Okay, so remember way back when I watched The Dark Crystal for the first time? No? Oh. Well I did. It was also during the phase where I inserted (this time quite literally) myself into movies via MSPaint. I was on a mission to watch all the 80′s fantasy movies I missed out on in my childhood. Anyway, I can finally say that I saw the following movies!
Netflix #48 – Labyrinth – Jennifer and ctina
While I love seeing Jim Henson creations in action, I wasn’t too impressed with anything else this movie had to offer. I thought the best moments of the movie were when the muppets were front and center doing muppety things. I loved the giants scaredy cat Ludo and courageous Didymus, who were by far my favorite parts. But the story was pretty meh and Jennifer Connelly kinda got on my nerves. David Bowie was fun, but the musical numbers were just kinda out of place. So it was fun, but mainly because anything with muppets is fun. Except Muppet Treasure Island.
Netflix #49 – Legend – JoeG
This one was definitely the most well made of the 80′s fantasy movies, and I suspect it had the largest budget. And did you know it was directed by Ridley Scott? Yeah, me neither. Anyway, the special effects, costumes, and set design were all extremely well done, but I thought the story was completely lacking. It was a pretty generic fantasy where the bad guy (who was awesome by the way) wanted to take over the world, and for some reason that always seems to include marrying a fair princess. Couldn’t he focus his energy on conquering the world first, then worry about getting jiggy with it? And Tom Cruise was a pretty bland hero, with little else beyond a pretty face, which isn’t as pretty these days when you know how crazy with a capital K he is. All in all, I enjoyed it, but more because of the design of it rather than the story itself.
So which is the best 80′s fantasy movie?
Now that I’ve seen The Neverending Story, Willow, The Dark Crystal, Legend, and Labyrinth. I can officially state that The Neverending Story is by far the best 80′s fantasy movie. I just think it has the best story and characters (Falcor! Atreyu! Artex!), and I love the theme of children’s imagination being all powerful. I even watched it again after watching Labyrinth and Legend just to make sure I wasn’t giving it more credit than it deserves, and no, I wasn’t. It is pure awesome.
We get Fraggle Rock up here on Teletoon Retro. I never got into it when it first came out, I was more of a pure Muppet Show fan. Its on everyday at 7:30 I see. I’ll have to tape it for you Craig.
I never saw or recommended any of these movies!
polt: I just watched some of it on YouTube. It’s soooo bad. But it was the best job ever.
I had dinner at the Stanley Hotel (in Colorado) once. The hotel inspired King to write The Shining and was used for some of the shots in the miniseries (but not in the movie). How cool would it be to stay there on Halloween?
You need to see Rocky Horror. That’s a must for every human.
Return to Oz was my favorite 80′s fantasy movie. So scary. Especially for children. I have no idea why my parents let me watch that.
I for some reason never enjoyed Legend. It’s as if they didn’t want to bog down all of their pretty actors with any storyline. Young Tom Cruise’s thighs are the best things that movie has to offer. Poor guy just couldn’t find any pants.
Creepy guy in a dog suit? Is he some sort of furry? Nice to know you’re not one, Craig, if he’s creeping you out.
I LOVED Flash Gordon. And the movie.
<3
OK, this is a major problem, my job is getting in the way of my puntabulation! Stoopid work.
I haven’t read all the comments yet and can’t until later, but I will say this:
The only thing I remember from Legend is “SIT! or stand” and Mia Sara going evil by putting on a dress.
The Dark Crystal was awesome!
Craig, rent Rocky Horror. Not a good movie, but it is fun. We could be heroes, just for one day.
I liked Krull. Munchausen is FANSTASTIC! Time Bandits is fun and I liked the Last Unicorn (adding more proof that Michelle M. and I may have been separated at birth- great harpy scene and I loved the Bull’s design).
Milo: No! Not the bore worms!
And I forgot to recommend Evil Dead 2. I’ll swallow your soul!
Yay Sam Raimi!
Thinking about 80′s fantasy films reminded me of one I loved but had forgotten: *batteries not included. From the guy who directed Dragonslayer. Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and adorable little space saucers.
