: "Conan the Barbarian" (yes, the Dino de Laurentiis film -- none of the others, however)

This was a good adaptation of the heart of the Conan books. It was as real-to-life as any fantasy movie, but it lacked any great depth. Still, as far as the overall feel of the movie, I wouldn't mind LOTR being like this.

: "The Princess Bride"

Too whimsical. William Goldman did a great job with this (also the book) and a nice but silly "Who really wrote the book" audience spoof (if you want to know I will tell you). But overall, I would rather LOTR not end up like this. The characters were well-constructed, but built to be silly. LOTR will not float in this format.

: "Dragonheart" (YES! "Dragonheart!", despite the bad acting from the ugly king)

This was a fun film, but that's the best I can say about it. CG of the dragon was ok, but not spectacular, the characters couldn't decide between silly or serious, and the overall effect left me wanting. I wouldl take almost any format other than this one for LOTR.

: Anything with the name "Star Wars" in the title

Except The Phantom Menace I will agree with that statement. With TPM I had only one statement: Make a movie when you have something to tell me. Lucas relied too heavily on CGI and not enough on the story, which he is much better at (I mean what was the whole point of the underwater scenes anyway?). As far as an LOTR format, the Lucas world would work very nicely, there is always the heavy tone of impending doom looming out at every point, even when we think that the heroes/heroines are safe, we know that it is only for the moment.

: 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.

All great films, which I enjoy emmencely but which I am not certain the format would work for LOTR today.

: 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".

Again, I liked all of these (own most of them and watch and rewatch them all the time) but I am not certain that these formats would lend themselves to LOTR.

I would still go back to Excalibur as an excellent fantasy film as far as look and feel go it is on the money for LOTR. Willow was nice, and perhaps hits the closest of any other films, even the humor in it had serious undertones which would translate well, but at times this movie suffered from the same problems as Dragonheart.