Dragon Masters: Curse of the Shadow Dragon In the fourth book of the Dragon Masters series, "Curse of the Shadow Dragon," by Tracey West, the young Dragon Masters embark on another thrilling adventure. This time, they must face a formidable enemy: the Shadow Dragon. The story begins with the Dragon Masters - Drake, Ana, Rori, and Bo - traveling to the faraway land of the Isle of Dragons to attend the Dragon Games. These games bring together dragon riders from different kingdoms to compete in various challenges and demonstrate their bond with their dragons. However, upon arriving, they discover that the Shadow Dragon has been trying to sabotage the games. This sinister dragon possesses the power to control shadows and uses it to wreak havoc.
The original had the better ending, no question. I mentioned earlier that it was surreal to see the wife's story confirmed, and it was very memorable to see a fly turned more into a man after seeing the man turn into a fly. The remake's ending was effective and an ode to classic monster movies.
I can excuse Brundle falling for Veronica in a short time because he s supposed to be a reclusive nerd though a handsome and shredded one , but Veronica is harder to believe, especially since she just got out of a relationship. To start off, I want to say that both films were good, and I appreciated that the remake attempted to make a new story and forge its own path a little.
This sinister dragon possesses the power to control shadows and uses it to wreak havoc. With its ability to manipulate darkness, the Shadow Dragon lurks in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the Dragon Masters investigate, they quickly realize that the Shadow Dragon is not acting alone.
The Fly (1958) vs. The Fly (1986)
I just finished The Fly ('86) and wanted to do a little comparison and verdict. Spoilers are probably inbound.
To start off, I want to say that both films were good, and I appreciated that the remake attempted to make a new story and forge its own path a little. I'm not keen on the idea of shot for shot remakes.
The films were essentially different genres: the original being a suspense thriller/horror and the remake being a romance and body horror.
The original was structured non-chronologically, and was structured better overall. The idea of showing the "murder" first and what lead up to it after was a good way to hook in the audience for the murder mystery. The end felt surreal confirming the wild story told by the murder suspect, the wife. The remake was told chronologically and was more about developing the romance (I'll get into this later) and seeing the relationship getting strained due to miscommunication and the accident with the fly. The original has the edge in structure, feeling more deliberate and meaningful, while the remake is very meandering; part of this is the editing.
The original is edited like many of the great old movies were: every scene having a purpose. Everything was tight and moved along nicely. The remake could've been a little more refined. Things like the gymnastics and the arm wrestling went on a little too long, while the romance and interaction before the accident could've used more time.
As far as pacing, the original is far better in this regard. It was never too slow or too fast. The remake was all over the place, though. I was shocked how early Brundle went into the teleporter because I knew that the rest of the movie was about Veronica seeing Brundle, whom she loved, deteriorate. Like I mentioned earlier, the romance needed more time to develop. A few sex scenes happened, and now Brundle and Veronica were supposed to be in love. Maybe, but the fact that Veronica just got out of a relationship with her boss (he still had her apartment key) really strains believability.
Effects-wise, I won't compare them directly because the technology had advanced a lot in 30 years. The original wasn't impressive, even for the 50s. Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Sr. and Jr. had better effects decades earlier. The effects weren't bad, just a little unimpressive. The actor, Al Hedison, admittedly elevated them with his performance (looked like there were two minds battling in one body), and the script used them intelligently (hiding the head and arm to invoke curiosity). The remake had great effects. The progression and leprosy of them were very cool. But, as with many 80s movies, it sometimes went over the top and focused more on gross-out rather than moving the story forward (melting Stathis's leg).
Acting-wise, they are both good. The original has the legend, Vincent Price, and everyone else was good, Al Hedison, Patricia Owens. It's been a while, but I remember that I quite liked Hedison as The Fly because he really showed the fly vs. the man and was sympathetic. The remake had Goldblum in an intense nerdy performance that was fascinating to watch even before the makeup. I think Hedison and Owens had a better chemistry than Goldblum and Davis.
Cinematography-wise, I can't weigh in on either side. Both were effective. Who can forget the Phantom of the Opera moment and then the Fly-eye view of the wife in the original, and what about the wall-crawling in the remake?
