Favorite "high fantasy" movie ?

[steve2470]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fantasy

I just got done watching ALL the Hobbit movies, and I've decided I really like this genre. I've also seen all the Harry Potter movies. What's your fave ?

[shenmue]

1. The Dark Crystal

Also, Labyrinth.

[yuiyoshida]

2. Not sure if its included but

The Princess Bride is one of my favorites. Also David Bowie's "Labyrinth"

[First Speaker]

9. The Princess Bride is a genre all its own...

...but yeah, it belongs here...

[DFW]

3. Even though it's just a 29th century version of "Dances With Wolves,"

I still liked "Avatar"

[avebury]

4. I agree with the Hobbit movies and all the Harry Potter movies and would add:

Avatar
Dune (the original one)
The Last Airbender
The Golden Compass

[steve2470]

5. I finally broke down and bought a Blu-ray player

I also bought the whole set of Star Wars movies. Hopefully Blu-Ray will be around for a long time so I can get my money's worth.

[sarge43]

6. LOTR, of course

Beowulf, a credible attempt

Conan (Arnold's version, the other was a shop vac)

Dragonheart

Ladyhawk

The Princess Bride

Stardust

Time Bandits

[Glorfindel]

8. Great list! ^^^

I would also add "Dragonslayer." To me, Vermithrax Pejorative was the first really believable movie monster.
And also "Legend," for Tim Currie's performance alone

[sarge43]

10. Thank you

Tim Currie is a delight. He always seems to be enjoying himself.

Forgot about Dragonslayer. It's been awhile since I saw it, but I'll add to the list.

I'd have to go with King Kong as the first realistic movie monster. Given the technology of the time, he's a remarkable achievement and still works. Further, classical, evokes both terror and pity.

[Coventina]

7. Peter Jackson's LOTR/Hobbit movies. Even though they are not completely faithful to the books.

The amount of thought, love, and effort to create a credible Middle Earth, the quality of the acting, the music....I could go on and on.

It stands as a monumental achievement not just in high fantasy, but in movie-making as an art form.

[malthaussen]

11. My favorite would be The Thief of Baghdad

... the version directed by Lubin and starring Steve Reeves. Pure corn from start to finish. I incorporated a lot of it into my D&D campaign. Those man-killing trees were just too cool.

Close seconds would be all the cheesy films that used Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animations. Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, etc.

-- Mal

[NewJeffCT]

14. Agree on Harryhausen

never saw Thief of Baghdad.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. I completely agree with you on Jason and The Argonauts

except I wouldn't call it "cheesy". I think it's probably the greatest fantasy film ever made (and that would include the LOTR trilogy which I dearly love). Even the music was splendid (played by the London Symphony orchestra). And just because it so captured my imagination as a little kid, I'd have to add the original Journey To The Center Of The Earth.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Okay, I am ready to be embarrassed

the 13th Warrior

[Glorfindel]

17. I loved that movie!

I thought Antonio Banderas did a remarkable job of acting. The story was both fascinating and a bit scary, just as a good fantasy should be.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Yes, he did...

I like Vladimir Kulich, too. back at you.

on edit: what I really enjoyed about it was that the terror was not mythical- it was humans who appeared mythical.

[NewJeffCT]

13. how about the Harryhausen "Sinbad" movies?

though, I'd go for Lord of the Rings myself.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. is Pan's Labrynith considered high fantasy? I thought that was very well done.

[Stuart G]

19. The Wizard of Oz

A true classic.

[lame54]

20. Wizards...

[bluedigger]

21. Excalibur.

Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne before they were famous. Plot's a bit of a muddle, but it's gorgeous.