Yesterday we began our look at some of the best fantasy movies that have graced the big screen over the years such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Pan's Labyrinth.
Today we continue to look at some of the best movies in this genre as we celebrate the return to Middle Earth with the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
- Howl's Moving Castle
We have already looked at one Studio Ghibli movie in the form of Princess Mononoke but we will look at a second in the form of Howl's Moving Castle.
Once again the movie was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and it was a movie that once again looked at the devastation of war.
Howl's Moving Castle is a cinematic triumph that mixes reality with magic in a world that is real as well as based in fantasy - a mix that works incredibly well.
The vivid colours and sheers size of the project make it a real animation epic, the detail in the castle alone is worth a watch as Miyazaki highlights to the audience the beauty of the hand drawn animation.
This is a powerful and emotinal movie that is packed with action and laughs and it remains my favourite offering from Studio Ghibli.
- Willow
It was back in 1988 when Willow hit the big screen and it remains one of the best and most loved movies in this genre.
I have such fond memories of this film having watched it time and time again as I was growing up and it is still as exciting and magical today as it was back then.
The movie mixes great battle scenes with magic as well as witches and weird and wonderful creatures.
But at the heart of the movie is Willow, played by Warwick Davis, a Nelwyns who will do anything in his power to project an innocent baby from evil.
This is a heartwarming story of courage in the face of danger and it is one that enterains time and time again.
- The Princess Bride
You can't talk about fantasy movies without looking back at The Princess Bride - which was released back in 1987.
Directed by Rob Reiner the movie is based on the novel by Wuilliam Goldman and starred Cary Elwes and Robin Wright.
The Princess Bride is a fairytale at its very best as it mixes romance with action heroes with villains in fine style.
While the kids enjoy the excitment and the creations adults can appreciate the wit and the humour that exists in this fantastic script - and that is something that has not dominished over time.
This is a movie that could have so easily drifted into total absurity but Reiner kept it on the right tracks and ensured that it would be a classic of this genre.
- Star Wars
Now many would argue that Star Wars is a sci-fi epic while others claim that it is a fantasy movie with sci-fi elements.
No matter what you believe Star Wars remains one of the createst trilogies of all time as George Lucas took audiences on one of the most exciting adventures to worlds that they had never dreamed of.
It was a series of movies that was to define a generations as Lucas created some of the most iconic heroes and villains in cinema history.
And while three more movies have been made since they have never been able to successfully capture tha magic that make A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi so special.
- Labyrinth
It seems tha the eighties was the decade for fantasy as the final movie we are gong to look at is Labyrinth - which was released in 1986.
Only a director with the imagination of Jim Henson would have been able to pull off a movie like this as it is a film with such vision and creation.
The movie mixed great puppetry with some fantastic spcial effects and it has been thrilling audiences for years.
The chaotic style of the narrative suits the movie down to the ground and it remains one of the best films in this fantastic genre.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Star Wars Studio Ghibli Willow