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As befitting perhaps the oldest genre of storytelling, fantasy can be broken down into numerous sub-genres, the most recognizable and beloved of which is perhaps high fantasy. It is distinguished by taking place in a completely fictional world that might resemble ours, but is governed by magic, and whose inhabitants perform epic feats, especially in battle against the forces of evil.
Since fantasy has long been a staple of cinema, it’s no surprise that there are a fair number of gripping high fantasy movies, including many that could be considered virtually flawless. These remarkable movies succeed in transporting the audience into new, extraordinary worlds, which is no small feat given the nature of fantasy requires a certain level of suspension of disbelief.
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ (2005)
During World War II, the four Pevensie siblings—Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley)—travel to the countryside to live on the estate of Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent). While playing hide and seek, Lucy goes into a large wardrobe and finds herself in the magical land of Narnia. The land is ruled by the tyrannical White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton), but there is a prophecy that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve will defeat her with help from Narnia’s true king, the lion Aslan (Liam Neeson).
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe draws a lot of inspiration from Sir Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is ironic given that authors C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien were friends in life. Still, the film has its own identity through its more whimsical tone that still knows when to get serious, and the blending of humans from our world with the fantastical one. Everyone gives great performances, and the kids manage to avoid a lot of the pitfalls that can come with child actors, but Swinton owns every second she is on-screen, giving Jadis an effective look and feel of someone with absolute power.
‘The Flight of Dragons’ (1982)
The Green Wizard Carolinus (Harry Morgan) notices that magic is fading from the world as humans turn towards science and logic. Meeting with his brothers—Blue Wizard Solarius (Bob McFadden), Golden Wizard Lo Tae Zhao (Don Messick), and Red Wizard Ommadon (James Earl Jones)—Carolinus proposes that they create an alternate dimension where magic can live separate from humans. Ommadon refuses the idea, instead preferring to infect humanity with ambition and vice so they will destroy themselves, forcing Carolinus to gather a group of heroes to stop him.
The Flight of Dragons is a unique film, as it blends classic high fantasy tropes with a logical and scientific method of explanation. This approach is perfectly showcased in the film’s exploration of dragons and how they are able to fly and breathe fire, which are plausible enough while still maintaining a fantastical core. Beyond this quality, the story is a really good fantasy adventure, with plenty of evil wizards, brave knights, and unlikely heroes to go around.
‘Stardust’ (2007)
As the King of the magic kingdom of Stormhold (Peter O’Toole) dies while three of his sons still live, he tosses his ruby into the sky and says that whoever finds it shall be king. It strikes a star, which falls to the ground and becomes a woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). She is soon found by a young man named Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), who vowed to find the star for a girl he was smitten with, but a witch named Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) is also after Yvaine to use her heart in a ritual to restore her and her sister’s youth and beauty.
Stardust is based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman, but opts for a more lighthearted tone compared to the book’s bittersweet one. This change isn’t a bad thing; the tone allows for more emphasis to be placed on Yvaine and Tristan’s romance, and led to the creation of new characters like Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro), a cross-dressing sky pirate with a love for English culture. It also has some highly entertaining villains, with Pfeiffer portraying a witch who is as cunning as she is vainglorious, and Mark Strong delighting in portraying the pure evil of Prince Septimus.
‘Labyrinth’ (1986)
Frustrated at having to look after her infant half-brother, Toby (Toby Fraud), Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) wishes that he would be taken away by goblins. Her wish brings her face-to-face with the goblin king, Jareth (David Bowie), who offers her anything she desires if she will let him take Toby. When Sarah refuses, Jareth transports her outside a massive labyrinth and tells her to reach the center within 13 hours, or Toby will be his forever.
Labyrinth is the second fantasy movie to come from the creative mind of Jim Henson, and while not quite as iconic as the dark fantasy masterpiece that is The Dark Crystal, it’s still a great display of imaginative storytelling. The film is like Alice in Wonderland meets Return to Oz, with plenty of fairy tale riddles, symbolic creatures, and a fantastic display of puppetry, all while telling a simple but effective coming-of-age story. Jareth is by far the show-stopping character, who, through a combination of Bowie’s mysterious performance and his unique look compared to every other character, makes him feel as unknowable and alien as fae royalty should.
‘The Last Unicorn’ (1982)
A unicorn (Mia Farrow) overhears two hunters talking about how she might be the last of her kind, and ventures from her forest to learn the truth. A passing butterfly (Robert Klein) tells her that the other unicorns were driven north into the country of King Haggard (Sir Christopher Lee) by a monstrous Red Bull. During her journey, the unicorn makes allies in the form of a bumbling magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and a bandit woman named Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes).
