neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Reign Of Fire
	Rob Bowman Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Izabella Scorupco, Gerard Butler 2002		Lukewarm sci-fi fantasy. "Reign of Fire" brings together the ancient and the future, as a legion of flying, fire-breathing dragons spawned in London terrorizes the world a couple decades from now. With their napalm breath, ratty wings and negative attitude toward humans, the dragons put the inconsequential droppings of a pigeon swarm at Trafalgar Square in perspective. The digitally generated beasts of myth are impressive, but the film would've been more thrilling or menacing if not for the incomplete, rushed nature of the script and the cardboard quality of the human characters. Christian Bale plays the cautious leader of survivors hiding in a rural British castle to escape the reptilian horde. Matthew McConaughey is a rude American leading a special paramilitary dragon-killing force. They meet, clash and eventually team up to stop the threat to humanity. Bale and McConaughey can be good in the right parts. Here, they're about as engaging as the corny heroes of a typical '50s monster movie.