Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Fantasy: 785 Films to Rent
- Barbie (2023)
- Dir. Greta Gerwig
Feat. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera…
- Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfectly cast as “perfect” dolls Barbie and Ken facing an existential crisis in Barbieland in Greta…
- Batman, The (2022)
- Dir. Matt Reeves
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell…
- Robert Pattinson is Bruce Wayne in this impressively dark and epic reboot of DC comics' iconic knight in shining latex.
- Blaze (2022)
- Dir. Del Kathryn Barton
Feat. Julia Savage, Simon Baker, Yael Stone
- A powerful, imaginative Australian drama from Archibald–winning artist Del Kathryn Barton about a twelve–year–old girl conflicted…
- Annette (2021)
- Dir. Leos Carax
Feat. Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg…
- A magnificent musical–drama which marks the English language debut of French director Leos Carax (HOLY MOTORS).
Adam Driver gives another…
- Black Widow (2021)
- Dir. Cate Shortland
Feat. Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour…
- Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow gets deserved time in the spotlight in this belated, but very much welcomed, Marvel movie.
Set before the events…
- Encanto (2021)
- Dir. Jared Bush, Byron Howard
- Colourful Disney musical following a multi–generational Colombian family who recieve magical gifts that help them serve their rural community,…
- Eternals (2021)
- Dir. Chloé Zhao
Feat. Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani…
- Sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster, with director Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND) bringing an enormous amount of humanity and maturity to the…
- Free Guy (2021)
- Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery…
- Unabashedly sweet sci–fi comedy with Ryan Reynolds playing a clueless bank teller who discovers he is a non–player character in an open…
- Jungle Cruise (2021)
- Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez…
- Good old fashioned fantasy adventure based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, with Dwayne Johnson playing a steamboat skipper who takes…
- Lamb (2021)
- Dir. Valdimar Johannsson
Feat. Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snaer Gudnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson…
- An Icelandic folk horror of haunting, pastoral beauty with Noomi Rapace and Hilmir Snaer Gudnason playing a couple who live on a remote farm with…
- Old (2021)
- Dir. M. Night Shyamalan
Feat. Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell…
- Thriller from director M. Night Shyamalan (THE SIXTH SENSE) about a family on vacation at a luxury resort who discover that the secluded beach…
- Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
- Dir. Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada
- A sophisticated Disney animated feature set in a re–imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization known as Kumandra, where a feisty…
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Dir. Jon Watts
Feat. Tom Holland, Zendaya , Benedict Cumberbatch…
- Spider–Man adventure which acts as a sequel to both FAR FROM HOME (2019) and HOMECOMING (2017), and slots into the bloated Marvel Cinematic…
- Suicide Squad, The (2021)
- Dir. James Gunn
Feat. Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena…
- The standalone sequel to SUICIDE SQUAD is this bold, bright and chaotic superhero movie based on the DC Comics characters.
Harley Quinn (Margot…
- Craft: Legacy, The (2020)
- Dir. Zoe Lister Jones
Feat. Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone…
- Sequel to the 1996 film THE CRAFT, following four high school students who form a coven of witches.
After the original's all–male creative…
- Love and Monsters (2020)
- Dir. Michael Matthews
Feat. Dylan O’Brien, Michael Rooker, Jessica Henwick
- After a Monsterpocalypse forces humans into underground colonies, a young man decides against all logic to brave the surface and face the monsters…
- Onward (2020)
- Dir. Dan Scanlon
- Slick animated fantasy adventure following two elf brothers who go on a quest to find a magic magic gem that will bring their deceased father. A…
- Save Yourselves! (2020)
- Dir. Alex Huston Fischer, Eleanor Wilson
Feat. John Paul Reynolds, Sunita Mani, John Early…
- A light hearted sci–fi comedy about a young Brooklyn couple who disconnect and unplug their lives while on a remote holiday, and are unaware…
- Show, The (2020)
- Dir. Mitch Jenkins
Feat. Tom Burke, Siobhan Hewlett, Alan Moore…
- Highly imaginative British fantasy noir based on a screenplay by brilliant English graphic novelist Alan Moore (V FOR VENDETTA, WATCHMEN).
Set in…
- Witches, The (2020)
- Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci…
- Robert Zemeckis' re–imagining of Roald Dahl’s beloved story that tells the darkly humorous yet heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy who,…
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- Dir. Patty Jenkins
Feat. Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig…
- Israeli actress Gal Gadot is as charismatic as ever in this sequel to the 2017 DC Comics hit WONDER WOMAN, with Patty Jenkins (MONSTER) returning as…
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo…
- A love letter to fans of this humongous mythology, this 22nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ambitious, three–hour sprawl…
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Dir. Anna Campion, Ryan Fleck
Feat. Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn…
- Thoroughly enjoyable entry into the bloated Marvel Franchise, notable for being the first one to be female–led and female co–directed.…
- Cats (2019)
- Dir. Tom Hooper
Feat. James Corden, Judi Dench, Idris Elba…
- Vilified remake of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a group of cats competing at an elaborate ceremony to decide who will be reincarnated. A…
- Children of the Sea (2019)
- Dir. Ayumu Watanabe
- Powerfully resonant Japanese animated adventure reflecting on the connections between humanity and the natural world.
Centered around a troubled…
- Dumbo (2019)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny De Vito…
- Tim Burton's colourful live–action reboot of the beloved Disney classic set in a travelling circus where a family discovers that a baby…
- Extra Ordinary (2019)
- Dir. Mike Ahern, Enda Loughman
Feat. Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, Will Forte…
- A pleasingly off–kilter Irish supernatural comedy about a sweet–natured but lonely driving instructor who uses her paranormal talents to…
- Game of Thrones - Season 8 (TV Series) (2019)
- The struggle for the iron throne continues in the eight and final season of the rightly acclaimed HBO series derived from George R.R. Martin's…
- Hellboy (Hellboy: Call of Darkness) (2019)
- Dir. Neil Marshall
Feat. David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane…
- Reboot of the film franchise featuring Mike Mignola's beloved comic book character Hellboy, the half–demon who works for the USA in paranormal…
- His Dark Materials (TV Series) (2019)
- Feat. Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Anne-Marie Duff…
- TV adaptation of the acclaimed fantasy novels by Phillip Pullman, thankfully much darker and more detailed than 2007's perfunctory feature THE GOLDEN…
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (How to Train Your Dragon 3) (2019)
- Dir. Dean Deblois
- The beloved Dreamworks series comes to a fitting close with this third delightful fantasy film following the adventures of Hiccup, who has…
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
- Dir. Jake Kasdan
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan …
- The cast of the successful, enjoyable reboot return for more jungle fantasy adventure, this time to rescue one of their own through braving parts…
- Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
- Dir. Joachim Roenning
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Harris Dickinson…
- Sequel to the 2014 Disney fantasy, with Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and her goddaughter Aurora (Elle Fanning) returning to new adventures, this time…
- Pinocchio (2019)
- Dir. Matteo Garrone
Feat. Federico Lelapi, Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo
- A new, live–action imagining of the iconic fairytale that focuses on the authentic roots of the Carlo Collodi story. Shot in stunning Italian…
- Shazam! (2019)
- Dir. David F. Sandberg
Feat. Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong
- Playful DC comics movie about a teenage boy who can transform into an adult superhero by shouting one word: SHAZAM! Naturally he goes about…
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Dir. Jon Watts
Feat. Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal…
- Marvel–lous sequel to the hugely successful reboot 'Spider–Man: Homecoming', this follows the events of 'Avengers: Endgame', with Peter…
- Vivarium (2019)
- Dir. Lorcan Finnegan
Feat. Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg
- A young couple shopping for their first home find themselves in a housing development where every house looks exactly the same, and with no idea how…
- What Men Want (2019)
- Dir. Adam Shankman
Feat. Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree…
- A mildly raunchy, gender–switched remake of the 2000 romantic comedy, WHAT WOMEN WANT, following a woman who, after drinking a potent…
- A Discovery of Witches (TV Series) (2018)
- Dir. Juan Carlos Medina
Feat. Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Malin Buska…
- A romantic thriller series adapted from Deborah Harkness' trilogy of novels that uncovers a secret underworld of vampires, witches and daemons hiding…
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
- Dir. Ava DuVernay
Feat. Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Storm Reid…
- High–pitched Disney fantasy that follows a young woman and friends through space in search of her missing father who is held in the clutches of…
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo…
- Bombastic Marvel Universe blockbuster teaming The Avengers with the Guardians of the Galaxy (and many more!) against the villain Thanos, who wants to…
- Black Panther (2018)
- Dir. Ryan Coogler
Feat. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o…
- Another massive hit, and considered one of the best of the eighteen films in the Marvel Comic Universe, and the first to feature a predominantly…
- Border (Gräns) (2018)
- Dir. Ali Abbasi
Feat. Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson
- Remarkable Swedish black comedy about a customs officer with an extraordinary sense of smell who sniffs out a suspicious–looking traveller with…
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Dir. David Leitch
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison…
- Ryan Reynolds returns for the sequel to the 2016 X–men blockbuster, delivering another round of bleakly comic jokes and…
- Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, The (2018)
- Dir. Ken Scott
Feat. Dhanush , Bérénice Bejo, Erin Moriarty
- Whimsical comedy following a street magician from Mumbai who sets out to find his estranged father but finds himself adventuring around the world in…
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler…
- Second installment in the Fantastic Beasts film series, following Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore as they go up against the dark wizard Gellert…
- Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
- Dir. Ari Sandel
Feat. Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Madison Iseman…
- Following on from the popular 2015 big screen adaptation, two young boys accidentally unleash a cacophony of monsters and demons after they open an…
- Happy as Lazzaro (2018)
- Dir. Alice Rohrwacher
Feat. Adriano Tardiolo, Nicoletta Braschi, Sergi Lopez…
- It's summer at Inviolata, an isolated rural estate, where an extended family of tobacco farmers toil under the rule of a domineering marchesa, and…
- House With the Clock in its Walls, The (2018)
- Dir. Eli Roth
Feat. Jack Black, Cate Blanchett
- Gore maestro Eli Roth changes pace with this kids fantasy horror about a young orphan who teams up with his magical Uncle to find a clock that could…
- Judy & Punch (Judy and Punch) (2018)
- Dir. Mirrah Foulkes
Feat. Mia Wasikowska, Damon Herriman
- A gorgeously carnivalesque and blackly comic Australian period drama in which the traditional fairy tale of Punch and Judy is turned on its head. The…
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
- Dir. Juan Antonio Bayona
Feat. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall…
- Sequel to JURASSIC WORLD (2015) and part of a planned trilogy, this creature feature blockbuster keeps the franchise alive with a fun, if…
- Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
- Dir. Rob Marshall
Feat. Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw…
- Emily Blunt couldn't be more perfectly cast as the delightful Mary Poppins in this sequel that proves it's worth. Set in 1930's London, 25 years…
- Mirai (2018)
- Dir. Mamoru Hosoda
- Gorgeous anime from director Mamoru Hosoda (SUMMER WARS, WOLF CHILDREN) where a 4–year–old boy discovers he can travel through time to…
- Mortal Engines (2018)
- Dir. Christian Rivers
Feat. Hera Hilmar, Hugo Weaving, Robert Sheehan
- Peter Jackson produced fantasy epic set in a post–apocalyptic future, where cities survive by moving around on giant wheels and devouring…
- New Legends of Monkey, The (TV Series) (2018)
- Feat. Chai Hansen, Luciane Buchanan
- A 10–episode spin–off to the highly regarded cult TV series MONKEY, co–produced by TVNZ. Featuring the same beloved characters…
- Nutcracker and the Four Realms, The (2018)
- Dir. Lasse Hallstrom, Joe Johnston
Feat. Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Eugenio Derbez…
- Lavish but hollow Disney retelling of E.T.A. Hoffmann's short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and Marius Petipa's "The Nutcracker" about a…
- Ready Player One (2018)
- Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn…
- Director Spielberg plays to his strengths in this adrenaline–filled love letter to 80's pop culture and video games. Set in the year 2045, most…
- Relaxer (2018)
- Dir. Joel Potrykus
Feat. Joshua Burge, David Dastmalchian
- Grungy downbeat comedy set in 1999 in a haze of Y2K paranoia, where a slacker is challenged by his older brother not to leave the couch until he has…
- Requiem (TV Mini-series) (2018)
- Feat. Lydia Wilson, Joel Fry, James Frecheville
- 6–part British supernatural thriller following the mysterious connection between a toddler who disappeared from a Welsh village in 1994, and…
- Venom (2018)
- Dir. Ruben Fleischer
Feat. Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed…
- The Marvel comics character Venom, an alien symbiote usually associated with Spider–Man, is the subject of this superhero movie with Tom Hardy…
- Beauty and the Beast (2017)
- Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans…
- A live–action re–telling of Disney's own animated classic which refashions the original French fairy tale for a contemporary audience,…
- Britannia (TV Series) (2017)
- Feat. David Morrissey, Kelly Reilly, Nikolaj Lie Kaas…
- A historical fiction series set in 43AD, following the Roman conquest of Britain and it's opposition by the wild warrior women and powerful Druids of…
- Changeover, The (2017)
- Dir. Stuart McKenzie, Miranda Harcourt
Feat. Erana James, Timothy Spall, Melanie Lynskey…
- Maragret Mahy's beloved fantasy romance novel is translated into a post–earthquake Christchurch setting, and marks an impressive debut from…
- Dark Tower, The (2017)
- Dir. Nikolaj Arcel
Feat. Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor…
- Stephen King adaptation which simplifies the author's acclaimed fantasy series into a watchable battle of good vs evil – represented by Idris…
- Downsizing (2017)
- Dir. Alexander Payne
Feat. Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau…
- Dir. Alexander Payne (NEBRASKA, SIDEWAYS) pulls another one from outside the box with a satiric fantasy in which a man joins the ranks of a…
- Fireworks (Fireworks: Should We See It from the Side or The Bottom?) (2017)
- Dir. Nobuyuki Takeuchi
- Beautifully romantic Japanese anime set during a school summer vacation, based on Shunji Iwai’s 1993 TV series, “Fireworks”. Refreshingly…
- Game of Thrones - Season 7 (TV Series) (2017)
- The struggle for the iron throne continues in the seventh season of the rightly acclaimed HBO series derived from George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels.
