What other fantasy movies do you like? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 02-14-2005, 02:53 PM

I would say I'm no fan of fantasy films, but thinking about it, there are a few decent ones aside from LotR - which is the best one of course (yes, despite the story errors!).

Excalibur is a classic. It's very over the top, but then when you want to watch something about King Arthur then you want mad and far fetched! Though Merlin reminds me a little of Leonard Rossiter.

If sci-fi is being included, then I've got the Star Wars trilogy and still haven't watched it but I remember it as being good. I also enjoyed all the Matrix films, even the ones which pontificate. But my favourite sci-fi has to be Close Encounters - which I wouldn't class in this category as its mostly earth bound and doesn't feature any kind of secondary world.

One I can recommend is the BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. This really does leave out a lot of the book, but the sheer drama of it is well worth seeing, plus it's got a fabulous cast, including Christopher Lee as Flay. Also The Box of Delights, an early 80's adaptation from John Masefield is also now available, which is worth watching, particularly if you like a bit of nostalgia like me. Spirited Away, a Japanese animated film which was a massive success has been recommended to me, but I haven't got around to watching it yet - apparently it takes at least two viewings to properly grasp the story.

Eruanna · 02-14-2005, 05:30 PM

I've recently watched Spirited Away, it's a beautiful film, although a little bit confusing at times!
Another Japanese animation called Princess Mononoke is also a lovely story, beautifully drawn

I thought the BBC did a good job on Gormenghast, the sets were amazing.
Thanks for the tip about The Box of Delights Lalwendë that's definitely one for me to look out for.
I agree about John Boorman's Excalibur. Nicol Williamson all but chews the scenery. I did find Arthur's accent a little bizarre; but it is, as you say, a classic.

Shelob · 02-14-2005, 07:30 PM

My favorite non-LOTR fantasy movie is Princess Bride, but since most of you seem to agree with me there I will only add the point that if you have not read the book you really ought to.

Elsewise I enjoy Star Trek (and Encaitare it's really funny you should say you got the movies at the final sale of a video store--that's where we originally got ours, though we've since bought DVD coppies of them all), most anything that could be classified as action (so Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean, and similar) as well as anything bassed off of a book ( but that's more because I like comparing texts to their movie interpretations).

And, while it might fit in this category only marginally, I would add to the general mix Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

For those of you who have suggested Gormenghast, is that worth reading/watching? I've heared about it piecemeal but never enough to determine what it's about or if it would be an interesting read. Thanks.

Lalwendë · 02-15-2005, 05:02 AM

Is Gormenghast worth reading? Oh yes!

It is, more than anything, a tale about the castle Gormenghast, from which the trilogy (usually found bound in one doorstop of a single volume edition nowadays) gets the title. This is an immense place filled with history, danger, junk and dust. And weird people. There is the Groan family, the nobles, who are weird enough, but in addition there are a myriad other people who keep the whole place running. It is almost undefinable as to which category of fiction it could be placed in, though it does tend to be seen as fantasy. But it also has strong elements of gothic horror and satire.

The main narrative thread follows the adventures and machinations of Steerpike, a kitchen boy who has escaped, and now seeks to climb the social ladder of Gormenghast, along the way upsetting the established order - which in itself is stifling and inexplicable. Some of the best characters include: the sinister Flay - former manservant to Lord Groan, Fuchsia - eccentric and romantic daughter of Lord Groan, and the Prunesquallors - the castle doctor and his man-mad sister.

I'd recommend reading it before seeing the BBC version - as then your imagination will be able to run riot imagining the gothic splendour of the place.

Milord Aldagrim · 02-15-2005, 06:35 AM

I might sound redundant here, but I too like Star Wars and Star Trek. I also love Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Another good on is Prince Valiant, which is based on the comic strip. The Mummy movies are good. Oh, I almost forgot a great one! The Wolfman with Lon Chaney Jr.

Encaitare · 02-15-2005, 02:15 PM

I too love the Mummy movies. I have them memorized and enjoy reciting them, accents and all...

Gormenghast sounds really cool... I shall add it to my mile-long list of Books to Read.

Kitanna · 02-15-2005, 05:04 PM

MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000), always an excellent choice. They make a few Tolkien references every now and again too.

aelithes · 02-15-2005, 05:12 PM

I'd have to say The Princess Bride, Willow, and Legend. Now, my choice of fantasy movies is almost entirely a matter of circumstance and a product the generation I grew up in, so I make no claims whatsoever in terms of their level of quality! Though I think one unanimous positive factor of all three films is their unerring quotability.

