O Dinas Powys put a post up about Pleistocene hunting, loved tusk, done my dino hunting games, Republic of Tolworth mentioned the film 10,000bc. I actually enjoyed the film. this made me think of fantasy films and which are the best...
So here is the question what fantasy film do you like. this might have been done in the questions section by Leon...so if it is a repeat sorry.
To be honest Lord of the rings is in my top 10 with the two towers being my favourite of the three... just because of the roharrim :)
Willow
Labrynth
1 million BC has a couple of points of interest :P
13th Warrior
well that's some for starters
oooh forgot
Dragonslayer
Conan the Warrior - the first one :)
to be honest I do like the dungeons and dragons film (sorry but thats my dirty little secret out :-[)
LOved Krull when I was a kid, but to be honset havent seen it for years so not sure now
and one of my all time favourites CLash of the Titans from 1981
Debbie does Dallas
oh...... that sort of fantasy ....
The Princess Bride.
Special mentions to Conan The Barbarian (the Milius/Arnie one) and Jason & The Argonauts.
Cheers, Martyn
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Quote from: Maenoferren on 23 September 2011, 08:20:17 PM
To be honest Lord of the rings is in my top 10 with the two towers being my favourite of the three...
I found the LotR films technically well made, but strangely soul-less.
And they got worse as they went on. The Two Towers was shaping up to be good, but then hobbits in Osgiliath? What? And the final cavalry charge down the steepest hill ever .... I don't think so.
Cheers, Martyn
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Yeah Raider, I tend to gloss over that charge down the hill :) :D
1. Jason and the Argonauts
2. Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
3. Star Wars
Quote from: Nosher on 23 September 2011, 09:45:27 PM
1. Jason and the Argonauts
2. Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
3. Star Wars
Me too with your first two but would also add The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (the one with Carolin Munro).
Star Wars Chapters 4 and 5 but plummetted after that.
The whole LOTR Trilogy.
I really do not like any Conanesque stuff.
LOTR - All of them. I've never been bothered by the book vs movie differences really, I just like them as they are. The full extended editions are a fair old marathon of viewing though!
Clash of the Titans - the original one. Certainly not the remake, which I've just watched tonight, and apart from some nice CGI, didn't like it at all.
Conan the Barbarian - cos Arnie was awesome.
totally agree with the clash of the Titans good CGI - cack story line
Lord of the Rings [Saul Zaentz's and Peter Jackson's]
Hawk the Slayer
Dungeons & Dragons [yep, me too :-[ - I like the second one as well...]
Princess Bride
Willow
The 13th Warrior
Krull
Labyrinth
Scorpion King [1 & 2]
Reign of Fire
Dragonslayer
Van Helsing
There's more I'm sure...
Quote from: Maenoferren on 23 September 2011, 10:31:05 PM
totally agree with the clash of the Titans good CGI - cack story line
Where was the little mechanical owl? Leaving him out is like taking R2 out of Star Wars... :o
I like LOTR, I like conan and I like 300 for its sheer kick-assery. (300 DOES count as fantasy)
1) Empire Strikes Back
2) LOtR Two Towers
3) Anything by Harryhausen!
4) Princes Bride
Also have fond memories of the 1981 Titans; it was the first movie I saw in dear old "God is watching you" South Africa which showed a glipse of a bare breast.
Fond mammaries, if you prefer.
The Dark Crystal, anyone?
Braveheart
;)
Yep!
Dark Crystal
The Clash of the Titans
Jason and the Argonauts
The golden voyage of Sinbad
The Sword and The Sorcerer
Excalibur (Nicol Williamson as Merlin)
Underworld (for obvious, Kate Beckinsale reasons)
13th Warrior is good, I like Pan's Labyrinth a lot too
Quote from: Leveller Mutineer on 24 September 2011, 11:27:04 AM
Excalibur (Nicol Williamson as Merlin)
Oooh, I'd forgotten that one. Stunning film.
