gpeltz
Like many who have reviewed the film before me, I saw this first as a child at a theater. The action parts impressed me, tremendous battle scenes with thousands of extras. The Wind Demon impressed me as did the Mountain of men, and the mountain of gold. Plot points were lost on me as was the erotic dance scenes. I remembered the heroic music, the beautiful scenery and the magic rug. It was with trepidation that I screened a you tube positing. If ever a movie cried out for restoration, it is this one. The color was faded to the point of being black and white. The print was fairly clean, but to view this on my small computer monitor made the loss of spectacle even more noticeable. One reads among the reviews the Soviet propaganda slant the people saw in the movie. It was based on a folk tale hero, one who like in the heros of our westerns of old, were straight shooters. Ilia plead his allegiance to the land, and those who work it. He would not be swayed by wealth nor power, from doing the right thing. You may call me old fashioned, but these time honored virtues are sore lacking in todays media. The Dragon of the title makes a very late appearance in he film, and is rather easily dispatched, still this was one of the first three headed fire breathing flying dragons I had ever seen in movies, and that alone boosts its "awesome to kids" factor way up. Glad I re watched it.
janeywan
I heartily agree, it was always a childhood favorite. The music is haunting and the scenery is beautiful. I have memorized most of the lines and how many times have I wished for Ilya's magic cloth? O for a steed like Chesnut Grey! The special effects are precious, only those of us you truly enjoy 50's sci fi movies can appreciate the dragon, the wind demon and the forest creatures during the weaving scene.I have tried to find an uncut version of this film because its hard edit indicate that there may be missing scenes. The Russians really know how to stage an epic! See it if you can.
InzyWimzy
This russian movie is so weird trippy kooky. I love that!As much as I loathe dubbing, sword and the dragon in english just makes you realize a huge chunk was lost in translation. Why is Ilja stuck on the throne? What's the deal with the flag in the barrel? The ominous Tugars (love that name!) cause havoc and what was Ilja's plan anyway: let's close our eyes and pray we're lucky?? Oh, and the coincidence of meeting Falcon would've been better if he stuck a sword through him and then saw the ring! Goofy fun that goes well with jugs of Stolichnaya.I've seen this with Mike and the Bots and it's hilarious. I'm sure in its original russian, the movie makes much more sense. But the dub, it's crazy goofy!
Raymond Tucker
I really love the quirky nature of these Russian fairy tale films. Nutzoid english dubbing only enhances the warp factor (The US version entitled 'The Sword and the Dragon' even has Mike Wallace as a narrator) The characters are often quite bizarre (The makeup job on the wind demon is just too much, and I'm in love with the sword slinging dancing girl near the end of the film) Top it off with nifty puppetry (the dragon seems to clearly have been the inspiration for Japan's Ghidrah) makes this a true gem of kidvid madness!! I can't wait for the letterboxed Russian restoration which is scheduled to appear on DVD the end of 2001!!!
AD
