The Crown and the Dragon (2013) User Reviews

When Ellen met Aedin

[RogerB-P3RV3 · 4/10 · 19 July 2013]

Add Dungeon & Dragons with Harlan Romance seasoning and stir in a bit of Game of Thrones, the end result is The Crown and the Dragon. Yes, the CGI-effects could been better and derivative factor is high but the Irish-Scots cast never treated the material with contempt - displaying admirable professionalism with director Anne Black keeping things tight as humanely as possible in this tightly-budgeted concoction.

Young and naive Ellen Barethon (Amy De Bhrún) accompanies her aunt to a secret enthronement of the rightful king in a land taken over by foreign empire to deliver an ancient artifact to the royal majesty. Ellen soon become the sole guardian of the relic after tragic circumstances and had to rely on one Aedin (David Haydn). Aedin saves her from certain death and later cuts a deal to be her 'protector' as Ellen vows to finish what her aunt started.

The artifact is merely a MacGuffin. The heart of the story lies in the burgeoning relationship between Ellen and Aedin from guarded suspicion into the inevitable you-know-what. Kudos to both Amy and Haydn for making the romantic entanglement authentic and grounded in reality with immeasurable help from no-frills script. The 'string' dance by the pair is beautifully choreographed and for me - one of the few highlights in the flick.

It's eye-catching performance of Amy De Bhrún that keeps the proceedings lively. Her spunky character is someone you can hold on to during dreary parts and the anchor holding together the movie as it head towards obligatorily revelations and proper intro of traitorous Corvus (Tim Treloar) coveting both the relic and bewitching Amy.

If you are looking for guts-ripping sword fights and battling mystical creatures, this is not the movie for you. The elements are there but purely on perfunctory level.

Not terrible, but not very good either

[info-12388 · 5/10 · 16 October 2014]

Yes, the CG work is lame. Yes, the acting is far from Oscar worthy. Yes, there are incredibly gross moments when the continuity goes out the window (Hero dumps heroine in creek. Dress gets muddy. Next scene or two, dress looks great. Next scene after that, dress looks muddy. Next scene after that... well, you get the idea.). Yes, the payoff is pretty WTF, and it ended feeling like there should have been one more scene added (the much ballyhooed coronation).

Despite all that, it has a certain goofy charm that I wont try to explain. The hero is cute — although he needs a bit more time at the gym — the heroine is cute — although her acting is as dense as a page from a small town phone book. And somehow they sorta/kinda make it all work. Don't ask me to explain how. They just do. Yes, yes, I know: great big huge monstrous gaps in the plot, characters that make zero sense because no one bothers to give them sufficient backstory (Does anyone know what the "glittering" was supposed to be?), and of course those magical self-cleaning costumes. But I watched it through to the end and felt like I got every penny of the five bucks I paid for it.

Absolutely awful

[ulric99 · 3/10 · 25 July 2013]

I got to see an early release of this movie with friends. It was God awful.

Aside from the two positives (1) the scenery was quite lovely and, 2) the musical score was enjoyable), that's it...

The acting was abysmal; the story lame; the fight scenes a joke; the directing awful.

I can only guess that the people who gave it high enough ratings to get it to a 5.8 were those who worked on the production. This is not even a "B" grade quality movie.

This is a movie that should never have been made - why people invest money to make such trash is absolutely beyond me.

This is a movie where you say "move along, nothing to see here..."

lack of budget no excuse for lack of spine..

[K_Ripley · 2/10 · 4 August 2013]

To say this movie was a disappointment would be an understatement. I feel BETRAYED.

The trailer and lack of an all-star cast warned me that "The Crown and the Dragon" was probably going to be a low-budget film, so I was not surprised or disappointed by the poor quality of the acting or the mediocre cinematic aspects of the film. The effects actually somewhat exceeded my expectations, which are pretty relaxed and forgiving for low budget movies. However, a small budget is no excuse for terrible writing. The story made little sense and the dialogues and narration were heavy handed. The directing was also mediocre.

