we tend to talk a lot about 80s comedies, romance, horror, and dance movies..but there were some great fantasy movies from the 80s as well!
adventure/fantasy
light and darkness/good v.s evil..
battle to save the world..
musical fantasy
what are your favorites? i compiled a list taken from other sites and various blogs:
Willow Legend The Neverending Story Dragonslayer Conan The Barbarian Conan The Destroyer Red Sonja The Last Starfighter Masters Of The Universe The Dark Crystal Time Bandits Krull Beastmaster Labyrinth Krull The Princess Bride Clash Of The Titans The Secret Of Nimh Xanadu
and i know there are many more.. probably way more than i am familiar with?
i have been wanting to hear more fantasy movie music...please help recommend some!
i was listening to some Tangerine Dream tracks from the Legend soundtrack, including the song i posted above (Loved By The Sun)..great song! it was through the rewind, that i learned about TD and the various movies they did music for... and we all are familiar with the main song to The Neverending Story by Limahl..still a great tune.
please share the ones you like. Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
This thread is magical.. I soooo love the the pics! I'll post more later..
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
What a list Ronnie! I love these types of movies. My faves are Legend, The Neverending story, Conan the Barbarian, Willow, and The Dark Crystal. I will add "The Barbarians" to that list as well. Great B movie! The scores and soundtracks to these fantasy flicks are magical in itself.... I so wanted to enter one of these worlds as a kid watching.... still kinda do now!
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
Love the pictures Ronnie!
My mom was always the one that rented these movies back then, along with the VCR...she loved Willow and Legend.....she helped expose them to me it's funny cause now as a 50 something she's really into Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.....would you guys qualify those as the same type of film for nowadays?
I really don't think they are as magical as the 80s favs..........but close?
Good call on the soundtracks Ronnie....I haven't really looked into that much........it's going to be cool if anyone has any "lesser known" fantasy movies to suggest?
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
thanks you guys
..just trying to be a little creative haha.
these types of movies tend to have a lot of score music. and i love that...
for me, willow is one of my favorite fantasy movies. i heart warwick davis! my brother is a big fan of his, and recently read his bio, "size matters not." and the book revealed so much about his career...from when he was cast as Wicket, the ewok in Return of the Jedi, then Willow, The Leprechaun..all the way to the Harry Potter films.
i found this great interview online, with warwick, discussing the movies and his current projects.
I have loved Legend since I saw it opening week in London's West End in the original cut with the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, not the butchered version that played theatrically in the U.S. I met Ridley Scott once. He's a world-class filmmaker...so many masterpieces.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Ronnie.. you know I'm a Tom Cruise fan and have become a "Legend" fan after watching the director's cut..
But the real question is: Did you ever score The Lord of Darkness?
If not, you might want to put it on your Amazon wishlist..
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
"Willow" is an awesome flick, but my fav fantasy film is "Labyrinth"..
David Bowie is wicked in it.. and of course, he brings the tunes. I've never told anyone this before, but I actually went to a Rocky Horror type of experience for the movie "Labyrinth" with a group of girls years ago. I was embarrassed at first, but looking around I was one of like fives guys in the theater and suddenly I realized that being a "Labyrinth" fan was a good thing. We made total fools of ourselves singing along to the tunes in the movie, but I have to admit it was blast! Great memory.
"Dance the magic dance!"
In honor of this thread, I'm watching "Labyrinth" on Blu-ray on my newly installed Samsung tv. The world is popping off the screen.. so awesome!!
I won't totally give away the ending for anyone that might not have seen "Labyrinth" yet, but I connect with it. Meaning that even though I've been forced to grow up.. I still live that ending in my 80's imagination that I will never let die!
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
valley how dare you tease me with that lord of darkness picture! it's been like 5 years, since i cried how badly i wanted it,..but i don't have it. it's just too much darn money. i've accepted that *sniff*
that is a great pic of bowie and connelly.
i don't own Labyrinth and i can't recall when i last saw it. enjoy the movie on your new tv!
i am interested in watching some that i have never seen.. like Krull? never saw that one.
what about Masters of The Universe? frank langella was great as evil Skeletor.
i saw the pics of the new captain america movie's Red Skull.. reminds me of Skeletor in a way? Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
My mates give me stick about liking The Princess Bride, but I stand by it. It is a great film. It's inconceivable.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Great thread Ronnie!
