Fantasy film
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Fantasy films are films that belong to the
Subgenres
Several sub-categories of fantasy films can be identified, although the delineations between these subgenres, much as in fantasy literature, are somewhat fluid.
The most common fantasy subgenres depicted in movies are high fantasy and sword and sorcery.[according to whom?] Both categories typically employ quasi-medieval settings, wizards, magical creatures and other elements commonly associated with fantasy stories.
High fantasy films tend to feature a more richly developed fantasy world, and may also be more character-oriented or thematically complex. Often, they feature a hero of humble origins and a clear distinction between good and evil set against each other in an epic struggle. Many scholars cite J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel as the prototypical modern example of high fantasy in literature, and the recent Peter Jackson film adaptation of the books is a good example of the high fantasy subgenre on the silver screen.
Sword and sorcery movies tend to be more plot-driven than high fantasy and focus heavily on action sequences, often pitting a physically powerful but unsophisticated warrior against an evil wizard or other supernaturally endowed enemy. Although sword and sorcery films sometimes describe an epic battle between good and evil similar to those found in many High fantasy movies, they may alternately present the hero as having more immediate motivations, such as the need to protect a vulnerable maiden or village, or even being driven by the desire for vengeance.
The
Another important subgenre of fantasy films that has become more popular in recent years is contemporary fantasy. Such films feature magical effects or supernatural occurrences happening in the "real" world of today.
Fantasy films set in the afterlife, called Bangsian fantasy, are less common, although films such as the 1991 Albert Brooks comedy Defending Your Life would likely qualify. Other uncommon subgenres include historical fantasy and romantic fantasy, although 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl successfully incorporated elements of both.
As noted above, superhero movies and fairy tale films might each be considered subgenres of fantasy films, although most would classify them as altogether separate movie genres.
Fantasy movies and the film industry
As a cinematic genre, fantasy has traditionally not been regarded as highly as the related genre of science fiction film. Undoubtedly, the fact that until recently fantasy films often suffered from the "Sword and Sandal" afflictions of inferior production values, over-the-top acting, and decidedly poor special effects was a significant factor in fantasy film's low regard.
Since the early 2000s, however, the genre has gained new respectability in a way, driven principally by the successful adaptations of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy is notable due to its ambitious scale, serious tone, and thematic complexity. These pictures achieved phenomenal commercial and critical success, and the third installment of the trilogy became the first fantasy film ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Harry Potter series has been a tremendous financial success, has achieved critical acclaim for its design, thematic sophistication and emotional depth, grittier realism and darkness, narrative complexity, and characterization, and boasts an enormous and loyal fanbase.
Following the success of these ventures, Hollywood studios have greenlighted additional big-budget productions in the genre. These have included adaptations of the first, second, and third books in
Many fantasy movies starting in the 2000s, such as The Lord of the Rings films, the 1st and 3rd Narnia adaptations, and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7th Harry Potter adaptations have most often been released in November and December. This is in contrast to
Screenwriter and scholar Eric R. Williams identifies fantasy films as one of eleven super-genres in his screenwriters taxonomy, claiming that all feature length narrative films can be classified by these super-genres. The other 10 super-genres are action, crime, horror, romance, sci-fi, slice of life, sports, thriller, war and western.[3]
History
Fantasy films |
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Fantasy films have a history almost as old as the medium itself. However, fantasy films were relatively few and far between until the 1980s, when high-tech filmmaking techniques and increased audience interest caused the genre to flourish.
What follows are some notable Fantasy films. For a more complete list see:
1900–1920s
In the era of
1930s
Following the advent of
1940s
The 1940s then saw several full-color fantasy films produced by
Several other pictures featuring supernatural encounters and aspects of Bangsian fantasy were produced in the 1940s during
An astonishing anticipation of the full "sword and sorcery" genre was made in 1941 in Italy by Alessandro Blasetti. La Corona di Ferro presents the struggles of two imaginary kingdoms around the legendary Iron Crown (historically the ancient crown of Italy), with war, cruelty, betrayal, heroism, sex, magic and mysticism, a whirl of events taken from every possible fairy tale and legend source Blasetti could find. This movie is unlike anything done before; indeed, considering that it was finished fifteen years before the publication of Lord Of The Rings, its invention of a vast, national epic mythology is an act of genius. And while the storytelling is rough - due to the need to insert everything - and the resources limited, Blasetti shows how to make a little go a long way through beautifully staged and designed battle and crowd scenes.
Although it's not classified as a fantasy film, Gene Kelly's Anchors Aweigh had a fantasy sequence called "The King who Couldn't Dance" in which Gene did a song and dance number with Jerry Mouse from Tom and Jerry.
Because these movies do not feature elements common to high fantasy or sword and sorcery pictures, some modern critics do not consider them to be examples of the fantasy genre.
1950s
In the 1950s there were a few major fantasy films, including
Other notable pictures from the 1950s that feature fantastic elements and are sometimes classified as fantasy are Harvey (1950), featuring a púca of Celtic mythology; Scrooge, the 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol; and Ingmar Bergman's 1957 masterpiece, The Seventh Seal. Disney's 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland is also a fantasy classic.
There were also a number of lower budget fantasies produced in the 1950s, typically based on Greek or Arabian legend. The most notable of these may be 1958's The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, featuring special effects by Ray Harryhausen and music by Bernard Herrmann.
