Zaar: Greetings Alisa and everyone,
Zaar: I am Belfazaar Ashantison and we would like to welcome you to another edition of the Bats Belfry...
Zaar: A monthly review of movies for the Vampire Church Newszine
Moonslight: Greetings Zaar and all....
Moonslight: Once again we're together to give you a review of one of the latest releases
Zaar: We're going to take a look at the movie "Reign of Fire" with Christian Bale, Matthew Mcconaughey
Zaar: Some of you may remember Christian Bale from his portrayal of a 'serial killer' in the movie "American Psycho". While Mathew played one in the movie "Frailty"...
Zaar: Here we find Christian Bale playing the character of Quinn, a survivor of the original attacks of a monstrous species of creature, the Dragon, heretofore, thought to be nothing more than myth and splendor
Zaar: Quinn and a ragtag group of survivors have hunkered down in the ruins of a castle somewhere north of London, England. Quinn, for some unspoken reason, is the leader of this motley group, which also includes his best friend Charlie and some whelp boy he picked up along the way (later this boy becomes the leader of the group)
Moonslight: They seem to be the sole survivors, or at least they are thought to be for the remainder of Earth as they know it is a forever blaze
Zaar: or is should we say, they think they are...
Zaar: nothing but smokey ash and ruin...
Moonslight: and lit only by the blazes still burning what is left
Moonslight: They have very little in the way of modern luxuries.... They have, however, managed to keep a small means of communication with the outside
Moonslight: whatever may be left of it....
Zaar: the only problem with this communication is that it is a radio and limited range at best....
Zaar: There has been no communication with several groups that were sending back and forth for more than 6 months, and all hope is beginning to dwindle...
Moonslight: Tempers are on the rise amongst this ragtag group...and they start down what seems the road to mutiny
Zaar: Quinn is fighting to save what little he can... Fighting a losing battle with his own personal demons and now must rest the fight out of someone trying to simply survive and feed his own family
Moonslight: There has become a small group who do not feel as if what they have been slaving for and hiding for is worth not being able to do what they think will aid them the best...
Moonslight: and they decide to go against what has kept them alive this long, for they feel it is only a matter of time...and there may well be another way out...if they just do it....
Zaar: while Quinn sleeps, the 'leader' of this faction, steals keys to a vehicle from the sleeping leader and heads to the 'fields'... a hidden garden of vegetables and fruits that have not yet been destroyed by the dragons
Moonslight: Back at the home front.... their only other warning, a
Moonslight: Peregrine Falcon sitting atop a perch, lends her eyes and ears to the humans in chitterling and movement.... thus making the watchman sound the alarm....
Moonslight: at this point, one of the females relays to Quinn, that they have gone to the field to attempt to gain food...
Moonslight: but the Dragons are coming
Zaar: The watchman launches the falcon, which then flies towards the fields... Giving the rebels a quick glance at what their sudden twist of fate has become
Moonslight: after its scry...there is an eerie silence...breath is taken in sharply.... in wait...
Moonslight: and here it comes...the Dragon.... It knows they are there....
Moonslight: they are on the run
Zaar: through the fields spilling their plundered foodstuffs
Zaar: and making for the truck...
Zaar: much to their dismay, the dragon gets to the truck first with a brilliant burst of flame
Moonslight: the once blissful thoughts of finally able to survive on something better....is lost...and now sheer terror...and the thoughts of impending death are upon them all
Moonslight: where to run, where to hide...there is no where
Moonslight: they are in the open fields
Moonslight: flames immediately take out their only means of escape
Moonslight: one direction at a time, until there seems to be nowhere to turn
Moonslight: they huddle together in what seems their end for sure
Zaar: with an eerie silence, Quinn and a band of rescuers make their way through the flames...
Zaar: In flame suits, I might add...
Zaar: With water trucks spraying to douse the flames surrounding the would be victims of the dragon burst
Moonslight: they are rushed into the trucks.... so that they may take off before the next run
Zaar: making quick escape only costs the lives of one of the first victims, who take it upon himself to work the water cannon
Moonslight: Even amidst the obvious disregard for the community decided limits.... Quinn still does what is necessary as a leader to keep his people protected....
Zaar: without a flame retardant suit...