- I Kill Giants (2017)
- Dir. Anders Walter
Feat. Madison Wolfe, Imogen Poots, Zoe Saldana
- A magical–realist coming–of–age movie following an independent young girl who escapes the troubles of her reality by retreating…
- Justice League (2017)
- Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot…
- DC Comics' answer to Marvel's Avengers combines the forces of their superhero properties; Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The…
- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
- Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Allwyn, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey…
- Charlie Hunman plays the Arthur of legend, unaware of his royal lineage until drawing the sword Excalibur from the stone. Director Guy Ritchie brings…
- Legion (TV Series) (2017)
- Feat. Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza…
- The first TV Series based on the X–Men franchise follows Haller, the mutant son of Charles Xavier, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia from a…
- Logan (2017)
- Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Patrick Stewart…
- Passionate, mature X–Men spin–off featuring the surly Wolverine.
Withdrawn and noticeably older (but still ass–kicking), Logan…
- Mummy, The (2017)
- Dir. Alex Kurtzman
Feat. Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella…
- Tom Cruise plays a US military man who accidentally unearths Princess Ahmanet's tomb and unleashes unspeakable evil. A fun mish–mash of monster…
- Shape of Water, The (2017)
- Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins…
- At a top secret research facility in the 1950s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in…
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Dir. Jon Watts
Feat. Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau…
- Excellent (and third) big–screen reboot of the Marvel Comics franchise that picks up after the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR.
Spidey…
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Dir. Rian Johnson
Feat. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill…
- Refreshing and self–assured entry into the franchise, which pays respectful homage to both the franchise and the expectations of…
- Tokyo Ghoul (2017)
- Dir. Kentaro Hagiwara
Feat. Masataka Kubota, Fumika Shimizu
- A live–action adaptation of the manga series by Sui Ishida. In modern day Tokyo, flesh–eating ghouls live among humans, and after…
- Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (TV Series) (2017)
- Animated TV series created by Guillermo Del Toro, following the adventures of an ordinary teenager who becomes endowed as a Trollhunter after…
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
- Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Ethan Hawke…
- Expensive and extravagant space opera set in the 28th Century, where a team of special operatives investigate a dark force that threatens peace in…
- Wonder Woman (2017)
- Dir. Patty Jenkins
Feat. Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright…
- Israeli actress Gal Gadot dazzles as the charismatic warrior princess who must leave her mythical island paradise and sail into WWI–embattled…
- A Cure for Wellness (2016)
- Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth
- An ambitious Manhattan stockbroker is blackmailed to retrieve a company boardmember from a wellness spa in the Swiss Alps
in this visually stunning…
- A Monster Calls (2016)
- Dir. Juan Antonio Bayona
Feat. Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones…
- A splendid and skillfully–told fantasy drama in which a 12–year–old boy faces his mother's terminal illness, his strict…
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
- Dir. James Bobin
Feat. Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter…
- Effects heavy sequel to Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND has Alice returning to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travelling back in time to help…
- Assassin's Creed (2016)
- Dir. Justin Kurzel
Feat. Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons…
- Movie adaptation of the enormously popular video game where a man unlocks his "genetic memory", allowing him to access the memories, knowledge and…
- Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams…
- Dour superhero spectacle sees DC comic's finest face off after Batman becomes concerned with Superman's unchecked powers.
- Death and Life of Otto Bloom, The (2016)
- Dir. Cris Jones
Feat. Xavier Samuel, Rachel Ward, Matilda Brown
- The chronicle of the life and great love of Otto Bloom, an extraordinary man who experiences time in reverse – passing backwards through the…
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Dir. Scott Derrickson
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams…
- The fourteenth film from the Marvel superhero franchise stars Cumberbatch as the title hero, a neurosurgeon disabled in a car crash who turns to a…
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler…
- This 1920's period fantasy adventure is the first in the HARRY POTTER universe to be adapted for the screen by J. K. Rowling herself. Eddie Redmayne…
- Game of Thrones - Season 6 (TV Series) (2016)
- The struggle for the iron throne continues in the sixth season of the rightly acclaimed HBO series derived from George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels.
- Gods of Egypt (2016)
- Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler…
- Ill–conceived fantasy epic in which a mortal hero must do battle with the god of darkness who has taken over the Egyptian empire.
- Huntsman, The: Winter's War (2016)
- Dir. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron…
- Visually arresting prequel to SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN tells the tale of Eric and Freya two warriors trying to conceal their forbidden love.
- Living and the Dead, The (TV Mini-series) (2016)
- Feat. Colin Morgan, Charlotte Spencer
- Spooky anglophile escapism set in picturesque Victorian–era Somerset, following the supernatural afflictions of a pioneering psychologist after…
- Lucifer (TV Series) (2016)
- Feat. Tom Ellis, Lauren German, D.B. Woodside…
- Dark fantasy series based on the Neil Gaiman comic has a bored devil set up shop in Los Angeles running a piano bar and aiding the L.A.P.D. in the…
- Luke Cage (TV Series) (2016)
- Feat. Mike Colter, Mahershala Ali, Simone Missick…
- Marvel series launching black superhero Luke Cage, who tries to rebuild his regular life in Harlem after a sabotaged experiment bestows him super…
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson…
- Tim Burton's spectacular adaptation of the young adult fantasy novel about a teenager who discovers a portal to a different time in coastal Wales…
- Moana (2016)
- Dir. John Musker, Ron Clements
Feat. Aulii Cravalho, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jemaine Clement…
- An epic CGI Disney adventure about a Polynesian girl who sets sail on a daring ocean voyage to find a home for her people.
Features Kiwi voice…
- Monster Trucks (2016)
- Dir. Chris Wedge
Feat. Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Amy Ryan…
- A truck–obsessed teen builds a monstrous vehicle out of spare parts in an attempt to escape his troubled small town existence.
- Pete's Dragon (2016)
- Dir. David Lowery
Feat. Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley…
- Inspired Disney remake vastly improves upon its own forgotten 70's adventure that tells the tale of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend…
- Shannara Chronicles, The (TV Series) (2016)
- Feat. Austin Butler, Manu Bennett
- Filmed in New Zealand fantasy series follows a group of heroes as they battle to stop an evil Demon army from destroying the universe. Based on Terry…
- This Beautiful Fantastic (2016)
- Dir. Simon Aboud
Feat. Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Irvine…
- A talented but reclusive girl develops a friendship with her cantankerous neighbour in this contemporary fairy tale set against the backdrop of a…
- Warcraft: The Beginning (2016)
- Dir. Duncan Jones
Feat. Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster…
- Stilted live–action rendering of the gaming phenomenon has an Orc horde invading the planet Azeroth and a few humans and dissenting Orcs are…
- Wynonna Earp (TV Series) (2016)
- Feat. Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon…
- Canadian supernatural Western series based on the IDW Comic, that follows Wyatt Earp's great granddaughter as she battles demons and other creatures…
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence…
- The franchise roles on with the X–Men confronting a resurrected mutant determined to re–make the world.
- April and the Extraordinary World (2015)
- Dir. Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci
Feat. Marion Cotillard, Jean Rochefort, Olivier Gourmet…
- Steampunk–infused tale set in an alternate world where France is a country under the iron rule of Napoleon V, a young girl goes in search of…
- Arabian Nights (2015)
- Dir. Miguel Gomes
Feat. Crista Alfaiate
- Wildly original and ambitious triptych of films set in modern–day Portugal but structured on the sprawling Arabic fairy–tale collection…
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Dir. Joss Whedon
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo…
- More Marvel mayhem has the team forced to reassemble after Tony Stark and Bruce Banner awaken a long dormant peacekeeping program.
- Cemetery of Splendour (2015)
- Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Feat. Jenjira Pongpas Widner
- Mesmerising film in the director's indefinable style, set in and around a rural Thai hospital which may be haunted.
A group of soldiers…
- Cinderella (2015)
- Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Feat. Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden…
- Dir. Kenneth Branagh re–imagines the classic tale of young Ella who finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters, and…
- Fantastic Four, The (2015)
- Dir. Josh Trank
Feat. Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara…
- Contemporary re–imagining of Marvel's original and longest–running superhero in which transported to an alternate universe, four young…
- Forbidden Room, The (2015)
- Dir. Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson
Feat. Roy Dupuis, Clara Furey, Jacques Nolot…
- Maverick director Guy Maddin applies his wild and deliciously demented imagination to this fantastic fantasy, telling a range of almost…
- Game of Thrones - Season 5 (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Peter Dinklage
- The struggle for the iron throne continues in the fifth season of the rightly acclaimed HBO series derived from George R.R. Martin's fantasy…
- Goosebumps (2015)
- Dir. Rob Letterman
Feat. Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush…
- Fantastical spin on the popular kidult horror series with Jack Black perfectly cast as horror maestro R.L. Stine whose imaginary demons come to life.
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Eddie Marsan, Bertie Carvel, Marc Warren…
- Ripping historical fantasy based on the Susanna Clarke novel, concerns the adventures of two magicians during the Napoleonic wars.
- Last Days in the Desert (2015)
- Dir. Rodrigo Garcia
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Ciaran Hinds, Ayelet Zurer…
- Ewan McGregor plays both Jesus Christ and the Devil in this humanistic portrait of Jesus during his 40 days fasting and praying in the Judean desert.
- Last Witch Hunter, The (2015)
- Dir. Breck Eisner
Feat. Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood…
- Vin Diesel lugs himself though this dark fantasy as a witch–hunter, cursed with eternal life, trying to prevent a plague from ravaging modern…
- Lure, The (2015)
- Dir. Agnieszka Smoczynska
Feat. Marta Mazurek
- Utterly beguiling musical horror set in Poland in the 1980's, following the fate of a pair of mermaid sisters as they struggle to integrate into a…
- Magicians, The (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Jason Ralphs, Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley
- Fantasy series about a group of twenty–somethings studying magic in New York discover a world that poses a great threat to humanity in this…
- Pan (2015)
- Dir. Joe Wright
Feat. Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund…
- Visually dazzling but widely panned prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale has a young orphan spirited away to the magical world of Neverland to…
- Supergirl (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Melissa Benoist
- Enjoyable new take on the adventures of Supergirl sent to Earth to watch over her younger cousin.
- Tale of Tales (2015)
- Dir. Matteo Garrone
Feat. Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones…
- Wonderfully imaginative, cohesive portmanteau film comprised of three unusual, somewhat grotesque fairy tales featuring sea monsters, lustful kings…
- Tomorrowland (2015)
- Dir. Brad Bird
Feat. George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie…
- Disney live–action adventure that allies a scientifically–curious teenage girl and a former boy–genius inventor (Clooney) who…
- Victor Frankenstein (2015)
- Dir. Paul McGuigan
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay…
- Mary Shelley's classic is given an interesting twist, this time told from the perspective of Igor, the hunchbacked assistant who teams with Dr…
- Barbie: The Pearl Princess (2014)
- Dir. Ezekiel Norton
- Entry into the Barbie film series where the fashion doll is a mermaid who has the power to change the colour of pearls and make them dance.
- Beauty And The Beast (2014)
- Dir. Christophe Gans
Feat. Vincent Cassel, Léa Seydoux, Andre Dussollier…
- Opulent re–telling of the fairytale romance that blossoms between the youngest daughter of a merchant who has fallen on hard times and the…
- Cobbler, The (2014)
- Dir. Tom McCarthy
Feat. Adam Sandler, Dan Stevens, Ellen Barkin…
- The director of THE STATION AGENT and THE VISITOR helms this slice of magic realism about a frustrated shoemaker who finds a magical sewing machine…
- Dracula Untold (2014)
- Dir. Gary Shore
Feat. Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon…
- Another definitely–not–untold Dracula story, revamped in typical Hollywood action–adventure style that may leave you yearning for…
- Hobbit, The - Battle of Five Armies (2014)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…
- Spectacular concluding chapter of the trilogy has Bilbo and company forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely…
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
- Dir. Dean Deblois
Feat. Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler…
- Splendid sequel to the medieval animated hit about the ongoing mission of a pair of vikings to maintain the peace between dragons and men.
- Maleficent (2014)
- Dir. Robert Stromberg
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley…
- Angelina Jolie plays Sleeping Beauty's iconic villain in this visually striking update of the Disney animated classic.
- Night at the Museum 3:Secret of the Tomb (2014)
- Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson…
- Concluding chapter in the trilogy has museum guard Stiller trying to decipher why the exhibits are behaving so erratically.
- Resurrection (TV Series) (2014)
- Feat. Omar Epps, Frances Fisher
- A small Missouri town is the site of a number of unexplained resurrections in this thought–provoking drama, reminiscent of – though…
- Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
- Dir. Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin…
- A return to the hard boiled caricatures of Frank Miller's graphic "Sin City". Tales of vengeance, torture and infidelity are woven together into an…
- Song of the Sea (2014)
- Dir. Tomm Moore
- From the director and production team behind THE SECRET OF KELLS comes another distinctive hand–made animated feature from Ireland that serves…
- Winter's Tale (2014)
- Dir. Akiva Goldsman
Feat. Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe…
- This mythic New York romance centres on an Irish burglar (Farrell) who falls for an aristocrat's dying daughter, and seeks a miracle to save her life.
- Witches of East End (TV Series) (2014)
- Feat. Julia Ormond, Madchen Amick
- TV series about a family of witches who live in the seaside town of East End. Based on the book of the same name by Melissa de la Cruz.
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender…
- This latest installment in the X–Men saga sees Wolverine travel back in time to prevent a world changing event.
- Adventurer, The - The Curse of the Midas Box (2013)
- Dir. Jonathan Newman
Feat. Aneurin Barnard, Lena Headey, Sam Neill…
- Spiffy period adventure set in Victorian England about a teenager racing to find the eponymous 'Midas Box', a treasure which can turn any object to…
- Atlantis (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. Jack Donnelly, Mark Addy, Juliet Stevenson
- An epic drama based around the stories of Greek mythology and the lost city of Atlantis. Jason, is sucked into a vortex and transported back to the…
- Game of Thrones - Season 3 (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley…
- Further episodes from the justifiably acclaimed HBO medieval series, with realism and violence dictating its dark hued, anti–romantic take on…
- Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
- Dir. Tommy Wirkola
Feat. Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen…
- The Brothers Grimm fairytale is re–imagined as an action vehicle for the fantasy set, with the grown up siblings now self–employed as…
- Hobbit, The - The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…
- Chapter two of Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of The Hobbit, which sees the party's quest to reclaim their homeland from Smaug continue. Bilbo…
- I, Frankenstein (2013)
- Dir. Stuart Beattie
Feat. Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto…
- Chaotic and at times incoherent action fantasy following Frankenstein's creature Adam in the centuries old war to prevent evil demons from taking…
- Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
- Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor…
- 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is reimagined for the big screen in this hulking fantasy adventure about a naïve farm boy who attempts to rescue a…
- Knights of Badassdom (2013)
- Dir. Joe Lynch
Feat. Ryan Kwanten, Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau…
- Bumbling comedy parody of a group of live–action role players (LARPs) who inadvertently conjure up a demon and must raise swords to defeat it…
- Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2013)
- Dir. Will Finn
Feat. Lea Michele, Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi…
- A lightweight animated 'sequel' to the original Wizard of Oz film finds Dorothy returning to help her old friends Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man to…
- Mood Indigo (2013)
- Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh…
- Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris star in this wild interpretation of Boris Vian’s cult novel 'Froth on the Daydream' from dir. Michel Gondry.
- Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
- Dir. Harald Zwart
Feat. Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Kevin Zegers…
- A teenage girl joins a league of demon slayers in this dark New York–set fantasy, another epic tween franchise in the making. Based on the…
- Nowhere Boys (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. Darci McDonald, Dougie Baldwin, Joel Lok…
- Australian fantasy action–adventure series that follows four teenage boys who get lost in the forest and discover, when they return home, that…
- Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
- Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz…
- Sam Raimi directs this spectacular re–imagining of the Wizard of Oz legend for Disney studios – an origin story centred on the coming of…
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
- Dir. Thor Freudenthal
Feat. Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Douglas Smith…
- Another young adult fantasy franchise rolls on, this time continuing the adventures of the titular Percy Jackson and his demigod friends as they race…
- Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The (2013)
- Dir. Ben Stiller
Feat. Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Kathryn Hahn…
- Ben Stiller directs and stars in this splashy adaptation of James Thurber's short story about a meek proofreader who finds solace and empowerment in…
- Tale of the Princess Kaguya, The (2013)
- Dir. Isao Takahata
- Studio Ghibli co–founder Takahata directs this beautiful adaptation of a classic Japanese folk tale with a distinctly different flavour to that…
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Dir. Alan Taylor
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston…
- In this predictably bombastic sequel, the action relocates from Earth to the Nine Realms, where the Norse God must team up with nemesis Loki…
- Wolverine, The (2013)
- Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima…
- Hugh Jackman returns as X–Men's cult anti–hero in this Japan–set saga centred on deadly samurai and an old nemesis.
- Zero Theorem, The (2013)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Thierry, David Thewlis…
- Terry Gilliam presents this complex but colourful existential meditation. A reclusive computer genius has been given the task of finally proving that…
- Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
- Dir. Benh Zeitlin
Feat. Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry
- An ambitious and unique dramatic fantasy centred on a motherless child who, together with her hard–drinking father and a group of loveable…
- Blancanieves (2012)
- Dir. Pablo Berger
Feat. Daniel Giménez Cacho, Angela Molina, Maribel Verdu…
- The legend of Snow White is transposed to the bullfighting, flamenco dancing netherworld of the Spanish provinces in this beautiful and beguiling…
- Chronicle (2012)
- Dir. Josh Trank
Feat. Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan…
- Amping up the 'found–footage' concept to even dizzier heights than CLOVERFIELD, this fantasy has three teens running amok after acquiring…
- Dark Shadows (2012)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter…
- Tim Burton directs Johnny Depp (for the eight time) in the cult role of Barnabas Collins, a 200–year–old vampire who reawakens in the…
- Game of Thrones - Season 2 (TV Series) (2012)
- Feat. Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley…
- Further episodes from the justifiably acclaimed HBO medieval series, with realism and violence dictating its dark hued, anti–romantic take on…
- Hobbit, The - An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…
- Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with this epic first chapter in The Hobbit saga, which follows Bilbo Baggins' quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf…
- Imaginaerum by Nightwish (2012)
- Dir. Stobe Harju
Feat. Marianne Farley, Quinn Lord, Francis X McCarthy
- Based on the album of the same name by Finnish metallers Nightwish. A coma sends an old man into his childhood's sinister fantasy world, where he…
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- Dir. Brad Peyton
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson…
- The Rock and friends return for this hammy, high–wire sequel to JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, with the intrepid explorers taking on the…
- Life of Pi (2012)
- Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu …
- An Indian storyteller recalls the events of his extraordinary life, beginning as a boy shipwrecked along with animals from his family's zoo, in this…
- Lord of the Elves (Clash of the Empires) (2012)
- Dir. Joseph J. Lawson
Feat. Christopher Judge, Ling Bai
- A bargain bin knock off of LORD OF THE RINGS featuring has–been actors, lame–ass direction, and a cast of Thai midgets, this is best…
- Mirror Mirror (2012)
- Dir. Tarsem Singh
Feat. Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer…
- Supreme visualist Tarsem Singh (THE FALL) directs this striking adaptation of the Snow White fairytale, starring Julia Roberts as the iconic wicked…
- Rise of the Guardians (2012)
- Dir. Peter Ramsey
Feat. Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law…
- An imaginative spin on childhood mythology, this excellent animated fantasy casts Jack Frost, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, The Sandman, and…
- Ruby Sparks (2012)
- Dir. Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Feat. Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina…
- Real–life couple Dayton and Faris (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) direct real–life acting couple Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan in this zesty satire…
- Sinbad (TV Series) (2012)
- Feat. Elliot Knight, Naveen Andrews, Timothy Spall…
- Spiffy swashbuckling version of the Sinbad legend harnesses the best of blockbuster–style action and above–average special effects to…
- Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
- Dir. Rupert Sanders
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron…
- Dark re–imagining of the classic fairy tale with the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed becoming her protector and…
- Thale (2012)
- Dir. Aleksander Nordaas
Feat. Silje Reinåmo, Erlend Nervold
- An artful, serious–minded horror fantasy based on the Norwegian legend of the Hydra – a seductive, shape–shifting Scandanavian…
- Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)
- Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner…
- Finally, the colossal vampire franchise meets its maker with this concluding chapter, with Bella and Edward fighting to protect their daughter from…
- Werewolf Boy, A (2012)
- Dir. Sung-Hee Jo
Feat. Joong-ki Song, Bo-yeong Park, Young-nam Jang
- One of a kind fantasy in which a teenage girl is sent to the country for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy she…
- Wolf Children (2012)
- Dir. Mamoru Hosoda
- This beautiful, serious–minded take on werewolf folklore focuses on a young woman and her struggle to raise two children of mixed…
- Wrath of the Titans (2012)
- Dir. Jonathan Liebesman
Feat. Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes…
- Perseus (Worthington) returns to slay more Greek demigods in this bombastic sequel to the recent CGI–laden remake of the 1981 fantasy film.
- Beastly (2011)
- Dir. Daniel Barnz
Feat. Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen…
- Tween stars Pettyfer and Hudgens angst up a storm in this modernised BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that will fill the gap nicely until the next TWILIGHT movie…
- Chinese Ghost Story, A (2011)
- Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Louis Koo, Yifei Liu, Shao-gun Yu…
- A lowly scholar falls in love with a beautiful ghost, but in order to win her freedom must do battle with the supernatural. Kinetic remake of the…
- Conan the Barbarian (2011)
- Dir. Marcus Nispel
Feat. Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols…
- Meat–axe revival of Arnold Schwarzenegger's B–movie breakthrough, which mashes modern CG effects with a low–rent 80s sensibility…
- Game of Thrones - Season 1 (TV Series) (2011)
- Feat. Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Michelle Fairley…
- Justifiably acclaimed medieval series applies the magic HBO touch to the often–ridiculed world of sword and sorcery, with realism and violence…
- Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (2011)
- Dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba…
- Vrrmm, vrmmm....Nicolas Cage races with the devil in this unnecessary sequel to Marvel's mediocre GHOST RIDER. Despite CRANK directors Neveldine and…
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane…
- This eighth and final Harry Potter installment concludes the boy wizard's epic journey from Hogswart apprentice to world savior.
- Legend of the Millennium Dragon (2011)
- Dir. Hirotsugu Kawasaki
- An impressively animated young–adult fantasy, centred on a 15–year–old school kid who is transported back to medieval Japan, and…
- Lost Christmas (2011)
- Dir. John Hay
Feat. Eddie Izzard, Jason Flemyng
- BBC drama set in Manchester over two Christmases that shows a group of people who are brought together by a mysterious drifter who helps them find…
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates…
- High class whimsy from Woody Allen with Woody–surrogate honours going this time to Owen Wilson as a frustrated hack screenwriter magically…
- Neverland (TV Mini-series) (2011)
- Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel, Bob Hoskins…
- Clever prequel to "Peter Pan" from the producers of TIN MAN and ALICE that gives a fresh, alternative take on the origins of Peter Pan and Captain…
- Once Upon a Time (TV Series) (2011)
- Feat. Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Joshua Dallas…
- A mature, densely layered serial based on popular folklore, set in a fictional seaside town where characters from various fairy tales have been…
- Priest (2011)
- Dir. Scott Charles Stewart
Feat. Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q…
- Priests battle vampires in this post–apocalyptic fantasy based on the popular graphic novel.
- Thor (2011)
- Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman…
- Engaging superhero escapism with The God of Thunder banished to earth where his skills with a hammer soon come in handy.
Flitting between godly…
- Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
- Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner…
- Penultimate installment of the Gothic fantasy phenomenon teases out the conclusion to the romantic saga in lucrative and popular fashion with Bella…
- Witches of Oz, The (TV Mini-series) (2011)
- Dir. Leigh Scott
Feat. Christopher Lloyd, Sean Astin, Ethan Embry…
- Disappointingly shoddy re–imagining in which Dorothy, now a best–selling children's book author discovers, upon moving to New York, that…
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Feat. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence…
- The X–MEN juggernaut rolls on, benefiting from a spring clean of the principal cast, in this hugely entertaining origin movie set against the…
- Your Highness (2011)
- Dir. David Gordon Green
Feat. Danny McBride, Natalie Portman, James Franco…
- Deeply irreverent fantasy romp clearly conceived in a cloud of pot smoke has Franco and McBride desperate to rescue Deschanel from an evil wizard…
- Alice in Wonderland (2010)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter…
- Dir. Tim Burton goes down the rabbit hole in this feverish retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic tale told with his customary visual brio.
Bonham…
- Arrietty (The Secret World of Arrietty) (2010)
- Dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Feat. Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki
- Studio Ghibli's latest animated triumph respectfully borrows from the classic English children's tale of 'The Borrowers', about a family of tiny…
- Black Heaven (L'autre monde) (2010)
- Dir. Gilles Marchand
Feat. Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud
- An innocent young man becomes entangled with a suicidal beauty and is lured into a "Black Hole" – an eerie cyberworld of avatars with deadly…
- Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
- Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. Ben Barnes, Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson…
- Rollicking third installment has the children returning to Narnia to join Prince Caspian for a voyage on the majestic royal vessel known as The Dawn…
- Clash of the Titans (2010)
- Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes…
- Beefy, special effects–saturated blockbuster reworks the 1981 fantasy film (and Ray Harryhausen’s beloved stop motion animations), based on…
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane…
- Seventh and penultimate film in the H.K. Rowling–penned franchise now finds Harry and pals Ron and Hermione on the lam as Lord Voldemort…
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Dir. Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders
Feat. Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson…
- Top–flight animated feature about a hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons but becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself,…
- Jonah Hex (2010)
- Dir. Jimmy Hayward
Feat. Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox…
- Josh Brolin revives DC Comics' anti–hero gunslinger in this acidic western, centred on the titular character's rage–fueled quest to…
- Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)
- Dir. Susanna White
Feat. Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor…
- Emma Thompson again pens and stars in the second installment about the otherworldly nanny, accompanied again by a staggering array of British…
- Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief (2010)
- Dir. Chris Columbus
Feat. Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario…
- Striking fantasy that follows a gangly teenager who discovers that he's the son of Poseidon and has inherited some of Dad's powers. Percy soon finds…
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
- Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley…
- Jake Gyllenhaal flexes his pecs in this extravagant adaptation of the popular 'Arabian adventure' video game.
- Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010)
- Dir. Edgar Wright
Feat. Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick…
- Wearing its super–coolness on its sleeve, this precocious action–comedy stars archetypal geek Michael Cera as a gawky bass–player…
- Sorcerer's Apprentice, The (2010)
- Dir. Jon Turteltaub
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina, Jay Baruchel…
- Playing to type, Jay Baruchel is the average, unassuming new recruit of a master sorcerer (Nicholas Cage) who needs the help of a protégé to defeat…
- Terry Pratchett's Going Postal (2010)
- Dir. Jon Jones
Feat. Richard Coyle, David Suchet, Claire Foy…
- Lavish adaptation of a Terry Pratchett novel set once again in the discworld universe. A convicted conman gets a fate worse than death, in this case…
- Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)
- Dir. Brad Anderson
Feat. Hayden Christensen, Thandiwe Newton, John Leguizamo…
- Low–wattage shocks abound as Hayden Christensen wakes up one morning to find everyone has disappeared. Brad Anderson directs with customary…
- Alice (TV Mini-Series) (2009)
- Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Caterina Scorsone, Andrew Lee Potts, Matt Frewer…
- Modernist re–imagining of the Lewis Carroll classic with wonderland portrayed as a dystopian netherworld that sucks the emotions from the 'real…
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
- Dir. Paul Weitz
Feat. Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, John C. Reilly…
- Disjointed family friendly fright fest has a teenager accidentally trigger a war between two vampire factions. Despite an excellent cast and a great…
- Cold Souls (2009)
- Dir. Sophie Barthes
Feat. Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Lauren Ambrose…
- A existentialist tragi–comedy in which Paul Giamatti plays himself, a New York actor in crisis, who literally has his soul extracted, only to…
- Coraline (2009)
- Dir. Henry Selick
Feat. Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders…
- The prodigious talents of fantasy writer Neil Gaiman and animator Henry Selick combine for this wonderful – though admittedly creepy –…
- Daybreakers (2009)
- Dir. The Spierig Brothers
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill…
- Inventive take on the vampire genre has a world populated with the fanged undead facing a food shortage with the human population rapidly dwindling.…
- From Time to Time (2009)
- Dir. Julian Fellowes
Feat. Alex Etel, Timothy Spall, Maggie Smith…
- Charmingly old–fashioned family film set at the tail end of the second world war has a young boy discovering a portal back to 1805, where he…
- Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
- Dir. Jared Hess
Feat. Michael Angarano, Jemaine Clement, Jennifer Coolidge…
- Call us biased, but Jemaine Clement is worth the price of admission alone to this zany yet well–aligned comedy from the creator of NAPOLEON…
- Goemon (2009)
- Dir. Kazuaki Kiriya
Feat. Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Osawa
- The dir. of CASSHERN helms this visionary medieval spectacle, based on a 16th century bandit whose Robin hood–style exploits are steeped in…
- Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)
- Dir. Lauren Montgomery
Feat. Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer…
- A solid animated outing for one of the lesser–known superheros of the DC Universe, The Green Lantern, who gains his powers through a magical…
- Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent…
- The epic sixth movie in the Harry Potter franchise sees Harry prepare for the final battle against his nemesis Voldemort while struggling with his…
- Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The (2009)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Andrew Garfield…
- Firing on all imaginative cylinders, dir. Terry Gilliam delivers what is possibly his magnum opus – an original, mind–bending fantasy…
- Imagine That (2009)
- Dir. Karey Kirkpatrick
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Ronny Cox
- A magic blankie transforms Eddie Murphy's prospects on the stock market in this pleasantly surprisingly family movie, recommended for its healthy…
- Lovely Bones, The (2009)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan…
- Peter Jackson’s errant, though wonderfully imagined murder mystery begins with the brutal death of a teenage girl in small town Pennsylvania,…
- Micmacs (2009)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Dany Boon, Andre Dussollier, Jean-Pierre Marielle…
- The dir. of AMELIE and CITY OF LOST CHILDREN stays true to form(ula) with his visual chutzpah lavished upon another idealised scenario that this time…
- Night At The Museum 2 (Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian) (2009)
- Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson…
- Sequel to 2006 mega–hit NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM sees Ben Stiller return to his role as security guard, this time on a mission to infiltrate the…
- Oblivion Island (Haruka and the Magic Mirror) (2009)
- Dir. Shinsuke Sato
- Emulating Pixar's gold standard animation, this crowd pleasing 3D anime centres on a teenage girl who stumbles through a magical portal to a world…
- Race To Witch Mountain (2009)
- Dir. Andy Fickman
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Tom Everett Scott, AnnaSophia Robb…
- A flashy but bland reboot of the 1975 Disney film ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN that sees Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson play a cab driver who inadvertently…
- Ricky (2009)
- Dir. Francois Ozon
Feat. Sergi Lopez, Alexandra Lamy, Mélusine Mayance
- Intriguing fusion of kitchen–sink drama and magical realism by the mercurial Ozon with a young baby afflicted by an alarming physiological…
- Solomon Kane (2009)
- Dir. Michael J. Bassett
Feat. James Purefoy, Max von Sydow, Pete Postlethwaite…
- Conan creator Robert E. Howard's pulpy fantasy gets a suitably bloody adaptation with James Purefoy donning the boots to star as the hell–bound…
- Storm Warriors, The (Storm Riders II) (2009)
- Dir. Oxide Pang, Danny Pang
Feat. Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Simon Yam
- The Pang brothers helm this flamboyant, effects–heavy sequel to the OTT Hong Kong hit, delivering a mixture of wushu and wizardry with…
- Thin Match Man, The (L'uomo fiammifero) (2009)
- Dir. Marco Chiarini
Feat. Francesco Pannofino, Marco Leonzi, Gabriele Manfredi
- Modern fairy–tale about a house–bound boy determined to find the thin–match man, a figure his mother once created who lights the…
- Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure (2009)
- Feat. Kristin Chenoweth, Jesse McCartney, Anjelica Huston
- Adequate sequel to 2008's TINKERBELL sees the feisty fairy and friends go on a journey to find the source of the Pixies mystical dust.The stellar…
- Toys in the Attic (2009-2012)
- Dir. Vivian Schilling, Jirí Barta
- Dark stop–motion animated fairytale following the adventures of a doll, a marionette, a teddy bear, a Mechanical Mouse and the plasticine…
- Treasure Hunter, The (2009)
- Dir. Yen-ping Chu
Feat. Jay Chou, Chiling Lin, Eric Tsang…
- Madcap fusion of Indiana Jones and martial arts mayhem, with Mandarin popstar Jay Chou leading the charge as a protector of relics on the hunt for a…
- Vintner's Luck, The (2009)
- Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Jeremie Renier, Gaspard Ulliel…
- Contentious, opulent NZ–made adaptation of the much–loved Elizabeth Knox novel, ostensibly about the relationship between a guardian…
- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
- Dir. Spike Jonze
Feat. Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini…
- Expanding on the simple text of Maurice Sendak's modern children's classic, this glorious, visionary adaptation from director Spike Jonze and writer…
- Wizards Of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009)
- Dir. Lev L. Spiro
Feat. David Henrie, Selena Gomez, Jake T. Austin
- Feature–length spin–off from popular Disney series THE WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE, focused around a family of…
- Wonder Woman (2009)
- Dir. Lauren Montgomery
Feat. Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina…
- Excellent animated feature telling the origin story of Wonder Woman (voiced by Russell) and her quest to protect the world from Ares (Molina).
The…
- Woochi: Goblin Wizard (Jeon Woochi : The Taoist Wizard) (2009)
- Dir. Dong-hun Choi
Feat. Dong-won Kang, Yun-seok Kim, Su-jeong Lim…
- Mayhem is unleashed in contemporary Seoul when Taoist wizards do battle with time traveling goblins.
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- Dir. Gavin Hood
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston…
- Hugh Jackman reprises his role as wolfy superhero Wolverine, charting his origin–story from innocent child through to fully–fledged,…
- Adventures Of Merlin, The (TV Series) (2008)
- Feat. Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James…
- Ambitious drama series loosely based on the legend of King Arthur, following a young Merlin's arrival in Camelot where he must face great danger…
- Bedtime Stories (2008)
- Dir. Adam Shankman
Feat. Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce…
- Sure–fire Disney high–concept comedy starring Adam Sandler as a baby–sitting uncle whose bedtime stories start to influence his…
- Being Human (TV Series) (2008)
- Feat. Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner
- Supernatural sitcom has three British twenty–somethings struggling with their respective alter–egos as a vampire, ghost and werewolf.
- Bonekickers (TV Series) (2008)
- Feat. Hugh Bonneville, Julie Graham, Adrian Lester
- From the creators of LIFE ON MARS comes this hybrid of INDIANA JONES and THE DA VINCI CODE as a crack team of archaeologists are thrust into various…
- Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
- Dir. Andrew Adamson
Feat. Tilda Swinton, Ben Barnes, Sergio Castellitto…
- This epic–leaning return to the fantasy world of Narnia finds the Pevensie children heading back through the wardrobe to help Prince Caspian…
- City Of Ember (2008)
- Dir. Gil Kenan
Feat. Harry Treadaway, Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins…
- Dystopian children's fantasy set in an underground city of the future that is threatened by eternal darkness but whose leaders protect their citizens…
- CJ7 (Cheung Gong 7 hou) (2008)
- Dir. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
Feat. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
- Hong Kong superstar Stephen Chow turns his directing talents to the family–friendly fantasy, playing a dirt–poor father who surprises his…
- Colour of Magic, The (2008)
- Dir. Vadim Jean
Feat. Sean Astin, Jeremy Irons, David Jason…
- A live–action return to Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld,' where an unfortunate wizard, enthusiastic tourist and fierce wooden box with legs must…
- Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The (2008)
- Dir. David Fincher
Feat. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton…
- The screenwriter of FORREST GUMP expands upon F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story to tell the curious case of a man born on Armistice day as decrepit…
- Delgo (2008)
- Dir. Marc F. Adler, Jason Maurer
Feat. Freddie Prinze Jnr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Malcolm McDowell…
- Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt and others voice this fantasy animation about a magical world on the brink of destruction. Lacks subtely and…
- Dragon Hunters (2008)
- Dir. Guillaume Ivernel, Arthur Qwak
Feat. Forest Whitaker, Vincent Lindon
- French–produced animated tale of two dragon hunters in a world that has become infested with a terrible plague, with famished, mutant creatures…
- Dragonlance: Dragons of the Autumn Twilight (2008)
- Dir. Will Meugniot
Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Lucy Lawless, Michelle Trachtenberg
- Basic Fantasy adventure animation based on the novel and role–playing game of the same name about a group of heroes defending their land…
- Inkheart (2008)
- Dir. Iain Softley
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Sienna Guillory, Paul Bettany…
- An under–rated, imaginative rendering of German author Cornelia Funke's novel about a young girl and her father who have the ability to bring…
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth (2008)
- Dir. Eric Brevig
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
- A "rollercoaster" entertainment based very loosely on Jules Verne's famous novel, this version sees a contemporary trio embarking on an inadvertent…
- Krabat (2008)
- Dir. Marco Kreuzpaintner
Feat. David Kross, Daniel Bruhl, Christian Redl
- Faustian fantasy centred around a teenager who is lured into joining an elite circle of black magic practitioners in 18th Century Germany.
A…
- Legend of the Seeker, The (TV Series) (2008)
- Feat. Craig Horner, Bridget Regan, Bruce Spence…
- Sword–and–Sorcery coming–of–age journey with The Seeker as he joins forces with a mysterious woman and a wise, powerful…
- Lost in Austen (TV Mini-Series) (2008)
- Feat. Jemima Rooper, Alex Kingston, Hugh Bonneville…
- Fizzy twist on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has an ardent Jane Austen fan, living in present day London, swapping places with Austen's fictional creation…
- Mummy, The - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
- Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello…
- Veteran adventurer Rick O’Conner (Fraser) returns with family in tow to battle Jet Li’s ‘Dragon Emperor’ in this bloated third installment of…
- Phoebe in Wonderland (2008)
- Dir. Daniel Barnz
Feat. Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Elle Fanning…
- Affecting drama starring Elle Fanning (Dakota's little sister) as an gifted but unstable young girl who retreats into the fantastical world of Alice…
- Pinocchio (TV Mini-series) (2008)
- Dir. Alberto Sironi
Feat. Robbie Kay , Alessandro Gassman, Bob Hoskins
- Lengthy, live–action adaptation of the children's classic stars Kay as the boy made of wood and Hoskins as his gruff old father, Gepetto. Quite…
- Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) (2008)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Yuria Nara, Hiroki Doi
- Utterly irresistible, Miyazaki’s latest animated triumph is one for all ages (even toddlers!); a Little Mermaid–inspired adventure of a…
- Rosario + Vampire (TV Series) (Rozario To Banpaia) (2008)
- Tskune accidentally gets on a bus to a school of monsters.
- Secret Of Moonacre, The (2008)
- Dir. Gabor Csupo
Feat. Dakota Blue Richards, Juliet Stevenson, Tim Curry…
- Orphaned teenager Maria Merryweather (Richards) discovers her new home, the foreboding Moonacre Estate, is under an ancient curse in this lushly…
- Spiderwick Chronicles, The (2008)
- Dir. Mark Waters
Feat. Freddie Highmore, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger…
- Enchanting fantasia in the Gothic tradition, centred around three children (including Freddie Highmore as twins!) who move into a dilapidated mansion…
- Star Wars - The Clone Wars (2008)
- Dir. Dave Filoni
- Watered down kids animation from the STAR WARS franchise, focusing on the Jedi Knights battle to retain peace in the galaxy during the…
- Tears for Sale (Charleston and Vendetta) (2008)
- Dir. Uros Stojanovic
Feat. Katarina Radivojevic, Sonja Kolacaric
- The sombre title belies what is in fact a joyously bawdy Balkan fairytale that blends fantastical folklore, striking burlesque visuals and ample…
- Tinkerbell (Tinker Bell Movie, The ) (2008)
- Dir. Bradley Raymond
- The feisty fairy from PETER PAN stars in her very own movie set in the land of 'Pixie Hollow,' where she must learn from her fairy friends how to…
- Beowulf (2007)
- Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins…
- Originally earmarked for 3D IMAX cinemas, this groundbreaking animation brings to screen the Old English epic of hero Beowulf (Winstone) and his…
- Blood and Chocolate (2007)
- Dir. Katja von Garnier
Feat. Agnes Bruckner, Olivier Martinez, Hugh Dancy…
- A beautiful teenager must choose between her love for a young artist and her werewolf lineage in this campy but adequately entertaining supernatural…
- Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
- Dir. Gabor Csupo
Feat. Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel…
- Faithful adaptation of a much–loved young–adult novel, which tells the story of two 10–year–olds creating a fantasy world to…
- Doctor Strange - The Sorceror Supreme (2007)
- Dir. Jay Oliva
- Another popular comic book adaptation from the Marvel animated stable: here, the ‘Dr. Strange’ series makes for a fantastical world’s end…
- Doctor Who (Animated TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, Anthony Head…
- Animated spin–offs that aim predominantly at a younger audience, but have enough well–crafted animation locations and clever technique to…
- Dororo (2007)
- Dir. Akihiko Shiota
Feat. Ko Shibasaki, Satoshi Tsumabuki
- Electrifying action fantasy based on a manga comic by the grandfather of Anime – Osamu Tezuka (ASTRO BOY), in which an abandoned samurai's son…
- Enchanted (2007)
- Dir. Kevin Lima
Feat. Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams, James Marsden…
- Top–rating, truly charming family fantasy uses a clever mix of live action and animation to quite literally 'bring to life' a perfect, cartoon…
- Ghost Rider (2007)
- Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley…
- The latest Marvel superhero to 'ignite' the screen, a rather unlikely Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who strikes a deal…
- Golden Compass, The (2007)
- Dir. Chris Weitz
Feat. Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ben Walker…
- Visually magnificent fantasy epic adapted from the first installment in Philip Pullman's controversial "His Dark Materials" trilogy traverses similar…
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Dir. David Yates
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter…
- The fifth movie of the Harry Potter franchise finds the Wiz–kid struggling with adolescent hormones, a blind bureaucracy and most memorably,…
- John From Cincinnati (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Rebecca De Mornay, Greyson Fletcher, Bruce Greenwood
- Short–lived oddity from the creator of DEADWOOD set amongst a surfing community in California, where a stranger with mysterious powers shakes…
- Masters Of Science Fiction (TV Series) (A Clean Escape, Jerry Was A Man, The Awakening, Little Brother, Watchbird, The Discarded.) (2007)
- Dir. Mark Rydell, Michael Petroni, Darnell Martin
Feat. Judy Davis, Sam Waterston, Anne Heche…
- Collection of six stories from the world's top sci–fi writers brought to life by a top–notch cast and hosted by Professor Stephen…
- Mother of Tears (La Terza Madre) (2007)
- Dir. Dario Argento
Feat. Asia Argento, Christian Solimeno, Udo Kier
- This missing piece in Argento’s ‘Three Mothers’ trilogy turns to an unassuming art student (daughter Asia, getting her kit off as usual), who,…
- Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
- Dir. Zach Helm
Feat. Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman…
- Elves–in–the–toyshop fantasy with Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Magorium, the kindly, Wonka–esque, owner of a magical toy…
- Secret of the Magic Gourd, The (Bao hu lu de mi mi) (2007)
- Dir. John Chu, Frankie Chung
- One of the first children's fantasies from mainland China to be formally released in the West tells the story of an imaginative under–achiever…
- Seeker, The - The Dark is Rising (2007)
- Dir. David L Cunningham
Feat. Alexander Ludwig, Ian McShane, Christopher Eccleston…
- Choppy big screen adaptation of Susan Cooper's popular children's series, which pits a chosen young boy against Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane,…
- Slipstream (Slipstream Dream) (2007)
- Dir. Anthony Hopkins
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Christian Slater, Camryn Manheim…
- Anthony Hopkins cartwheels into the director's chair and attempts to channel David Lynch for this befuddling ensemble fantasy in which a screenwriter…
- Stardust (2007)
- Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Feat. Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer…
- An elaborate and wildly entertaining fairytale adventure from the imagination of British fantasy maestro, Neil Gaiman (MIRROR MASK), this tones down…
- Superman: Doomsday (2007)
- Feat. Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, John Di Maggio…
- Brutal animation based on 'The Death of Superman' comic where our red caped superhero must defeat the creature 'Doomsday' and rise from the dead to…
- Tin Man (TV Mini-series) (2007)
- Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough…
- Futuristic, CGI–rich TV mini–series re–imagining the L. Frank Baum classic THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Quirk bunny Zooey Deschanel (WEEDS,…
- Water Horse, The: Legend of the Deep (2007)
- Dir. Jay Russell
Feat. Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson…
- NZ–filmed magical adventure inspired by the legend of Loch Ness in which a small boy secretly adopts a baby mythical creature that grows to…
- Wizards of Waverly Place, The (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin
- Bland cash–in on the HARRY POTTER series centers on the Russo children, three young wizards in training.
