PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTIONS: *cosmological, sociological*
Though B-film actor David Heavener both wrote and directed DRAGON FURY, the movie's clearly built around the sword-fighting skills of Robert Chapin, who enjoyed a minor breakout success with 1994's RING OF STEEL.
The plot is merely another take on THE TERMINATOR, though this time the time-traveling hero, name of Mason, is seeking to obtain a plague-serum that ceased to exist in his future continuum. During this time-jaunt Mason takes along the sword with which he became known as a "dragon warrior.' which is good because his future-enemies time-port another sword-wielding warrior (T.J. Storm) right after him. If Mason can't get the serum back to the future, the post-apocalyptic world (which apparently came about because of an earthquake in California) will be forever ruled by the tender mercies of "medical dictator" Vestor (Richard Lynch).
While the micro-budget keeps everything cheesy, at least there are ample fight-scenes, which puts it one up on the execrable tedium of 1993's TIME RUNNER, which also sported a Terminator-style plot. The time-portal also allows Mason's female partner Regina (Chona Jason) to render a little aid to Mason both with sword and hand-to-hand fighting, but she's killed before getting to do much. The real female lead is the risibly named "Doctor Ruth" (Deborah Stambler), a modern-day doctor who helps Mason recover from time-travel amnesia and ends up completing his mission for him. Vestor also gets a concluding battle with Mason before the villain dies while the hero apparently succumbs to mortal wounds (though he gets better in the sequel).
While no trash classic, FURY boasts a smattering of small assets that make it a better time-waster than many other cheese-fests, to wit:
A short comic bit in which Regina materializes in the bedroom of two newlyweds, played by director Heavener and B-film actress Judy Landers.
A brief topless scene by Chona Jason.
The fact that the villains are a future version of the AMA, which may have some appeal for some viewers in these post-Covid times.
And-- though I only noticed this looking up the cast on IMDB-- a stunt-guy who billed himself as "Hanzo Hattori."
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