@@LarixusSnydeshe would also have to beef up quite a bit like Christian did for Batman and I’ve only ever seen Mathew play lean/scrawny characters could be interesting.
I want a prequel with Van Zahn building up his Kentucky Irregulars, battling and uniting marauders that ends with him flying that Galaxy C-5a (huuuge cargo plane) with 200+ men, escorted by two AC-130 gunships that have been fitted out with extra cannons and broadsiding dragons as they cross the Atlantic.
Hot damn, I would have to force myself to stay moderately quiet in my seat in the theater instead of whooping and hollering at every badass dragon killing maneuver
“I love it when I can turn off my brain off for a film, I’m not distracted by how stupid it is” is a great attitude to go in when you watch ANY movie, especially those others consider subpar. I recently watched the Super Mario Bros. Movie, and while it isn’t deep or even great by any means except for the animation, I love how it understands Mario and his characters, the Nintendo easter eggs and its score.
This movie is insanely underrated! One of the absolute best movies about dragons ever made. And as realistic as it could possibly look. Now we know why Hiccups dad hates dragons so much though 😂
This movie in retrospecitve shows why Bale and McConaughey are now considered acting powerhouses, this movie showed how much talent they had in a time when all McConaughey did was romantic comedys and Bale wasn't that famous. And the shot when he takes the boss dragon is god tier...
This movie came out at a perfect time for me. I was a child in the midst of my dragon obsession, and desperately craving anything that had realistic dragons in it cuz I was convinced that they were a real but long forgotten relic of the world. When I tell you my heart sang when i was finally given exactly that on the epic big screen? Literal magic.
Yep. Back when people cared about preparing, deciding, and executing the workflow ahead of time. The JURASSIC PARK methodology still surpasses the modern, more automated workflow which relies more heavily on post production tools and less on cinematic artistry. Alas, I digress. This movie rocks.
@@ryanhamstra49 That’s only part of it. I was more flagging the CGI/VFX elements. VFX is heavily reliant on practical data but also cinematic input and art direction. Right now, the majority of big name studios default to common best practices which are fine for data wrangling but it’s also common for there to be a disconnect between the art and the computer. I’m not going to get into workflow and timeline details but VFX should _begin_ in prep, adjust during production, and already have a strong sense of art direction by the time the shots go to post production. However, too often directors and producers get tunnel vision or (sometimes by schedule alone) they are kept out of that pipeline, while DOPs and designers don’t get enough input. Worse than that, experienced VFX producers/supervisors who understand the _artistry_ required of the process, are an endangered species. TLDR: When CGI/VFX was hard, people sometimes put more thought and effort into it. (Although, for every REIGN OF FIRE, there were five SCORPION KINGs.)
I had this movie on DVD and watched it every time the internet knocked out the internet. I came out of this movie thinking that Matthew McCaughney was some tough guy staple completely unaware of his rom com routine. This role is still the one I think of when I think of him.
One of my favorite movies that I watched on a crappy dvd that forced us to skip whole scenes. Only recently got to see it fully. This movie deserves a spin off sequel
I love the line that I think Van Zan says “Eden’s not burning, it’s already burned”. Like he’s given up hope on saving the world, he’s only there to survive. Such a good movie!
This movie still holds up today 100%. The plot may have a few flaws, but the dragons are still some of the best looking dragons ever. I saw this movie in theaters and the sound effects were awesome. These are also some of my favorite Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale roles.
I don't think the plot has any flaws compared to every modern movie about the apocalypse,, it's the most realistic if you've ever witness disaster scenarios,, anyone who can fight is going to fight and children are very good at hiding so you're going to end up with a whole bunch of people waiting to be pre-teens and zero parents, moreover people are going to survive in the city you're going to need something with a crypt to hide out in and people are going to be hungry and desperate...
I enjoy Reign of Fire so much. I love baby faced Christian Bale & Gerard Butler. And Van Zan is such a crazy character you totally get why he was in more of the marketing.
I love the archangels, just for the fact that I can talk about how this features skydivers jumping from helicopters to act as dragon bait. I think it also captures that insanely suicidal / insanely badass trope. Another example that jumps to mind is the soldiers using 3D maneuvering gear in Attack on Titan, particularly in the early seasons.
A detail you sadly didn't realize. The very beginning of the movie, when young Quinn is heading towards the construction site. The Newspapers on the walls, i believe they list how dragon bones or remains have been discovered. I wish this film had sequels or something. Very underrated. Soundtrack is great. I once wrote a prequel story set in medieval times explaining how the Bull got trapped underground when i was a kid in school. Back when I used to have a love for writing. 21 Years...that's crazy. And what's even more funny is how the makers explained they based the dragon's flying style and wings on Bats and then Bale ended up playing Batman 3 years later so talk about irony. Damn, this was literally the first film I saw with Bale and Matthew and even Butler who I didn't even realize was Butler until years later. And learning Joffrey was in it this is nuts. Talk about the crazy coincidences and connections. This movie is a underrated historic treasure that deserves to be appreciated more.
