Just gotta add in another review to highly recommend this adorable romantic fantasy, as, sadly, would seem was big screen distribution marginalised and so criminally underseen on release, thus seeming to have been not only a 'failure' at the box office (to date making less than half of its 18 million budget), but that likely because it didn't get its surely deserved viewing outting on the big screen, on which then its clearly, gorgeous, high production values, cinematography (Sergey Trofimov) - complete with the occasional obvious 3D effects, now all lost - would have been the best way to see this visual treat.
In effect a sort of 'Blue Lagoon' meets 'Beauty and the Beast' concoction - (although, on the box, billed as more modern / relevant 'Game of Thrones' meets the latter ...!), it's been a long time that I've seen a fantasy deliver its romance so believingly, and for a change, gently so through non-frantic pacing, giving plenty of time to enjoy the visuals; sets (dragon lair island geology particularly inspired), costumes (topping and tailing the tale), and besides the eponymous creature rendered really quite believingly realisstc, with even, for a change, a leading handsome hunk, emoting well to deliver his character's bewildered burdens* (so: kudos to Matvey Lykhov, in what could have otherwise been an easily wooden / mischaracterised role).
* although, well, yes, true, some of the Russian (anti-feminst?) reputation of (our?) 'men are just bad tempered but misunderstood beasts, but must still be tolerated / loved, despite ..' did occasionally seem to intrude .. but what the heck, it's an opposite's attract, love conquers - and tames - all trope, innit?
In short this is a gorgeous sweet and innocent romance:
yes, innocent; despite what might otherwise be made of the dvd box blurb synopsis: "In time, Princess Mira (Maria Poezhaeva) learns the truth which both shocks and excites her .." (ohh! - for nevertheless, never fear (parent?*) as throughout no inapparopriate 'naughtiness' ever inferred!)
and so sweet - almost as to be verging on over-egged at the close ...
but if you like your romance simple and syrupy, this is a top entry into the genre niche.
*P.S. Oh, so also for the younger audiences, also complete with cute critter sidekick, but again, for a nice change, without any cleverdick 'spokeness' attitude that those on the other side of the world usually always tediously imbue theirs with: you surely know what I mean, Disney and Pixar ....!