Broad comedy with a 'twist' is…
- Youth Without Youth (2007)
- Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz
- Joining a recent glut of Dorian Gray–like fantasies, this Francis Ford Coppola comeback (following a 10 year sabbatical) centres on a Romanian…
- Aquamarine (2006)
- Dir. Elizabeth Allen
Feat. Emma Roberts, Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque, Sara Paxton
- Likeable 'tween' fantasy that’ll appeal especially to young girls, this swimmingly pairs two best friends with a teenaged mermaid who washes up on…
- Arthur and the Invisibles (Arthur et les Minimoys) (2006)
- Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, Jimmy Fallon…
- Blending animation and live–action, Luc Besson directs the tale of ‘Arthur and The Minimoys’ (translated to ‘Invisibles’ for English…
- Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest (2006)
- Dir. Michel Ocelot
- Exotic story–book style adventure set in the Arabic world and following childhood friends Azur and Asmar as they become rivals on a quest to…
- Black Blood Brothers (TV Series) (2006)
- Remnants of a vampire clan that wanted to rule the world alone, but got defeated in a war by joined forces of other vampires and humans, kidnap the…
- Condor, The (Stan Lee Presents - The Condor) (2006)
- Dir. Steve Gordon
Feat. Wilmer Valderrama, Maria Conchita Alonso
- When his parents are murdered and his legs destroyed in a violent invasion, Hispanic skatie Tony Valdez uses bits and pieces from his Dad's…
- Crusade: A March Through Time (Kruistocht in spijkerbroek) (2006)
- Dir. Ben Sombogaart
Feat. Stephanie Leonidas, Joe Flynn, Emily Watson…
- From the popular Dutch children’s book, this biblical fantasy follows a young boy who accidentally travels through time back to the 13th Century,…
- Eragon (2006)
- Dir. Stefan Fangmeier
Feat. Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich…
- A child–friendly fire–breathing fantasy set in a land where dragons are almost extinct, and a farm boy named Eragon must meet his destiny…
- Fall, The (2006)
- Dir. Tarsem Singh
Feat. Lee Pace, Cantinca Untaru, Justine Waddell
- Long delayed in this part of the world, this visually audacious labour of love from dir. Singh has Lee Pace as a wounded stuntman narrating a…
- Girl Who Leapt Through Time, The (2006)
- Dir. Mamoru Hosoda
- An enchanting, girl–centric 'anime', centred around a teenager’s ability to time travel and adjust the course of her social and romantic…
- Hogfather (Terry Pratchett's Hogfather) (2006)
- Dir. Vadim Jean
Feat. David Jason, Marc Warren, Nigel Planer…
- Another installment in Terry Pratchett's universe sees Discworld's equivalent to Father Christmas 'the Hogfather' go missing on Hogswatch eve with…
- Lady in the Water (2006)
- Dir. M. Night Shyamalan
Feat. Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright…
- Adapting his own literary fairytale, M. Night Shyamalan's (SIGNS) fifth film is set around a dank apartment complex, where the dour superintendent…
- Merlin's Apprentice (2006)
- Feat. Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson
- Fantastical sequel to the popular mini–series version of MERLIN, this also stars Sam Neill as the legendary wizard, now mentoring a young…
- Night at the Museum (2006)
- Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke…
- Rambuctious creature comedy starring Ben Stiller as a 'desperate dad' who takes the graveyard shift as a night guard for the Natural History Museum,…
- Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del fauno) (2006)
- Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Ariadna Gil, Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez…
- A stunning, sinister netherworld fantasy that parallels an equally compelling story of uprising against a fascist military unit in WWII Spain, this…
- Penelope (2006)
- Dir. Mark Palansky
Feat. Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara…
- Whimsical fantasy comedy about an unfortunate girl cursed with the face of a pig whose family are driven to find her a "handsome prince" to undo the…
- Prestige, The (2006)
- Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson…
- Another astounding feat of storytelling from the dir. of MEMENTO that spins a constantly intriguing yarn of two rival magicians who engage in a…
- Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2006)
- Splendid swag of early short films from special f/x pioneer Ray Harryhausen, many using the mature stop–motion style of his work in features…
- Tales From Earthsea (Gedo senki) (2006)
- Dir. Goro Miyazaki
- The animated feature debut from Goro Miyazaki, son of Hayao, based on Ursula K Le Guin's popular 'Earthsea' novels, this is a commendable addition to…
- Thief Lord, The (2006)
- Dir. Richard Claus
Feat. Jasper Harris, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jim Carter…
- A delightful HARRY POTTER–esque fantasy chronicling the adventures of two runaways who join a scalawag band of abandoned kids in search of a…
- Tom's Midnight Garden (2006)
- Dir. Willard Carroll
Feat. Greta Scacchi, James Wilby, Joan Plowright
- A handsome screen version of children's novel by Phillipa Pearce, in which a young boy in the 1950s is sent to live with his aunt and uncle because…
- Ultimate Avengers (2006)
- Dir. Bob Richardson
- Slim, cheerfully low–grade Marvel animated feature which unites six iconic superheroes (Captain America, The Hulk, etc.) in a fight against…
- What the Bleep!? - Down the Rabbit Hole (2006)
- Dir. William Arntz, Betsy Chasse
Feat. Marlee Matlin
- A sequel–recut of WHAT THE BLEEP? which again presents an New Age spread of provocative comparisons between the theories of quantum physics and…
- Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)
- Dir. Goran Dukic
Feat. Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Tom Waits…
- Wilfully eccentric suicide comedy (!?) set in a warped and washed–out afterlife inhabited solely by suiciders, in which a young no–hoper…
- X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006)
- Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart…
- Third entry in the X–MEN series maintains the intensity with a raft of new mutants – of various persuasions – and an intriguing new…
- Beowulf and Grendel (2005)
- Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson
Feat. Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgard, Sarah Polley
- A rousing medieval adaptation of the Anglo–Saxon epic poem in sweeping fantasy tones. Filled with constant action in a strange, otherworldly…
- Bewitched (2005)
- Dir. Nora Ephron
Feat. Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley Maclaine…
- An inventive, but overly ditzy attempt at updating the 1960s TV classic, with the twist here being that the modernday witch Kidman longs for the…
- Bloodrayne (2005)
- Dir. Uwe Boll
Feat. Kristanna Loken, Michael Madsen, Ben Kingsley…
- Brain dead blood and breast fest from the consistently awful Boll with "plot" revolving around a half–human/half–vampire pursuing the man…
- Brothers Grimm (2005)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Heath Ledger, Matt Damon, Jonathan Pryce…
- Loosely based on the lives of 19th century German folklore collectors Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, this has the said brothers (played by Ledger and…
- Carnivale - Season 2 (TV Series) (2005)
- Further episodes from this unusual TV series which continues a running duel between two quasi–supernatural figures (Stahl and Brown) in the…
- Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)
- Dir. Andrew Adamson
Feat. Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent…
- A splendid and meticulous vision of C.S. Lewis' classic children's fantasy novel in which a group of four young siblings – ensconced in an…
- Death Trance (2005)
- Dir. Yuji Shimomura
Feat. Tak Sakaguchi
- Another insane, neo–samurai fantasy from the VERSUS camp involving the battle over a mysterious coffin that, if opened, could destroy the…
- Great Yokai War, The (Yôkai daisensô) (2005)
- Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Chiaki Kuriyama
- The latest cinematic mash–up from dir. Miike (AUDITION) is a family–orientated adventure in which a shy young boy from a broken family…
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman…
- The fourth chapter in the unfolding Harry Potter series marks a devastating plunge into raw suspense and truly epic adventure for the young wizard…
- Jacket, The (2005)
- Dir. John Maybury
Feat. Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Kris Kristofferson…
- Adding to a growing canon of mind–bending thrillers of distinction (see our 'Close Relatives' below), this certainly feels part of a distinct…
- King Kong (2005)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black…
- Peter Jackson's colossal remake lavishes one of the cinema's greatest legends in 21st century technology and ratchets up the emotional stakes to…
- Mushi-Shi (TV Series) (2005)
- Dir. Hiroshi Nagahama
- Artful, existential anime of spiritual transcendence, concerning an intangible life force dubbed ‘Mushi’, and the gifted master who seeks out…
- Nanny McPhee (2005)
- Dir. Kirk Jones
Feat. Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kelly MacDonald…
- A well–bred British entertainment for children which fuses the traditional likes of MARY POPPINS with the current wave of gothic fantasy (Harry…
- Neverwas (2005)
- Dir. Joshua Michael Stern
Feat. Ian McKellen, Aaron Eckhart, Brittany Murphy…
- Emotive, 'realist' fairytale concerns a psychiatrist (Eckhart) who discovers the magical world his deceased father (Nolte) wrote about in a Lewis…
- Opal Dream (2005)
- Dir. Peter Cattaneo
Feat. Vince Colosimo, Jacqueline McKenzie
- Semi–precious gem of a family drama about a precocious 10–year–old girl in Australian 'opal country', who wreaks a cute brand of…
- Piano Tuner of Earthquakes, The (2005)
- Dir. The Brothers Quay
Feat. Amira Casar
- A ten–year hiatus hasn’t dulled the Quay Brothers’ imagination for the surreal and phantasmagorical, with their latest feature an…
- Princess Raccoon (Operetta tanuki goten) (2005)
- Dir. Seijun Suzuki
Feat. Zhang Ziyi, Joe Odagiri
- Wacky musical rumpus stars Zhang Ziyi as a 'raccoon dog' who falls in love with a prince banished to her enchanted forest.
A fanciful swansong for…
- Promise, The (Wu ji) (2005)
- Dir. Chen Kaige
Feat. Hiroyuki Sanada, Dong-Kun Jang, Cecilia Cheung…
- Visually exquisite, if utterly frivolous Golden Globe–nominated romantic epic from the director of FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE relays the story of…
- Shinobi (2005)
- Dir. Ten Shimoyama
Feat. Joe Odagiri, Yukie Nakama
- Set in an ancient Japan complete with magical trappings, this action epic posits a forbidden love story between members (Odagiri and Nakama) of two…
- Sin City (2005)
- Dir. Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller
Feat. Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen…
- A sensational slab of stylized and ultra–violent pulp fiction, adapted from Frank Miller's own notorious 'crime noir' comicbooks, and…
- Snow Queen, The (2005)
- Dir. Julian Gibbs
Feat. Sydney White, Patrick Stewart
- The classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, about a young girl who sets out to find a friend bewitched and abducted by an evil enchantress, here…
- Tideland (2005)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Tilly, Jodelle Ferland
- Perennial mindbender Terry Gilliam burrows down the rabbit hole, perverting a child’s fairytale into a corrupted, deeply disturbed nightmare…
- Angels in America (TV Mini Series) (2004)
- Dir. Mike Nichols
Feat. Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson…
- An ambitious, multi–leveled portrait of the fractures, politics and metaphysical crises of 1980s America based on the stageplay by Tony…
- Bionicle 2 (Legends of Metru Nui) (2004)
- Prequel to MASK OF LIGHT, this casts back into the dark early history of Metru Nui, with six Metoran being given the task of recovering the powerful…
- Devilman (2004)
- Dir. Hiroyuki Nasu
Feat. Hisato Izaki
- Clunky live–action manga adaptation saddles a dorky teenager with the fate of mankind, forcing him to adopt the characteristics of a…
- Dragon's World - A Fantasy Made Real (2004)
- Dir. Justin Hardy
- Interesting TV hybrid, poses the question "what if dragons were real?", and unfolds the story of a group of hikers who stumble upon the frozen…
- Dust Factory, The (2004)
- Dir. Eric Small
Feat. Hayden Panettiere, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ryan Kelly
- An interesting and moderately spooky family drama, in which a traumatised teen (Kelly) – who can't bring himself to speak after witnessing his…
- Elfen Lied (2004)
- Dir. Mamoru Kanbe
- Anime TV series adapting the earlier part of a manga of the same name by Lynn Okamoto that was considered edgy in its time due to being pretty dark…
- Ella Enchanted (2004)
- Dir. Tommy O’Haver
Feat. Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes…
- Anne Hathaway (THE PRINCESS DIARIES) stars in this family fantasy as a princess who must travel to distant lands to offload her gift (curse) of…
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst…
- A miraculous, complex 'domestic fantasy' from the twin genius of writer Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry, who find a satisfying narrative…
- Five Children and It (2004)
- Dir. John Stephenson
Feat. Freddie Highmore, Kenneth Branagh, Zoe Wanamaker…
- A fond adaptation of the E. Nesbit novel in which a group of children are befriended by a disenchanted green 'sand fairy' called 'It' (voiced by…
- George and the Dragon (2004)
- Dir. Tom Reeve
Feat. James Purefoy, Piper Perabo, Patrick Swayze…
- Broadly entertaining revision of a medieval legend about the search for a captive princess and dragon in old–world England.
