Which Films Should an Fantasy Gamer Watch
5. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
I’m just getting this out of the way. All three films are technically excellent and beautifully catch the epic scale of Tolkien’s work but as you have all seen them anyway I might as well shut-up now.
4. Ladyhawke
Two lovers are cursed by an evil sorcerer-bishop so that she turns into a hawk during daylight and he turns into a wolf by night. There is a lot wrong with this film but it still captures the essence of a fairytale curse and mixes it well with good action and fine performances. Ladyhawke
3. Excalibur
John Boorman’s extravagant retelling of the King Arthur’s story. Black magic and big battles, love and loyalties divided. This is an epic and ambitious film. The director, like most DMs, ignores certain realities, and allows all the main characters to stride around in plate mail. (From memory, there is even a sex scene where King Arthur is wearing plate mail). Watch out for the a small part by Shakespearian actor and Enterprise captain Patrick Steward: Excalibur
2. Stardust
A truly magical film from the pen of Neil Gaiman. It is a great example of how to create a fantastic world full of witches and curses and ghosts and magic and air-ships. It is high-fantasy at its best with great performances from all the cast including a truly jaw-dropping supporting role by Robert De Niro. Stardust
1. The Princess Bride
The best fantasy film ever made. It has pirates, giants, sword fights, true love, rodents of unusual size, revenge, torture and a happy ending. It is also one of the funniest films around. With Billy Crystal and Peter Cook on top form and a top notch script. It is a whimsical film, light hearted and at times tongue in cheek but it never descends into parody. Only a modest success on it first release it has gone to become a cult classic that has given the world such quotes as “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. ” and “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. “. Watching this film is like gaming with good friends. There is lots of action and adventure but the real joy comes from the interaction of the characters. The Princess Bride