Would ya ever consider doing John Carter? I find it to be a very underrated Disney movie from 2012 that got overlooked by poor marketing and its box office. I think it deserves Cinema Wins love ^^
You sir, are a win. Thank you for bringing right back. Love a good old-new movie. '98 "Lost in Space" sometime? Win it or sin it; it has a lot to offer😋 The cast, the sound track, the space heebeejeebees, the adventure! Another noteworthy quirky villain Gary Oldman masterclass.
I picked this up at a secondhand store. What I read on the back cover on the DVD case was enough to make me buy it, but I didn't have high expectations. But within minutes I was invested. The plot is bonkers, but the way its written and with so many actors bringing their A-game, it makes you believe.
I have some movies to recommend sometime: Boondocks saints An American tail (particularly Fiefel goes west) Princess bride 300 Olympus has fallen Immortals
It has admittedly been a long time since I've watched this movie, but I remember thinking of the "leaping at the dragon with an axe like a lunatic" scene as being Van Zan's last chance to die a warrior's death. He knew he was going to die, and he chose where when and how he wanted to go out. Swinging a big ol' axe at the dragon's face in midair. Iconic, honestly.
I've always thought that Van Zan honestly hoped he might do some damage to the Dragon's eyes with his axe, even though it'd cost him his life, so that Quinn might stand a chance against the dragon afterwards.
What's crazy is that if I told you the premise for Reign of Fire in 2024, an early 2000's post-apocalyptic CGI dragon romp starring Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey, you'd probably imagine something unbearably bad and cringe just because of the state of CGI at the time and the tendency of movies with dragons to make them more fantasy/cartoonish than actually menacing, but then if you sat down to actually watch the movie it would probably blow your socks off for how well its held up, especially considering the time it was made. Hands down one of the best action/post-apocalyptic B-movies of all time. Deserves way more love than it received when it first released, and I'm glad people are finally picking up on how good of a movie this was.
I've always highly rated this film, and in particular the dragon design, so when I saw the dragons in 'GoT' I instantly thought "Yes, those are dragons", and now I'm wondering if they didn't actually 100% lift the dragon design from this film to use as the GoT dragons, so similar they are to each other.
Wouldn’t mind this getting a reboot, the fact the effects still hold up though is very impressive. That shot of van zant jumping with an axe is iconic.
This is one of the few films I would actually LOVE to see have either a prequel film or mini series made to depict the early years of the dragon apocalypse…something along the lines of what “The Quiet Place” is doing. Even if they made it docu -series style or treated it as if it was based on real-world events.
I remember when I saw this movie in the theater with my father. He has always been one to pick apart how a movie does its special effects - he would even point out in the movie how they pulled the effects off (yeah, he was one of _those_ guys). Throughout the movie, he said that the dragons were the best he had ever seen in terms of looks, sounds, behaviors, and just the sheer amount of detail on them. He marked the dragons as being even better than the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, which was already a high mark for special effects from him. Also, Terminal Velocity.
I remembered a shocking amount of this film, but somehow COMPLETELY forgot that it was Bale, Butler and McConaughey in the foremost roles. They blended into their characters so much in my young mind that their star power just flew right over my head.
This was my favorite movie and I deliberately avoided watching it again, in case of a nostalgia filter. After almost 20 years I finally watched it again and I still love it
To my recollection, this film was one of, if not THE first piece of media to give an actual scientific explanation as to why Dragons can breath fire, with the whole combustible liquid thing. And honestly, as if i didnt have to thank this movie enough already, i gotta say thanks to it for that because its an awesome detail
Thank you for raising awareness of this film! This is easily one of the most underrated and underwatched movies of the last 30 years. Also it is by far Matthew McConaughey's most badass role ever and always will be! AND THE SOUNDTRACK IS AMAZEBALLS!! YOU FORGOT TO CINEMAWIN THE SONG OVER THE END CREDITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT SONG DESERVES ALL THE WINS!
The cgi in this movie is absolutely mental for its time, it can go toe to toe with some recent marvel stuff if I'm being honest. Sure it isn't as crisp as modern standards but it has weight and grit and a sense of believability that is often lost in modern shiny quick-hack cgi. And more than just the visuals, it's the animation of the dragons that truly sells it. They cared for realism to an extend far beyond the budget of this film. And then there's the theme itself. Humans living in a post apocalyptic world fighting dragons. If this isn't the head fantasy every 12 year old drew up in their imagination then idk what is, and the fact that they took this approach and didn't make it goofy but instead leaned fully into that idea is 100% what sells it for me. Such a classic forgotten gem.
Loved this movie so much. McConaughey's ability to portray a character that was once a good man driven to do terrible things that had done those terrible things so many times he'd moved past feeling terrible about them was so incredible. Van Zan was a man who simply acted, he knew what worked to kill the dragons and just acted on those parameters alone. The small flashes and indicators that he was once a normal good man sprinkled here and there in the dialogue and expressions felt like an involuntary echo of an instinctively suppressed empathetic consciousness. Brilliant movie that deserves more credit.
just a technicality but if you wanna get really technical about the dragon world. these are wyverns not dragons. wyverns have rear legs and their arms are also their wings(like the movie). dragons on the other hands have 4 legs and a pair of wings on their back.
