: : "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.

"Feel" is a great word to describe what is best about this movie. It FEELS right, even though anyone who knows Howard's Conan knows the movie is a horrible representation of the true character. Yet I've seen even die-hard Howard fans who gag over the "Conan as a slave" idea admit this movie has a certain quality to it. It is THE definitive barbarian movie.

: : "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.

But why can't fantasy be whimsical? And Tolkien was whimsical. I wouldn't mind if Jackson gets a little whimsical.

: : "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.

This movie will be a classic purely because of the interplay between Sean Connery and Dennis Quaid. In fact, Quaid alone almost makes up for the scenes where the secondary actors do their best to butcher the movie. But when Quaid and Connery are going at it, I can forget all the bad stuff. The movie could have been better, but Quaid and Connery were at their best for these type of characterizations.

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

: Except The Phantom Menace I will agree with that statement.

[snip]

LOL!

Sorry, I'm a big PM fan, and have already watched the video a couple of times. I believe it's a great film because it takes on a great challenge and succeeds. It evoked an immense reaction from its audience. That is pure art.

Robert Trebor (Salmoneus on Hercules and Xena) characterized the movie as a two-hour pod race. I can't disagree with him, but I think it was a great two-hour pod race. Liam Neeson did a fantastic job as Qui-Gon Jinn. I could have done without the kid, but as he was central to the storyline, well,...

: : 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.

It's not the format, it's the feel. The pacing, the acting, the panache that impacts on the audience. These films would go over well in today's theaters, I'm sure. "The Wizard of Oz" did pretty good when it was rereleased a couple of years ago. That's because people love quality.

: 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...

Sorry. Excalibur is just too full of schlock and stereotypes. Not to mention the bad acting and dialogue. Look and feel mean nothing if the movie itself isn't there. And the last thing "The Lord of the Rings" needs is all that stupid glowing plate armor. That wasn't King Arthur, and it sure isn't Middle-earth.

: ...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.

I felt "Willow" fell far short of its promise. Every time it approached high fantasy, it dropped down into dreary pseudo-medieval schlock (like the business with Madmartigen in the tavern). And the special effects with the brownies were horrible -- the lighting was almost always wrong for them.

Good scenes from "Willow" usually involved Val Kilmer and Joanna Whalley, but overall it just didn't deliver on what it promised. Nelwyns are not hobbits.
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