The creative team behind Reign of Fire sure did connect on the subject of How to Create Convincingly Fearful Dragons. The first trick, I suppose, was to banish the thoughts of Dragonheart and Dragonslayer. And the second, I suppose again, was to imbue the beast, or beasts (unlike the preceding dragon films, Reign of Fire possesses flocks of fire-breathers), with black hearts and a singular need for survival. Any species, when its back (or wing) is against the wall is prone lash out. And lash out these dragons do. My initial impression was the filmmakers would go with quick glimpses of the dragons, flashing them on the screen with jacked-up sound effects shaking the theater, just at the sight of one. This does happen, at first. But the filmmakers, led by director Rob Bowman (The X-Files), take the audience away from the thumpy, shrieking first impression and dish a flock of dragons more stark and menacingly rancid than we've seen before, in examinable extended shots. These CGI beasts are rendered to flesh and blood, and deliver a deluge of fire and smoke.Set about two dozen years in the future, Reign of Fire introduces us to Quinn (played by American Psycho's Christian Bale) and the ramshackle clan of survivors he has resigned to protect. For the most part, the world has been decimated by the marauding dragons. And here, in Northern England, Quinn and Co.'s last line of defense is an old mountain-side castle, which they've retrofitted for battle, or really, defense. (It's ironic how, in this future, the original use of such a fortress comes back into play.) Survival is possible, but prosperity? That's unlikely. Dragons rule. Humans don't, unless those who are left are willing to take a risk. And the question of risk arrives at their heavily-armored doorstep. One day, out of the blue, a band of Americans show up, with tanks, helicopters and whatnot in tow. And Quinn meets a real American Psycho: Denton Van Zan (played by Matthew McConaughey), or just Van Zan – first names aren't entirely necessary in the codex of action films – and a level-headed (and beguiling) helicopter pilot, Alexandra (played by Izabella Scorupco). Van Zan has successfully killed a dragon, and he has a plan to take out more, but they'll need Quinn's people to help get the plan into action. For Quinn, the warning lights go off, and it's Proceed With Caution. Should he stay out and continue to live vicariously, or should he risk the lives of his people and support Van Zan's dragon-elimination plan? Reign of Fire is a well-paced film; a product of excellent editing and a tight, salient script. And more to its credit, the action sets this film apart. The action sequences (many of which are terrific) are ones which every director of an action film strives for – they¿re unique. In particular, the film features a sequence involving military sky-divers who parachute from a helicopter with the intention of snagging a dragon in a coiled net; the scene plays like a mid-air shark attack waiting to happen. And then there's a scene with a dragon bearing down on the castle, meticulously engulfing the hallways with flames. As for examples, I¿ll stop with those two, as I don't want to venture into spoiler territory.With barely a couple lapses – damn accursed melodrama – the movie maintains its dramatic integrity; it just doesn't lose its kick. Matthew McConaughey's performance as Van Zan is one of his best. To quote Owen Wilson in Shanghai Noon, Van Zan ¿may not know karate¿ but he knows ¿ka-razy.¿ He¿s got that going for him, and McConaughey plays it full tilt; when he's not beating on others you can see it in his eyes. He¿s hardly one to be trusted, but he¿s the man with the plan. McConaughey may steal scenes, but Bale¿s performance as Quinn connects on a the ¿relative¿ plane; Quinn offers the audience a more sympathetic, but prudently agressive protagonist. And Izabella Scorupco is forcible as Alex, and more even-keeled than the others. On the American side, if Van Zan is the gas, then she¿s the brakes. Although she can¿t control Van Zan (to be fair, nobody can), she offers perspective when it¿s needed. In retrospect, although the dragons and the action, etc., are most entertaining, I'm compelled to admit that my favorite aspects of the film are its music, the production design, and the humor. Edward Shearmur (The Count of Monte Cristo) has created a wonderful score, which gets a full representation; despite the unfortunate placement of a song over the end credits. And the production design; OK, Wolf Kroeger's (The Last of the Mohicans) design is a mish-mash of Road Warrior-ish ruins, but it helps create the overall gray; the bleakness of this future – it¿s char-broiled. And then, there's a scene in the film which won over just about everyone at the preview screening. There¿s no action here, it¿s just a play, and it offered a moment of moviegoing bliss; one which I think will stay with many after the end credits fade. Out of 500, Reign of Fire gets a Fahrenheit 400.