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My 15 year old son has become a very good D&D / Pathfinder player and is very into the Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery / Ancient or Medieval Period genre. I'd like to start collecting the great, must see movies of these genres on DVD for us.
So, similar to my 20 Best Soundtracks for Gaming thread, I'm looking for the 20 BEST Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery / Ancient or Medieval Period Movies that every D&D gamer should see. I did some searches here on the Paizo message boards and compiled a list of the most often mentioned movies that fit my criteria. I have 19, so we need one more.
A few notes regarding the criteria...
1. I love sci-fi but I'm NOT looking for sci-fi movies for this list (or movies set in the modern time period, for that matter). I only want Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery / Ancient or Medieval Period movies. I love Star Wars, but it doesn't belong on this list, in other words :)
2. These need to be movies that you would own on DVD and would replace right away if you lost your copy. In short, I'm NOT looking for a "what about [insert movie name] - I saw it once years ago and was kind of cool." kind of movie. I'm looking for "Oh man, [insert movie name] HAS to be on this list - it is a great, must see movie!"
3. Live Action only - I like animated movies, but for this list, I'm only looking for live action.
OK, so ... here's the list
Conan the Barbarian
The Seven Samurai
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Clash of the Titans
Excalibur
Legend
The Dark Crystal
7th Voyage of Sinbad
The 13th Warrior
Gladiator
Troy
Alexander
Braveheart
Kingdom of Heaven
Dragonslayer
300
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
Robin Hood
The Princess Bride
The Sword and the Sorcerer.
How can this not be a great sword and sorcery movie, the title even has Sword and Sorcerer in it.
I loved that movie.
Willow
Labyrinth
Highlander
The Name of the Rose
The Lion in Winter
Robin and Marian
BEOWULF!!!!!!!!!
Other then that, maybe Flesh and Blood, but other then that you have listed pretty much my favorite movies.
For an oriental twist, crouching tiger hidden dragon, hero, and house of flying daggers.
The "hobbit" started my career along with the blue blook.
I agree with ladyhawke as well, for a good, low magic fantasy.
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Great ideas everyone!
The Rankin-Bass "Hobbit" was a fun movie (my son LOVED it when he was little) but I should have mentioned I’m not looking for animated films for this list. No go for Beowulf for the same reason (plus I would not consider it a MUST have movie – it was OK, but it wasn’t GREAT). I’ve added this to the criteria in my initial post.
I thought about Willow but could not recall much about the film other than I recall liking it. Would everyone consider this a MUST SEE / MUST OWN THE DVD movie for a Gamer / D&D player? Same goes for some of the other movies mentioned – Beastmaster, The Sword and the Sorcerer, The Name of the Rose etc. Are these really MUST SEE / MUST OWN THE DVD movies?
Oh, and Highlander and Brotherhood of the Wolves are both not open for this list – neither are set in the correct time period / genre.
Keep ‘em coming – let’s get a final list of 20! If you feel strongly that a movie you mentioned belongs on this list, what movie would you remove to make room for it?
Which Robin Hood movie do you mean? I like the Fox TV version starring Patrick Bergen, Uma Thurman, and Jurgen Prochnow. Can't really go wrong with The Adventures of Robin Hood (the Errol Flynn version) either. Or do you mean the most recent version (which I haven't seen yet)?
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Oh, and Highlander and Brotherhood of the Wolves are both not open for this list – neither are set in the correct time period / genre.
Pirates of the Carribbean should take place in approximately the same time period as Brotherhood of the Wolves, if the ships and uniforms are considered (and only a few years earlier if the role of Port Royal take precedence) ;)
Jason and the Argonauts
The Neverending Story
First Knight
Great ideas everyone!
The Rankin-Bass "Hobbit" was a fun movie (my son LOVED it when he was little) but I should have mentioned I’m not looking for animated films for this list. No go for Beowulf for the same reason (plus I would not consider it a MUST have movie – it was OK, but it wasn’t GREAT). I’ve added this to the criteria in my initial post.