Would also add Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero, although I accept that they're not to everyone's taste.
Cheers, Martyn
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Quote from: Maenoferren on 23 September 2011, 09:00:26 PM
Yeah Raider, I tend to gloss over that charge down the hill :) :D
Charge down a hill by cavalry into formed and ready pikes...ahem.
Lord of the Rings stands out as pretty much the unassailable master fantasy movie (split over 3 movies). Love it or hate it, it has to be acknowledged as such really.
Like you Leon, i don't compare them to the book(s). Such a sprawling work of literature is never going to get to the screen without some major editing - the two media are largeyl incompatible.
However, with that said, onto the question at hand.
I'm going to limit myself to one choice based on 'how many times have i watched'.
It has to be Land of the Lost. Silly, silly fun movie.
Honourable mentions go to:
The Underwolrd trilogy.
The Hellboy movies.
The Mummy movies.
The Shrek movies.
The Blade movies.
Quote from: capthugeca on 24 September 2011, 06:35:01 AM
The Dark Crystal, anyone?
This movie freaked me out completely as a kid, gave me nightmares if I recall! :o
Of the top of my head:
Underworld trilogy
Van Helsing
League of extraordinary gentlemen
Lord of the Rings
Star Wars
Ironclad
Hawke the Slayer
(the original) Lord of the Rings animation
Salute of the Jugger
Labyrinth
Hook
Barbie and the Three Musketeers (yes... I`m so very sad, I just liked it)
Princess Bride
Dark Crystal
Postman
Underworld
13th Warrior
Sherlock Holmes
Howls Moving Castle
Steamboy
Hellboy
I am Legend
The Happening
Dawn of the Dead (remake)
Night of the Living Dead (remake in colour)
28 Days later
28 Weeks Later
King Kong (either version)
The Grudge
The Ring
Gettysburg <-- about as fantasy as you can get, but a great film
Quote from: sixsideddice on 24 September 2011, 03:25:14 PM
Barbie and the Three Musketeers (yes... I`m so very sad, I just liked it)[/i] film
??? It exists?!?!
I forgot Ladyhawk.
QuoteIt exists?!?!
incredibly, yes.
It has a real Lace Wars feel, a bit like Trumpton, and Camblewich Green.
Quote from: sixsideddice on 24 September 2011, 05:42:40 PM
incredibly, yes.
It has a real Lace Wars feel, a bit like Trumpton, and Camblewich Green.
One of my daughters' favourite movies, watched so many times I have permenant bruises from the following sword fights! You can here M.Dumas turning in his grave!
http://www.barbie.com/activities/fantasy/princess/musketeers/ (http://www.barbie.com/activities/fantasy/princess/musketeers/)
Never thought I'd post that here!
Does include the great line 'On Guard Dog, prepare to loose!'
Most epic fantasy film : the 30 short movie VHS that came with the boardgame Dragon Strike. If you don't know that one, look it up on Youtube and prepare for a deluge of awesomeness.
(And when you're done, watch it again being "reviewed" MST-style by a guy named Spoony for 30mn of insane laughter)
No seriously, narrowing down an actual favorite among the long list of Fantasy films close to my heart is nigh impossible but under torture I would probably say Willow if only for nostalgia's sake.
I only discovered the Conan the Barbarian movies quite recently considering they were shot around the year I was born but thoroughly enjoyed them, even if the second has a completely different feel. And though they are far from legendary movies I've come to the conclusion that Conan is indeed the best movie in its own genre and all the derivatives that came afterwards, though some can be enjoyable, are nothing compared to the original. But if you enjoy Sword & Sorcery movies you might have a look at movies like Conquest or The BeastMaster and enjoy them for what they are.
On the comedy side of Fantasy movies, if you have ever played tabletop RPGs like D&D or have even a slight idea of what it is about, check out the two "Gamers" movies. The first one has its nice moments but can be skipped directly to watch the second one : Dorkness Rising. Hilarious if you can actually understand all the RPG references.