Fun fact, George RR Martin loved the dragons in this movie because this is what he describes in his books everytime he talks about dragons. Also, some of the fx people for this movie later worked on the Game of Thrones dragons and used the same models. You can see the holes for the fore chemicals in their mouths even though the GoT dragons use magic fire.
So happy you've done this film. I watched this for the first time with my dad when it came out on dvd. This movie is probably my fav way we've seen dragons and love that they show them as deadly as they can be. There's so many amazing shots, the scenery is great, and the cast is stacked. Man I've missed this movie and now I gotta go watch it again.
*YES!* I have _wanted_ this movie!!! Fun fact: The intro sequence with the baby dragon and baby Christian Bale? Is pretty much identical to Commander Misato Katsuragi's origin story in Evangelion. Only it was her dad, a giant alien, and a life pod. 6:10 That's odd. I have _really_ good vision at twilight, to the point where I always, _always_ go walking then... and I hate midday.
One of the best movies ever made, not just a good dragon movie. McConaughey at his finest. Van Zan easily the coolest movie bad ass ever put on screen. I don't understand why this movie does not get the credit it deserves.
There should be a sequel (or sequels) with Quinn and Alex the blonde chick leading the survivors and thinking all is well only for young dragons to grow up and cause havoc plus Quinn and Alex then have to survive in a world with little food, no medicine or health care!! Would make storylines!!
Supremely underrated and one of my favorite movies! So many details that were obviously thought out but they didnt have the time to go into so they showed instead of telling. Like how when Quin entered the cavern with the dragon at the beginning the dripping fluids didn't ignite until a gust of wind blew in bringing in fresh O2. So low O2 content in the cave, added to the close proximity and the dragon having just woken up were why he wasn't flambéed right off the bat
I have not seen this movie in almost 2 decades and still recognized last week's teaser without a doubt, that's how much impact this movie had on my then pre-teen mind... And I still love dragons 😁
This was one of if not my all time favorite movie in the 2000s, I've always loved dragons and when this and the mockumentary about dragons came out I watched both on repeat for days!!!
Lord bless you, man. So glad that someone else acknowledges how awesome this movie is. Also congratulations much and many three times over for hitting 2M. That’s incredible (or, well, very credible since it’s due to all your hard work). Well earned!
My childhood favorite and arguably the FIRST major motion picture to bring us scary, wyvern-style dragons that you see in every major blockbuster now. From Smaug in the Hobbit trilogy to the dragons of Game of Thrones, those design choices are hugely inspired by the incredible creature design in this film. The actors help sell this world and I would accept virtually any piece of media that expands on it.
Could you imagine if they made a sequel to this movie that involved time travel to go back a prevent the male from awakening and humanity going extinct
I realize the people living in that world wouldn't be in a position to care about the particulars, but the dragons depicted in this movie were actually wyverns. Fortunately it never really bothered me much, but it _was_ enough for me to notice.
I dunno... doesn't this film represent bold and imaginative filmmaking INSTEAD of just making money from reboots and sequels, which is the sickness of modern Hollywood? I think a sequel would turn this film into the very thing that it (however accidentally) stands against.
18:21 I know what next week's EGA video is going to be & I'm looking forward to it! Here's a list of suggestions to consider for future EGA videos: -Scooby Doo on Zombie Island -Ms. Marvel (Disney+ Series; seeing as The Marvels is coming out later this year, a series of EGA videos might be necessary?) -The Rugrats Movie -James & the Giant Peach -Either Mr. Peabody & Sherman or The Bad Guys (Both great Dreamworks Movies that deserve the EGA treatment) -Night at the Museum -Either Atlantis: The Lost Empire or Strange World (Both need the EGA treatment) -The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) -Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 Film) -The Land Before Time (you need to do another dinosaur movie)
I'm so glad there are people out there that love this movie. I remember it was generally panned when it came out but I thought it was great. Brilliant effects, Great dragon design (I loved the dual chemicals instead of just breathing fire). Great soundtrack too featuring 2 songs from long forgotten band Mad At Gravity, Whose album Resonance I still enjoy to this day!
Given how this film takes place in 2020 and it was released several years before 2020 actually happened, it seems like this film predicted how much things would spiral down and become actual heck when 2020 rolled in, even if there were no dragons.
I loved this movie and was addicted to the game they made based on it. Great childhood memories. I highly agree with sequel potential, in the game, you journey to abandon military bases to destroy nests, going on escort missions to protect trains carrying supplies..... like there's so much potential here for at least one.
12:55 Wiw, that is fantastic trivia. Event Horizon is my favorite horror dlick, and V For Vendetta is one of my all time favorites. I adore this movie, so that fella much have something to him that gets my heart pumping!
One of my all time favorite movies, your channel always brings me a huge smile when I need it. You point out all the fun details, the reactions take me back to how I felt seeing it the first time (definitely haven't watched this 234243 times), and highlight all the moments I love. Thank you for this one!