I thought about Willow but could not recall much about the film other than I recall liking it. Would everyone consider this a MUST SEE / MUST OWN THE DVD movie for a Gamer / D&D player? Same goes for some of the other movies mentioned – Beastmaster, The Sword and the Sorcerer, The Name of the Rose etc. Are these really MUST SEE / MUST OWN THE DVD movies?
Oh, and Highlander and Brotherhood of the Wolves are both not open for this list – neither are set in the correct time period / genre.
Keep ‘em coming – let’s get a final list of 20! If you feel strongly that a movie you mentioned belongs on this list, what movie would you remove to make room for it?
I would say Flesh and Blood very good movie for the time period 1500's has some adult themes though.
Beastmaster, Willow and Sword and the Sorcerer are a must expecially if you are looking at that fantasy genre they are a little cheesy and some adult aspects as well is nudity and some adult themes so keep that in mind when you watch.Also I am curious and as a clarification you mention Brotherhood of the Wolves is not set in the correct period but you have the Pirates of the Carribean listed there as being okay I think they are the same time period roughly French Revolution happened in the late 1700's Pirates of the Carribean early part of that century. But I suppose I am nit picking there.
I love Excalibur, Conan is one of my favorites too. Clash of the Titans I thought both the orginal and the new one had their good points and value as far as a gamer goes. Ladyhawke is also a good choice
I like the list but I would remove Alexander certianly maybe Troy and they are redundant 300 covers those time periods and I think as far as a gamer goes is a little better (my own humble opinion)I also think Willow was a btter movie than Legend. Homorable mention would be Laberinth.
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Pirates of the Carribbean should take place in approximately the same time period as Brotherhood of the Wolves, if the ships and uniforms are considered (and only a few years earlier if the role of Port Royal take precedence) ;)
Oh, and Highlander and Brotherhood of the Wolves are both not open for this list – neither are set in the correct time period / genre.
Yeah, good point. I think the Pirates movies are set a little bit earlier, but not much. I guess the Pirates movies, with early guns and cannons IS really too late for my criteria but ... I just have to make an exception since they are such great movies! We'll make this the only such exception though. My list, my rules :)
I would add in Henry V (the 1989 version directed by Kenneth Branagh). Besides a brilliant score, it has the original kick-ass inspirational speech (St. Crispin's Day, magnificent in this film) and great battle scenes - lots of blood, mud, confusion. As usual with Shakespeare, it alternates between the high (court scenes, communications between the French and English - Brian Blessed looks awesome in his full armor) and low (good impression of the less well-armored foot soldiers, their sometimes ambivalent positions on the war, the way some of them make some extra cash by looting, despite the risk). Alexander would be an easy cut to leave room for this movie. Also won an Oscar for costumes, I believe.
Jason and the Argonauts (not that horrible 200? remake - the original 1963 Ray Harryhausen masterpiece)
Golden Voyage of Sinbad (I like this one at least as much as the 7th Voyage of Sinbad)
Willow was pretty good back in the day as has, remarkably, improved slightly with age. I wouldn't say it is a 'must have' but everyone should at least watch it once.
I would put Krull here as well but it doesn't really fit the OPs criteria being a little more Sci-Fantasy.
Definitely First Knight, Dragonheart, and Ladyhawke
I also would add A Knight's Tale, Ben Hur, and Spartacus
Although it also borders the time/age thing, Bram Stoker's Dracula has some cool fantasy scenes in it, especially the start with the Order of the Dragon stuff and his fall into evil (the cross bleeding). Just way too many scenes in this to ignore (Lucy descending into the tomb, Dracula climbing the castle wall like a spider, Dracula's concubines emerging from the bed, the wolfman, the rat shapechange etc., etc.).
I also nominate Brotherhood of the Wolf which I would definitely sub in before The Seven Samurai, Excalibur or The Dark Crystal.
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Which Robin Hood movie do you mean? I like the Fox TV version starring Patrick Bergen, Uma Thurman, and Jurgen Prochnow. Can't really go wrong with The Adventures of Robin Hood (the Errol Flynn version) either. Or do you mean the most recent version (which I haven't seen yet)?
Good question ...
