Top 10 fantasy films of all time. by Legolad

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Top 10 fantasy films of all time.

POSTED BY: LEGOLAD
UPDATED: Thursday, March 23, 2006 17:39
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Tuesday, March 21, 2006 7:32 PM

In the spirit of Moss' "top 10 sci-fi movies" thread, I thought I'd take a look at the neighbouring genre. Fantasy had a pretty bad reputation until Lord of the Rings, but really, there have been some fantasti-- sorry, excellent films over the years. Admittedly, LOTR remains the crowning achievement, in my opinion. Anyway, I realize the two genres are pretty blurry sometimes, but see what you think of this sci-fi-free list.

1. The Fellowship of the Ring: more astounding and perfect an adaptation than I would have believed possible. Never have I left the theater with this much sheer awe. I love this film.

2. Princess Mononoke: my favourite animated film of all time. In every respect, from story to imagery to music, pure beauty. A masterpiece.

3. The Return of the King: a few annoying moments, but overall a fantastic conclusion to my personal candidate for the greatest trilogy ever made.

4. The Two Towers: did I mention I loved LOTR? I think I did. Let's move on to some films NOT directed by Peter Jackson...

5. Edward Scissorhands: wonderfully dark and surreal modern fairy tale. Depp's performance is brilliant; he has hardly any lines, but makes Edward indelibly memorable. Also a gorgeous and haunting score.

6. Amélie: indescribable French comedy/fantasy/romance/hallucinogen. A film with an incredible imagination; perfect to watch if you need some cheering up.

7. The Princess Bride: Non-stop entertainment, pure and simple. Imaginative, witty, tongue-in-cheek, and one of the best swordfights ever put on film.

8. The Prisoner of Azkaban: the only Harry Potter film that I thought was any good, but man, it was surprisingly good. Fantastic imagery, camerawork, and some great underlying themes of fear and indentity.

9. The Sixth Sense: I know fantasy isn't the first genre that comes to mind, but its concept roots it firmly in the realm of the fantastic, and it's one of the best ghost stories ever told.

10. Monty Python and the Holy Grail: just too many great moments. More laughs in this film than in a hundred random others. It's that simple. (My personal favourite: Arthur's exclamation of "Jesus Christ!" after the bunny's initial attack.)

"We need a hood ornament."

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Tuesday, March 21, 2006 9:17 PM

CAB1729

1) The Wizard of Oz - How could it not be #1???
2) The Princess Bride - Best adventure/romantic fantasy ever.
3,4,5) LOTR x 3 - A given.
6) The Witches - Wickedly funny!
7) Spirited Away - I was like WoW all the way through it.
8) The Dark Crystal - Classic serious muppet fantasy
9) Wings of Desire - Everything in this is wonderful but Peter Falk's small role brings it to classic status.
10) Snow White - A classic for a reason. Pure Walt.

___________________________________________
Hobbes: How come we play war and not peace?
Calvin: Too few role models.

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Tuesday, March 21, 2006 9:20 PM

RHYIANAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Legolad:

8. The Prisoner of Azkaban: the only Harry Potter film that I thought was any good, but man, it was surprisingly good. Fantastic imagery, camerawork, and some great underlying themes of fear and indentity.

I must disagree with you....strongly. This was my favorite book out of the series and they slaughtered it. It's best to just read the book and pretend the movie never existed. (at least in my opinion)

Okay, rant over. My ten favorite fantasy movies in no particular order:

1. Labyrinth
2. Neverending Story
3. Princess Bride
4. City of Lost Children
5. The Dark Crystal
6-9. Lord of the Rings
10. ....it's just not coming, so there's only 9 in my list

They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see sky, and they remember what they are.

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006 12:16 AM

GIXXER

Pretty much agree with the foregoing.

I'd just like to throw in Twin Peaks. Not strictly a movie, but Bet Lynch has taken a bit of a kicking elsewhere.

It's just struck me that it would be a good fix for deprived Browncoats. Especially the kids who might not have caught it the first time round. You're in for a treat.

Great bits.

Sherilyn Fenn. with Morena and Claudia Black, six good eyebrows.
David Lynch's REALLY LOUD cameo.
New shoes.
Tommy Hill (massively cool) being sarky about Harry and Cooper's efforts to do anything in secret, as he recovers his knife from the baddie who might have topped them because, it being a secret and all, they never told anyone and would have had no hope of rescue...
An horrific storyline, that probably wouldn't have got past the pitching stage these days.
Big boingy reverb guitar.
They do the Kaylee Ariel instant recap gag. Twice.

I always thought Firefly was out on its own as something ploughing its own particularly uncompromising furrow.

This has reminded me that there was one other TV show that was as good, and even similar in the combination of great cast / acting / violence / smart one-liners and cross-dressing (but again like Mal, David Duchovny may have been wearing a dress, but he still pulls on his panties one leg at a time, if you know what I mean.)

G (My apologies for the hijacking. I got carried away in a good cause.)

