[Giarc]

I suspect that technical difficulties in creating believable creatures may have also restricted the deveopment of fantasy movies. It has really only been in the last decade or so that special effects and CGI have been able to deal with the challenge of believable dragons etc. Since these elements are a large part of fantasy, and such effects cost mega bucks, it makes them less profitable than cheaper genres. IMHO
I suspect that as the cost of special effects decreases we may see more fantasy movies.

[FitzChivalry]

About sci fi movies, that genre by nature has less huge sagas and more short stories or books that you can make a movie from.
And the biggest blockbusters ever were sci fi movies (ET, Jurasic Park, Star Wars, Back to the Future, Close Encounters of the 3d kind, Matrix, etc.), the people love it, so eventhough they usually cost more than the average movie it still pays off.

[Pluvious]

They actually made quite a few fantasy movies in the late 70's and early 80's. Unortunately, most were low budget. But movies such as Conan, Legend, Excalibur, and Dragonslayer did well. If fantasy movies were done well I have little doubt that people would go see them. Its as simple as that.

Look at Braveheart or Gladiator, historical movies that did very well. You don't think people would go see a movie that had fantasic elements in it? Oh, I think they would.

[Mazrim Taim]

And what about the upcoming Final Fantasy movie?

[FitzChivalry]

Final Fantasy is sci fi it seems... also it's animation and doesn't require as big budget as normal movies.

[ethanx]

Well I hate to put a damper on our already slim hopes, but it appears as we will have to wait for the first LOTR release in December of 2001 to see a good fantasy movie come out. I have read critics screening reviews of the Dungeons and Dragons movie that will be released on December 8. The scoop so far is terrible story, horrible acting and special effects not up to par. Regardless you will catch me at the movies next Friday to throw in my $8 worth of support for the genre, even though I myself have watched some of the trailers and have not set my hopes too high. On the other hand the anticipation of the LOTR movies is greater than ever for me. The trailers look amazing and they actually have some decent actors cast. If you want to find out more check out these sites: www.ringzone.net, (http://www.ringzone.net,) http://www.xenite.org/faqs/lotr_movie/news_0000/335.html, www.theonering.net, (http://www.theonering.net,) or of course you can view the official site (I believe) at www.lordoftherings.net. (http://www.lordoftherings.net.) Have a blast as there is tons of info on the sites.

[Barbarossa]

There are several reasons why fantasy films are not very common:
Big budgets was already mentioned.
Both special effect and mass scenes cost a lot of money, especially mass scenes in exotic costumes. That makes most fantasy films big budget and a high risk, SF is big budget too, but a lower risk in the minds of Hollywood producers, because Star Wars, ET, Matrix and others proved it can work. Fantasy never had a sucess like that but several memorable flops (financially speaking) like Willow.

Another reason is that fantasy so far failed to develop a "visual language". Even the more well done attempts in fantasy films usually failed in showing magic in a satisfactory form. Even films i liked like Willow or Dragonslayer fell into the "kitch-trap" when it came to magic.

Finally: I beleive we will see more fantasy in the future if the LotR fils are successfull. Besides the copycat effect they bring a new step in computer effects, especially when it comes to mass scenes. This will make fantasy films affordable.

For those who asked who is in the LOTR films:

Gandalf: Sir Ian Mc'Kellan (Richard III, Magneto in X-men)

Frodo: Elijah Wood

Sam: Sean Astin

Boromir: Sean Bean

Arven: Liv Tyler

or check the Theonering.net site

[FitzChivalry]

Well, i didn't really expect the dungeons and dragons movie to be good... i expected the plot to be something like a fighter, a thief and a mage (no cleric, cleric and mage together can confuse the non-fantasy fans audience) going to fight an evil wizard or rescue a princess... i mean, what else can they do with d&d?
Nevertheless i'll drag my non-fantasy fans friends to this movie and let them bash me for it later because i'm pretty hungry for some swords and sorcery on the big screen... it been so long...

[allanon]

Well, I think that it is very hard to make a good fantasy film.D&D will be stupid,LoTr
-boring.And it is absolutely impossible to make Magician film.

[Pluvious]

Nobody invited a hollywood producer to these forums. Allanon, I'm sorry, but you must leave immediately.

Hmm..the name Allanon sounds familiar??? Could it be a name from the past? A name from a story copied from a better story?...only to copied again by an individual in order to acheive instant recognition without actually making a name for himself? Sounds like hollywood movies...

Fantasy is limited only by the imagination.