Zaar: even against themselves...
Zaar: However, this little band of raiders, has fueled a growing concern in Quinn... Is he doing the right thing?
Zaar: Is there another way to go about this?
Moonslight: Might there just be someone else out there, or some other means of survival?
Zaar: something... anything...
Moonslight: There is no more time at the present to think however
Moonslight: for here it comes again....
Moonslight: Swooping down upon them with such power
Moonslight: and awesome presence
Zaar: Only to swerve last second, instead of going for the canned surprise, goes for the blackened vegetables...
Moonslight: It seems that unless it has been charred by their awesome breath,...it is unwanted
Zaar: A most disconcerting sign for those of us who really love dragon mythology...
Moonslight: Yes, indeed...for here we have the beauty portrayed as something so very vile, so very destructive with no care at all for anything other than its primal need of survival
Zaar: Not so much vile, as reprehensible from Quinn's personal point of view... Having lost his mother during the very first attack of the reawakening scourge...
Moonslight: ahh yes...much better term
Moonslight: the very attack that set him on his path of life.... it still burns in his mind just as bright as the day it happened
Zaar: Very true... Very true indeed...
Zaar: Upon arrival at 'base camp', Quinn and Charlie begin to discuss options... Where Quinn begins to verbally point out his unsteady thoughts of the future
Moonslight: Thinking out loud that perhaps they were right in trying the fields
Moonslight: perhaps they need to go out and see what else there is to be done.... if anything...to somehow justify why it is that he has done what he has all this time.... and how he has protected them this long...
Zaar: Charlie, seems to be not only Quinn's best friend, but also sounding board... Also, the current voice of 'reason'
Zaar: Letting Quinn know that the community backs him and has survived because of HIS efforts... Not the rebels
Moonslight: and that today's events have only proven that fact even more...
Moonslight: assuring him that he must not give up
Moonslight: not even now, when things seem even direr than ever...
Zaar: assuring Quinn, that the groups survival and morale solely rest in his hands at this precious junction...
Moonslight: once again, we find night befallen, and the much-needed rest from the exertions of the day is at hand....
Zaar: As if to test this very theory, come the 'new kids on the block'... A group of Americans from Kentucky who have not only survived, but learned to fight back...
Moonslight: It seems that they are indeed not alone
Zaar: whether this is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen, but the new comers have definitely come with that 'know it all American kickass' we have all come to love in movies of this type...
Moonslight: and with them, has also come the subtle romantic influence
Zaar: *which I, for one, was glad that it remained subtle throughout the movie*
Moonslight: I agree...there really was no need for it at all...
Zaar: The American contingent has come complete with a tank, several trucks, and motorcycles, imaging devices...
Zaar: And the first air born thing the English survivors have seen that did not breathe fire at them or try to eat them...
Moonslight: and one that had not been eaten itself...
Moonslight: they had thought there was nothing else in the skies but "them"
Zaar: *or burnt to a cinder*
Moonslight: (anyone for roasting marshmallows?)
Zaar: The English survivors breath two breaths... One is a sigh of relief that they are not alone, the other... A sharp inhale that their lives are going to quickly change... And perhaps NOT for the better
Moonslight: for the" the only thing worse than a Dragon...an American"
Zaar: *I would have really preferred s'mores*
Zaar: Compliments of the ever popular... Charlie...
Moonslight: yes, even though he is very unsure of his abilities to lead anyone or anything...he is not afraid to voice his opinion of these newfound survivors
Zaar: Enter the *now very bulked up* Matthew McConaughey as the heavily tattooed leader of the surviving Kentucky Irregulars...
Zaar: A man, most definitely on his own crusade and ready to play by only his rules
Moonslight: as he has seen enough in the way of the Dragons scourge, that he is not about to let anyone interfere in his path
Zaar: Vinsant. (vin saant). Thick with the Kentucky draw with eyes filled to the brim with mischief and disaster..
Zaar: Vinsant has had an epiphany...
Zaar: During the hours of dawn and dusk, the dragons are unable to focus their all too keen eyesight on anything in front of them...
Moonslight: and that leaves them vulnerable
Zaar: which he uses to his advantage in his crusade to destroy them all... especially one in particular...