You know, this is - excuse me - a damn fine cup of coffee. I've had I can't tell you how many cups of coffee in my life and this, this is one of the best. Now I'd like two eggs over hard. I know, don't tell me, it's hard on the arteries, but old habits die hard, just about as hard as I want those eggs. Bacon, super-crispy. Almost burned. Cremated. That's great. And I'll have the grapefruit juice, just as long as those grapefruits...

[He trails off as he sees high school vixen Audrey Horne saunter up to his table.]

...are freshly squeezed.

[speaking into tape recorder] Diane, I'm holding in my hands a small box of chocolate bunnies.

(FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper)

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006 1:26 AM

MOSS

This is fun.

I am not really a fan of fantasy movies so my knowledge is limited on the subject, but as I started the top 10 scifi movies thread, it would be rude not to join in this one. My apologies as there is some real cheese in my bunch, also I have introduced some films that many may not strictly be termed as fantasy although this is where I would catagorise them).

1. Conan the Barbarian
2. Lord of the Rings, last one was my favourite.
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Final installment
4. Willow
5. Shrek
6. The Lost Boys
7. Excaliber
8. Clash of the Titans
9. Time bandits
10. Hawke the Slayer

Quote:
"There's over 70 earths in this verse, and the meek have inherited not a one"

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006 1:34 AM

MRBEN

Hmmm - really tricky.

One that's not previously been mentioned is Ladyhawke, which I have a real soft spot for.

Oh, and Krull.

mrben

"Carpe Aptenodytes"
http://www.jedimoose.org

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006 1:52 AM

AUSSAY

For me the LOTR trilogy is the best by a lot. Not only my favourite fantasy movies but my favourite movies

Others are:
Labyrinth
Dragonheart
Dark Crystal
Willow
Shrek and Shrek 2
The Sword in the Stone
The Ghost and Ms Muir
The Princess Bride

"Shake your head boy, your eyes are stuck"

www.fireflyfans.net
http://www.browncoatsriseagain.com

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Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:21 PM

LEGOLAD

Quote:
Originally posted by Rhyianan:
Quote:
Originally posted by Legolad:

8. The Prisoner of Azkaban: the only Harry Potter film that I thought was any good, but man, it was surprisingly good. Fantastic imagery, camerawork, and some great underlying themes of fear and indentity.

I must disagree with you....strongly. This was my favorite book out of the series and they slaughtered it. It's best to just read the book and pretend the movie never existed. (at least in my opinion)B]

Yeah, people seem to be pretty polarized by this film. The thing was, the first two basically tried to adapt the books line for line, and ended up pretty lifeless and mediocre in my opinion. I realize the third film lopped off huge sections of the story fairly liberally -- I actually wouldn't have minded it being a little longer -- but pretty much everything that was onscreen was fantastic. It was the first film to feel truly magical, especially Harry's flight on Buckbeak, which could have looked incredibly bad. But the visuals were a vast improvement over the previous films, and the children -- whether because of the new director or because they're getting older -- actually gave performances that didn't make me cringe every ten seconds.

But more than that, because of the way it was filmed, the world felt more natural and real. I loved the long, leisurely camera shots, the use of natural light in the outdoors scenes, the ubiquitous slopes and slants suddenly filling the grounds around Hogwarts (unlike the previous films, where everything was flat), and the way the special effects were usually part of the background rather than being shoved in your face and taking up most of your attention. The only thing really jarring was that annoying Jamaican shrunken head; where did that idea come from?

Although, the film really should have had some background on the Marauder's Map and its creators; the significance of the stag during the climax is completely lost on anyone who hasn't read the books, which is unfortunate. But as it is, I thought the movie was really enjoyable, and a great companion to the book for those who have read it.

And that's probably enough rambling.

"We need a hood ornament."

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Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:39 PM

RHYIANAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Legolad:
Quote:
Originally posted by Rhyianan:
Quote:
Originally posted by Legolad:

8. The Prisoner of Azkaban: the only Harry Potter film that I thought was any good, but man, it was surprisingly good. Fantastic imagery, camerawork, and some great underlying themes of fear and indentity.

I must disagree with you....strongly. This was my favorite book out of the series and they slaughtered it. It's best to just read the book and pretend the movie never existed. (at least in my opinion)

Yeah, people seem to be pretty polarized by this film. The thing was, the first two basically tried to adapt the books line for line, and ended up pretty lifeless and mediocre in my opinion. I realize the third film lopped off huge sections of the story fairly liberally -- I actually wouldn't have minded it being a little longer -- but pretty much everything that was onscreen was fantastic. It was the first film to feel truly magical, especially Harry's flight on Buckbeak, which could have looked incredibly bad. But the visuals were a vast improvement over the previous films, and the children -- whether because of the new director or because they're getting older -- actually gave performances that didn't make me cringe every ten seconds.

I didn't like the first two either (mostly because I felt they spent too much time saying "hey, doesn't this look cool" and not enough on plot/character development), but the second one was better than the first, so I thought the third movie had hope. It wasn't the things that were cut out that got me, although you are absolutely correct on the maurader's map thing. What really got me was that everything was done out of order and Harry saw pettigrew on the map . Between those two things, the entire movie was ruined. Although I will agree that the performances were infinately better and the camera work was very well done.

Okay, enough hijacking this thread.

They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see sky, and they remember what they are.

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