Fantasy Films
Fantasy Films, unlike science fiction films that base their content upon some degree of scientific truth, take the audience to netherworld, fairty-tale places where events are unlikely to occur in real life. In mythological or legendary times, they transcend the bounds of human possibility and physical laws. Fantasy films are often in the context of the imagination, dreams, or hallucinations of a character or within the projected vision of the storyteller. Fantasy films often have an element of magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. They may appeal to both children and adults, depending upon the particular film.
Below is a collection of films where imagination has no bounds. Where entire worlds have been created and populated with mythical creatures, magical quests and larger than life heroes and villains.
Merlin (1998)
7.1/10
Director: Steve Barron
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Isabella Rossellini, James Earl Jones, John Gielgud, Marti...
The legend of King Arthur, this time, is told from the perspective of the King's Wizard, Merlin (Sam Neill). This expensive made-for-TV production co-... Read more
What Dreams May Come (1998)
7/10
Director: Vincent Ward
Starring: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr, Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow
This stunning achievement in visual effects follows a man's literal journey through heaven and hell in an attempt to be reunited with his wife in the... Read more
The Storm Riders (1998)
6.5/10
Director: Andrew Lau Wai Keung
Starring: Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Michael Tse, Sonny Chiba, Shu Qi
The evil Lord Conquer (Sonny Chiba) is close to becoming the most powerful Warlord in the world but to do so he must defeat the holy Sword Saint (Anth... Read more
Fallen (1998)
7/10
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandol...
When homicide cop Denzel Washington begins to investigate some brutal copycat murders, he starts to realise that there may be an explanation beyond th... Read more
Pleasantville (1998)
7.5/10
Director: Gary Ross
Starring: J T Walsh, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, William H...
A kind of "Wizard of Oz" in reverse as two 1990's teenagers become trapped in the golly-gee suburban fantasy world of a 1950's sitcom, where everythin... Read more
Conceiving Ada (1997)
4.9/10
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Timothy Leary, Karen Black
Emmy Coer, a computer genius, devises a method of communicating with the past by tapping into undying information waves. She manages to reach the worl... Read more
Princess Mononoke ( Blu-ray ) (1997)
8.4/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Gillian Anderson, Minnie Driver,...
This stunning masterpiece by animation wizard Hayao Miyazaki is set during Japan's Muromachi era, when a maddened Boar God infects a prince with a dea... Read more
The Lost World: Jurassic Park ( Blu-ray ) (1997)
6.5/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Arliss Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite
Four years on from the events at Jurassic Park on the island of Isla Nubar, dinosaurs have bred on the neighbouring site of Isla Sorna. The park's fou... Read more
Kull the Conqueror (1997)
4.8/10
Director: John Nicolella
Starring: Harvey Fierstein, Karina Lombard, Kevin Sorbo, Tia Carrere, Thomas Ian Griffith
Action superstar Kevin Sorbo (TV's "Hercules") slams evil as Kull the Conqueror, a barbarian warrior turned King, who risks all to save the Kingdom an... Read more
Hercules (Disney) (1997)
7.3/10
Director: John Musker, Ron Clements
Starring: Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods
Disney's 35th animated feature turns to Greek mythology for the story of Hercules, son of Zeus, who sets out to prove himself a hero with the help of... Read more