So I'm one of those people that actually saw this in theaters and adored it so much I actually bought the game they made for it. And oh boy, it's abit of an oddity cause it feels like what you and many others asked for to a degree. It's played in a 3rd person POV either as a unnamed human in different vehicles or as one of the female dragons, yes it's a separate story if you play as the dragon. The human story actually acts as abit of filler as it tends to cover events leading upto the movie plot before following it but, again, as a guy driving a vehicle like a tank or gun truck, I will say that the final fight with the bull male REALLY gives you a scale of him being MASSIVE even in a tank. The dragon story is it's own tale that basically follows along from the start of their reign to basically alternate events in the movie, with the dragons slowly wiping out humans before it finishes with them destroying the castle during the day. It's a fun but abit difficult game if you can find a copy somewhere.
You have successfully reawakened my love for this film . I used to watch it all the time and apparently I still cry at the “loss”…Gerard Butler😢. Hope people find this underrated gem👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😎
8:30 Why are your quips and references the most wonderful things on UA-cam?!? Like, even better than kittens and puppies playing! Now, should I even need to battle a flying man-eating beast, I'll be sure to be carrying something pointy on a stick.
15:14 This Scene makes me Tear up! It’s the Shear amount of Epicness! The Scene itself draws you in from looking below when Van Zan jumps! This is a Guy going out like a Viking Legend or a Myth! Back in the 90s, we didn’t get a lot of Scenes like that! Especially in a film that’s about fighting Dragons! And that’s the Entire point of that scene, and what I love most about this movie! It’s Goddamn insane!
Such a fun film that deserves a sequel 👍🏻
Also: 'Terminal Velocity'. You know what to do.
I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength... wait, yes I do. To 2K you go.
VOUCH
🫡
good soldiers follow orders
Halfway there
My face literally dropped when the dragons scattered and the bull dragon soared out, clearly seeing the _very distinct_ size difference between them.
I've loved this movie since I was a kid! And I'm honestly surprised this didn't become the biggest cult film of the early 2000's.
Same here. Glad to see you think the same way I do
I never had a Playstation and the game looked neat!! Glad to see this movie get its due finally. Also yeah. Lots of great badass lines and that cast!!
Same dude. Me and dad have watched this what feels like 100 times. Super underrated
@@maurenovick haven't played it for years but loved the game when it came out
It's a cult classic for sure! I love this movie!
McConaughey being able to portray an emotional psychopath is another reason we all love him.
He 'd been a perfect casting for Kratos, but a) he's twenty years older now and b) movies based on video games rarely turn out well.
@@LarixusSnydeshe would also have to beef up quite a bit like Christian did for Batman and I’ve only ever seen Mathew play lean/scrawny characters could be interesting.
I thought everyone forgot about this movie. So underrated
I haven’t seen it, but I want to
@@zacheryschmidt2611 do see it, it's a lot of fun and it's straight epic
I watched it a few months ago just because of nostalgia
I legit did I remember enjoying it but can't remember shit
Great movie, but I wanna see what happens next.
Much as the "Don't you want to live forever?!" line makes me want an EGA for Starship Troopers, I'd be down for an EGA of
TERMINAL VELOCITY
as well.
I want a prequel with Van Zahn building up his Kentucky Irregulars, battling and uniting marauders that ends with him flying that Galaxy C-5a (huuuge cargo plane) with 200+ men, escorted by two AC-130 gunships that have been fitted out with extra cannons and broadsiding dragons as they cross the Atlantic.
Yes Please 😋
Well, I never knew I wanted that until now, but very much yes!
My only problem with that is that they’d have to answer the question of how a bunch of slow-ass dragons somehow managed to take over the US lol
@@bosknight7837 that's already explained in the movie; millions of dragons + nukes.
Hot damn, I would have to force myself to stay moderately quiet in my seat in the theater instead of whooping and hollering at every badass dragon killing maneuver
“I love it when I can turn off my brain off for a film, I’m not distracted by how stupid it is” is a great attitude to go in when you watch ANY movie, especially those others consider subpar.
I recently watched the Super Mario Bros. Movie, and while it isn’t deep or even great by any means except for the animation, I love how it understands Mario and his characters, the Nintendo easter eggs and its score.
And as a result of the movie's success, there is talk of a Legend of Zelda movie possibly, based on the Breath of the Wilds/Tears of the Kingdom.
@@Joreel Tears is amazing, it lets you be creative all the time.
This movie is insanely underrated! One of the absolute best movies about dragons ever made. And as realistic as it could possibly look. Now we know why Hiccups dad hates dragons so much though 😂
It isnt underrated lol. Its a 6/10 at best.
Hiccups dad from another lad 😂
This is such a great deep dive.
Second best dragon heart takes 1st place
@@TheNerdForAllSeasons It's very underrated on Rotten Tomatoes.
This movie in retrospecitve shows why Bale and McConaughey are now considered acting powerhouses, this movie showed how much talent they had in a time when all McConaughey did was romantic comedys and Bale wasn't that famous.
And the shot when he takes the boss dragon is god tier...
I didn't even recognise McConaughey from his rom coms. I was like, "who is this guy? He's brilliant!"
I think American psycho was Bales big standout..
