The best fantasy films can be organized in four distinct sub-sets. The following 10 films are the finest cinematic examples of Fairytales, Sword and Sorcery, Historical Fiction and Greek Myth.
Passed down throughout recorded history, fairytales or folk legends came of age in the 1800s via the written work of Hans Christian Anderson (The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes) and Jakob Ludwig and Wilhelm Karl Grimm (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood). The best filmed fairy tales are in the literary tradition and are often adapted from classic children’s books.
Victor Fleming adapts the classic L. Frank Baum fairytale of a girl from Kansas and her trip over the rainbow. Oz is presented as an enchanted land where witches do battle, scarecrows dance and monkeys fly. The film’s use of color (black and white establishes our world, while Oz is rendered in every shade under the sun) is revolutionary, as it defines Oz as both magical and very much real.
"Legend" (1986)
Director Ridley Scott draws inspiration from the Brothers Grimm and creates a world of unicorns, demons and a princess in peril. Like the director’s Blade Runner (1982), Legend was not well-received upon its initial theatrical release, but has become something of a cult classic.
"The Princess Bride" (1987)
Rob Reiner’s take on the William Goldman novel is a heart-warming and often hilarious tale of family, friendship and true love. The inspired cast includes Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal and Andre the Giant.
SWORD AND SORCERY
The sword and sorcery genre is one of epic action; of monsters and magic; of noble heroes and diabolical villains. Sword and Sorcery films are cut from the same cloth as Errol Flynn’s swashbuckler adventures, Saturday matinee serials and the epic costume dramas of Hollywood’s golden age.
"Conan the Barbarian" (1981)
Director John Milius adapts Robert E. Howard’s classic adventure tales and transforms Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger into a star in the process. The film features James Earl Jones as a truly memorable villain and the groundbreaking production design of Ron Cobb.
"Ladyhawke" (1985)
Richard Donner directs this medieval adventure/romance starring Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer as cursed lovers and Matthew Broderick as the comic relief. Ladyhawke is a true anomaly in the fantasy genre: a performance-driven piece highlighted by easy humor and genuine tenderness.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: "The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001), "The Two Towers" (2002), "The Return of the King" (2003)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, a groundbreaking achievement on so many levels, faithfully adapts the much-loved J.R.R. Tolkien books, arguably the greatest fantasy series in all of 20th century literature. Director Peter Jackson gets every detail of middle earth right, while inspiring his dozen featured actors to turn in performances of perfect pitch and immeasurable depth.
HISTORICAL FICTION
As a literary form, historical fiction invents stories for people who actually drew breath, embellishes events that really did occur and uses real locations, as opposed to imaginary lands. Examples of novels that fall under the historical fiction umbrella include Verner von Heidenstam’s "The Charles Men" (1897), Georgette Heyer’s "Regency Buck" (1935) and Thomas Keneally’s "Blood Red, Sister Rose" (1974).
"Time Bandits" (1981)
Terry Gilliam pairs a young boy and a band of dwarves and sends them on a trip through time, where they encounter Robin Hood and Napoleon. Gilliam’s eye-popping visual style and bizarre playfulness (honed as a member of Monty Python) are put to great use.
"The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1989)
Gilliam is at it again, this time illuminating the tall tales of a real-life, 16th century, Russian war hero. The brilliant cast includes John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman and Robin Williams.
GREEK MYTH
Olympian gods and other divinities can be traced back to Homer’s works, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Filmmakers have taken great liberties with the classic texts, and the best of the fantasy films to employ Greek mythology are pretty campy.
"Jason and the Argonauts" (1963)
Ray Harryhausen’s landmark special effects highlight this tale of Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. The film is best known for the ‘skeleton battle’ sequence.
"Clash of the Titans" (1981)
Harryhausen once again provides imaginative effects for this story of Perseus (Harry Hamlin), the mortal son of the god Zeus (Lawrence Olivier), and his battles with assorted monsters, including a vividly imagined Medusa.
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Catching Up...
Written by Guest on 2008-01-24 13:46:47
I just watched a trio of films from the 1980s that I was a little too old for the first time around. I found The Dark Crystal and Labrynth (both directed by Jim Henson) to be grating and dated, but thoroughly enjoyed Return to Oz (1985), which was directed by Walter Murch. |
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