It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

A masterpiece by the puppet master Jiri Trnka. Much better than "The emperor's nightingale". Trnka does his best when he uses old Czech legends, as in this case. The camera work and the sets are simply incredible. Colors and shadows are superb. It's fascinating how he creates a first rate animation movie with a very simple animation in fact, because there are no face movements, but the puppets express a very wide range of emotions anyway and you get touched all along the movie.The story is complex, epic and tender. It's about a poor peasant that becomes a knight and falls in love with a beautiful princess. Pure European legend in its best tradition. There are fights, dragons, love, all perfectly animated for the sake of art and entertainment. The music is the second protagonist of the movie, because words are almost inexistent.Maybe this film can be a little harsh for today's Western viewers, but if you are pure at heart and you like Miyazaki and Tezuka movies you will love it.