Although this could be McConaughey's
This movie came out at a perfect time for me. I was a child in the midst of my dragon obsession, and desperately craving anything that had realistic dragons in it cuz I was convinced that they were a real but long forgotten relic of the world. When I tell you my heart sang when i was finally given exactly that on the epic big screen? Literal magic.
Honestly the CGI in this film still holds up!
Yep. Back when people cared about preparing, deciding, and executing the workflow ahead of time. The JURASSIC PARK methodology still surpasses the modern, more automated workflow which relies more heavily on post production tools and less on cinematic artistry.
Alas, I digress.
This movie rocks.
@@AngeloBarovierSD i can't understand why anyone wouldn't like this movie
@@AngeloBarovierSD yeah, it’s because so much is real practical instead of just full CG
Couldn't agree more! Especially the dragons.
@@ryanhamstra49 That’s only part of it. I was more flagging the CGI/VFX elements. VFX is heavily reliant on practical data but also cinematic input and art direction.
Right now, the majority of big name studios default to common best practices which are fine for data wrangling but it’s also common for there to be a disconnect between the art and the computer. I’m not going to get into workflow and timeline details but VFX should _begin_ in prep, adjust during production, and already have a strong sense of art direction by the time the shots go to post production.
However, too often directors and producers get tunnel vision or (sometimes by schedule alone) they are kept out of that pipeline, while DOPs and designers don’t get enough input. Worse than that, experienced VFX producers/supervisors who understand the _artistry_ required of the process, are an endangered species.
TLDR: When CGI/VFX was hard, people sometimes put more thought and effort into it.
(Although, for every REIGN OF FIRE, there were five SCORPION KINGs.)
I had this movie on DVD and watched it every time the internet knocked out the internet. I came out of this movie thinking that Matthew McCaughney was some tough guy staple completely unaware of his rom com routine. This role is still the one I think of when I think of him.
i didn't even recognize him until he spoke. dude got range.
Hah I do the exact same thing when I have no internet!
One of my favorite movies that I watched on a crappy dvd that forced us to skip whole scenes. Only recently got to see it fully. This movie deserves a spin off sequel
ya i was disappointed as well. im like, dammit i paid for the WHOLE movie!
I bought it on VHS on a flee Market when I was 12. I loved to bits.
I love the line that I think Van Zan says “Eden’s not burning, it’s already burned”. Like he’s given up hope on saving the world, he’s only there to survive. Such a good movie!
This movie still holds up today 100%. The plot may have a few flaws, but the dragons are still some of the best looking dragons ever. I saw this movie in theaters and the sound effects were awesome. These are also some of my favorite Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale roles.
I don't think the plot has any flaws compared to every modern movie about the apocalypse,, it's the most realistic if you've ever witness disaster scenarios,, anyone who can fight is going to fight and children are very good at hiding so you're going to end up with a whole bunch of people waiting to be pre-teens and zero parents, moreover people are going to survive in the city you're going to need something with a crypt to hide out in and people are going to be hungry and desperate...
I enjoy Reign of Fire so much. I love baby faced Christian Bale & Gerard Butler. And Van Zan is such a crazy character you totally get why he was in more of the marketing.
I genuinely feel like this could be done as a series and still work.
Honestly a fleshed out mini series would be CHOICE!
yes! the best part of this movie is the world, in the hands of a competent writer a 8-12 episode series could be fantastic!
The world is so well put together, it feels like it came from a series of books. And yet, it's a one and done! Pretty impressive.
Kind of the same concept behind The Walking Dead. Different apocalypse, but essentially the same struggles.
@@Jonathan-ih7qp "it's Walking Dead meets Game of Thrones" is the elevator pitch. But only to someone that hasn't finished either series. 🤣🤣
I love this movie! Such a gritty, dark fantasy meets apocalypse vibe. The actors all nailed their roles!
I love the archangels, just for the fact that I can talk about how this features skydivers jumping from helicopters to act as dragon bait.
I think it also captures that insanely suicidal / insanely badass trope. Another example that jumps to mind is the soldiers using 3D maneuvering gear in Attack on Titan, particularly in the early seasons.
A detail you sadly didn't realize. The very beginning of the movie, when young Quinn is heading towards the construction site. The Newspapers on the walls, i believe they list how dragon bones or remains have been discovered.
I wish this film had sequels or something. Very underrated. Soundtrack is great. I once wrote a prequel story set in medieval times explaining how the Bull got trapped underground when i was a kid in school. Back when I used to have a love for writing. 21 Years...that's crazy. And what's even more funny is how the makers explained they based the dragon's flying style and wings on Bats and then Bale ended up playing Batman 3 years later so talk about irony.
Damn, this was literally the first film I saw with Bale and Matthew and even Butler who I didn't even realize was Butler until years later. And learning Joffrey was in it this is nuts. Talk about the crazy coincidences and connections. This movie is a underrated historic treasure that deserves to be appreciated more.