I'm not sure - I guess I just feel strongly that ONE of them should be on the list :)
The one with Kevin Cosner was a fun movie with lots of D&D style action and adventure. Plus, Alan Rickman is the Sherrif of Notingham is hard to beat.
How was the new one with Russell Crowe? I have not seen it yet. Of these two, which one should make it onto the list?
The new movie has a very cool look/feel to it, and being a very big fan of Ridley Scott, I liked that part. As to what happens in it, it has one foot in history and the other in fantasy...but I have to say, I didn't really enjoy it that much. Some of the things that happened in the movie made me shake my head and the story didn't really hold my interest.
If you're gonna put Kingdom of Heaven, make sure its the directors cut, because that version is priceless IMO. The movie version was...uhhmmm kinda garbage compared to the Directors cut.
The new movie has a very cool look/feel to it, and being a very big fan of Ridley Scott, I liked that part. As to what happens in it, it has one foot in history and the other in fantasy...but I have to say, I didn't really enjoy it that much. Some of the things that happened in the movie made me shake my head and the story didn't really hold my interest.
If you're gonna put Kingdom of Heaven, make sure its the directors cut, because that version is priceless IMO. The movie version was...uhhmmm kinda garbage compared to the Directors cut.
(+1) on the Kingdom of Heaven comment
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Although it also borders the time/age thing, Bram Stoker's Dracula has some cool fantasy scenes in it, especially the start with the Order of the Dragon stuff and his fall into evil (the cross bleeding). Just way too many scenes in this to ignore (Lucy descending into the tomb, Dracula climbing the castle wall like a spider, Dracula's concubines emerging from the bed, the wolfman, the rat shapechange etc., etc.).
Who was in this? Am I crazy or was Jeri Ryan from Star Trek Voyager in this?
EDIT - Never mind, I'm thinking of Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000
Great ideas everyone!
The Name of the Rose etc. Are these really MUST SEE / MUST OWN THE DVD movies?
The Name of the Rose is one of the most accurate portrayals of the middle Ages. Most of the props are so accurate that they are in museums, not as movie props - as accurate replica
Many, many people here in europe (including me) name this film under the 3 best movies of all time, it is an absolute classic and sean Connery's most iconic appearance ever (ignoring the younger Connery as Bond of course)Highlande is a mediveal time as well (but not really accurat) but a great fun film, I would include it if I where you
three musceteers is to late, I think? good film, so (the one with tim curry)
how about underworld-3, no modern time scenes in that part
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OK, here is the slightly revised list. There are a few questions or qualifiers after some of them – let’s hear opinions! Remember, we now have 20 on the list, so if you feel strongly that a different movie should be on the list, you have to suggest which title should get knocked off!
Conan the Barbarian
The Seven Samurai
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Clash of the Titans Which one though – the original or the 2010 remake?
Excalibur
Legend
The Dark Crystal
7th Voyage of Sinbad
The 13th Warrior
Gladiator
Troy
Willow
Braveheart
Kingdom of Heaven Director’s Cut
Dragonslayer OR Dragonheart Which one most deserves to be in this slot?
300
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
Robin Hood Which one though – the Kevin Cosner version or the 2010 remake?
The Princess Bride
King Arthur
Heh heh I still shout BEOWULF!!!
For some reason I love that movie, but as for Dragonslayer vs Dragonheart, I would say 100% Dragonslayer, that movie is still awesome; I've been watching it on my netflicks like crazy. I love the dialogue for Ulrich, his lines when talking to Valerian are so goooood.
Although it also borders the time/age thing, Bram Stoker's Dracula has some cool fantasy scenes in it, especially the start with the Order of the Dragon stuff and his fall into evil (the cross bleeding). Just way too many scenes in this to ignore (Lucy descending into the tomb, Dracula climbing the castle wall like a spider, Dracula's concubines emerging from the bed, the wolfman, the rat shapechange etc., etc.).
Who was in this? Am I crazy or was Jeri Ryan from Star Trek Voyager in this?