Zaar: During the first few hours of their stay, all hell begins to break loose as a dragon decides to make its presence known...
Moonslight: and the Kentucky Irregulars move into action
Zaar: And as fast as you can say the whole "Peter Piper" cliche, the Kentucky Irregulars disperse to their assigned positions.
Moonslight: so as to be able to see amidst the otherwise blind clouds and fog
Zaar: Vinsant moves to an obviously predestined location, while 3 cyclist commence to place the makers which make a very 3 dimensional radar tracking system
Moonslight: Quinn is watching all this action, really unsure of what their goal really is...and what it is that they are going to do next
Zaar: Meanwhile... In aerial pursuit is the (beautiful love interest)
Moonslight: Izabella Scorupco, probably most noticed in 007~ Golden Eye and Vertical Limit, once again portrays a strong willed female, who seems to be dealt a hand of fate which will indeed test her personal nature...
Zaar: She is waiting for the radar to go up, so that she can send three of her 'friends' soaring to their potential deaths to attempt an aerial netting of the dragon...
Moonslight: These three are called Bullet men
Zaar: Much to their surprise, however... The dragon has decided that they would make a delightful appetizer... and begins hot pursuit of the chopper (got ketchup?)
Moonslight: their name meaning exactly what it is they do...they jump out of the helicopter in the hopes to have the Dragon follow them as bait....
Moonslight: dropping as rapidly as they do straight down...just as fast as a bullet....
Zaar: *maybe I could use their nets as a way to catch my potential next...er... um...*
Moonslight: *never mind*
Zaar: *smiles wickedly*
Moonslight: *I bet...G*
Moonslight: but here we do have a rather ingenious idea...catapults that are hand held...that are shot out of little cylinders...and ejecting a metal netting...almost like that of chain mail...or heavy fencing
Moonslight: they are launched at the Dragon when it is within range...and it is meant to cover the wings....
Zaar: specifically designed to tangle the wings of the aerial beasties...
Moonslight: Only, what seems a perfect capture...turns on them rather suddenly
Zaar: as the nets come soaring past two of the bullet men
Zaar: the dragons' first victim of this onslaught is one of the cyclists... whom she gets while attempting to put up the third radar marker...
Zaar: Quinn unknowingly jumps on his horse and moves to investigate... when he finds the marker and motorcycle but no rider, he informs Vinsant...
Zaar: Who instructs him to place the third marker
Moonslight: and then to bring "her" to him for she is coming in about 20 seconds....
Moonslight: now we have two bullet men who are more concerned about where the Dragon is...and where they are in reference to the ground
Zaar: and one, quickly heading towards the ground with full knowledge of 'where the dragon is'... Right on his tail feathers
Moonslight: meets a seemingly useless and untimely death
Zaar: Pulling in to make top speed, he glances back to see that his pursuers has flared her wings to stop her descent...
Zaar: meaning that the ground was....
Zaar: ooops... too late for the 'chute
Moonslight: on the radar screen Vinsant can only watch as the little red blip hits the ground.... and all vital signs are snuffed out quickly
Moonslight: can only watch as she has lost another of her 17 seconds men to the demons they continually fight against
Zaar: not giving it too long a thought, she tries to concentrate on the other two bullet men...
Moonslight: and on the prey that has not yet been brought to the ground....
Zaar: one gets snagged in midair... the other... makes another amazing splashdown... on dry land...
Moonslight: and yet the 'beast' is still a threat....
Zaar: Vinsant quickly considers his remaining option...
Moonslight: live bait...all 1600 pounds of horseflesh and rider
Zaar: With razor sharp with, he commands Quinn to be the bait and lead the beastie towards him...
Zaar: Quinn spurs into action...
Zaar: riding as fast as his four-legged friend will carry him toward an old quarry
Moonslight: riding like he has never ridden before...back to the encampment...right to
Zaar: Vinsant is set up... with what looks like an old whaling gun on top of a deliver truck...
Moonslight: and he sets his sight right on the low riding hill and waits as rider appears
Zaar: As Quinn crosses the rise of a ridge, Vinsant fires... Narrowly missing Quinn, but plugging the target but good
Moonslight: and she goes slamming with a great amount of force, right down onto the ground and slides right into the courtyard of the encampment....
