Sony Pictures Sony Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King - DVD

• English (Original Language)


• English (Subtitled)


• French (Subtitled)


• French (Dubbed)

Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King is a visually impressive historical adventure based on the same Germanic and Norse legends that inspired Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle operas and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Produced for German television (and shot in South Africa), the film stars Benno Furmann as Siegfried, a prince whose family is slaughtered by a pair of evil kings; raised by a blacksmith (Max Von Sydow, still commanding as ever), he meets and falls for Valkyrie queen Brunhild (Kristanna Loken from Terminator 3) and slays the dragon Fafnir for King Gunther (Samuel West), which in turn, involves him in treachery, war, and separation from his beloved Brunhild. Well directed by Uli Edel (Last Exit to Brooklyn>, The Mists of Avalon), Dark Kingdom occasionally suffers from exceedingly purple dialogue, but the performances, action, and special effects combine to make for a rousing fantasy-drama. Originally broadcast at three hours in length, the DVD presentation here is the U.S. cut, which comes in at just over two hours; a battery of five making-of featurettes are included in the disc's supplemental features. --Paul Gaita
In a dark age long passed young Siegfried witnesses the horrible murder of his father King Siegmund of the Netherlands. Vowing to take back one day what is rightfully his Siegfried is granted refuge at an allied royal court. Under the watchful eye of his spell-casting mother Hjordis Siegfried rigorously trains for his big day of revenge becoming a powerful warrior. Acquiring a magical sword forged from a fallen star he sets out to rid the land from the brutal reign of the dragon Fafnir and to gain control over the gold Fafnir stole from the mythical Nibelungs. Victorious Siegfried baths in the dragon's blood making him invincible. His merriment is quickly tarnished however when the Nibelungs appear wanting their gold back. Frustrated that they will not even negotiate their fair share Siegfried leaves the a portion but takes for himself The Ring- the beautiful core piece of the Nibelung treasure. He unwisely chooses to ignore the Nibelung curse: he who possesses the Ring will never be able to hold onto true love.System Requirements:Running Time 132 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396100299 Manufacturer No: 10029