EDIT - Never mind, I'm thinking of Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000
Pretty huge cast: Gary Oldman as Dracula, Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Cary Elwes, Monica Belluci. Sticks pretty good to the book too although Keanu Reeves was terribly miscast with his "surfer dude" quality in Victorian London.
Definitely First Knight, Dragonheart, and Ladyhawke
I also would add A Knight's Tale, Ben Hur, and Spartacus
Ben Hur and Spartacus are absolute classics.
And though I love A Knight's Tale, I'm not sure I'd add it. It's more of a sports movie than a period piece. However, it could serve as the inspiration for a light-hearted D&D/PF game that doesn't worry so much about being really period rather than just plain fun.
I'd certainly include it in a list before Excalibur, a film I have come to loathe more every time I see it.
13th Warrior was such a terrible movie... how is that still on the list?
OK, here is the slightly revised list. There are a few questions or qualifiers after some of them – let’s hear opinions! Remember, we now have 20 on the list, so if you feel strongly that a different movie should be on the list, you have to suggest which title should get knocked off!
Conan the Barbarian
The Seven Samurai
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Clash of the Titans Which one though – the original or the 2010 remake?
Excalibur
Legend
The Dark Crystal
7th Voyage of Sinbad
The 13th Warrior
Gladiator
Troy
Willow
Braveheart
Kingdom of Heaven Director’s Cut
Dragonslayer OR Dragonheart Which one most deserves to be in this slot?
300
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
Robin Hood Which one though – the Kevin Cosner version or the 2010 remake?
The Princess Bride
King Arthur
Flesh & Blood or LadyHawke should be in there before King Arthur esepcially since you have Excaibur in there already a much better film than King Arthur in my humble opinion. Ruger Hauer is at his finest in the role of the mercenary leader in Flesh and Blood and plays a good lost hero in Ladyhawke.
I think you are also doing a disservice to Sword and the Sorcery and Beast Master but I can understand you leaving them out but they deserve an honorable mention at least they have their merits despite the cheese factor.
Yea Flesh and Blood was a pretty gritty movie and I was surprised at how pretty brutal it was in regards to the treatment of their soldiers/mercenaries and all the double crossing; I need to get that movie...
The Gamers II: Dorkness Rising
A movie about fantasy gaming, but it has lots of great scenes that are filmed 'in character'.
- My 12 year who started playing D&D recently loves it and says that it helped him learn some parts of the game.
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Monty Python and the quest for the holy grail (because some people like humor in their game) The fact that no one mentioned it yet astonishes me.
Great movie! I guess I was looking for "serious" movies, not funny ones, although I certainly never actually verbalized that in the criteria!
Let's put Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail on the Honorable Mention list!
OK, here is the slightly revised list. There are a few questions or qualifiers after some of them – let’s hear opinions! Remember, we now have 20 on the list, so if you feel strongly that a different movie should be on the list, you have to suggest which title should get knocked off!
Clash of the Titans Which one though – the original or the 2010 remake?
Dragonslayer OR Dragonheart Which one most deserves to be in this slot?
Robin Hood Which one though – the Kevin Cosner version or the 2010 remake?
I haven't seen either of these remakes yet, so my opinion is based on trailers, clips, web stuff etc.
Clash of the Titans 2010 remake. Less cheese, more action. I love the original, but the remake looks amazing.
Dragonslayer Hands down. I liked Dragonheart, but Dragon slayer is more 'epic'.
Robin Hood Kevin Cosner version. (I think) This one is tough to call before I see the new one.
I can't imagine why no one else has listed Hawk the Slayer. That movie was great and yes, I do own it on DVD. It was certainly a better D&D movie than Dungeons and Dragons the Movie was.
Very true about it being better than the D&D movie. I was mulling over suggesting it (I have it on DVD) but this is supposed to be about good movies and not so bad, it's awesome movies.
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I can't imagine why no one else has listed Hawk the Slayer. That movie was great and yes, I do own it on DVD. It was certainly a better D&D movie than Dungeons and Dragons the Movie was.Very true about it being better than the D&D movie. I was mulling over suggesting it (I have it on DVD) but this is supposed to be about good movies and not so bad, it's awesome movies.
Well, it does have an future Oscar winner: Jack Palance.
