Dragonheart: A New Beginning

If you haven't seen the original Dragonheart, never fear--this story doesn't have much to do with it. Geoffrey (Chris Masterson) is a stable boy at a monastery, with dreams of knighthood--dreams that seem out of reach until he discovers a young dragon living in the monastery's dungeon, a scaly but kindly faced fellow named Drake (voiced by Robby Benson). Unfortunately, the king of the realm has fallen under the spell of an evil adviser, who has plans for this dragon. Fortunately, an old Chinese man and his ward--a very attractive girl with a stunning kung-fu kick--have arrived to keep the dragon from harm. The story is straightforward and clearly aimed at a younger audience, with an uncontroversial moral about friendship. The special effects are capable and at times expressive. Dragonheart: A New Beginning is kid-friendly and will probably be kid-appealing. --Bret Fetzer