The Crown and the Dragon's greatest fail, however, was the quality of its characters. This movie touts a female director/co-writer and a plot synopsis that gives the impression of a progressive storyline with a strong, inspiring female protagonist (rare in the fantasy genre):

official synopsis: " In a country cursed with a dragon, Elenn, an arrogant young noblewoman, accompanies her aunt on a mission to bring an ancient relic to the secret coronation of the rightful king of their people. When her aunt is murdered on the road by occupying enemy soldiers, Elenn hires a smuggler and criminal, Aedin, to escort her across the dangerous country so she can take her aunt's place at the coronation. But when Corvus, a rogue magister of the empire, employs a dark magic to retrieve the ancient relic for his own evil designs, Elenn must find the humility and strength within herself to fulfill her aunt's calling to free her people, and become a Paladin - the long foretold dragonslayer"

Elenn sounds like a hero, right? Wrong.

Without revealing too much, I will say that the "heroine" Elenn is far from an inspiring female figure. She's a damsel in distress trope who, despite supposedly being the protagonist of the film with purported powers, is reduced to a love interest/the object of men's affection... men who are the ones that ultimately drive the plot. The other few women of the film don't escape the filmmaker's internalized sexism, either.

In short, this film is a B movie that promises a breath of fresh air to the fantasy genre, but delivers little more than stale, hot wind. Thanks, Anne K. Black, for throwing women under the bus.

Slow!

[ThePiousPatriot · 4/10 · 6 May 2016]

I have to say, I'm a huge fan of the genre. This is not a great film. It's not horrible by any means, but it isn't good either. I have enjoyed films like, "Curse of the Dragon Slayer", "In the Name of the King", and "Dragon Heart 3", all of which are usually rated around the 5 or 6 star level. I could not put this movie on the same level as those. That's why I gave it 4 stars.

Now, it does have some decent parts to it. The acting isn't terrible, and neither is the scenery. However, the film moves sooo slowly. It was hard to stay awake at certain times. I feel if there was some more to the story, some more emotion for the viewers to make them commit to the story more, and even more action, this film would've gotten a much better rating.

Would I buy this? Well, if you're a collector, yes. It's not horrible. Other than that, no don't buy it. Is it a must see? Definitely not. However, if you've seen many of the movies Netflix has to offer and you're looking for something new, and you have some free time with nothing to do, sure give it a watch.

If you have a vivid imagination and love low budget movies with bad stunts, this is for you!

[ApocalypticAngelRRR · 2/10 · 30 July 2013]

The stunts in this movie were horrible. It felt like the director gathered a bunch of drunks from the local pub and paid them to be in a movie. Any fight scene you find in this will look like the drunks were too inebriated in order to coordinate properly. The special effects appear as though they were made on a 15 year old computer running Windows ME operating system.

The acting (during dialog only) wasn't overly bad, but that is about all this movie had to offer. I seriously felt like I could make a better movie with a $100 camcorder and a couple of bored friends. The plot was weak and predictable. I can honestly say that the CIA should use this movie as a new form of torture. Do not waste taxpayers money on torture devices, just simply strap the terrorists to a chair and make them watch this movie on repeat until they talk.

This got a huge 2 from me only for the very few times I chuckled from the pseudo-witty dialog. I have never given a movie on IMDb a 2 before, but this one takes the cake. They should have named this movie the Yawn and the Flagon. Seriously, spend your money elsewhere. The director sure did.

Far from impressive sword and sorcery movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 25 November 2013]

It is rare to come across a sword and sorcery fantasy movie that actually impress and turns out to be good entertainment. "The Crown and the Dragon" is not one such movie, unfortunately.

The story is dragging on in an endless cycle that seems to take forever to get nowhere. And the pace of the story was ultimately what made me give up on the movie and find something else to watch.

The costumes and sets were actually quite good, and was the peak of the movie, which doesn't really forebode well for a movie meant to entertain. That being said, then I will also give the movie that the actors and actresses were actually doing a fair job with their given roles - they just had very, very little to work with.

As for the dragon, well it was alright, not super great, but it was alright for what it was intended to do. However, don't expect to be blown away or dazzled in any way from the CGI effects.