The original has the better characters. They were, as far as I remember, all somewhat well-developed and consistent with themselves. In the remake, there were much less main characters, only 3. Brundle was good, though he was a little shredded for a nerd. Veronica wasn't very realistic. She decides to go into a stranger's home, and then she falls in love with that guy after a few nights together. I can excuse Brundle falling for Veronica in a short time because he's supposed to be a reclusive nerd (though a handsome and shredded one), but Veronica is harder to believe, especially since she just got out of a relationship. Stathis wasn't consistent. He goes from sleazy creep to sensitive protector for no reason at all. He's just there to indirectly make Brundle jealous early on and then bring a shotgun in the end of the movie, and his inconsitency reflects that. Nothing else he does with Veronica has a purpose, despite taking up a decent chunk of time.
The original had the better ending, no question. I mentioned earlier that it was surreal to see the wife's story confirmed, and it was very memorable to see a fly turned more into a man after seeing the man turn into a fly. The remake's ending was effective and an ode to classic monster movies.
My vote goes to the original. The original was more deliberate and punchy. I don't get why people call it schlocky; even though the effects are dated, it gets very tense, and death is not treated lightly. The remake was also good, but it suffered from being more style than substance. It needed a better foundation, but it was decided to spend more time showing the decay of the relationship rather than the actual relationship.
Effects-wise, I won't compare them directly because the technology had advanced a lot in 30 years. The original wasn't impressive, even for the 50s. Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Sr. and Jr. had better effects decades earlier. The effects weren't bad, just a little unimpressive. The actor, Al Hedison, admittedly elevated them with his performance (looked like there were two minds battling in one body), and the script used them intelligently (hiding the head and arm to invoke curiosity). The remake had great effects. The progression and leprosy of them were very cool. But, as with many 80s movies, it sometimes went over the top and focused more on gross-out rather than moving the story forward (melting Stathis's leg).
It has formed an alliance with a group of dark wizards who seek to dominate the entire dragon kingdom. Together, they plan to overthrow the Dragon King and seize control of all dragons. Determined to protect their dragons and the dragon kingdom, the Dragon Masters devise a plan to stop the Shadow Dragon and its allies. They must work together, using their unique powers and the bonds they have formed with their dragons, to face this dangerous threat. Throughout their journey, the Dragon Masters encounter intense challenges and must confront their fears. They learn the importance of teamwork, trust, and believing in oneself. Each Dragon Master discovers their inner strength and develops their skills as dragon riders. The story builds up to an epic final battle between the Dragon Masters and the Shadow Dragon. They must summon all their courage and rely on their friendship to overcome this powerful foe. Will they succeed in their mission and save the Dragon King and the entire dragon kingdom from the curse of the Shadow Dragon? "Curse of the Shadow Dragon" is an exciting and action-packed installment in the Dragon Masters series. It captivates readers with its thrilling plot, lovable characters, and messages of bravery and friendship. This book will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next adventure of the Dragon Masters..
Reviews for "The Shadow Dragon's Curse: A Test of Friendship for the Dragon Masters"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Dragon Masters: Curse of the Shadow Dragon." The story felt predictable and recycled, and I found myself bored throughout most of it. The characters lacked depth and development, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, it just fell flat for me and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - While I enjoyed the previous books in the Dragon Masters series, "Curse of the Shadow Dragon" left me wanting more. The plot felt rushed and the conflict resolved too quickly. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked the charm and complexity that made me fall in love with them in earlier installments. It felt like the author was just trying to churn out another book without putting in the same level of effort.
3. Michael - 3/5 - I was expecting more from "Dragon Masters: Curse of the Shadow Dragon." While the story had potential, it ultimately fell short due to poor pacing and execution. The action scenes were confusing and hard to follow, and the dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic. The book also lacked the exciting and magical atmosphere that made the earlier books in the series so enjoyable. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this installment.
4. Amy - 2/5 - I was really let down by "Dragon Masters: Curse of the Shadow Dragon." The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. The characters felt flat and lacked the complexity that I had come to expect from this series. The writing style was also repetitive and monotonous, making it difficult for me to stay engaged with the story. Overall, this book felt like a missed opportunity and I wouldn't recommend it to others.