DragonHeart

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Knight Bowen recites the Old Code to young Prince Einon, teaching him the values of chivalry and honor. Bowen is idealistic, believing in the nobility of knighthood and the goodness he can instill in his pupil.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Twelve years later, Einon has become a tyrant worse than his father, brutalizing the peasants. Bowen discovers that the prince he mentored has betrayed everything the Old Code represents. His life's work has produced a monster.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Bowen encounters the dragon Draco and they fight to a stalemate. Instead of fighting to the death, they make an active choice to form a partnership: Draco will terrorize villages, Bowen will "slay" him for payment, and they'll split the profits. Bowen enters a con-artist existence., moving from reaction to action.

At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Draco rallies the peasants and Bowen to fight against King Einon. They storm a castle and achieve a false victory—rescuing prisoners and striking a blow against tyranny. Bowen begins to rediscover his sense of purpose, but the stakes raise: Einon now knows they're coming for him., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Bowen furiously confronts Draco, feeling utterly betrayed. He nearly kills his only friend. The rebellion seems doomed, Einon is unstoppable as long as Draco lives, and Bowen faces the darkest realization: to defeat evil, he must sacrifice the good. The whiff of death—Bowen must kill what he loves., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Bowen accepts the truth and what must be done. He reconciles with Draco, understanding that true honor requires sacrifice. Armed with this knowledge—the synthesis of his old idealism and hard-won wisdom—Bowen prepares for the final confrontation. He chooses the honorable path despite the cost., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.