Moonslight: there to lay dead...
Zaar: I will say the dragon slaying here was quite spectacular...
Zaar: breaking bones, bloody gashes and the works
Moonslight: it gives you a rather good idea of just how powerful and large they truly could be
Zaar: Here, the story gets a little... wordy... Vinsant getting preachy and explaining to Quinn the biological makeup of the dragons...
Moonslight: and their whole reason why they are there to begin with...
Zaar: But not before thoroughly dashing the first good celebration of life that these survivors have had in a while
Moonslight: even though there were men lost.... Vinsant does not understand that this Dragon being slayed is something they have waited everyday of their lives for
Zaar: Giving Hope a good old-fashioned black eye...
Moonslight: and it is a great victory to them...and in some ways a freedom...
Zaar: Vinsant, Quinn and (the bloody pilot) come together to discuss Vinsants reasons for flying out this way...
Zaar: The all-inspiring secret that has driven him almost mad with
Zaar: his twisted motivation
Moonslight: Once again Quinn will find his authority challenged
Zaar: Vinsant and his crew have taken down a number of dragons, to find that they are, each and every one, a female...
Moonslight: and have to decide what really is the best course of action
Zaar: Vinsant has come for the ONE male... And his crew has determined that it resides in London... A place Quinn dreads with all of his heart and soul...
Moonslight: Quinn will have to face his demons one way or another...in order for things to find an end...and perhaps a beginning
Zaar: Vinsant is undaunted by the fact that he has lost most of his crew... His newfound reasoning has pushed him to seek 'volunteers' amongst Quinn's people... Something Quinn has avidly spoken against...
Zaar: *If you have watched this movie, you know that Quinn and his survivors have a 'prayer'... What do we do when we are awake... Keep both eyes on the sky... What do we do when we're asleep... Keep one eye on the sky... What do we do when we see HIM...*
Moonslight: Run. and don't look back*
Zaar: Quinn has known all along that there is but one male, and it is the soul source of his fear...
What ensues now, is a life or death struggle for the supremacy of the earth... Man against Monster...
Moonslight: and no matter how strong and smart one or the other may be...time will only tell....
Zaar: All in all, though I enjoyed this movie, immensely, it did leave me questioning several aspects of it...
Zaar: There were some dark undertones that can definitely be attributed to the human condition, but the dragons should have been seen and 'discerned' more for it to be considered 'Reign of Fire'...
Zaar: I would have to split my rating... Special Effects... 8
Zaar: Storyline... 5...
Moonslight: Indeed...I have to agree. just the fact that things were ablaze...and that was the Dragons source of supremacy, did leave a lot to be desired....We needed to see more of the Dragons themselves...how they lived amongst one another.....and why it was that they were ravaging the Earth...
Moonslight: I have to also agree...there was a lot left unexplained.... just given a hint of...
Moonslight: I will agree with the 8 for special affects for the Dragons themselves were very well thought about in looks and manners....
Moonslight: Storyline however...I cannot rate so high as you...
Zaar: almost seamless cgi...
Moonslight: yes.... very well done...a nice pet indeed one would make if they were that good looking...almost cat-like..G*
or perhaps I am just prejudiced G*
Moonslight: but. I can only give a 3 for the storyline....
Zaar: lol... very lithe indeed...
Moonslight: *here kitty kitty...er...Dragon Dragon..*
Zaar: lol... just don't name it Norbert
Moonslight: LOL I think not....
Moonslight: Cynder comes to mind...G*
Zaar: I was always fond of Surtur or Blaze...
Moonslight: *brings back memories...well..nevermind..*
Moonslight: For those who have a mind to take a look...this movie is now for rent...either on DVD or VHS.... so have a look see for yourself if you will....
Zaar: And should you have a movie you would like us to review, you can reach me at belfazaar_ashantison@earthlink.net
Moonslight: or me at moonslightt@hotmail.com
Moonslight: we gladly welcome any and all suggestions....
Zaar: Thank you for stopping by the Bat's Belfry, and until next time... Enjoy your movies...
Moonslight: Good night to all...
Zaar: And good night to you, Alisa
Moonslight: and to you also Zaar
Zaar & Moonslight