1960s
Harryhausen worked on a series of fantasy films in the 1960s, most importantly
Capitalising on the success of the
1970s
Fantasy elements of
A few low budget "Lost World" pictures were made in the 1970s, such as 1975's
1980s
1980s fantasy films were initially characterized by directors finding a new spin on established mythologies. Ray Harryhausen brought the monsters of Greek legends to life in Clash of the Titans while Arthurian lore returned to the screen in John Boorman's 1981 Excalibur. Films such as Ridley Scott's 1985 Legend and Terry Gilliam's 1981–1986 trilogy of fantasy epics (Time Bandits, Brazil, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen) explored a new artist-driven style featuring surrealist imagery and thought-provoking plots. The modern sword and sorcery boom began around the same time with 1982's Conan the Barbarian followed by Krull and Fire and Ice in 1983, as well as a boom in fairy tale-like fantasy films such as The Neverending Story (1984), Ladyhawke (1985), The Princess Bride (1987), and Willow (1988).
The 1980s also started a trend in mixing modern settings and action film effects with exotic fantasy-like concepts. Big Trouble in Little China (1986), directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, combined humor, martial arts and classic Chinese folklore in a modern Chinatown setting. Highlander, a film about immortal Scottish swordsmen, was released the same year.
1990s
The 90s saw the
- Aladdin (1992)
- Army of Darkness (1992)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- Dragonheart (1996)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- Fantasia 2000 (1999)
- The Green Mile (1999)
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Ghost in the Machine (1995)
- Hercules (1997)
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Hook (1991)
- The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
- Jumanji(1995)
- Kazaam (1996)
- Matilda (1996)
- Meet Joe Black (1998)
- Mulan (1998)
- Nightbreed (1990)
- The Prince of Egypt (1998)
- Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) (1997)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- The Wind in the Willows (Mr Toad's Wild Ride) (1996)
- The Witches (1990)
2000s
The 2000s saw a boom in the genre. This was compounded by the success of
- 13 Going on 30 (2004)
- 17 Again (2009)
- 300 (2006)
- Alvin & the Chipmunks(2007)
- Anji (2004)
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
- Big Fish (2003)
- Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
- The Brothers Grimm (2005)
- The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-10)
- Coraline (2009)
- Corpse Bride (2005)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- D-War (2007)
- Dorian Gray (2009)
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000-12)
- Elf (2003)
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
- Enchanted (2007)
- Eragon (2006)
- Fat Albert (2004)
- The Golden Compass (2007)
- Harry Potter (2001–11)
- The Hexer (2001)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
- Imagine That (2009)
- Inkheart (2008)
- The Invention of Lying (2009)
- King Kong (2005)
- Lady in the Water (2006)
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
- The Lord of the Rings (2001–03)
- The Lovely Bones (2008)
- The Master of Disguise (2002)
- Monsters Inc. (2001-13)
- Nanny McPhee (2005)
- Night Watch (2004)
- Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
- Peter Pan (2003)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (2003-17)
- Prezzemolo (2003)
- Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
- The Science of Sleep (2006)
- The Secret of Kells (2009)
- The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising(2007)
- Shrek(2001-10)
- Spider-Man (Raimi trilogy) (2002-07)
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
- Spike (2008)
- Spirited Away (2002)
- Stardust (2007)
- Star Wars Episodes I-III (1999-2005)
- Tales from Earthsea ((2006)
- Treasure Planet (2002)
- Twilight(2008–12)
- Underworld (2003-16)
- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
- Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
2010s
The early 2010's saw a continuation of the book to screen adaptation fad of the 2000's. Also prevalent in the decade were remakes of older fantasy films especially from Walt Disney Pictures.
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(2012)
- Aladdin (2019)
- Alice in Wonderland (2010)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
- Aquaman(2018)
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
- Baahubali: The Beginning (2014)
- Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
- Beauty and the Beast (2017)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Brave (2012)
- Christopher Robin (2018)
- Cinderella(2015)
- Clash of the Titans (2010) and its 2012 sequel, Wrath of the Titans
- Conan the Barbarian (2011)
- Crimson Peak(2015)
- Dark Shadows (2012)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Frozen (2013)
- Frozen II (2019)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
- Goosebumps (2015)
- Gulliver's Travels (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
- Hop (2011)
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010–19)
- Immortals (2011)
- Into the Woods (2014)
- Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
- John Carter (2012)
- Life of Pi (2012)
- Maleficent (2014)
- Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
- Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
- Maximum Shame (2010)
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- Mirror Mirror (2012)
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
- Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
- Paddington (2014)
- Pan (2015)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Sea of Monsters(2013)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
- Pete's Dragon (2016)
- Peter Rabbit (2018)
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
- Puss in Boots (2011)
- Sardaar Ji (2015) (Punjabi)
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
- Snow White and the Huntsman(2012)
- Song of the Sea (2014)
- Sucker Punch (2011)
- The Bastard Sword (2018)
- The BFG (2016)
- The Hobbit (2012–14)
- The Jungle Book (2016)
- The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
- The Last Airbender(2010)
- The Lorax (2012)
- The Muppets (2011)
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
- Trolls (2016)
- The Shape of Water (2017)
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Thor (2011)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Wonder Woman (2017)
- Your Highness (2011)
2020s
The 2020's as of 2023 have shown an increasing interest by studios to adapt games into film with Monster Hunter, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- Bloodshot (2020)
- Dolittle (2020)
- Dragonheart: Vengeance (2020)
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
- Encanto (2021)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
- Fantasy Island (2020)
- Jiu Jitsu (2020)
- Monster Hunter (2020)
- Mulan (2020)
- Nahuel and the Magic Book (2020)
- The Old Guard (2020)
- Onward (2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
- Trolls World Tour (2020)
- The Witches (2020)
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- Wolfwalkers (2020)
See also
- Fantasy television
- List of fantasy films
- List of highest-grossing fantasy films
References
- ^ "What does fantasy film mean?". www.definitions.net. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- ^ Fantasy Films
- OCLC 993983488. P. 21