Would ya ever consider doing John Carter? I find it to be a very underrated Disney movie from 2012 that got overlooked by poor marketing and its box office. I think it deserves Cinema Wins love ^^
Poor marketing….the same thing that killed Dredd that year. 😕
@@SFisher1993 to be fair also the first Avengers came out that year so it kinda overshadowed a lot of good stuff XD
I second this. I genuinely really enjoyed that movie. It hit all the marks of a Sword & Sorcery/Sci-fi epic for me.
You sir, are a win. Thank you for bringing right back. Love a good old-new movie. '98 "Lost in Space" sometime? Win it or sin it; it has a lot to offer😋 The cast, the sound track, the space heebeejeebees, the adventure! Another noteworthy quirky villain Gary Oldman masterclass.
'Last one to kill a bad guy buys the beer.'
Terminal Velocity!
I picked this up at a secondhand store. What I read on the back cover on the DVD case was enough to make me buy it, but I didn't have high expectations. But within minutes I was invested. The plot is bonkers, but the way its written and with so many actors bringing their A-game, it makes you believe.
Really underrated. They did a great job with such a relatively small budget.
I have some movies to recommend sometime:
Boondocks saints
An American tail (particularly Fiefel goes west)
Princess bride
300
Olympus has fallen
Immortals
It has admittedly been a long time since I've watched this movie, but I remember thinking of the "leaping at the dragon with an axe like a lunatic" scene as being Van Zan's last chance to die a warrior's death. He knew he was going to die, and he chose where when and how he wanted to go out. Swinging a big ol' axe at the dragon's face in midair. Iconic, honestly.
That was my take also. "I'm going to die either way, so I might as well go out as awesome as possible."
I've always thought that Van Zan honestly hoped he might do some damage to the Dragon's eyes with his axe, even though it'd cost him his life, so that Quinn might stand a chance against the dragon afterwards.
What's crazy is that if I told you the premise for Reign of Fire in 2024, an early 2000's post-apocalyptic CGI dragon romp starring Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey, you'd probably imagine something unbearably bad and cringe just because of the state of CGI at the time and the tendency of movies with dragons to make them more fantasy/cartoonish than actually menacing, but then if you sat down to actually watch the movie it would probably blow your socks off for how well its held up, especially considering the time it was made. Hands down one of the best action/post-apocalyptic B-movies of all time. Deserves way more love than it received when it first released, and I'm glad people are finally picking up on how good of a movie this was.
Such an underrated film. The CGI and effects are still better than a lot of films today.
Anytime this came on TV as a kid, I stopped whatever I was doing and watched this start to finish. What an underrated classic.
I've always highly rated this film, and in particular the dragon design, so when I saw the dragons in 'GoT' I instantly thought "Yes, those are dragons", and now I'm wondering if they didn't actually 100% lift the dragon design from this film to use as the GoT dragons, so similar they are to each other.
Oooh, please, do "Terminal Velocity" next! ;) ;) ;)
Wouldn’t mind this getting a reboot, the fact the effects still hold up though is very impressive. That shot of van zant jumping with an axe is iconic.
This is one of the few films I would actually LOVE to see have either a prequel film or mini series made to depict the early years of the dragon apocalypse…something along the lines of what “The Quiet Place” is doing. Even if they made it docu -series style or treated it as if it was based on real-world events.
This movie is straight up 🔥 incredible cast amazing effects, fantastic dragon design and the mood and shots are powerful
I remember when I saw this movie in the theater with my father. He has always been one to pick apart how a movie does its special effects - he would even point out in the movie how they pulled the effects off (yeah, he was one of _those_ guys).
Throughout the movie, he said that the dragons were the best he had ever seen in terms of looks, sounds, behaviors, and just the sheer amount of detail on them. He marked the dragons as being even better than the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, which was already a high mark for special effects from him.
Also, Terminal Velocity.
I recently rewatched this film and it’s one of these amazing films that can work as either a stand alone film and set up a sequel/franchise.
Such an underrated film.
I remembered a shocking amount of this film, but somehow COMPLETELY forgot that it was Bale, Butler and McConaughey in the foremost roles. They blended into their characters so much in my young mind that their star power just flew right over my head.
“Praise the country that has heroes.” “I say, pity the country that needs them.”
This was my favorite movie and I deliberately avoided watching it again, in case of a nostalgia filter. After almost 20 years I finally watched it again and I still love it
To my recollection, this film was one of, if not THE first piece of media to give an actual scientific explanation as to why Dragons can breath fire, with the whole combustible liquid thing. And honestly, as if i didnt have to thank this movie enough already, i gotta say thanks to it for that because its an awesome detail
Thank you for raising awareness of this film! This is easily one of the most underrated and underwatched movies of the last 30 years. Also it is by far Matthew McConaughey's most badass role ever and always will be!
AND THE SOUNDTRACK IS AMAZEBALLS!! YOU FORGOT TO CINEMAWIN THE SONG OVER THE END CREDITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT SONG DESERVES ALL THE WINS!
The cgi in this movie is absolutely mental for its time, it can go toe to toe with some recent marvel stuff if I'm being honest. Sure it isn't as crisp as modern standards but it has weight and grit and a sense of believability that is often lost in modern shiny quick-hack cgi. And more than just the visuals, it's the animation of the dragons that truly sells it. They cared for realism to an extend far beyond the budget of this film.
