Comments on: No Objectivity: 10 Fantasy Movies That Ruined It for the Rest of Us

By: Dakota

Dakota — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:56:51 +0000

Ripping apart two movies (Labyrinth and Excalibur) that got me IN TO the Fantasy genre is just sad. *sniffle*

By: Fox

Fox — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:23:41 +0000

Interesting…however Willow turned me on to fantasy (LOVE IT), it was my first ever DVD and I raised my son on it. And the Craft rocks, maybe not the best, but it rocks.
But, to each their own.

By: Raelspark

Raelspark — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:56:47 +0000

Of course Genevieve Valentine can write a screenplay better than all of these films.

Her arrogance blows!

Her name is good for a pet.

By: David A. Dezotell

David A. Dezotell — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:08:44 +0000

I’d replace Somewhere in Time, a time-travel story, with Red Sonja, which killed any hope of further Conan fantasies by letting a bratty kid take over the entire plot. But I have Ladyhawke, The Dark Crystal and Krull on VHS and still enjoy them, dispite Rick Wakeman’s synth-pop score in Ladyhawke. Phillipe the Mouse was worth it.

By: tully

tully — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:55:01 +0000

Labyrinth was one of my favorite movies back in the day. years passed, and i forgot about it. then i met a girl, who had it on vhs. i begged her, to lend it to me. and i never gave it back.

By: Fantasy lover

Fantasy lover — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:14:52 +0000

I Love “Labyrinth”, and “Willow”, yeah they didn’t have the the kind of afects that they do now but they are still good and fun story lines, even though willow did have a little of “Lord Of The Rings” in it.
And I loved “In the Name of the king.”

Though one movie that is not good for adults is “The Poler Bear King” its okay but your kids will like it more then you.

By: C.L. Holland

C.L. Holland — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:57:16 +0000

I think I also have to disagree with you on Willow and Labyrinth, but then I’m at an age to have been imprinted too. Bad blue-screening in Willow? It was the 80s!

And seriously, Legend and Hawk the Slayer were waaaay worse. As was Deathstalker (I think that’s what it’s called). In fact, most of the 80s fantasy movies were pretty bad, but at least they were making them.

But thanks for a great article – you’ve given me some more cheesy fantasy movies to add to the collection!

By: Sub-Odeon

Sub-Odeon — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:29:35 +0000

I have to raise my hand, on “Excalibur.”

Not only does it *NOT* suck, it’s the only movie (prior to Jackson’s “Fellowship of the Ring”) which gives classic swords’n’sorcery cinema respectability.

The cast is astoundingly excellent, the cinematography beautiful (especially for pre-CGI) and Nicol Williamson still reigns supreme as the definitive and iconic Merlin.

Sure the dialogue was stage-heavy. But I see this as a feature, not a bug. “Excalibur” is Shakespearean without actually being written by Shakespeare. Full of emotional oomph and Large Themes, played to the hilt by actors who know a helluva lot more about being English than Kevin Costner or Elijah Wood.

I’m proud to say I own this film on DVD, screen it regularly, and believe it more than stands the test of time.

By: veejane

veejane — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:16:28 +0000

I’m sorry, I don’t see a gloriously trashy 80s sword-and-greased pecs, some random twidget in her underwear pretending to be a huntress, throw in a magical negro sidekick for the lulz example in this whole list! Obviously the criteria are flawed.

…In fact, I vaguely recall there was one of those in which the greased-pec hero communicated telepathically with animals. I don’t remember if he had violet eyes and long russet hair, but it’s entirely possible. THOSE movies are what ruined it, I think. A fur loincloth is nobody’s friend.

(Whereas, I must add my voice to the Labyrinth defenders. Doubly so, as it’s a gateway drug to — and often boxed with — The Dark Crystal, which is exactly the sort of fantasy movie you’d like people to see.)

By: Cat C.

Cat C. — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:56:25 +0000

Wow, that was TERRIBLE!

You’re right, the space engine/Halloween/alien sound did add a certain je ne sais quoi…”Breaker, breaker, prepare for take-off!”