There are far better fantasy movies out there, but also far worse. "The Crown and the Dragon" is a slightly below average experience as far as sword and sorcery movies go. I am rating "The Crown and the Dragon" 4 out of 10 stars.

Not all that bad but no all that good either

[djsiyer · 4/10 · 13 November 2015]

Fantasy films with a female lead (particularly one as beautiful as Amy De Bhrún) are rare, hence I was keen to view this offering about a young noblewoman fulfilling her destiny, which involves a potty-mouthed Aragorn hero, some bad soldiers and a dragon.

On the plus side, there is a plot, there are some fight scenes which are not bad, the acting is above average, Noblelady and Aragorn are likable characters and the dragon is rather well done.

However, ultimately, the film is brought down by what appears to be simple directorial disinterest. It lacks pace, continuity (the condition of her dress and the whereabouts of his sword), wholesale copying of scenes from Ivanhoe but on a much cheaper scale, and a rather abrupt ending.

To tell the truth, I had to re-watch this three times, because I kept falling asleep and it wasn't because I had had tiring days at the office.

Don't expect much and you won' be disappointed.

If this were a novel, I wouldn't call it a sure-fire page turner

[Mischief810 · 6/10 · 25 June 2015]

Have you ever started reading a book, only to find that you simply can't put it down?

As a film, The Crown and the Dragon is no such animal. I started and stopped this thing over a three day period.

It's not a bad movie. But it's not a great one, either. The acting is decent. The scenery is lovely and this is reasonably well directed. This is a fantasy film and the genre is populated with both very good and very bad efforts. This one leans good but it won't win any awards.

This is the kind of project where the producers and director know that they're on a tight budget, they have to take a few shortcuts, and still get a working product out within those constraints. I give them credit.

But again, this is not the kind of film that is over before you know it. At times the pace drags and tempts you to take a break (I obliged). At other times it's compelling enough to make you want to see what's gonna happen next. If you're a fantasy fan, you're more likely than not to enjoy it.

I gave a 6 out of 10. Worth a box rental or a view on your Amazon or Netflix account. But must see? Meh...

awful movie

[bloodlustgeneral · 1/10 · 2 September 2014]

Aside from the two positives (1) the scenery was quite lovely and, 2) the musical score was enjoyable), that's it...

The acting was abysmal; the story lame; the fight scenes a joke; the directing awful.

I can only guess that the people who gave it high enough ratings to get it to a 5.8 were those who worked on the production. This is not even a "B" grade quality movie.

This is a movie that should never have been made - why people invest money to make such trash is absolutely beyond me.

This is a movie where you say "move along, nothing to see here..."

Like this comment All part of the movie is so terrible (except scenery the jungle and castles are beautiful) Fight scene Are u kidding me? Why Knights's swordskill are look like children? Waste time to watch this movie

People who rate this movie low just "don't get it"

[bernardcozier · 10/10 · 13 August 2013]

It is what it is. A rainy day kind of movie that never lost my interest at any moment. The major plot theme here that's well done is the relationship that grows between the heroine and her hero. People who rate this movie low are taking things way too seriously. I enjoyed it immensely with their ending kiss. Don't take other people's word for it. Give it a try. Just don't go in expecting blockbuster action and sword-fighting. It has sorcery, dragons and medieval themes but at the end of the day its about a charming heroine and the unlikely hero who decides to aid her and their time together unfolding into something special. I would buy it on blu-ray if it were available. The mistake I think is people trying to compare this to major blockbusters like titanic or terminator 2. Please don't even go there. Not that type of movie, but charming in it's own right. This is one of those movies I'll go the extra way in praising just because of the foolish people who would dare think to give it a low rating. That would be like harshly criticizing your five year old child's drawing instead of just hanging it on your fridge door end enjoying because it's special in its own way.

Good storyline, acting, effects, location - for its genre

[dugchugger · 7/10 · 29 August 2015]

Let me start off by saying that The Crown and the Dragon is one of those rare movies that makes you forget it's a low-budget production. Which, in my humble opinion, is a reflection of good direction, cast and crew. The acting, location, and ambitious special effects (with a nod to all the other equally-important processes that go on behind the scenes), all worked together to pull off a very watchable flick with a commendable storyline.