Conan, Krull, Dragonslayer, Big Trouble in Little China, Red Sonia, BEASTMASTER, OMG you haven’t seen Rocky Horror?? My folks LOVED all the Conan type movies and so I watched them all. I even watched part of the re-make of Dune. Which, for me it like CRAZY. What about Mad Max? Mel Gibson and Tina Turner? You can’t go wrong.
Okay – confession: I was a Renny. As in I dressed up and went to RenFair. So, every year before Fair my friend and I would watch Legend. The scene where she breaks off the horn she says “I just wanted to touch it – wheres the harm in that?” But my friend and I didn’t understand and so for YEARS we quoted her ” Where’s the Homminthat?”
True story. I am a total dork.
God bless Rennies! I’ve always secretly wanted to go to a Renaissance Fair!
Never saw Mad Max or any of the Evil Deads.
LOVE *batteries not included!
Damn it, GoKitty beat me to Krull, but Masters of the Universe was an awesome film when I was 8 years old, and Eddie Murphy (don’t let it put you off) was pretty good in The Golden Child. In a rather perverse twist of fate I watched it first one Christmas Eve and now a film about mystical infanticide makes me feel all warm and festive. Sick, no?
Michelle M.: “This is my BOOM stick!”, “Aww baby, that was just pillow talk.” And of course: “Klaatu barada nicto.”
john: groovy.
http://www.iwatchstuff.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?tag=drag%20me%20to%20hell&blog_id=1
Michelle M.: YAY!!!!
OH YEAH.
And Craig, I actually really enjoyed those entries where you inserted yourself into movies.
Of course the Titanic one was the best. Yay Kate Winslet!
Are you going to bring that feature back?!
YOU SHOULD!
i have 2 80′s recommendations although they arent fantasy, back to school and adventures in babysitting, my fave of the movies previously mentioned is dark crystal. decent story and great to look at!
80s films…so that would (just barely) include Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. Not that I’ve seen that myself. At least, not more than two or three times.
I really loved Labyrinth at the time it was released, but I haven’t seen it for a few years (even though I have it on DVD). The Neverending Story is great, especially the theme song! I didn’t like the sequels to it, though.
I love Cloak and Dagger, since I didn’t see that one mentioned yet. Also, Flight of the Navigator is pretty cool along with The Last Starfighter.
I realize no other animated films were mentioned, but an absolutely fabulous one called “The Secret of NIMH” (a great children’s book as well) is still one of my favorite animated movies of all time. A lot of animated films don’t age so well, but that one is still luminous and slightly scary.
I’ll have to check out some of the movies I’ve never seen mentioned here. I likewise haven’t seen Roxy Horror, but I’d rather see it in a cinema with a group. I’m sure I’d miss out on most of the fun watching it by myself at home.
Btw, the Hellraiser remake stuff mentioned earlier, not a fan of hearing that. Sorry those who might be excited by it, but Hellraiser is the holy grail of horror to me. I shudder hearing of it being remade / reworked / touched
Too bad you didn’t like Labyrinth. My family loves to quote it to each other. But we’re weird
Labyrinth is ridiculous, but you have to laugh at it because it makes no sense.
I will always enjoy Legends because Tim Curry did an awesome job playing the devil. It reminded me of Zelda a lot. I also thought that the elf was Frankie Muniz for the longest time.
The Neverending Story was good even though the Child like Pedophile/Princess was beyond creepy. She was doing too much in that movie. The second Neverending Story is horrible!
I second giving Krull a try. It’s somewhat longer than hell, and pretty cheesey, but good. I always remember liking Conan II and Red Sonja as well. Dragonslayer is also good.
Oh, and I forgot A Flight of Dragons. It’s a cartoon, but it was a good one, and James Earl Jones did the evil voice, so that makes it like Star Wars or something, right?
This blog (Labyrinth and Legend – Reviews | Puntabulous) does not show up properly on my android – you might wanna try and change that
Wayne Wheeler