That makes it good doesn't it?
Well, maybe not. However, I don't think that it was any worse than The Beastmaster.
I can't imagine why no one else has listed Hawk the Slayer. That movie was great and yes, I do own it on DVD. It was certainly a better D&D movie than Dungeons and Dragons the Movie was.Very true about it being better than the D&D movie. I was mulling over suggesting it (I have it on DVD) but this is supposed to be about good movies and not so bad, it's awesome movies.Well, it does have an future Oscar winner: Jack Palance.
That makes it good doesn't it?
Well, maybe not. However, I don't think that it was any worse than The Beastmaster.
Anything with Jack Palance is automatically good...
Aside from looking at a very young Angelina Jolie, that's the only reason why I watch Cyborg 2, just to hear his line "If you're gonna dine with the devil, you better use a looooooong spoon."|
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I can't imagine why no one else has listed Hawk the Slayer. That movie was great and yes, I do own it on DVD. It was certainly a better D&D movie than Dungeons and Dragons the Movie was.Very true about it being better than the D&D movie. I was mulling over suggesting it (I have it on DVD) but this is supposed to be about good movies and not so bad, it's awesome movies.
Bingo! We're looking for the great movies not, as you so perfectly put it so bad, it's awesome movies. As much as I love cheese as a food, I think it needs to be kept out of the movies on this list :)
You seem to have overlooked a few classics...
The original Errol Flynn Robin Hood leaves its imitators in the dust.
Danny Kaye's The Court Jester... "The pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle!"
It may fall into the "so bad, it's good" category, but I'm a big fan of Army of Darkness.
For fans of Chinese film, I'd recommend Iron Monkey over Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Chinese Ghost Story is another great Hong Kong flick, filled with hokey low-budget special effects, but still classic. A down-on-his-luck tax collector needs a place to stay, so the townsfolk send him to an ominous temple, infested with seductive ghosts, withered vampiric corpses, and other undead horrors. It features romance, action, horror, and the largest undead tongue ever seen on film...
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These may not be good enough for a short list of the best, but here are a few fantasy/sword and sandal flicks that deserve a mention:
Beowulf and Grendel - Iceland's contribution to Beowulf's screen legacy is better than pretty much every other film based on this story.
Kibakichi (and Kibakichi 2) - a samurai werewolf battles demons and yakuza in feudal Japan.
Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight - Not a spectacular film but Sean Connery does a great job as The Green Knight, Peter Cushing has a bit part and John Rhys-Davies shows up as a baron. (Miles O'Keefe, the star of this movie, also appeared in Blademaster, Ator the Fighting Eagle and Iron Warrior.)
Strings - A Norwegian fantasy about a world populated solely by marionettes and a prince's quest to avenge his father. Very, very cool.
Did nobody here like The Last Legion? I thought it was entertaining.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Dragonslayer is much better than Dragonheart, IMO. It is an edgier film, and the magic aspect is much more interesting. Vermithrax would kick Draco's butt, too!
+infinity
The stop-motion and practical dragon models from 1981 have aged a lot better than the CGI of 1996.
Add to that the fact that the creature design for Vermithrax was probably the all-time best dragon in movie history, with the possible exception of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.
Mostly, though, it's because Dragonslayer is entirely serious in tone, with a few very light moments, and those (wholly in-character). No jokes, no sight gags, no intentionally ridiculous or over-the-top characters (I'm looking at you Peter Postlethwaite and David Thewlis).
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I can't imagine why no one else has listed Hawk the Slayer. That movie was great and yes, I do own it on DVD. It was certainly a better D&D movie than Dungeons and Dragons the Movie was.Very true about it being better than the D&D movie. I was mulling over suggesting it (I have it on DVD) but this is supposed to be about good movies and not so bad, it's awesome movies.Well, it does have an future Oscar winner: Jack Palance.
That makes it good doesn't it?
Well, maybe not. However, I don't think that it was any worse than The Beastmaster.
Ditto. If Hawk is banned on cheese grounds, Beastmaster is right behind it. Enjoyable, but 100% 24-karat golden cheddar.