That being said...

This is the story of a spoiled noble woman who comes of age in a conquered land, ravaged by war. She is an unwitting heroine with a surprise destiny.

Ellen Barethon's privileged lifestyle has ill-prepared her to survive in a world where the line between good and evil has become increasingly blurred. She experiences firsthand just what people will do in order to survive -- first as a witness, then as a participant as she herself becomes a fugitive.

Her transition from naive, pampered and arrogant young woman into someone more worthy of the noble destiny she is bound for, is forced upon her over the course of a few days. Guided in an intolerant, taming-of-the-shrew-like manner by her unlikely travel companion, Aiden, Ellen quickly learns to rethink her self-importance, reconsider her priorities, and to think and act quickly on her feet. Ultimately, her new-found courage and confidence drives her to complete her mission, oblivious to the fact that this is only just the beginning for her.

Without any formal training or preparation, or even knowledge and acceptance on her part, the viewer is left doubting until the very end whether or not she is capable of fulfilling her destiny. But this is what I liked most about the movie. Finally a heroine I could relate to. While there's no shortage these days of strong women figures in movies, what I've felt lacking is one that more of us can relate to and sympathize with.

And the morals our heroine learns along the way are reminders of what we ourselves have learned/are learning along our own life journeys. For example, the idea that nobility is not just a title or something one's born into, it's something that can reside within anyone from any walk of life, achieved by living a life of honor and virtue. Another favorite theme of mine is that it's never too late to redeem yourself. But so as not to provide any spoilers for those who haven't seen this film yet, I'll leave it at that.

I'm quickly becoming a fan of Anne Black, the director. Her movies promise a quality balancing act between storyline, actors and effects. Also, this was my first introduction to actors Amy De Bhrún (Ellen Barethon) and David Haydn (Aiden), both of whom I thought portrayed their characters magnificently. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for any future projects that involve these two.

Not Half Bad

[Rainey-Dawn · 5/10 · 30 August 2021]

Well, this is not a bad film IF you like Dragons, medieval adventures and Celtic aesthetics. The story is a little weak - it doesn't explain much of anything in the film like how the Unicorn horn came to the family for example. BUT overall this is an entertaining film.

5.5/10.

Adequately well made, but wholly unremarkable

[I_Ailurophile · 5/10 · 29 May 2022]

There is one overarching problem with this movie, and it takes no time at all to figure out what it is: It is utterly unexceptional.

The costume design, and hair and makeup work, look fine. So do props and weapons, set design and decoration, and fight scenes. Special effects (CGI) are mostly subpar - but to be fair, I've seen a lot worse, and anyway, Arrowstorm is not New Line Cinema, or Industry Light & Magic. The music is okay. Director Anne K. Black, and co-writers Kynan Griffin and Justin Partridge, would all go on to have a hand in the 'Mythica' series of fantasy films, which I for one thoroughly enjoyed, so that is a point in this title's favor even though there's no narrative connection. The scene writing is peppered with dashes of levity, action, and heart, and is mildly clever at times. The plot is complete and cohesive. Lighting is too dim at times, and perfect at others, but the cinematography is crisp and vivid. The filming locations are gorgeous. The acting is okay.

This is all well and good. Yet 'The crown and the dragon' is a fantasy feature we've seen before, and we will see it again: destiny, rising hero, unlikely romance, MacGuffin, great evil, and so on and so on. Competent and suitable as the contributions may be of the writers, director, cast, and crew, the characters don't stand out. The dialogue doesn't stand out. The narrative doesn't stand out. I assume I'm as likely to particularly recall this 10 days from now as I would be in 10 years - which is to say, not at all.

It's not that 'The crown and the dragon' is bad; I think it would be a mistake to say so. It's well made such as it is. One aspect or another, or some combination thereof, occasionally catches my eye as especially fetching and worthwhile. Those sparks of care, wit, and intelligence do not carry through enough of the picture to actually light a fire, however. Just as some scenes are distinctly drained of their most vibrant color, the story lacks enough of a punch to truly capture the imagination.

