Posted: April 07, 2000 at 08:39:16: by Martin Read
: I can't begin to think of all the fantasy films I've seen through the years. Being ill is not the problem. There have just been so many.: However, those which rise to the top of my thoughts: : "The Wizard of Oz" (lack of faithfulness to the book notwithstanding) : "Robin Hood" (the Errol Flynn version) : "Ivanhoe" (had Elizabeth Taylor in it, and Robert someone as the lead) : "The Black Rose" (starring Tyrone Power -- a MUST SEE for any fantasy film buff) : "The Court Jester" (yes, the Danny Kaye classic) : A movie I cannot recall the name of, but it was based on a character from Orlando's "Furioso", I believe, about a woman knight who ran into some of Charlemagne knights. Very good story, but the name simply escapes me. Something like, "Swords and Hearts", maybe? : "Conan the Barbarian" (yes, the Dino de Laurentiis film -- none of the others, however) : "The Princess Bride" : "Dragonheart" (YES! "Dragonheart!", despite the bad acting from the ugly king) : Anything with the name "Star Wars" in the title : Nothing else of high quality comes to mind. Unless you would allow some of the swashbucklers from the 40s and 50s. "Against All Flags" was a classic, and "Captain Blood", too, but then, I'm a BIG Errol Flynn fan. : Honorable mention goes to "Sinbad the Sailor" (the one starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), "The Land That Time Forgot" (starring Doug McClure), "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (some would not regard this as a fantasy film), "Ben Hur" (some would not regard this as a fantasy film), and "Superman II". Some of the films you mention must be Fantasy by accident. Certainly the producers of Errol Flynn's Robin Hood were labouring under the misapprehension that they had done a good deal of historical research for it. What about the viking film (The Vikings?) with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis? Certainly a large dollop of fantasy in that one - and a good adventure film. Also Time Bandits, comic-fantasy - aimed at children but entertaining. I guess El Cid and The Warlord might squeeze in as well.
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