The Dragon Pearl is a 2011 Australian family adventure fantasy film starring Sam Neill. It follows the story of two teenagers who meet in China to encounter a real live Chinese dragon, and also discover the mystery behind the whereabouts of his all powerful pearl.
Josh (Louis Corbett) and Ling (Li Lin Jin) thought they were in for a boring vacation with each of their parents at an archaeological dig in China. But the new friends soon discover they're right in the middle of an adventure when they find a mysterious monster that's been hidden deep in a temple for thousands of years. Josh tries to warn his father (Sam Neill) about the strange and magical creature, while Ling senses bigger forces at play.
They soon realise that the monster is really an ancient Chinese Dragon, trapped on Earth because it's been separated from its magical pearl. On a breathtaking journey of good and evil Josh and Ling must uncover the mystery of the pearl so that the dragon can finally return to its rightful place.
The Dragon Pearl Movie Reviews
“Though it never quite amounts to the classic kids' adventure it aspires to be, Mario Andreacchio’s The Dragon Pearl is a thoroughly pleasing and exceedingly well-crafted family film. Parents will recognise with fondness, the overt Spielbergian influences, recalling their own memories of key moments in the master’s oeuvre, which have clearly inspired key scenes in the Adelaide-based director’s latest; unburdened by the familiarity of homage will be five to 15 year olds, who should lap it up.” sbs.com.au
“Major Hollywood studios no longer make these kinds of films, or, if they do, they spend too much money, overdo the effects and cast the wrong actors in a vain attempt to guarantee their investment. The makers of Dragon Pearl have learned how to make decent popcorn fare for youngsters at a reasonable cost. Recommended.” Blu-ray.com
“The Dragon Pearl is an exciting, live-action adventure (with a CGI dragon)…Every effort has been made to keep The Dragon Pearl a family-friendly adventure film. Even the action sequences are designed to be fun rather than scary (i.e., knives stop in mid-air; a comic character wields a broom as a weapon; the dragon is not threatening). The two kids are watchable, likable, and heroic. It's lightweight entertainment..Still, it's always well-intentioned. Combining martial arts moves, an all-powerful dragon, an ancient legend, and a quest, middle-grade kids should enjoy The Dragon Pearl, and their parents probably won't mind the time spent.” Common Sense Media