Psycho's Movie Reviews #194: Dragonheart: Battle For The Heartfire (2017)

Dragonheart: Battle for the Heartfire is a 2017 American–Romanian fantasy adventure film directed by Patrik Syversen. It is the second direct-to-video prequel of the 1996 film Dragonheart, and it takes place about 50 years after Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer's Curse. It was released on Netflix, DVD, and Blu-ray on June 13, 2017.

Plot

Gareth and Rhonu had a son named Walter years after becoming rulers. After Gareth spent most of his time helping Drago and Rhonu died after her bonded dragon's death, Walter became disillusioned with dragons and ran away. Years later, Walter's wife gives birth to fraternal twins with strange patches of scales on their bodies and dies; Walter raises them despite their appearances.

Twenty years later, King Gareth nears death, and succession is in doubt with Walter still missing. Gareth passes, but Drago survives, learning he's now bonded to someone else. Drago finds his heart now bound to Edric, the male twin who possesses enhanced strength and uses it as a sheriff for Earl Robert Cole's shire. Learning that Walter was Edric's father, Drago convinces Edric to take Gareth's throne in Lundenwic; despite the people loving Edric, his arrogance and inexperience with royal duties bother Drago. Realizing their bond is partial, Drago confronts Edric, who shares his twin sister Mehgan's existence. Mehgan grew up prejudiced because of her more visible scales and power to manipulate fire. After she accidentally burned down their home with Walter inside, Edric bargained to send her away by boat to protect her from the villagers. Unwilling to forsake the chance to be Robert's sheriff, he didn't go with Mehgan.

Edric later learns that Vikings have invaded, and he rides out with his army to meet them. Still refusing to trust Drago, he ignores advice to let Drago fight and instead challenges the Norsemen's leader to a duel, only to find that it's Mehgan. The twins have a meeting where Drago teaches them about the Heartfire, the source of his fire breath. Mehgan demands the throne as she's the firstborn twin, but Edric refuses and ends the negotiations. Mehgan and her army sneak into the camp overnight, and she drains the Heartfire from Drago while he sleeps. The Norsemen start their attack, and Mehgan reveals her control of the Heartfire. Overwhelmed by Mehgan's power, Edric surrenders. Once Mehgan and the Vikings secure control, she banishes Edric, unaware that Thorgrim sent men after him. Edric flees to Robert's shire and requests aid in opposing Mehgan, but Robert betrays him to the Vikings, who take him aboard a boat to sell him into slavery. While Mehgan improves women's rights in the kingdom, she tells a captive Drago what happened after Edric sent her away. After emerging the sole survivor of a storm, she drifted until running aground in Daneland, where her powers caught Thorgrim's attention. Edric tries escaping his captors but nearly sinks the boat. After locals free him from captivity, Drago rescues Edric, and they later receive aid from a theatre troupe. They reconcile as Edric reveals his guilt over his hateful last words to his father and sending Mehgan away alone. Edric learns Drago is dying without the Heartfire, so they sneak into the castle with the troupe's help. When Edric attempts to take the Heartfire from Mehgan, he sees Thorgrim's right-hand woman Sable trying to kill her. Edric's warning saves Mehgan, but their refusal to cooperate allows Sable to give Thorgrim the Heartfire, and he promptly targets the twins.

Drago saves the twins from getting captured and forces them to fight to the death for the throne; they fight and argue until they begin remembering how close they were as kids. Mehgan reveals that Edric accidentally killed their father, and she took the blame to protect his chance at a good life; the truth compels them to reconcile. Returning to the castle, Edric challenges Thorgrim to get the Heartfire while Mehgan rallies the castle's women to help her fight. Mehgan finds an open flame, but Sable and an archer mortally wound her, also affecting Drago. Thorgrim absorbs the Heartfire to control its power but gets overwhelmed. Edric kills him, scaring off the Vikings, and Mehgan recovers the remaining Heartfire. Instead of taking it back, Drago has Edric use it to heal Mehgan. Then the twins share the bond of their dragonhearts, removing their scales and powers. With Gareth's family whole again, Drago dies peacefully and becomes a new star in the Draco constellation's tail, telling the twins to rule their kingdom together.

Production

Development

A sequel was first hinted at by writer Matthew Feitshans soon after the video release of the series' third film in 2015. Matthew Feitshans later confirmed his involvement on a fourth film on his Twitter account, along with new director, Patrik Syversen, who will take over filming after Colin Teague declined to return. The budget was reportedly almost twice the size of the third film's following its surprise success.

Filming

Filming began on April 12, 2016 at Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, Romania, and wrapped on May 6 with the rest of filming completed in late 2016.

Music

The score was composed by Mark McKenzie, who previously composed the score for Dragonheart: A New Beginning and Dragonheart 3. A source of inspiration was the musical form called Chaconne, which he used throughout the score, which McKenzie completed in six weeks. Like the previous films, it contains the original main theme from the first film by Randy Edelman. McKenzie consulted with each film's director and producer to determine where the theme should and shouldn't play; they decided it should used for "moments when hope and chivalry come alive through the great dragon."

All tracks are written by Mark McKenzie.

Release/Reception/Box Office

The film was released on June 13, 2017.

Box office $818,221

My Review

The free-breathing dragon Drago : voice by Patrick Stewart , attempts to end the rivalry between brother : Tom Rhys and sister who is supported by nasty Vikings . Things go wrong when a new threat takes place , as these Vikings try to take the kingdom .

A fantasy movie packing thrills , emotion , spectacular battles, and overwhelming adventures . This is a medium budget follow-up in which there's a strong confrontation between two brothers and some Vikings . The plot is well known and similar to other entries , as dragon Drago and two siblings become intricately bonded, as their bodies share with one heart . The huge dragon is brought to life by means of state-of-art special effects . The film was produced in budget enough by Raffaela de Laurentiis , Dina's daughter , and she financed the complete series . Adding an emotive musical score in which is usually heard the classic leitmotif by Randy Edelman . The motion picture was professionally directed , though being inferior other entries .

This one belongs to Dragonheart series formed by the following ones : the best original Dragonheart 1996 by Rob Cohen with voice Drago by Sean Connery , Dennis Quaid , Dina Meyer , Jason Isaacs , Julie Christie. Dragonheart a new beginning 2000 by Doug Leifer with voice by Robby Benson , Chris Masterson, Figueroa , Harry Von Gorkum. Dragonheart 3 the sorcerer's curse 2015 by Colin Teague , voice by Ben Kingsley with Julian Morris , Tamzin Merchant , Roger Ashton Griffiths . Dragonheart Battle for the Heartfire 2017 by Patrik Syversen with voice by Patrck Steawart , Tom Rhys Harries , Jessamine Bliss Bell, Tamzin Merchant . And Dragonheart 5 Vengeance 2020 by Ivan Silvestrini , voice by Helena Bonham Carter with Joseph Milson, Jack Kane. 7.2/10