- Gladiatress (2004)
- Dir. Brian Grant
Feat. Sally Phillips, Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan
- A modest spoof on the sword–and–sandal genre (see GLADIATOR or XENA), with three Celtic lasses kitting up for a wander through a welter…
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane…
- Young Harry's troublesome education continues at Hogswarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, in this increasingly confident series, here given a…
- House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu) (2004)
- Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau
- The dir. of HERO follows up with an equally watchable oriental spectacle, inserting the same cartwheeling martial arts action, complete with torrents…
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
- Yet another miraculous animated odyssey from Hayao Miyazaki, who finds a perfect vehicle in the English fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones, about a…
- Le Portrait de Petite Cossette (TV Series) (2004)
- Dir. Akiyuki Shinbo
- Wavering gothic anime series in which an antique store worker becomes obsessed with a young girl he discovers trapped inside a Venetian glass for 250…
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
- Dir. Brad Silberling
Feat. Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Billy Connolly…
- Unfolding as a series of beautifully designed events, this Hollywood adaptation of the popular fantasy books fortunately doesn't water down the…
- Shoebox Zoo (TV Series) (2004)
- Dir. Justin Molotnikov
Feat. Vivien Endicott Douglas, Jason Connery, Rik Mayall…
- An imaginative British fantasy series for children, has a Canadian exchange student (Douglas) living in Edinburgh inherit a box of toy animals, that…
- Strings (2004)
- Dir. Anders Rønnow Klarlund
Feat. James McAvoy, Catherine McCormack, Derek Jacobi…
- An extraordinary Danish puppet fantasy epic about the course of kingdoms and warriors in an ancient world, which is distinguished by the integration…
- Van Helsing (2004)
- Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh…
- More entertaining than some critics might have you believe, this big–budget monster–mash sees Hugh Jackman out to save a Transylvanian…
- What the Bleep do we Know!? (What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?) (2004)
- Dir. William Arntz, Betsy Chasse, Mark Vicente
Feat. Marlee Matlin
- A unique and certainly popular piece of 'New Age intellectualism", this follows the travails of a deaf photographer (Matlin) through life and…
- Big Fish (2003)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup…
- A fantasy of substance from dir. Tim Burton, set around a dying father (Finney) and his son (Crudup), who relives the father's tall stories, piecing…
- Bionicle: Mask of Light (2003)
- Animated spectacular from the makers of 'Lego', set on a half–mystical/half–futuristic islands of Mata Nui.
Subject to a devious plot…
- Bruce Almighty (2003)
- Dir. Tom Shadyac
Feat. Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman
- The second coming of Jim Carrey for the director of LIAR LIAR is a similar ‘high concept’ comedy with the same ratio of side–splitting and…
- Carnivale - Season 1 (TV Series) (2003)
- Feat. Nick Stahl, Clancy Brown, John Savage…
- A most unusual TV series which sets a running duel between two quasi–supernatural figures (Stahl and Brown) in the Oklahoma dustbowl during the…
- Freaky Friday (2003)
- Dir. Mark Waters
Feat. Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon
- Thoroughly updated and spunky version of Disney's 1977 original, one the best 'body–swap' comedies.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, play…
- Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (2003)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…
- Peter Jackson's adaptation of J R R Tolkien's fantasy trilogy of 'Middle Earth' reaches its spectacular climax, drawing the story–threads…
- Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Extended Edition) (2003)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…
- The final installment in Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy classic. This version includes an extra 45 minutes of footage.
- Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Limited Edition) (2003)
- Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes
- Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's final installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
- Nothing (2003)
- Dir. Vincenzo Natali
Feat. David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Gordon Pinsent
- Two losers inhabiting a scungy existence in cramped Toronto discover that their unspoken wish that "the world would just go away" has come…
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush…
- A terrific, tongue–in–cheek action romp set in the pirate days of the Caribbean, with Johnny Depp leading the charge as a madcap, slyly…
- Shrek 3-D - The Story Continues (2003)
- Dir. Simon J Smith
- A bridging story between the first two SHREK feature–films, has the same great 'voice cast' return for a modest adventure in which Princess…
- Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
- Dir. Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson
Feat. Brad Pitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Catherine Zeta-Jones
- A traditionally–animated high sea adventure in which young rogue pirate Sinbad must cutlace his way out of the fine mess cooked up by the…
- Woodenhead (2003)
- Dir. Florian Habicht
- A remarkable and surrealistic melding of New Zealand setting and Germanic sensibility, in which a sad fairytale narrative is enacted, sung and…
- Dinotopia (TV Mini-series) (2002)
- Dir. Marco Brambilla
Feat. David Thewlis
- Teledrama based on the popular, illustrative fantasy books by James Gurney, following two young brothers who survive a plane crash and wash up in a…
- Haibane Renmei (TV Series) (2002)
- Dir. Tomokazu Tokoro
- Accomplished Japanese anime TV series that shuns the usual props – weaponry, robots, demons, spaceships – for a bittersweet tale of a…
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Dir. Chris Columbus
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese…
- The second Harry Potter adaptation is better fun and more settled in its mingled tone of magic, fantasy and thriller.
Daniel Radcliffe again plays…
- Hero (2002)
- Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Jet Li, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Maggie Cheung…
- Though no doubt diminished on the small screen, this ancient Martial Arts spectacle from the dir. of RAISE THE RED…
- Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (2002)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…
- Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and…
- Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Extended Edition) (2002)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…
- Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and dramatic…
- Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Limited Edition) (2002)
- Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes
- Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's second installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
- Order, The - From Cremaster 3 (2002)
- Dir. Matthew Barney
Feat. Matthew Barney
- The climactic half–hour of artist Matthew Barney's 5–part 'Cremaster' series, a challenging excursion into surrealistic imagery whose a…
- Peter Pan 2 - Return to Neverland (2002)
- Dir. Robin Budd, Donovan Cook
- Bright and energetic sequel to Disney’s original animation from 1953, set around Jane’s (daughter of Wendy) journey to the enchanted…
- Pinocchio (2002)
- Dir. Roberto Benigni
Feat. Roberto Benigni
- Pre–eminent Italian comic Roberto Benigni stages the greatest Italian fairytale as a prestige project, but belly–flops perhaps namely…
- Reign of Fire (2002)
- Dir. Rob Bowman
Feat. Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey
- Fire–breathing dragons are woken from their millennial slumbers by repairmen in the London Underground, and begin laying waste to the earth in…
- Scorpion King, The (2002)
- Dir. Chuck Russell
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Steven Brand
- Spun off from the recent MUMMY remakes, this logically demented action–horror prequel concerns the struggle of Mathayus (played by WWF’s…
- Spider-Man (Spiderman) (2002)
- Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe…
- New–improved re–spinning of the Marvel comic book superhero that finds a perfect match of material and director, and the crucially…
- Spirited Away (2002)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Miyu Hiragi, Miyu Irino
- Animation visionary Hayao Miyazaki gets to fully unlock his boundless imagination through the otherworldly adventures of an innocent young girl that…
- Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels (2002)
- Dir. Scott Zakarin
- Two documentaries on one DVD, concerning Marvel Comics maestro Stan Lee, the creator of ‘The Fantastic Four’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’, ‘The…
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Dir. George Lucas
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen…
- The attack of the most successful–ever movie franchise continues, with Lucas’ space–opera following further galactic struggles, in…
- X-Men 2 (2002)
- Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart…
- A new war between humans and mutants looks to boil over in this sure–footed sci–fi sequel, again steered by dir. Singer.
Centred…
- Amelie (2001)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz
- A charming romantic comedy stamped with the purely cinematic style of dir. Jean–Pierre Juenet, who here remixes intricate set pieces, editing…
- Back to the Secret Garden (2001)
- Dir. Michael Tuchner
Feat. Joan Plowright, George Baker, Cherie Lunghi…
- Sequel to the 1993 enchanted family adventure THE SECRET GARDEN set years later with the original children Mary and Colin now married (yes, they are…
- Dark Portals - Vidocq (2001)
- Dir. Pitof
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet, Andre Dussollier…
- Before the diabolical CATWOMAN, French visual effects maestro Pitof directed this wildly eccentric 19th century mythology, pitting the historical…
- Donnie Darko (2001)
- Dir. Richard Kelly
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore…
- Admired by critics and an ardent fanbase for its originality and eclecticism, this quirky teen fantasy is arguably a slick patchwork of other movie…
- Fruits Basket (TV Series) (2001)
- A teenage girl ingratiates herself to a mysterious family who are known to transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac in this peppy comedy romance,…
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
- Dir. Chris Columbus
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman…
- Immensely popular, this star–studded adaptation of JK Rowling’s first book thankfully captures the essence of orphan Harry’s tale of…
- Interstate 60 (2001)
- Dir. Bob Gale
Feat. James Marsden, Gary Oldman, Kurt Russell…
- An appealingly quirky teen road movie from the writer of the BACK TO THE FUTURE series, in which Marsden sets out on the mythical American highway,…
- Jack and the Beanstalk - The Real Story (2001)
- Dir. Brian Henson
Feat. Matthew Modine, Jon Voight, Vanessa Redgrave…
- TV sequel to the fairytale of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' in which a descendant of Jack (Modine) must lift a family curse by returning the world of the…
- Kai Doh Maru (2001)
- Dir. Kanji Wakabayashi
- Short though superbly animated fable of ancient Japan concerning a young girl who is raised as a samurai warrior in feudal times. From the…
- Knight's Tale, A (2001)
- Dir. Brian Helgeland
Feat. Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany
- Surprisingly satisfying medieval comedy slam–bang, that wears its mindlessness on its chain–mail sleeve, while Geoffrey Chaucer’s…
- Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (2001)
- Dir. Simon West
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Noah Taylor
- Hugely silly fantasy–action is never a bore, despite all the odds, with an oiled Angelina Jolie filling the kit of the pneumatic…
- Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…
- Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
- Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) (2001)
- Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…
- Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
- Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Limited Edition) (2001)
- Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes
- Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's first installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
- Mists of Avalon, The (2001)
- Dir. Uli Edel
Feat. Anjelica Huston, Joan Allen, Julianne Margulies
- Interesting TV–Movie re–casting of the King Arthur mythology from the women’s – Igraine, Morgaine, Viviane, Gwenwyfer –…
- Monkey Bone (2001)
- Dir. Henry Selick
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg
- Bizarre, original and at times downright nasty, this not–for–kids comedy concerns the life–and–death voyage of cartoonist…
- Mummy Returns, The (2001)
- Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah…
- And Brendan Fraser is once again on hand to battle the bandaged corpse of the Egyptian Imhotep on behalf of all civilization. Also stars WWF’s The…
- Osmosis Jones (2001)
- Dir. Pete Farrelly, Bob Farrelly
Feat. Bill Murray, Chris Rock, Laurence Fishburne…
- The Farrelly Bros (KINGPIN) take their comic fixation with bodily functions to extremes by setting this icky animation within the bowels of Bill…
- Shaolin Soccer (2001)
- Dir. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
Feat. Stephen Chow (Chiao), Richard Ng, Vicki Zhao
- With an astounding mix of Eastern fantasy, CGI effects and the game of soccer, Hong Kong’s one–man comedy machine Stephen Chow kicks one out…
- Snow White - The Fairest of Them All (2001)
- Dir. Caroline Thompson
Feat. Miranda Richardson, Kristin Kreuk, Vera Farmiga…
- When baby Snow's father frees a bewitched djinn, he is granted three wishes: nourishment for his child, a kingdom in which to raise her, and a queen…
- Tom Thumb (Le Petit Poucet) (2001)
- Dir. Olivier Dahan
Feat. Nils Hugon, Catherine Deneuve, Said Taghmaoui
- Ambitious, enjoyably dark rendering of Perrault’s classic fable, "Le Petit Poucet" told with trademark French twistedness and aplomb, kids will…
- Vanilla Sky (2001)
- Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jason Lee, Cameron Diaz…
- A straight Hollywood remake of the Spanish sci–fi thriller OPEN YOUR EYES by the director of ALMOST FAMOUS – the result of which plays like…
- 10th Kingdom, The (Mini-series) (2000)
- Dir. David Carson, Herbert Wise
Feat. Kimberley Williams, Scott Cohen, John Larroquette…
- Elaborate, 7–hour fairy–tale extravaganza is engaging and imaginative family fare made under the 'Hallmark' television banner, and is…
- Amazon (Amazone) (2000)
- Dir. Phillipe De Broca
Feat. Jean-Paul Belmondo, Arielle Dombasle
- Convoluted sci–fi adventure has jewel thief Belmondo stumbling upon an alien visitor in the guise of a twelve year old girl.