The Lord of the Rings movies were masterfully done but as previously discussed in this thread, they always seem to miss that little something that gives a soul to a movie, just like the Harry Potter movies IMHO.
On the opposite if you want to explore one of the worst fantasy series ever made check out the DeathStalker movies. Or at least check out the Cinemassacre review of the movies and then decide if you want to watch such terrible films in their entirety.
WILLOW, how could I forget Willow. Joanne Whalley was simply adorable in it.
.... and of course Conan (especially the first one - better acting).
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The Gamers 1 & 2 are CLASSICS if you`re really into D&D ;D
EEe yeah the Dark Crystal - not quite as scary as the child catcher in Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang, but quite scary nonretheless -the Skeksis eeek.
X_X X_X X_X
Remember the animated Lord of the Rings Film with fondness, got it first on a betamax video. origianlly went to see it at the flicks, but my sister got us lost so we went to see something else instead
Dark Crystal really was a great movie wasn`t it. Haven`t seen it in years, so I don`t know if its stood the test of time.
Yeah I went and saw the animated Lord of the Rings in the cinema first time round; yes it was wrong, yes Sam was horrible in it, yes they never completed it.... but they got so much right in the film, it will always sit as an enduring classic in my mind.
Ooooo, add Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to my fav list. I`d forgotten that one. I used that film a lot for inspiration in my Imagi-nation games. Love it - specuially the child catcher.
Six
Quote from: sixsideddice on 28 September 2011, 08:52:45 AM
yes Sam was horrible in it,
:o
Sam was the best bit about that movie!
They got him so right compare to PJ's live action verison. I mean he spends most of the thrid film blubbing his eyes out...missing the point of Sam's character totally (and sending me into paroxyms every time i watch it...).
However, i agree, the animated version just seemed to have so much more 'flavour' of the books.
Actually, I should be honest; I too thought Sam was fine... I liked almost every single bit of the animated Ralph Bakshi film, especially Strider: I`m just so used to everyone I know who`s seen it, hating Sam; so I tend automatically to parrot this sentiment myself nowadays. In actual fact, I think he fitted my idea of what Sam was all about (from the books) much more than the Sam of PJ`s epic production managed to do.
1. Any film where Ray Harryhausen did the animation
2. The Ralph Bakshi animated version of LotR (yes I know it's a bit "cute" but I like it, and wish he had finished the trilogy)
3. The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello - Victorian Steampunk done in a computerised version of silhouette puppets. Really marvellous stuff I think.
Cheers, Andy
You can see the full 26 minutes of Jasper Morello here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vORsKyopHyM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vORsKyopHyM)
Cheers, Andy
That's very cool Andy 8)
I'm enjoying Stardust at the moment.
What is Stardust about? I`ve never heard of it before I`m afraid.
Is it on Sky, how much have I missed?
Steve :D
its about fairy tale style story about a boy who has to rescue a star (who on earth is a woman) who has fallen to earth. Its a pretty good film and an even better book by Neil Gaiman http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stardust-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0755322827 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stardust-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0755322827)
Quote from: sixsideddice on 13 October 2011, 01:49:36 PM
What is Stardust about? I`ve never heard of it before I`m afraid.
Is it on Sky, how much have I missed?
Steve :D
You need to get this & watch it...
now. You'll love this one mate. Guaranteed. :)
Trailer:
Quote from: nikharwood on 13 October 2011, 11:04:25 PM
You need to get this & watch it...now. You'll love this one mate. Guaranteed. :)
Definitely. Stardust is awesome, great cast as well. Robert De Niro and Ricky Gervais being my favourites.
Sweeeeet, the trailer hooked me... its now added to my want/wish list.
Cheers :D
.... BTW, I`d strongly advice Ironclad.
Anyone who likes Medieval, Cruisaders, King John, Knights in armour, Sieges, and lots of action - then this is the baby to watch.
