Solomon Kane
When consider about the best phantasy films around , people throw out the same few movies . Lord of the Rings . Pan ’s Labyrinth . perchance a few old - school illusion fans might bring upConan the Barbarian , but that ’s typically where someone ’s recollection of fancy flick end . Which is a shame because there are several overlooked fantasy film that are painfully neglected by society as a whole .
When , for example , was the last time someone talked seriously aboutHighlander ? When have you sing to someone aboutLadyhawke ? These might be well - make out films to fantasy enthusiasts , but the average watcher has never seen them – and there are other cinema that are pretty much omit . Though a few , to be fairish , are omit for good reason . Which forgotten phantasy film deserve a re - rating , and which one should be leave inhume on the VHS ledge ?
(Bad) Fire and Ice
Ralph Bakshi is regarded as one of the most strange aliveness conductor of all prison term . While many people involve his filmWizardsas a classic , the relief of his filmography is more discrepant . Cool Worldhas attain cult status for being frankly so strange and bizarre it is n’t worth look on .
ButFire and Ice ? It ’s a Conan the Barbarian inspire mess of a movie . Its plot is at times tongue-tied . Its rotoscoped brio looks unappealing to the heart . It never comes awake . It feels derivative in a bad way . And it ’s sort of hard to learn .
(Great) The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Ray Harryhausen pioneered the theatre of cease - question animation . His monster effects influenced the medium of film forever . Many of his motion-picture show are fantasy classics . Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans , in peculiar , are beloved .
But Harryhausen ’s Sinbad trilogy is often overlooked , beyond masses vaguely remembering the Cyclops from the first cinema . Which is a pity , because the whole trilogy ranks among Harryhausen ’s greatest . Of all of them , the most unfairly overlooked isThe Golden Voyage of Sinbad , the 2nd in the trilogy , which features some of the coolest things Harryhausen ever did – including an awe - inspiring four - armed colossus agitate Sinbad to a sword fight .
(Great) The Beastmaster
sports fan remember Don Coscarelli as the mastermind behindPhantasm , the longest - run cinematic repulsion saga . However , few people remember that Coscarelli also created this fad - classic fantasy flick . If you remember this motion picture at all , it ’s probably because HBO played it all the time in its early year .
The Beastmasteris a blade - and - black art flick done right . It never find derivative of Conan or Red Sonja , has fabulously memorable performances , and quite a circumstances of fantasy action – most of which involving brute mauling people .
(Great) The Valley of Gwangi
When you look at it without the dinosaurs , The Valley of Gwangiis just a really salutary western about cowboys and rancher in need of income , only to find it when they find a big ol' dinosaur in an uncharted neighborhood of the man . There are many " lost world " phantasy films , but this might be one of the most unique .
Another Harryhausen film , The Valley of Gwangifeatures stop apparent motion at its finest , integrating the rancher with a great dinosaur seamlessly . It ’s at once a Western , while also being a really cool dinosaur film .
(Bad) Krull
Krullhas a cult - classic condition . masses often overleap its faults to look at the charming atmosphere and feeling . And yeah , Krullcan be fun in that cheesy sort of way . It can find like a Dungeons and Dragons moving-picture show done relatively well .
It also makes no sense . illusion idea are introduced without linguistic context . Long stretches of the celluloid are uneventful . The natural process sequences can be hard to be . It is memorable for its resource , yet you get the sentiency when people talk aboutKrullthat they imagined an entirely dissimilar pic .
(Great) Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke was a huge hit , but advanced audiences really have n’t heard of it . It ’s direct by Richard Donner , star Matthew Broderick , Rutger Hauer , and Michelle Pfeiffer , yet people just overtop this romantic phantasy about a man and his bird - human lover .
It ’s a slower - paced illusion , more focused on dramatic event and relationships than overt phantasy action . It gained a passionate cult hearing that , latterly , has cool down off to a cinder . It deserves a rediscovery since it ’s probably one of the dependable 80s phantasy films to ever come out .
(Great) Solomon Kane
Solomon Kaneis credibly the newest entry to this tilt . Yet it ’s establish on a case just as old asConan the Barbarian– in part because they deal a common Godhead : Robert E. Howard . Howard make several characters over the eld , including Kull , who also got his pic in the 90s . That flick would be on this inclination , but we only had three slot for bad movies .
On the other helping hand , Solomon Kane have a redeemed privateer fighting a one - human beings war against sorcerers and demons . The motion picture have some pretty spectacular activity and a few atmospheric moments of light - horror .
(Great) Dragonheart
Dragonheartwas one of the first CGI - heavy movie to come out during the 90s . It has several sequel that have languished on cyclosis services for years , though very few multitude have actually realize the original film , or think back it beyond recollect Sean Connery voice a dragon .
The film is a very canny play on the fantasy writing style , with the idea of a generous , in force dragon who lends a while of his warmness to save a die prince . The idea of dragon execution is employed in a wrench reminiscent of Peter Jackson’sThe Frighteners , where a knight " slays " his Draco sidekick for personal gain . But the story is ultimately an interesting little story featuring a dragon vocalise by James Bond .
(Bad) Deathstalker
Deathstalkeris the first of a 4 of blue - budget Conan the Barbarian roue - offs produced by Roger Corman . Corman is often lovingly think back by genre lover for directing over 300 down - budget movie , often recycling one-time readiness and even jibe from cinema to film .
Deathstalkeris a garbage movie . It ’s full of nakedness and gore and violence with the cinematic tact of an elephant . The plot deficiency focalise . scene miss battle . Dialogue sounds stilted . The actors ca n’t act . The make - up effects never convince the audience of anything . And , if possible , its sequels are even worse !
(Great) Highlander
Highlanderis the most successful pic on this listing , yet it has been almost whole forgotten by modern film audiences –beyond the social occasion where a remake is discussed . The original film has mass of flaw . Some of the playing is wooden and much of the lore is n’t complicate upon .
However , it make up for that with incredible style . The photographic film features some amazing performances by some great worker – including , again , Sean Connery , in arguably one of his most entertaining roles . It feature an awing soundtrack entirely consist of Queen Song . It also features one of the pitiful , most depressing moments in any 80s fantasy movie .
It is quite candidly a great cinema that only gained succeeder on the VHS marketplace , but die to keep its audience thanks to its less than astral sequels . Now , the film is for the most part draw a blank . multitude think of liking it , sure , but how many of them have seen it recently ? Go . Go rewatch it . Now .
NEXT:10 Sci - Fi Novels Too Wild To Adapt Into Film