Here´s some suggestions with an edge:
Excalibur (1981) is one of the best without a doubt.
Of course i love all the movies which takes place in Hyborian Age:
Conan the Barbarian (1982).............. Conan the Destroyer (1984)............ Red Sonja (1985)
The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) is a bit sleazier but highly entertaining epic.
And finally there´s The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) which is for true b- movie fanatics only
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
aTomiK, I am just about to watch Conan The Barbarian.
This is another classic:
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Yes, Ladyhawke is a good one. Watched it last november myself.
My list of favorites would look a little something like this...
1. Highlander 2. The Neverending Story 3. Heavy Metal 4. Excalibur 5. Conan The Barbarian 6. Flight of the Navigator 7. Clash of the Titans 8. Flash Gordon 9. Conan The Destroyer 10. The Sword & The Sorcerer
Honorable Mentions (11-20)
11. Red Sonja 12. Masters of the Universe 13. Sheena 14. Ladyhawke 15. Return to Oz 16. Labyrinth 17. Dragonslayer 18. Willow 19. The Black Cauldron 20. The Secret of NIMH
[ 11. March 2011, 14:40: Message edited by: The Pyromantic ]
Posted by kevdugp73 (Member # 5978) on :
Beastmaster was a fav of mine as a kid. One of those movies that was always on the older movie station (First Choice)...I've literally seen it at least 20 times. Obviously low budget and some bad acting....but I loves it so. Never did watch the TV series...nor do I plan to!
I'm actually surprised looking at the list re how many popular ones I've never seen....The Neverending Story, Willow, Legend....
Great thread Ronnie!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Wait a second.. some of you have mentioned a few wicked flicks I didn't know they fell into the 'life is just a fantasy' realm.. so of all the movies suggested to this point..
Here's my top 5:
1. Heavy Metal 2. Flash Gordon 3. Labyrinth 4. Willow 5. Legend
Muffy.. do you think "Vicious Lips" qualifies? If so, The Lord of Darkness might be disappointed that I just drop him due to Ronnie's lack of purchase.
[ 10. March 2011, 08:54: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
THE SPARKLES AND THE SNOWFLAKES! MY EYEEEEEEEES!
Many of the films listed are different types, so I'd have trouble comparing them directly with each other. 'Labyrinth' for instance, has no resemblance to 'Dragonslayer' or 'The Last Starfighter' beyond an adventure.
Actually, since you had things like 'Starfighter' and 'Xanadu' on the list, there's a whole bunch of 'fantasy' movies that could go on, even things like the Star Wars trilogy and E.T. Both have sc-fi aspects, but they're essentially fantasies.
quote:i have been wanting to hear more fantasy movie music...please help recommend some!
You have your list... you have Youtube for some samples... go fetch! Two of my favourites from the list are 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Neverending Story' (but most have good instrumental soundtracks).
Cliches, but John Williams and Jerry Goldmith did tons of great scores in the 80's (and before).
quote:I actually went to a Rocky Horror type of experience for the movie "Labyrinth" with a group of girls years ago. I was embarrassed at first, but looking around I was one of like fives guys in the theater and suddenly I realized that being a "Labyrinth" fan was a good thing.
As opposed to a 'bad' thing? You looked around and saw the male to female ratio and said "Score!" and high-fived your friends! You animal...
Serious question though; when did Labyrinth become a 'girls' film? My memory of its release and life on video from the 80's right through the 90's, was that it was considered a good family movie (for boys and girls) something akin to 'Dark Crystal' or 'The Neverending Story'. But since the internet it's increasingly become more... eh... 'sparkly'. Just wondering aloud.
quote:i am interested in watching some that i have never seen.. like Krull? never saw that one.
'Krull' is a bit formulaic, but it has some nice moments and characters: "I am Urgo - short in stature, tall in power, narrow of purpose and wide of vision."
quote:Excalibur (1981) is one of the best without a doubt.
I watched it again recently and was sorely disappointed. I found Arthur to be almost 'dumb', and Merlin to be well-acted - but a fool. It grated.
quote:i saw the pics of the new captain america movie's Red Skull.. reminds me of Skeletor in a way?
They both have skull faces. Mind you, the Red Skull well predates He-Man. I always loved Frank Langella's performance as Skeletor. It was the strongest thing about the MotU movie (Evil-Lynn was good, too).