Watch out though, it pulls no punches... bit like the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan, only its `guts` all the way through. Arms and legs flying left right and centre, and plenty of blood.
Six :)
Ironclad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-tpqF-zXuU
Cromwell.
QuoteCromwell.
I really love that film when I`m feeling all Civil War-y; but omg its all over the place.
Could almost start a thread (quiz) on all the dreadful historically incorrect bits included in it. But wont bore you by naming them all, but its at least ten biggies... trust me on that one.
Six :)
Right well I know it, sir. Only redeeming feature is that if I ever crossed over, it would be for Timothy Dalton.
Quote from: sixsideddice on 14 October 2011, 02:44:40 PM
but its at least ten biggies...
Six :)
Only 10.......
IanS
Okay I can`t resist mentioning a few....
Richard Harris earns his fee by turning up in the film, just about everywhere the real Cromwell didn't!
He wasn't one of the five who were in danger of arrest in the House of Commons. He didn't lead major formations of troops at Edgehill. He was still only a Captain of Horse and turned up, only at the very end of the battle. He never led the New Model Army until the Second Civil War (Fairfax was the Lord General).
The House of Commons and Lords never sat in the same chamber.
At Edgehill, the Royalists are seen wearing smart uniforms and the Parliamentarians ordinary plain, drab clothes. In fact it was the other way around as Parliament was the side with all the money. The flags should be of the same design also. Some Parliamentarian infantry flags are actually cavalry standards.
The New Model Army manages to NOT wear red.
Exploding shells. Even Napoleonic artillery shells tended not to do that unless it was a Mortar or Canister... actually balls bounced.
Parliament was not outnumbered 2-1 at Naseby. They outnumbered the Royalists.
There was no stone wall at Naseby.
At Naseby (again) Prince Rupert still has his poodle 'Boy'. Not bad considering he was killed at Marston Moor (the very important, unmentioned battle).
John Pym postpones his death until after Naseby (he died in 1643).
Cromwell's son (also called Oliver) died of typhoid fever, not at Naseby.
Lets see if that starts the ball rolling ;)
Six :)
Its Ian Paisley's favourite film. At that point I'd heard enough.
I did think it amusing though that reportedly Richard Harris (ironically an Irish Catholic) was so off his head during the making of it that he thought he was on a mission from God to kill Alec Guiness. Thankfully he didn't get to act on that.
Quote from: sixsideddice on 14 October 2011, 04:49:21 PM
Exploding shells. Even Napoleonic artillery shells tended not to do that unless it was a Mortar or Canister... actually balls bounced.
Haha, that gets mentioned everytime Sharpe's on the telly! :D
Quote from: clibinarium on 14 October 2011, 05:14:10 PM
...he thought he was on a mission from God to kill Alec Guiness...
=O
I've mentioned it before, but Cromwell's little prayer was actually spoken by Jacob Astley on the other side. Boy wasn't a little lapdog, but a full-scale hunting dog. Rupert didn't just accept dismissal after Bristol: he demanded, got, and was aquitted by a court martial.
LOTR....Willow....Stardust. (And thanks for reminding me about loads of others !)
By the way...Have we discussed the WORST film we've ever seen ?
My nomination would be...
The Edge Of Hell...(Sort of fantasy/horror)...So bad it's BRILLIANT !.....(Everyone should watch this film once in their lives...AWESOME !)
Cheers - Phil.
Re. Cromwell - most brassed off about how much HMV charged for it after I'd seen it. What a wasted opportunity. should have been called "A proper Charlie."
DP
Quote from: sixsideddice on 14 October 2011, 02:44:40 PM
I really love that film when I`m feeling all Civil War-y; but omg its all over the place.
Could almost start a thread (quiz) on all the dreadful historically incorrect bits included in it. But wont bore you by naming them all, but its at least ten biggies... trust me on that one.
