[Roheryn]

And ... I have to ask this. Why didn't Aragorn have THE sword with him throughout all three movies? He had it with him from the beginning of FOTR in the book, in his sheath in two halves, not twenty pieces, and then he had it forged in Rivendell, then took it with him on the quest.

Ih... the sword thing annoyed me... but it wasn't bad...

[James Somers]

I loved Legend. The storyline was pretty week, but the way the movie was shot and the AMAZING diversity of fantasy characters was incredible. I'd be willing to be that Peter Jackson's vision of what Orcs look like came from Legend. Tim Curry was brilliant as the devil--showed that even he, the Tempter, could be tempted. And what was that thing beneath the water, the sea hag or something like that? That scared the Corn Pops out of me. :D

I'm hoping they'll put out an anniversary edition of Legend on DVD. I'd love to get something with behind-the-scenes stuff to watch. {I know, I'm a geek for that kind of thing though}

Let's see, fantasy stinkers, hmmm:

Two in the LOVE/HATE category:
The original cartoon of The Hobbit--loved it because of the art, the characterization of Gandalf and esp. Smaug, but that doofy, falsetto guy singing on the soundtrack--eeek, what was that about?

Ralph Bashki's Lord of the Rings Movie/Animated Movie--I've read some people's scathing thoughts on this. I actually liked it. I thought Frodo and Gandalf were well done. Aragorn looked like a goon, and Samwise, well, they made him a blithering idiot. But my favorite part was Lothlorien. I thought Bashki was SPOT ON with Galadriel--even better than Peter Jackson's version. IMHO. I guess the only thing I hated about it was that there were no sequels. It ended with the fellowship.

I'm sure there must have been some fantasy movie I hated, but I tend to forget movies I don't like.

Hey, that Legend, under water bog witch or whatever it was--was one of the scariest things I've ever seen to date in a movie--completely freaky looking. I loved the Hobbit cartoon, but hated the Lord of the Rings cartoon for this reason--all of the orcs were so dark that I couldn't see anything. It gave me a headache just trying to watch all of those shadows moving about in the battle sequences. Otherwise it could have been cool.

Are we including Sci-fi Fantasy in this listing? There really are too many, but here are some major disappointments for me...Star Trek 5, the one Shatner directed...oh man, it was like a bad root canal...yeah is there a good one?

I also thought the "lovey dovey" scenes in star wars Aotc were so horribly forced that it really threw a wrench into an otherwise good prequel sequel. I realize the acting never touched the caliber of the originals, but at least the effects were better and the increased lightsaber fights were nice.

James

[galacticlord]

You can throw in sci-fi if you want.

Star Trek V wasn't one of the good ones, but I've never really met a Trek film I couldn't watch.

Yeah, the romantic dialogue in AOTC was truly horrible. Why couldn't George Lucas find someone else to write those scenes? He admits he's not a very good writer. It wasn't very good in ROTS either.

[alexrider12]

Eragon-the book's good, not the best, but good coming from a boy who started writing at fifteen. But the movie, oh man what a stinker. The acting was laughable, corny lines, and way too much deviated from the book. To enjoy Eragon, you must treat it as a comedy, instead of a fantasy film

Earthsea tv movie- NO! I hate it! Too much deviates from Ursula Le Guin's masterpiece, if she hated it, then you know it must be bad. Tip:Avoid this trash at all costs

A Wrinkle in Time tv movie: Lesson 1 in book adaptation: do not try and modernize the book, leave it the way it is, searching tesseracts on the computer, IT drinking slushies with Calvin, Mrs. Whatsit talking through a tv., and I know not important but, instead of liver sandwiches and hot cocoa, we get peanut butter and jelly and hot cocoa at the beginning, when the whole family eats together. I'm sorry but everything about this film must have left poor Madeleine L'engle in tears.

Movies that I hope are not disasters:
The Dark is Rising
Spiderwick Chronicles
Stardust:Which I am seeing today!
The Golden Compass

I agree with most of your comment. I like the Wrinkle in Time movie. The music gets stuck in your head. (Then again, I'm a music nut, too, so...) I haven't seen the Earthsea TV movie, but I love the books, so I might just pass this one by. What you say about Eragon is 100% true. You might like the book, but you'll probably dislike the movie. If nothing else, for too many plot holes.

Watching Ralph Bakshi's LOTR is a soul eating experience. From start, with those pathetic shadow fighters, to finish, with Gandalf riding in on his smiling horse, gypsy music playing in the background, as he kills with bloody efficiency no less than four orcs in close-up.

The Dark is Rising: Trailer looks good, but it looked good for Eragon.

Spiderwick Chronicles: This one has so much potential... I've got my fingers double-crossed.

Stardust: I really want to see this movie.

The Golden Compass: The series got worse as it went on, so GC was the best of the three. I'll probably see it.

I'll add the Inkheart movie to the list.

[Big_Dave]

The Hobbit cartoon is pretty good. However, I really don't like the portrayal of Gollum. In the books, his speech is very simialar to Peter Jackson's trilogy. I just don't feel that the cartoon really captured him well. The song at the beginning is darn near the best part of the whole movie. "This is the greatest adventure" If you want to see something truly horrendous, search youtube for the video of Leonard Nimoy's Ballad of Bilbo Baggins. WORST SONG EVER!!!!!!!!! Now that my ramblings are over, I really have nothing more to add.

[fantastyfreak]

I remember laughing at some parts of the Hobbit cartoon, but I still have nostalgia for it. I remember seeing it for the first time when I was four on Disney Channel, when Disney Channel used to be good and had such classics as Darkwing Duck and Duck Tales, and Return to Oz (Best 80s movie ever other than Princess Bride) Anyways, anyone looking for a fantasy film to go see, I highly recommend Stardust. Even if you have not read the book, you will still highly enjoy it. It was the best movie this summer, it had great humor, classic storyline, and whimsical characters (the onstage antics of Captain Shakespere and the part at the inn with the witch had me spitting out my soda, b/c it was so funny) Awesome movie! My one friend and me saw it again yesterday and now wanna see it for a third time. I am so glad Hollywood got one thing right! I was watching the previews and I nearly passed out watching the Beowulf trailer, it looks awesome and I can not wait to see it. It is being done in 3d animation as Final Fantasy Advent Children is. Also, The Dark is Rising, looks okay, but why do they have to modernize it, sorry, but the movie is started to smell like A Wrinkle in Time, with its over modernization of things. I still have hope though! Anyways, Go see Stardust, if you are looking for a good fantasy film to see. Oh... and Pais Chaos, there is a unicorn in the movie!

[Ouroboros]

I recently saw the trailer for 'The Dark is Rising'.

Arrrgh. The original Susan Cooper novels were riddled with dark threads of horror and brilliantly evoked a kind of wickerman-for-children ambience.

The movie adaption looks twee, badly-acted and americanized (only something I object to when it's done this badly, and when one of the strengths of the source material is its quintessential englishness).