And then there's the theme itself. Humans living in a post apocalyptic world fighting dragons. If this isn't the head fantasy every 12 year old drew up in their imagination then idk what is, and the fact that they took this approach and didn't make it goofy but instead leaned fully into that idea is 100% what sells it for me. Such a classic forgotten gem.
This has Always, ALWAYS, been a favourite of mine, love this movie.
This is one of my favorite movies. Thank you for doing this movie
Loved this movie so much. McConaughey's ability to portray a character that was once a good man driven to do terrible things that had done those terrible things so many times he'd moved past feeling terrible about them was so incredible. Van Zan was a man who simply acted, he knew what worked to kill the dragons and just acted on those parameters alone. The small flashes and indicators that he was once a normal good man sprinkled here and there in the dialogue and expressions felt like an involuntary echo of an instinctively suppressed empathetic consciousness. Brilliant movie that deserves more credit.
Time has come, paid your dues / Take a chance, light the fuse
Step right up, stand in line / In thirty seconds time
You're at TERMINAL VELOCITY
just a technicality but if you wanna get really technical about the dragon world. these are wyverns not dragons. wyverns have rear legs and their arms are also their wings(like the movie). dragons on the other hands have 4 legs and a pair of wings on their back.
Fun fact, George RR Martin loved the dragons in this movie because this is what he describes in his books everytime he talks about dragons. Also, some of the fx people for this movie later worked on the Game of Thrones dragons and used the same models. You can see the holes for the fore chemicals in their mouths even though the GoT dragons use magic fire.
So happy you've done this film. I watched this for the first time with my dad when it came out on dvd. This movie is probably my fav way we've seen dragons and love that they show them as deadly as they can be. There's so many amazing shots, the scenery is great, and the cast is stacked. Man I've missed this movie and now I gotta go watch it again.
I saw this movie while at boarding school and it was lots of fun! Very underrated movie😊😊
*YES!* I have _wanted_ this movie!!!
Fun fact: The intro sequence with the baby dragon and baby Christian Bale? Is pretty much identical to Commander Misato Katsuragi's origin story in Evangelion. Only it was her dad, a giant alien, and a life pod.
6:10 That's odd. I have _really_ good vision at twilight, to the point where I always, _always_ go walking then... and I hate midday.
I absolutely love this movie. I also frequently recommend it to people.
One of the best movies ever made, not just a good dragon movie. McConaughey at his finest. Van Zan easily the coolest movie bad ass ever put on screen. I don't understand why this movie does not get the credit it deserves.
Did you know that squirrels can not die from their own Terminal Velocity? Same for ants. Do it Lee. Do the movie.
The fact this movie has no sequels, Prequels, spin offs, comics, or tie in media pisses me off
Damn i remember this movie 😊. Awesome to see you covering a older one
There should be a sequel (or sequels) with Quinn and Alex the blonde chick leading the survivors and thinking all is well only for young dragons to grow up and cause havoc plus Quinn and Alex then have to survive in a world with little food, no medicine or health care!! Would make storylines!!
It's about damn time you cover this movie. YESSS!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
Supremely underrated and one of my favorite movies! So many details that were obviously thought out but they didnt have the time to go into so they showed instead of telling. Like how when Quin entered the cavern with the dragon at the beginning the dripping fluids didn't ignite until a gust of wind blew in bringing in fresh O2. So low O2 content in the cave, added to the close proximity and the dragon having just woken up were why he wasn't flambéed right off the bat
I legitimately liked this movie when it came out, I think I was just a good age for it at 13.
This movie is criminally underrated
I have not seen this movie in almost 2 decades and still recognized last week's teaser without a doubt, that's how much impact this movie had on my then pre-teen mind... And I still love dragons 😁
Among my most favorite movies of all time.
Never understood why it's not a cult classic
This was one of if not my all time favorite movie in the 2000s, I've always loved dragons and when this and the mockumentary about dragons came out I watched both on repeat for days!!!
Well, thank you for calling them dragons and not calling them wyverns in a.... "technical" tone for the whole video.
4:17 how the fuck is Time distributing magazines when New York looks like that?!
Lord bless you, man. So glad that someone else acknowledges how awesome this movie is. Also congratulations much and many three times over for hitting 2M. That’s incredible (or, well, very credible since it’s due to all your hard work). Well earned!
My childhood favorite and arguably the FIRST major motion picture to bring us scary, wyvern-style dragons that you see in every major blockbuster now. From Smaug in the Hobbit trilogy to the dragons of Game of Thrones, those design choices are hugely inspired by the incredible creature design in this film. The actors help sell this world and I would accept virtually any piece of media that expands on it.
I love this movie. Genuinely. It's one of the most underrated and awesome movies about dragons.
Could you imagine if they made a sequel to this movie that involved time travel to go back a prevent the male from awakening and humanity going extinct
Havent watched the video yet, but here to say this is a great movie, and would love to see a prequal about how the dragons took over.
Alright. Man made a challenge. Imma bite.
_Terminal Velocity._
Maybe I'll see you at 2k, Mr. Wins.