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
Vicious Lips could qualify Valley.....in a bad "b" movie kind of way for sure........remember those funky creatures lol
Posted by John Kreese (Member # 9369) on :
Some good movies here. I'll add this one.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
quote:Originally posted by kevdugp73: Beastmaster was a fav of mine as a kid. One of those movies that was always on the older movie station (First Choice)...I've literally seen it at least 20 times. Obviously low budget and some bad acting....but I loves it so. Never did watch the TV series...nor do I plan to!
I'm actually surprised looking at the list re how many popular ones I've never seen....The Neverending Story, Willow, Legend....
Great thread Ronnie!
I have not seen legend but I think it is definitely worth checking out The Neverending Story and Willow.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Ronnie.. after watching "Streets Of Fire" tonight.. I think it might just qualify and move to #1 on my fantasy movie list!
"Tonight is what it means to be young"
[ 10. March 2011, 23:58: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Diane Lane was smoking back then.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
i love streets of fire
it says, "a rock fantasy"... i'll take it.
btw, i love Pyro's list!
Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
Labyrinth is my no 1 for sure. I really like Legend and The Company of Wolves too.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
walmart has clash of the titans in the $5 bin!..with a horrible cover...it totally didn't look like hamlin, to me. :-\
labyrinth blu-ray is only going for $15.00 and $10.00 for regular dvd, also at walmart.
i recently acquired the last starfighter on blu-ray for $10.00 as well!
those are some great steals for our favorite 80's fantasy movies.
and i also wanted to add, that the willow commentary is awesome...warwick davis, all by himself, does a terrific job. if you haven't heard it, i think you would enjoy it! check it out. Posted by The Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
ty Ronnie....i enjoyed the davis commentaries too..
Posted by The Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
I think I might have to replace Red Sonja on my list with another...after watching it again recently I now realize it doesn't hold up as one of my favs anymore..
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
cool, pyro!
and i caught a piece of Red Sonja the other day....meh...
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
I watched "Legend" in HD for the first time this weekend and it really was impressive from both a picture and sound perspective. When the Lord of Darkness emerges on the screen.. the colors just pop in a way like never before.
Now, I'm totally interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on the newly released blu-ray! I wasn't going to upgrade to it, but now I'm intrigued especially after reading this about it:
"Legend" is presented in an Ultimate Edition BD, featuring two versions of the movie: the 114-minute director's cut and the 94-minute theatrical cut.
Special features include:
Commentary with Ridley Scott (on the director's cut) Isolated music score by Tangerine Dream (on the theatrical cut) Lost scenes Creating a Myth: The Making of Legend Music video: Byan Ferry, "Is Your Love Strong Enough" Theatrical trailers TV spots Photo gallery My Scenes BD-Live Pocket BLU App
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
The fact that this is a new cut with commentary is definitely a big pull. Wonder what he changed?
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Logan .. my understanding is that Ridley Scott originally planned to release "Legend" in the 114 minute version.. but he listened to concerned feedback from a test screening and converted it to the 98 minute version most of us know. He has stated more than once that he wishes in hindsight he had stuck with the original version.
Has anyone else ever seen the alternate ending?
I know Ronnie has the blu-ray in her possession, but she is currently struggling to find time to watch it. Get on that Ronster! Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
Valley, I watched the director's cut this morning. Wow, lots of little changes. And the ending was just not the same without the song, Loved by The Sun, which I love. It made the ending less memorable without the song. But! I will say that I enjoyed the Jerry Goldsmith score just as much as the Tangerine Dream one! I have the 25th anniversary edition of the soundtrack with TD and not hearing it in the background, changes the movie a bit. The scenes are more extended and the shots are done from further angles as well.
My favorite scene is still where Lily is charmed and dances... then the Lord appears.
Valley, you were right. The lighting in the blu-ray was fantastic. Every speckle and shimmer.. the snow, the water... I loved it!
The movie takes a bit to get going at the start.. I kept thinking of the Oona thread that Bamersy started a while back. She is super cool and her lines are awesome.
The whispering throughout the movie always kind of bugged me... Tom and Mia whisper their lines way too much. For a fantasy movie, it tends to be pretty quiet throughout.
It had been a while since I watched it, in it's entirety. I will be making time to watch the features on the disc!
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it's just too much darn money. i've accepted that *sniff* 
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