Like The Flight of Dragons, The Last Unicorn is a joint venture between Rankin/Bass Productions and Topcraft, the animation studio whose collapse would give rise to Studio Ghibli. With the original book’s author, Peter S. Beagle, writing the script, the story is not only faithful, but hauntingly beautiful in how it portrays a melancholic fantasy world. Memory, regret, and the price of immortality are ever present, and while magic is aplenty, it has its limits, and every step forward in the quest comes with a forbidding feeling that, to move forward, you have to leave something behind.
‘The 7th Voyage of Sinbad’ (1958)
Image via Columbia Pictures
En route to Baghdad to marry Parisa, Princess of Chandra (Kathryn Grant), Sinbad the Sailor (Kerwin Mathews) stops at the isle of Colossa and rescues a magician named Sokurah (Torin Thatcher) from a cyclops. Sokurah demands they return to the island so he can recover a magic lamp, but Sinbad refuses, so Sokurah casts a spell that shrinks Parisa, threatening war between Baghdad and Chandra. He can brew a potion that will restore her to her true height, but he needs the shell of a Roc egg, which makes its nest on Colossa.
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is the first of a trio of Sinbad the Sailor films featuring stop-motion effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen, and might very well be one of the best adventure films ever made. While not the most complex of films, it boasts fun, archetypical characters who fit their roles perfectly, with Thatcher in particular giving a stellar performance as the film’s villain. Harryhausen’s effects are the real star though, with fantastic attention-to-detail and creative designs that interact seamlessly with the visuals, best seen when Sinbad duels with an undead warrior.
‘The Thief of Bagdad’ (1940)
A blind beggar on the streets of Basra reveals that he is Ahmad (John Justin), prince of Bagdad, who was overthrown by his treacherous vizier, Jaffar (Conrad Veidt). Before Jaffar could have him executed, Ahmad escapes the city with the help of a plucky young thief named Abu (Sabu). The two fled to Basra, and Ahmad instantly fell in love with the city’s Princess (June Duprez).
The Thief of Bagdad is one of the best films based on the One Thousand and One Nights, and its influence can be felt in other popular adaptations, such as Aladdin. It looks gorgeous, with a great mixture of on-site filming, elaborate sets, and the first use of blue screen technology, which makes the magic in the film feel even more otherworldly. The acting is also top-notch, with the standout performances coming from Sabu’s infectious optimism, Veidt’s haunting non-verbal acting, and Rex Ingram as one of cinema’s best and boisterous Djinn.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is a young hobbit who inherits the home and possessions of his uncle Bilbo Baggins (Sir Ian Holm), including a golden ring that can turn you invisible. Unfortunately, the wizard Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) reveals that it is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron (Alan Howard), with which he can dominate all the free people of Middle-earth. With a band of unlikely allies, Frodo sets off to destroy the ring by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom, but the forces of evil are gathering their strength, and war is on the horizon.
The Lord of the Rings proved that fantasy movies had the capacity to be major blockbusters, and the impact they’ve had on popular culture can still be felt. Few other movies can match them in terms of scale and production value, which not only makes the battles feel epic and the monsters legendary, but Middle-earth itself feels like a living, breathing world with an extensive history. Between that, the phenomenal performances, and the evocative music by Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings is guaranteed to keep you engaged from the opening prologue to when the last credits roll.
‘The Adventures of Prince Achmed’ (1926)
A sorcerer approaches the Caliph and offers a magical flying horse in exchange for his daughter’s hand in marriage. When the Caliph’s son, Prince Achmed, objects to the offer, the sorcerer offers to let him test it first. The horse flies off into the horizon, stranding Achmed in a far-off land and with no immediate way to get home.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is the oldest surviving animated film, and 100 years later, it’s still as mesmerizing to watch as when it was released. Its visuals are done to resemble shadow puppets—a feat accomplished by painstakingly moving pieces of cardboard against colored backgrounds—which gives off the aesthetic of a tale told around a campfire. Though not a word is spoken, the precise movements of the characters ensure that you understand every emotion at play, resulting in an unforgettable adventure.
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
A grandfather (Peter Falk) visits his sick grandson (Fred Savage) and reads him a fairy tale about a peasant girl named Buttercup (Robin Wright). After her love, Wesley (Cary Elwes), is lost at sea, she is chosen by Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) to be his bride. Unfortunately, three bandits kidnap Buttercup to try and start a war with Humperdinck’s neighbors, but they are pursued by a mysterious and highly skilled man in black.
The Princess Bride is the perfect example of comfortable fantasy, with sharp writing that helped it become one of the most quoted films in pop culture. It is very upfront with its laid-back and tongue-in-cheek style, and invites the audience to come along for the ride, have some laughs, and enjoy the sweet romantic aspects. As for the characters, they all have a fantastic rapport with one another, and the talented actors portraying them, combined with the witty dialogue, ensure that each interaction will be unique and memorable.
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Tyler B. Searle
Almontather Rassoul