With all this having been said, the film is perfunctorily entertaining. It's a (very) soft recommendation for a lazy afternoon, should you happen to come across it. I want to like it more than I do. Yet "special" it is not - so if you have other options for something to watch, I just can't conjure any specific reason why 'The crown and the dragon' should top your list.

And now I'm kind of sad. Oh well.

ummm, could be better

[anymouse2 · 6/10 · 28 December 2014]

For 2013, the effects are from the 90s. The acting isn't so bad for a B movie, and the plot has holes, but its good to kill time on a rainy Saturday. The whole time I got the feeling that this was a low-budget version of one of the popular book series (cant tell which one) and that everything missing would have made sense if Id "read the book first". But, it wasn't so bad; effects were cheezy, but not horrible, dialog was corny, but cute and worked, actors weren't great but did the job, etc. The rest is just to fill space for the policy; blah blah blah yakkity shmackity I met her on Monday and my heart stood still she do run run run run she do run run Someone told me her name was Jill she do run run run she do run run

Fun movie with good acting and enough conflict

[nickwelp · 8/10 · 16 March 2015]

The actors are unknown but could become more familiar as this entertainment company flourishes. Either it's not a B-Movie or B-Movies are pretty good in the 21st century. The plot is more Romancing The Stone than Messiah complex, which is refreshing for fantasy. There is some brutal violence and the threat of sexual violence, but the rough stuff gets broken up quickly. All of the acting was really solid. There are some rough edges that would never be in a Hollywood Royalty studio flick but the decent pacing helps the viewer skip past such scenes. This film makes Utah look very appealing, assuming it was filmed there. Metaphorically speaking on one hand the story is about an adolescent girl becoming a woman, but on the other hand the protagonist doesn't seem like an adolescent girl -- the characters around her may underestimate her awareness of the world.

Better than expected

[nathanhial · 6/10 · 4 January 2024]

I have few hopes for Fantasy B-movies. It's usually a given that for the Fantasy and sci-fi genres, a large influx of cash is necessary for the effects needed to make them 'good,' and B movies are not known for their big budgets. In this, I was itching to see a dragon I hadn't seen before.

The dragon and other effects, were lame (big surprise). However, I found myself enjoying the movie for its other virtues.

It's basically a D&D module put to screen, and the acting is more than passable, especially in the latter half. The scenery is lovely, music is great, and the mains were worth watching.

A Fine Fantasy Romp

[c-marie-reedy · 8/10 · 15 March 2015]

Fantasy movies are some of my absolute favorites. Unfortunately, they can be hard to find, especially if you want something quality. So whenever I'm looking for a fantasy movie to watch and I stumble on something at random, I keep my expectations pretty low. That's how I approached "The Crown and the Dragon," but I was pleasantly surprised. The production quality was unexpectedly high for a independent fantasy movie. The acting was pretty good and the two protagonists had believable chemistry. The plot followed the typical good-vs-evil, fate of the world, plus dragons! theme, as fantasy often does, but it's delivery felt original and fresh. Is it on the same level as the full-scale fantasy of Lord of the Rings? No. But it came together really well and I had a great time watching it. I would definitely watch it again and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fantasy fix.

Bad but strangely good

[flowerbud4 · 8/10 · 8 February 2015]

Alright, this is my first review so bare with me. I picked up this movie at a Redbox machine having never heard of it and the summary kind of confusing, I obviously had to get it. This is what I personally thought of it.

The graphics sucked, they did do their job though. When a dragon was needed, they had a dragon. So, for the low budget I'd say they were pretty decent graphics.

Some actors were better than others. The two main leads did pretty well. So, the minor roles having some issues was okay. (They casted Kristen Stewart for the lead in Twilight, so, I will excuse minor characters.)

The story had many plot holes. It left the viewer wanting more in both bad and good ways. But, through it all I kinda loved it. I don't know why. I don't really care all I know is that I would watch it again. Much like Rocky Horror Picture Show, somehow bad makes it good.