If you dig too deep and too greedily, you will awaken the shadow.
OK — so that was from “The Lord of the Rings,” but it fits with the new dragon thriller “Reign of Fire.” Some poor construction company dug a little too deep under London and awoke the beast. Only Gandalf couldn’t be around to deliver the beat down to this creature and the dragons take over the world.
The movie stars Matthew McConaughy as the very stereotypical crazy, badass Denton Van Zan and Christian Bale as Quinn, the poor sucker who saw the first dragon make its way into the world. Then, of course, the dragons, which are the film’s visual masterpieces. Computer graphics have never been so sweet.
The plot of “Reign of Fire” is your typical sci-fi thriller with the dragons reducing the world to ash and a small number of humans left struggling to survive while a few heroes are milling around sucking up their courage to go do the deed. Directed by seasoned sci-fi guru Rob Bowman, who brought us “The X-Files” movie and other Sci-Fi Channel favorites, “Reign of Fire” serves up a heaping helping of chills, thrills and trite frills. A modern-day apocalypse fairy tale, most science fiction worshippers will get a kick out of the movie.
And for the females, they can pant after Bale because McConaughy is bald with a Stone Cold Austin beard that does not do the poor man any justice. Appearance aside, McConaughy is probably the one thing that makes the movie absolutely clichÇ. Overacting is an understatement. As the fearless, emotionless Van Zan who is out to destroy the dragons, McConaughy is annoying, predictable and unstomachable. Maybe he’s not completely to blame since he gets the most stupid dialogue in the entire movie, but for an actor who’s proven himself good in movies such as “A Time To Kill,” it was sad to watch him act like a ninny. The tattoos all over his arms, chest and back were cool, though. His character, though, reminded me of an overdone male version of Pamela Anderson’s “Barb Wire.”
Bale does a decent job of the reluctant hero whose mommy was killed by the dragon she helped set loose. He even sets up a cute romance with supporting actress Izabella Scorupco, whom you might remember from “The Vertical Limit.” She plays Alex Jensen, a helicopter pilot in Van Zan’s entourage, who has discovered how to kill the dragons. Like any sane straight woman would, she gets the hots for Quinn. At least they keep the romance part very, very subtle. Score two points for no kissage. Or maybe Bowman really likes to stick to his “X-Files” roots.
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It was, however, sad to see the dragons be portrayed in such a negative light, but you’re either pro-dragon or you’re not. Kudos to Richard R. Hoover, the visual effects supervisor, because the dragons were big and in your face — even downright scary at times.
Overall, the movie was a nice setback from reality, which is the entire point of a film. It won’t win any Oscars — but McConaughy might pick up a Raspberry Award for his sucky performance — but it’s probably worth that eight bucks.