Almost…
- Arabian Nights (Mini-Series) (2000)
- Dir. Steve Barron
Feat. Jason Scott Lee, Rufus Sewell, Mili Avital…
- Visually stunning retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, in which a mad Sultan weds his childhood friend, planning to execute her the following…
- Cell, The (2000)
- Dir. Tarsem Singh
Feat. Jennifer Lopez, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn
- Entering the mind of serial killer might seem like a tired idea, but commercial supremo and visual stylist Tarsem Singh creates a impressively creepy…
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi…
- A fantasy–fuelled, Chinese feudal melodrama laced with jaw–dropping combat sequences (arguably the best ever staged), this represents a…
- Dungeons and Dragons (2000)
- Dir. Courtney Soloman
Feat. Jeremy Irons
- An elaborate yet hokey movie–isation of the popular fantasy role–play game, with the prestige casting of Jeremy Irons as the villain.…
- Escaflowne: The Movie (2000)
- Dir. Kazuki Akane
- Lavish, if much darker theatrical version of the popular anime TV series, reinventing its beloved heroine as a disenchanted high school girl…
- Geppetto (2000)
- Dir. Tom Moore
Feat. Drew Carey, Brent Spiner, Rene Auberjonois
- Disney telemovie version of the much–filmed Italian fairytale, better known as 'Pinocchio', where the wooden toy wishes he were a real…
- Gormenghast (TV Mini-series) (2000)
- Dir. Andy Wilson
Feat. Christopher Lee, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ian Richardson…
- Immaculately designed – if somewhat overstated – BBC rendition of Mervyn Peake's cult novel set in an immense castle where the…
- Grinch, The (2000)
- Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor
- Live–action version of the Dr Seuss classic that does some justice to the anarchic vision of the mean–spirited Grinch, who’s heart is…
- InuYasha (TV Series) (2000)
- Fifteen–year–old schoolgirl Kagome Higurashi, whose family tends a shrine, falls into an old well one day and literally tumbles into…
- Life-Size (2000)
- Dir. Mark Rosman
Feat. Lindsay Lohan, Tyra Banks, Jere Burns
- Lindsay Lohan plays a withdrawn tomboy who attempts to cope with her mother's death by resurrecting her with a magic spell, only the plan backfires…
- Magic Pudding, The (2000)
- Feat. Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving…
- Based on Norman Lindsay's hilarious classic book about Albert, a magic pudding and his three companions who must defend him against the Pudding…
- Price of Milk, The (2000)
- Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Karl Urban, Willa O'Neill…
- For young–marrieds Danielle Cormack and Karl Urban, the cost of farming their 117 cows is a strange exile in the NZ backblocks...
Milking…
- Princes and Princesses (Princes et Princesses) (2000)
- Dir. Michel Ocelot
Feat. Arlette Mirapeu, Philippe Cheytion, Yves Barsacq
- French animation compilation made up of six episodes from director and animator Michel Ocelot's silhouette animation television series Ciné si. The…
- Rat (2000)
- Dir. Steve Barron
Feat. Pete Postlethwaite, Imelda Staunton
- After a hard night at the pub, Pete Postlethwaite greets the day transformed into a white rat, giving a nicely surreal twist to this surprisingly…
- Sixth Day, The (2000)
- Dir. Roger Spottiswoode
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Goldwyn, Robert Duvall
- Topical, intriguing premise about cloning is levelled out into being just another vehicle for the ailing star of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
As an…
- Strange Frequency (2000)
- Dir. Bryan Spicer, Mary Lambert
Feat. Eric Roberts, John Taylor, Judd Nelson
- This portmanteau of four 'urban myths' set in the contemporary music scene is surprisingly witty and satisfying. Segments 'My Generation' and 'Room…
- Unbreakable (2000)
- Dir. M. Night Shyamalan
Feat. Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright
- The sceptre of THE SIXTH SENSE hangs over this follow–up from writer/director Shyamalan, whose status as a Hollywood golden boy has arguably…
- X-Men (2000)
- Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman…
- Star Trek's Patrick Stewart gathers together an argumentative bunch of superheros with a variety of mutant powers, in a society where prejudice…
- Afterlife (1999)
- Dir. Kore-eda Hirokazu
Feat. Arata Erika Oda, Susumu Terajima
- Original, intriguing conception of what happens after life – a panel of students challenge a succession of deceased persons to choose one…
- Alice in Wonderland (1999)
- Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Robbie Coltrane, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley…
- The creators of the MERLIN TV–series pull–off another updating, this time Lewis Carroll's childrens' classic. Seamless special effects…
- Angel (TV Series) - Season 1 (1999)
- Dir. Various
Feat. David Boreanaz
- Considerably darker spin–off of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TV–series, with the angelic vampire David Boreanaz battling demons,…
- Devil's Arithmetic (1999)
- Dir. Donna Deitch
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Paul Freeman…
- Dunst stars this affecting drama about a Jewish teenager who is disinterested in her family's religious heritage, until she's transported back in…
- Fantasia 2000 (1999)
- Dir. Various
- Conceived for the IMAX giant screen, this eco–themed revision of Disney's 1940 milestone marries more classical music excerpts to whimsical…
- Heavy Metal 2000 (1999)
- Dir. Michel Lemire, Michael Coldewey
- Sequels eschews the multiple story approach for a single storyline (from a graphic novel by Kevin Eastman, Simon Bisley and Eric Talbot) in which the…
- Jack Frost (1999)
- Dir. Troy Miller
Feat. Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy
- After a fatal car accident, Michael Keaton returns to life as… a snowman in this rather slushy Christmas movie. Seeking to fulfil his neglected…
- Lost World, The (TV Series) (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World) (1999-2002)
- Feat. Peter McCauley, William Snow, Rachel Blakely
- Enjoyably cheesy Antipodean TV show based loosely on Arthur Conan Doyle's fantasy–adventure set at the dawn of the 20th century where a band of…
- Mummy, The (1999)
- Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah…
- The old Universal horror wrapped in Indiana Jones–style adventure with 1920s archeologists and treasure hunters (led by Brendan Fraser)…
- Mystery Men (1999)
- Dir. Kinka Usher
Feat. Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, Hank Azaria…
- Doing for the super–hero genre what PLEASANTVILLE did for 50s sitcoms, this frequently hilarious spoof sets a rag–tag team of…
- Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken…
- The oft–filmed short story 'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is fashioned by illustrious iconoclast Tim Burton as the goriest, most…
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Dir. George Lucas
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson…
- Po–faced revival of the billion–dollar STAR WARS money–spinner, jammed full of digital landscapes, excessive political exposition,…
- Thirteenth Warrior, The (1999)
- Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Antonio Banderas
- A smouldering Antonio Banderas is an Arab recruited to make up the numbers by a group of Vikings on a kind of 'Magnificent 13' mission: defending a…
- Wild Wild West (1999)
- Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld
Feat. Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh…
- The star and director of MEN IN BLACK and recoupled for this Sci–fi–Western–spoof, first aired as a popular,…
- Alice Through The Looking Glass (1998)
- Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Jonathan Bailey, Steve Coogan…
- Impressively cast version of Lewis Carroll's second Alice book takes the unusual liberty of presenting Alice (Beckinsale) as a young adult woman.…
- Bird People In China, The (Chûgoku no chôjin) (1998)
- Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Masahiro Motoki, Renji Ishibashi
- Visually rich and accomplished drama set around a parallel journey by a businessman and a yakuza gangster to a remote Chinese highland in search of a…
- Borrowers, The (1998)
- Dir. Peter Hewitt
Feat. John Goodman, Jim Broadbent
- Inhabiting the wall and floor–spaces of our houses, colonies of tiny people eek out an existence 'borrowing' food–scraps and those items…
- Dark City (1998)
- Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly…
- Advancing on earlier efforts like THE CROW, director Alex Proyas, fabricates a shadowy urban jungle, replete with echoes of earlier sci–fi…
- Ever After (1998)
- Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston
- Update of the 'Cinderella' story tweaks the moral emphasis of the original Grimm fairy–tale. A brunette Drew Barrymore wrestles with an English…
- Existenz (1998)
- Dir. David Cronenberg
Feat. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm…
- Dir. David Cronenberg bestows his customary intelligence on the 'Virtual Reality' genre, yet this time complements his visceral obsessions and mad…
- Fallen (1998)
- Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland
- SEVEN–style thriller has Detective Denzel Washington stalking a seemingly immortal foe, the demon Azazel, in autumnal Philadelphia. Suffers…
- Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot, The (1998)
- Dir. Frederik Du Chau
- When King Arthur's sword Excalibur disappears, teenage tearaway Kayley and her squire Garrett pursue the culprits through an animated fantasy world…
- Merlin (1998)
- Dir. Steve Barron
Feat. Sam Neill, Isabella Rossellini, Rutger Hauer…
- Playing the titular wizard, Sam Neill lends his talents to a well thought–out, monster–filled variation on the King Arthur cycle. Other…
- Soldier (1998)
- Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Kurt Russell, Gary Busey, Jason Scott Lee
- Military sci–fi adventure wherein Kurt Russell utters terse words as an out–moded fighting machine grasping at a few straws of humanity…
- Storm Riders, The (1998)
- Dir. Wai Keung Lau
Feat. Sonny Chiba, Aaron Kwok
- The big Hong Kong hit of '98 – a super–extravagant 'flying swordsman' fantasy that ambitiously distils a popular Manga comic book series…
- What Dreams May Come (1998)
- Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Jr. Gooding
- Visually extravagant dive into the afterlife, courtesy of New Zealander Vincent Ward, applying his classically–educated eye to a…
- Apparition (Photographing Fairies) (1997)
- Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Toby Stephens, Ben Kingsley, Emily Woof
- A sceptical, widowed portrait photographer investigates reports of everglade fairies and becomes transformed by otherworldly encounters. Inspired by…
- Batman and Robin (1997)
- Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger…
- It's George Clooney's turn in the batsuit, with Chris O'Donnell, Arnold, Uma and Alicia all able to indulge the designer fetish–wear, too. A…
- Face Off (1997)
- Dir. John Woo
Feat. John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen
- Dir. John Woo melds modern action technology with old–fashioned Mission Impossible–style intrigue.
Good guy John Travolta and bad guy…
- Fairytale: A True Story (1997)
- Dir. Charles Sturridge
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Harvey Keitel
- An exquisite kidult flight–of–fancy based on one of the great popular myths of the 20th Century – the mysterious, allegedly…
- Fifth Element, The (1997)
- Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich…
- Whether you think it's a gorgeous sci–fi masterpiece or narcissistic fluff, French director Luc 'Nikita' Besson's multi–million dollar…
- Flubber (1997)
- Dir. Les Mayfield
Feat. Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden
- Robin Williams again gets the character–chemistry right in a reprise of the classic Absent–Minded Professor, the inadvertent inventor of…
- Matilda (1997)
- Dir. Danny De Vito
Feat. Mara Wilson, Danny De Vito, Rhea Perlman
- An achingly funny and mischievous Roald Dahl story about a browbeaten nine–year–old girl who has the last laugh when bestowed with…
- Mighty, The (Freak the Mighty) (1997)
- Dir. Peter Chelsom
Feat. Elden Henson, Kieran Culkin, Sharon Stone…
- Poignant, well–crafted story of two phenomenally mismatched boys who become perfectly complementary friends, escaping the slings and arrows of…
- Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
- Dir. John R. Leonetti
Feat. Robin Shou, James Remar, Talisa Soto
- Bottom–of–the–barrel sequel to the hit vidgame–adaptation picks up immediately after the original concluded. Which is to say…
- Open Your Eyes (Abre Los Ojos) (1997)
- Dir. Alejandro Amenabar
Feat. Eduardo Noriega, Penelope Cruz, Chete Lera
- A surrealistic nightmare unfurled with Hitchcockian precision and irony, Eduardo Noriega plays a young–man–who–has–everything…
- Simple Wish, A (1997)
- Dir. Michael Ritchie
Feat. Mara Wilson, Martin Short, Kathleen Turner
- Mara Wilson's (MATILDA) simple wish for a fairy–godmother upturns the blundering Martin Short, who helps/hinders her crusade to rescue her…
- Spawn (1997)
- Dir. Mark A. Z. Dippe
Feat. Theresa Randle, Martin Sheen
- Mightily fluid digital FX are the primary inspiration in this version of Todd McFarlane's cult comic book, wherein the forces of light and darkness…
- Spawn - The Movie (1997)
- Dir. Thomas A Nelson
Feat. Keith David, Richard Dysart, James Keane
- Animated TV version of Todd McFarlane’s gothic comic book, melded into a feature–length movie. Includes the voices of Keith David, Richard…
- Starship Troopers (1997)
- Dir. Paul Verhoeven
Feat. Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer
- ROBOCOP man Verhoeven's 'ironic' take on Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel about a totalitarian future society whose perfectly toned young 'citizens' wage…
- Adventures of Pinocchio, The (1996)
- Dir. Steve Barron
Feat. Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas
- The beloved Carlo Coloddi story receives an enchanting treatment that mixes live–action and wondrous animatronic/CGI effects. Martin Landau…
- Dragonheart (1996)
- Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis…
- Medieval fantasy hokum highlighted by Sean Connery in drag! Drag–on, that is – the large lizard of legend variety. The sublime CGI…
- Frankie Starlight (1996)
- Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Feat. Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud, Matt Dillon…
- Extensive flashbacks illustrate the unusual memoirs of a dwarf. This not–so–tall tale has a special blend of Irish whimsy, with native…
- Gargoyles (1996)
- Mythical winged warriors who fight evil, the Gargoyles awaken after a thousand years in 21st century New York, to find there's still plenty of work…
- Goosebumps (TV Series) (1996)
- Ghoulish anthology series based on R. L. Stine's popular kidult horror novels. Bound to raise goosebumps on the younger ones.
Season One Episodes:…
- Loch Ness (1996)
- Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Ted Danson, Joely Richardson, Ian Holm…
- Setting out to trap the Loch Ness monster, Ted Danson is waylaid by the charms of his landlady Joely Richardson. The mystique of the legend is all…
- Michael (1996)
- Dir. Nora Ephron
Feat. John Travolta, William Hurt, Andie MacDowell…
- Not even the star presence of John Travolta, William Hurt, and Andie MacDowell can revive this abysmal comic–fantasy about a cynical tabloid…
- Neverwhere (Mini-series) (1996)
- Dir. Dewi Humphreys
Feat. Laura Fraser, Gary Bakewell
- Highly worthwhile sci–fi confection from the pen of fantasy writer Neil Gaiman (MIRRORMASK), in which an 'ordinary' Londoner (Bakewell) one day…
- Phantom, The (1996)
- Dir. Simon Wincer
Feat. Billy Zane, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Billy Zane straps into purple tights to fight the depression–era blues and a supernaturally–empowered villain (Treat Williams). An…
- Sex and Zen Pt. 2 (1996)
- Dir. Chin Man-Kei
Feat. Loletta Lee, Tat-Wah Lok
- A creepy polygamist meets his match in the 'mirage woman' in this twice–as–smutty, half–as–funny sequel to the outlandish…
- Snow White in the Black Forest (A Tale of Terror) (1996)
- Dir. Michael Cohn
Feat. Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill
- A Brothers Grimm fairytale more grim than fairy–ish. Sigourney Weaver steps into the wicked–stepmother robes for a nice little bedtime…
- Space Jam (1996)
- Dir. Joe Pytka
Feat. Michael Jordan, Bill Murray
- Basketball star Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny slam dunk with other looney tunes and a host of midget aliens.
