Favorite Fantasy Movies?

[ratscout]

Hi all, as I work on my story for the Writer's Camp, I like to watch movies for inspiration. Mine's a fantasy, but it's also for a (more) mature audience. The thing is, it's really hard to think of fantasy movies that are good and for adults, haha. Do y'all have any suggestions (preferably live action but you can suggest animated, too)?
I mean, there's Excalibur of course which is one of my favorite movies in general, but I can't think of many others. Excalibur had a great screenplay, beautiful cinematography, and great acting, though. 0u0

Oooo I guess there's Pan's Labyrinth and of course Lord of the Rings, but I kind of want more obscure ones.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Pan's Labyrinth was one of my fave! I watched it together with friends for English Class back then in junior high. I think the pale man is kinda cool.

I can't think any of it right now... But I think I enjoyed "A Monster Calls" (or whatever it's called), I never get to read the book though. Also Cameron Diaz's Avatar... If it's considered fantasy.

[KoreanTacos]

The Never Ending Story is for whatever reason the only non-anime fantasy movie I can think of right off the top of my head that I actually like.

[Penni]

Lord of the Rings, Pan Labytinth, The Princess Bride (I'm going to count that as fantasy lol), and Fantastic Beasts are at the top of my list.

[skicoak]

I'm always down to pimp BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF.

It's 18th century based but it still counts.

[rmdooley]

Lord of the Rings is the obvious favorite but I adore Princess Mononoke

[Penni]

Princess Mononoke is my all time favorite Miyazaki film

[Raven_C]

Ghibli's The Cat Returns doesn't get enough credit; I love it!

When Marnie Was There is also a good one - a ghost story of sorts with a surprising twist at the end.

Most of the fantasy films I like are all-ages friendly.

[Penni]

I haven't seen Marnie yet but I agree with The Cat Returns! I was fantastic

[bakasama25]

So, can these suggestions can be fun, stupid, and entertaining. Or want something more serious.

[Kura]

Dragonheart was my fav fantasy movie as a little kid. It's pretty lighthearted despite the death and sacrifice plot, def made for kids in mind I think. I loved that dragon.

Pan's Labyrinth I really loved when that one came out.

A Monster Calls is another one I watched and enjoyed recently that kinda has a slightly similar feel to Pan's Labyrinth, but much less dark and a less involved in it's fantasy elements, also a lot less fantasy than the other two, more like a more modern fantasy (though I was a fuking mess after watching it cause I went in not knowing what the movie was about, annnnnnnnnnnd the reason I was watching a movie was for a break dealing with someone on the final most aggressive stages of cancer so fuking aaaaaaaaaaaaadsjhdasdkjaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddhhhhhaaaaa)

[lartianmartian1]

I really really enjoyed the miniseries adaptation of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, even after having read the book, which I love.

Hmm, more obscure films though? Maybe not to most folks on this site, but let's see...

• The Dark Crystal (Jim Henson, fairly kid friendly, but with some freaky puppetry)

• Labyrinth (same, it's Jim Henson of course)

• The Witches (deeply disturbing "kid's" film, based on Roald Dahl, also brought to scary life by Jim Henson puppetry/effects)

• Alice, 1988 (profoundly disturbing stop-motion take on Alice in Wonderland that I would not show to young children, probably the most inventive adaptation of the story to date, quite literally)

• MirrorMask and Coraline (both are Neil Gaiman stories about girls trapped in fantasy worlds, but all-ages, but still good!)

• Wings of Desire (German, a story about angels, slow-moving, deeply philosophical, so it's very adult in that sense)

• The Crow (dark urban fantasy, that one where the lead actor died on set, so a tragic real-life story to add to the already tragic background of this moving, moody piece)

• The Last Unicorn (another animated one, based on the classic novel, technically all-ages, but so mature in it's storytelling and characterization it hurts, I doubt kid me would've enjoyed it aside from the gorgeous character design of that title beast)

• The Fisher King (in keeping with the Arthurian legend theme you started, directed by Terry Gilliam, technically not a straight up fantasy, but includes fantastical hallucinations, beautiful, moving, absurdly funny, Robin Williams is in it so you're in for a lot of feels)

[ratscout]

! I forgot about a monster calls! Great choice!

[ratscout]

You guys are naming ones I like that I forgot about which is great! I need to make up a list for myself to watch!

[ratscout]

Ooooo the Princess Bride! And Fantastic Beasts is one I forgot about but want to see! And eeep I love Princess Mononoke so much. I can't believe I forgot about it!

[fischhead]

Anything involving Ray Harryhausen's special effects is usually good (7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, 3 Worlds of Gulliver, etc.)

Gulliver's Travels (1996)

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)

The Silver Chair (1990)

Jack the Giant Killer (1962)

[dawgofdawgness]

I really liked Shape of Water, even though it was pretty cheesy and over the top. It was still enjoyable and watching stuff in that time period always makes me so happyyyy also, the design and aesthetic of the movie is really charming!!

[ratscout]

I think most fantasy films in general are family friendly which is why I was scratching my head trying to think of more mature ones XD. I've never heard of When Marnie Was There, though. It sounds really neat though.

[MariMontoya]

Lord of the Rings
Stardust
Princess Bride
The 1st Chronicles of Narnia
Pans Labyrinth
There's some old ones too which can't come to mind right now

[ratscout]

I LOVE the 7th Voyage of Sinbad! Thank you for reminding me of all the glorious Harryhausen stuffs~!