02-14-2005, 02:53 PM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I would say I'm no fan of fantasy films, but thinking about it, there are a few decent ones aside from LotR - which is the best one of course (yes, despite the story errors!). Excalibur is a classic. It's very over the top, but then when you want to watch something about King Arthur then you want mad and far fetched! Though Merlin reminds me a little of Leonard Rossiter. If sci-fi is being included, then I've got the Star Wars trilogy and still haven't watched it but I remember it as being good. I also enjoyed all the Matrix films, even the ones which pontificate. But my favourite sci-fi has to be Close Encounters - which I wouldn't class in this category as its mostly earth bound and doesn't feature any kind of secondary world. One I can recommend is the BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. This really does leave out a lot of the book, but the sheer drama of it is well worth seeing, plus it's got a fabulous cast, including Christopher Lee as Flay. Also The Box of Delights, an early 80's adaptation from John Masefield is also now available, which is worth watching, particularly if you like a bit of nostalgia like me. Spirited Away, a Japanese animated film which was a massive success has been recommended to me, but I haven't got around to watching it yet - apparently it takes at least two viewings to properly grasp the story. __________________ Gordon's alive!

02-14-2005, 05:30 PM	#2
Eruanna Memento Mori Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Past The Point Of No Return Posts: 1,117	I've recently watched Spirited Away, it's a beautiful film, although a little bit confusing at times! Another Japanese animation called Princess Mononoke is also a lovely story, beautifully drawn I thought the BBC did a good job on Gormenghast, the sets were amazing. Thanks for the tip about The Box of Delights Lalwendë that's definitely one for me to look out for. I agree about John Boorman's Excalibur. Nicol Williamson all but chews the scenery. I did find Arthur's accent a little bizarre; but it is, as you say, a classic. __________________ "Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."

02-14-2005, 07:30 PM	#3
Shelob Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: At the abysmal Abyss Mall. Posts: 276	My favorite non-LOTR fantasy movie is Princess Bride, but since most of you seem to agree with me there I will only add the point that if you have not read the book you really ought to. Elsewise I enjoy Star Trek (and Encaitare it's really funny you should say you got the movies at the final sale of a video store--that's where we originally got ours, though we've since bought DVD coppies of them all), most anything that could be classified as action (so Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean, and similar) as well as anything bassed off of a book ( but that's more because I like comparing texts to their movie interpretations). And, while it might fit in this category only marginally, I would add to the general mix Monty Python and the Holy Grail. For those of you who have suggested Gormenghast, is that worth reading/watching? I've heared about it piecemeal but never enough to determine what it's about or if it would be an interesting read. Thanks. __________________ A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name ~Evan Esar. Pan for Everyone!

02-15-2005, 05:02 AM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Is Gormenghast worth reading? Oh yes! It is, more than anything, a tale about the castle Gormenghast, from which the trilogy (usually found bound in one doorstop of a single volume edition nowadays) gets the title. This is an immense place filled with history, danger, junk and dust. And weird people. There is the Groan family, the nobles, who are weird enough, but in addition there are a myriad other people who keep the whole place running. It is almost undefinable as to which category of fiction it could be placed in, though it does tend to be seen as fantasy. But it also has strong elements of gothic horror and satire. The main narrative thread follows the adventures and machinations of Steerpike, a kitchen boy who has escaped, and now seeks to climb the social ladder of Gormenghast, along the way upsetting the established order - which in itself is stifling and inexplicable. Some of the best characters include: the sinister Flay - former manservant to Lord Groan, Fuchsia - eccentric and romantic daughter of Lord Groan, and the Prunesquallors - the castle doctor and his man-mad sister. I'd recommend reading it before seeing the BBC version - as then your imagination will be able to run riot imagining the gothic splendour of the place. __________________ Gordon's alive!

02-15-2005, 05:04 PM	#7
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000), always an excellent choice. They make a few Tolkien references every now and again too. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

02-15-2005, 06:35 AM	#5
Milord Aldagrim Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Merrimac, MA Posts: 14	I might sound redundant here, but I too like Star Wars and Star Trek. I also love Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Another good on is Prince Valiant, which is based on the comic strip. The Mummy movies are good. Oh, I almost forgot a great one! The Wolfman with Lon Chaney Jr.

02-15-2005, 02:15 PM	#6
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I too love the Mummy movies. I have them memorized and enjoy reciting them, accents and all... Gormenghast sounds really cool... I shall add it to my mile-long list of Books to Read.

02-15-2005, 05:12 PM	#8
aelithes Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 19	I'd have to say The Princess Bride, Willow, and Legend. Now, my choice of fantasy movies is almost entirely a matter of circumstance and a product the generation I grew up in, so I make no claims whatsoever in terms of their level of quality! Though I think one unanimous positive factor of all three films is their unerring quotability. __________________ Caelum videre iussit et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus.

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