loss of life, it takes something away from what could have been a jaw dropping opening sequence. The ending seems a tad rushed, with the expected huge military battle between the Humans and Dragons never appearing.

This aside the film is still really good fun and has enough action to please most people. It is just a shame that the finished movie does live up to the expectations that the fabulous poster and trailer promised.

Conversations with director Rob Bowman, 'If You Can't Stand The Heat': a pyrotechnics featurette, 'Breathing Life Into The Terror': a 'Making Of' featurette, Theatrical trailer, Interactive menu & Scene access


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