So, "Movieland gets history wrong in historical film" shock, horror??
I'm surprised that anyone is still surprised by this.
Not seen Cromwell myself, but after seeing stuff like Braveheart, The Patriot, U-571 and Pearl Harbor haven't you learnt not to get your history from the cinema? And there's probably a hundred more examples exactly like these.
Even Zulu, one of my favourite films, is chock full of errors. Doesn't mean it's not still a great film.
Cheers, Martyn
--
If you want BAD films:
Revenge of the Killer Tomatoes - with a Mr G Clooney! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Killer_Tomatoes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Killer_Tomatoes)
Or...
Sorority babes at the slimeball bowl-a-rama! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorority_Babes_in_the_Slimeball_Bowl-O-Rama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorority_Babes_in_the_Slimeball_Bowl-O-Rama)
Beyond all shadow of a doubt... the worst film in the entire world has to be: "Kung Pow"
I dare anyone to sit through more than ten minutes of it without needing a headache pill.
Its that bad.
Six
Quote from: sixsideddice on 19 October 2011, 09:58:35 PM
Beyond all shadow of a doubt... the worst film in the entire world has to be: "Kung Pow"
I haven't seen the film, but I'm hungry right now, and all I can see there is Kung Po.... Chicken... =P~ =P~
=O
What number is that on the menu?
;D
I'm struck by how few fantasy films have been made (maybe there have just been very few good ones)
1) LOTR trilogy - Jackson mucked it up at some points by adding in scenes that weren't in the books (e.g collapsing bridge in Moria with the "you can't toss a dwarf line". You have a handful of people lost in an abandoned underground city, being chased by orcs, goblins, trolls and a fire demon and you think you have to add something to the scene? numpty Jackson.), but where it stuck closely to the books it was great (e.g charge of the Rohirrim, though it lacked Haradrim cavalry of the black serpent and added in a copy of the At-At scene from Empire strikes Back). Music was amazing and most of the lines that did stay in brilliant. Didn't like the orc outfits much.
However it's such a good story that with good actors and a good soundtrack it was still damn good. Hoping 'The Hobbit' will be even better as it was a better book in some ways.
2) Conan the Barbarian (i thought the Robert E. Howard books would be better, but after reading them found the film is far, far, far better than the books (though the same can't be said for Conan the Destroyer - awful w*nk). Howard's Conan stories are mostly dull, predictable and racist. His Kull the Conqueror stories (which he wrote before Conan) are actually quite good, except for Thulsa Doom, who is more like Skeletor in He Man than Thulsa Doom in the film)
3) Clash of the Titans. For the time special effects were amazing and still look good today - other than that f***ing clockwork owl - rust and die owl!. Acting and soundtrack excellent too.
4) Highlander (is it Fantasy or Sci-fi? Either way great film, great sound track, despite flaws - e.g Sean Connery is asked to do accent for a Spaniard who has spent centuries living in Egypt and Japan and rightly thinks "f*ck that" and just goes with Scottish, while the supposedly Scottish main character is a French actor whose Scottish accent is atrocious)
5) The Seventh Warrior (the neanderthals in it in dark age Scandinavia qualify as fantasy rather than history i think, well made film though)
6) Dragonslayer (only vaguely remember it, but the dragon was well done and remember feeling afraid as the character entered the dragon's lair)
7) Jason and the argonauts
8) Krull
9) Stardust (don't really like the world but the script , soundtrack , acting and special effects are great)
10) Story (again maybe more sci-fi than fantasy)
11) The Sinbad films - some of the creatures very impressive even now (and made in 1963) even if the acting was terrible and the script pretty poor and the soundtrack average at best
-1000) Hawk the Slayer was sh*t :) Never seen Dungeons and Dragons the Movie, but am informed by those who did that it was sh*t too (with lines like 'unfortunately i can't do that as i am only a level whatever <insert D&D character class here>). Nicholas Cage fantasy film looked so bad i never watched it.