Terminal Velocity???
... did it work?
I realize the people living in that world wouldn't be in a position to care about the particulars, but the dragons depicted in this movie were actually wyverns. Fortunately it never really bothered me much, but it _was_ enough for me to notice.
So much better than what I remembered. And it totally deserves a sequel, much more than the many sequels we had in the past decade !
I dunno... doesn't this film represent bold and imaginative filmmaking INSTEAD of just making money from reboots and sequels, which is the sickness of modern Hollywood? I think a sequel would turn this film into the very thing that it (however accidentally) stands against.
Oblivion: Reign of Fire is MINE !!
CinemaWins: And i took that personally.
I'll watch anything with Alice Krige, even if it's for three minutes.
Another Starship Troopers reference, man you gotta do that movie
18:21 Quantumania is next!!
18:21 I know what next week's EGA video is going to be & I'm looking forward to it! Here's a list of suggestions to consider for future EGA videos:
-Scooby Doo on Zombie Island
-Ms. Marvel (Disney+ Series; seeing as The Marvels is coming out later this year, a series of EGA videos might be necessary?)
-The Rugrats Movie
-James & the Giant Peach
-Either Mr. Peabody & Sherman or The Bad Guys (Both great Dreamworks Movies that deserve the EGA treatment)
-Night at the Museum
-Either Atlantis: The Lost Empire or Strange World (Both need the EGA treatment)
-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)
-Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 Film)
-The Land Before Time (you need to do another dinosaur movie)
I remember when this movie came out, i was so excited to see it. And I wasn't disappointed!
Another underappreciated gem from this era I'd love to see you cover is The 13th Warrior! Loved that one since I was a kid
Can you please do an Everything Great About The King's Man?
I'm so glad there are people out there that love this movie. I remember it was generally panned when it came out but I thought it was great. Brilliant effects, Great dragon design (I loved the dual chemicals instead of just breathing fire). Great soundtrack too featuring 2 songs from long forgotten band Mad At Gravity, Whose album Resonance I still enjoy to this day!
Given how this film takes place in 2020 and it was released several years before 2020 actually happened, it seems like this film predicted how much things would spiral down and become actual heck when 2020 rolled in, even if there were no dragons.
I'm not sure we would have noticed dragons, tbh.
You guys didn't get dragons?! Cause we had dragons.
The ‘dragons’ in this movie aren’t actually dragons, they’re wyverns
I loved this movie and was addicted to the game they made based on it. Great childhood memories. I highly agree with sequel potential, in the game, you journey to abandon military bases to destroy nests, going on escort missions to protect trains carrying supplies..... like there's so much potential here for at least one.
They made a game? Who and what platform?
@@rachelwarinner3129 It was on the GameCube back in 2002.
You not acknowledging the “dragons” are actually Wyverns hurts my nerd heart.
12:55 Wiw, that is fantastic trivia. Event Horizon is my favorite horror dlick, and V For Vendetta is one of my all time favorites. I adore this movie, so that fella much have something to him that gets my heart pumping!
Terminal Velocity!!! Upvote this for him to do an Everything GREAT about Terminal Velocity video!!!
One of my all time favorite movies, your channel always brings me a huge smile when I need it. You point out all the fun details, the reactions take me back to how I felt seeing it the first time (definitely haven't watched this 234243 times), and highlight all the moments I love. Thank you for this one!
One of my favorite movies even if those are not dragons but Wyrms technically. Yep always will be that guy
Honestly, with a shaved hear, scruffy beard, tattoos all over and an axe, Van Zan is basically a viking!
So I'm one of those people that actually saw this in theaters and adored it so much I actually bought the game they made for it. And oh boy, it's abit of an oddity cause it feels like what you and many others asked for to a degree. It's played in a 3rd person POV either as a unnamed human in different vehicles or as one of the female dragons, yes it's a separate story if you play as the dragon. The human story actually acts as abit of filler as it tends to cover events leading upto the movie plot before following it but, again, as a guy driving a vehicle like a tank or gun truck, I will say that the final fight with the bull male REALLY gives you a scale of him being MASSIVE even in a tank. The dragon story is it's own tale that basically follows along from the start of their reign to basically alternate events in the movie, with the dragons slowly wiping out humans before it finishes with them destroying the castle during the day. It's a fun but abit difficult game if you can find a copy somewhere.
You have successfully reawakened my love for this film . I used to watch it all the time and apparently I still cry at the “loss”…Gerard Butler😢. Hope people find this underrated gem👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😎
8:30 Why are your quips and references the most wonderful things on UA-cam?!? Like, even better than kittens and puppies playing!
Now, should I even need to battle a flying man-eating beast, I'll be sure to be carrying something pointy on a stick.
15:14
This Scene makes me Tear up! It’s the Shear amount of Epicness! The Scene itself draws you in from looking below when Van Zan jumps! This is a Guy going out like a Viking Legend or a Myth! Back in the 90s, we didn’t get a lot of Scenes like that! Especially in a film that’s about fighting Dragons!
And that’s the Entire point of that scene, and what I love most about this movie! It’s Goddamn insane!