Anarchic humour and a decent…
- Space Truckers (1996)
- Dir. Stuart Gordon
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, Debi Mazar…
- A non–villainous Dennis Hopper plays a long–haul truckie of the future, toting a lucrative sealed cargo across the galaxy. Stephen Dorff…
- To the Ends of Time (1996)
- Dir. Markus Rothkranz
Feat. Joss Ackland, Christine Taylor
- Elaborate fantasy–tale concerns a sorceress who tampers with Time, causing young hero Joss Ackland to prematurely age. While also keeping an…
- Wind in the Willows, The (1996)
- Dir. Terry Jones
Feat. Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Nicol Williamson…
- With the cream of British comic acting talent, this live–action adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic children's story is quite possibly the…
- Wish Upon a Star (1996)
- Dir. Blair Treu
Feat. Katherine Heigl, Danielle Harris
- A little Disney magic is sprinkled on this fetching TV movie about a younger sister who wishes to switch places with her popular older sister (a very…
- Batman Forever (1995)
- Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris O'Donnell…
- A new director and a new Batman (Val Kilmer) line up for this lucrative threequel. Its relentless onslaught of action has a rather numbing effect,…
- City of Lost Children (1995)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro
Feat. Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet
- Visual wonderstuff from the unique genius pairing of the creators of DELICATESSEN, this is as good a follow up as one could wish for.
While…
- First Knight (1995)
- Dir. Jerry Zucker
Feat. Sean Connery, Julia Ormond, Richard Gere
- Pared–down retelling of the Arthurian legend of Camelot is, while no great shakes, at least as good as most other efforts that have been made…
- Fluke (1995)
- Dir. Carlo Carlei
Feat. Matthew Modine, Nancy Travis, Eric Stoltz
- After a fatal car accident, Matthew Modine is reincarnated as a pooch that wanders home to find his best friend kindling a relationship with his…
- Gulliver's Travels (1995)
- Dir. Charles Sturridge
Feat. Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Peter O'Toole…
- Epic, state–of–the–art version of Jonathan Swift's classic fairytale stars Ted Danson as the long–shipwrecked doctor who must…
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) (1995-1999)
- Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst
- Hugely popular fantasy series starring Kevin Sorbo as the classic half God/half man who travels through a fantastical ancient Greece in search of…
- Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
- Dir. Frank Oz
Feat. Hal Scardino, Litefoot , Lindsay Crouse…
- A young boy possesses a bedroom secret – a special cupboard that brings his miniature toys to life, chiefly a native Indian and a cowboy. High…
- Jumanji (1995)
- Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Robin Williams, Jonathan Hyde, Kirsten Dunst
- A pair of orphans roll the dice on a mysterious board game that brings the perils of the Amazon to virtual life. The spirited high–concept is…
- Junkers Come Here (1995)
- Dir. Junichi Sato
- Nicely touching story about an 11–year old girl whose lonely life is relieved by the affections of a Schnauser dog, who has the ability to talk…
- Kid in King Arthur's Court, A (1995)
- Dir. Michael Gottlieb
Feat. Kate Winslet, Daniel Craig, Art Malik…
- Handsome if inessential Disney spin on the Camelot legend, in which a young boy journeys back in time to help King Arthur overcome an evil villain.…
- Little Princess, A (1995)
- Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Feat. Liesel Matthews, Vanessa Lee Chester
- From the quill that inked THE SECRET GARDEN, this is an equally exotic tale of an Indian–rasied girl who escapes the formality of a boarding…
- Lord of Illusions (1995)
- Dir. Clive Barker
Feat. Famke Janssen, Daniel von Bargen, Kevin J. O'Connor…
- Cult author Clive Barker resumes megaphone duties on this melange of detective pic and sorcery epic. Points of interest include recent Bond girl,…
- Magic in the Water (1995)
- Dir. Rick Stevenson
Feat. Mark Harmon, Joshua Jackson, Harley Jane Kozak…
- Loch Ness–monster concept is ably transposed to the Canadian lakeside hamlet of Glenorky, which has its own 'Orky' mystery. Thrills ensue for…
- Mortal Kombat (1995)
- Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby
- Finally, a computer–game–turned–movie that's worth it's salt, this dispenses with story so it can devote itself entirely to the…
- Nostradamus (1995)
- Dir. Roger Christian
Feat. Tcheky Karyo, Amanda Plummer, Julia Ormond…
- Fact and fantasy seem at odds in this version of the life of famous visionary, Michel de Nostradame, however the subject provides plenty of intrigue.…
- Powder (1995)
- Dir. Victor Salva
Feat. Mary Steenburgen, Sean Patrick Flannery, Lance Henriksen
- Teenage alienation is given a supernatural charge in this story of a terminally–isolated, albino–like youth with metaphysical…
- Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
- Dir. Bryan Spicer
Feat. Paul Freeman
- Homogenised big–screen translation of controversial kids TV show in which six Californian teens morph into Japanese superheroes to battle evil.…
- Star Trek - Generations (1995)
- Dir. David Carson
Feat. LeVar Burton, Malcolm McDowell, James Doohan…
- Capt. Picard and crew get their big–screen debut but are forced to call on the spirit of predecessor Capt. Kirk to assist them in a struggle…
- Whisper of the Heart (1995)
- Dir. Yoshifumi Kondo
- A bookish, teenage girl grows into maturity through her love for a lad who wishes to be an Italian–trained violin–maker.
With only…
- Witch Hunt (1995)
- Dir. Paul Schrader
Feat. Dennis Hopper
- Dennis Hopper plays P.I. Philip Lovecraft and becomes embroiled in the murder of a Hollywood producer with supernatural side–effects. Pleasing…
- Xena - Warrior Princess (TV Series) (1995-1996)
- Dir. Charles Siebert, Anson Williams, Gary Jones
Feat. Lucy Lawless
- Spinoff to the iconic 1990s 'Hercules' series, that became a cult in its own right.
Mixing slapstick action and snappy one–liners into a…
- Attack of the 50ft Woman (1994)
- Dir. Christopher Guest
Feat. Daryl Hannah, Daniel Baldwin
- Remake of the 1958 classic is a cheesy spoof of the B–movie genre with Hannah in strapping form as the she–beast who avenges her…
- Beanstalk (1994)
- Dir. Michael Paul Davis
Feat. Margot Kidder
- A modern retelling of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk yarn, made for small screen and younger viewers. Mad scientist Margot Kidder plants the…
- Blankman (1994)
- Dir. Mike Binder
Feat. Damon Wayans
- Gadget–mad geek Wayans becomes a costumed crime–fighter armed only with home–made devices and blind luck, while dragging his…
- Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994)
- Dir. Bill L. Norton
Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Anthony Quinn, Michael Hurst…
- Made–for–TV caper has our brawny hero's plans for a wedding celebration come to ruin as he must defend his village against a marauding…
- Highlander 3: The Final Dimension (Highlander III) (1994)
- Dir. Andrew Morahan
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Mario Van Peebles, Deborah Kara Unger…
- A psychotic immortal escapes his mountain tomb and seeks revenge of our sword–slinging hero. Third in the series is actually a prequel to…
- Hocus Pocus (1994)
- Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy…
- Wild witches conjured up from Salem set out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth, but the 300–year–old trio must first…
- Jack Brown Genius (1994)
- Dir. Tony Hiles
Feat. Timothy Balme, Lisa Chappell, Edward Campbell…
- A forgotten turkey from Peter Jackson’s ‘Wingnut Films’, this goofily offbeam tale concerns a modern–day inventor of contraptions,…
- Mask, The (1994)
- Dir. Chuck Russell
Feat. Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert…
- Jim Carrey secures his crown as Hollywood's King of Comedy as a meek bank clerk who discovers his flamboyant alter–ego behind an ancient mask.…
- Neverending Story 3, The (1994)
- Dir. Peter MacDonald
Feat. Jason James Richter, Jack Black
- "Fantasia" comes to Earth in this third installment, and get chaotic in when the magical book "Never Ending Story" falls into the hands of the…
- North (1994)
- Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Scarlett Johansson
- Perfect 11–year–old Elijah Wood 'divorces' his unappreciative ordinary parents an embarks on a journey across apple–pie America in…
- Secret of Roan Inish, The (1994)
- Dir. John Sayles
Feat. Jeni Courtney, Eileen Colgan, Mick Lally…
- A young girl is sent to live with her grandmother at a coastal town in Ireland, 1949, and makes an unexpected connection with its mystical history…
- Shadow, The (1994)
- Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller…
- Alec Baldwin plays the suave superhero based on the pulp fiction character created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931. Considered an elegant flop, the…
- Stargate (1994)
- Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson
- Kurt Russell and James Spader headline this big–budget spectacle. Promising start evokes the epic adventure intrigue of a LAWRENCE OF ARABIA,…
- Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
- Dir. Wes Craven
Feat. Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Miko Hughes
- Ingenious post–script to the tired NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. franchise in which castmembers of the previous films (playing themselves), too, become…
- Accion Mutante (1993)
- Dir. Alex de la Iglesia
Feat. Antonio Resines, Alex Angulo
- A deformed terrorist group strike out against pretty society in this wildly irreverent satire that takes a gleeful turn into futuristic…
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
- Feat. Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany
- Adapted from the suitably nasty TV series, this exciting animated feature manages to deliver loads of action and black humour without detracting from…
- Borrowers, The (TV Series) (1993)
- Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Ian Holm, Rebecca Callard
- First–class BBC serial about a family that live under the floorboards and 'borrow' everything they need from the 'giant' family who reside in…
- Bride With White Hair 2, The (Bai fa mo nu zhuan II) (1993)
- Dir. Ronnie Yu, David Wu
Feat. Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, Christy Chung
- Above–average sequel to the martial arts blockbuster continuing on directly from its cliffhanger ending, with the viciously insane Lin, now…
- Crow, The (1993)
- Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott…
- Sleek action fantasy on which its star, Brandon Lee, lost his life before its completion. The designer mayhem plays like a gothic music video, though…
- Faraway, So Close (1993)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Otto Sander, Bruno Ganz, Nastassja Kinski
- WINGS OF DESIRE sequel is again about an angel who finds himself sucked back into humanity. This discusses politics and philosophy more directly than…
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Dir. Harold Ramis
Feat. Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott…
- Bill Murray is perfectly cast as a cranky TV weatherman who gets stranded in a tin–pot town, where he wakes every day in the same day, over and…
- Kung Fu Cult Master (1993)
- Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Chingmy Yau
- Extraordinarily over–the–top martial arts epic in which Jet Li procures invincible powers while negotiating the restless hordes from…
- Last Action Hero (1993)
- Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Conceptually brilliant idea – movie fan is projected into world of his action idol (Arnie) who also joins him in the 'real' world – is sunk with…
- Les Visiteurs (Visitors, The) (1993)
- Dir. Jean-Marie Poire
Feat. Jean Reno, Christian Clavier
- Beleaguered, not to mention slobbish, medieval knights Jean Reno and Christian Clavier are plonked down is present–day Paris to duel over…
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) (1993-1997)
- Feat. Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher
- Popular T V serialisation of the 'Superman' story, with Cain playing the superhero who doubles as meek journalist Clark Kent, and Hatcher playing his…
- Music of Chance, The (1993)
- Dir. Philip Haas
Feat. James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, Charles Durning…
- Impressively cast against type, James Spader's slimy card shark entices broken family man Mandy Patinkin to accept a poker challenge by two eccentric…
- Necronomicon (1993)
- Dir. Christophe Gans, Shusuke Kaneko, Brian Yuzna
Feat. Jeffrey Combs, Tony Azito, Juan Fernandez
- Supernatural compendium based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft weaves its three separate tales around H.P. himself searching for the elusive 'book of…
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) (Deep Space 9) (1993)
- Feat. Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig…
- Son of the Next Generation, this initiated a new tele series for trekkies to indulge. Intrepid officers of Starfleet acquire an abandoned alien space…
- Super Mario Brothers (1993)
- Dir. Rocky Morton, Annabel Jankel
Feat. Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis…
- Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo are incarnated as the vid–game characters – plumbers who slip in saving the world between odd jobs. Will…
- Toys (1993)
- Dir. Barry Levinson
Feat. Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack…
- Even Robin Williams' enormous talent and inspired art direction fail to enliven this comic fantasy. It plays more like a bad dream from which you…
- Window to Paris (1993)
- Dir. Yuri Mamin
Feat. Agnes Soral
- A constantly inventive comic fantasy about a group of luckless Russkies who find they can enter gay Paris from a window in their appalling St.…
- Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3) (1992)
- Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz
- Raimi's third 'Evil Dead' movie is an out–and–out Pythonesque comic–fantasy in which the hero, Ash, confronts simpleton locals and…
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Michael Keaton, Danny De Vito, Michelle Pfeiffer…
- The lone Bat returns to defend Gotham City from Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and The Penguin (Danny De Vito). Everything you loved or loathed about…
- Bride with White Hair (1992)
- Dir. Ronnie Yu
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin
- In a remote China of superstition and legend, vicious clan skirmishes result in an eye–popping frenzy of acrobatic martial arts. Resplendent…
- Careful (1992)
- Dir. Guy Maddin
Feat. Kyle McCulloch, Gosia Dobrowolska, Paul Cox
- Iconoclast film–maker Guy Maddin’s dreamlike tale of repression and disorder, set in an alpine village where rigidly studious young men…
- Cool World (1992)
- Dir. Ralph Bakshi
Feat. Brad Pitt, Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne
- Cartoonist Gabriel Byrne is seduced into the animated world of his sexy creation in this dense, saucy amalgam of live–action and animation for…
- Delicatessen (1992)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro
Feat. Marie-Laure Dougnac, Dominique Pinon, Karin Viard…
- Two former Ad–men splash down with an audacious, darkly comic masterpiece set in a vegetarianist, post–apocalyptic future. Consumed with…
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
- Dir. Randal Kleiser
Feat. Rick Moranis, Lloyd Bridges, John Shea
- Sequel to HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS sees prof Rick Moranis turn his infant into what fast becomes an Empire State Human!…
- Polar Bear King, The (1992)
- Dir. Ola Solum
- Splendid Scandanavian fairy–tale about a noble King who has been cursed with an evil spell making him a Polar bear by day and human unable to…
- Radio Flyer (1992)
- Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Lorraine Bracco, John Heard, Adam Baldwin…
- Bittersweet story of two young brothers who free themselves from their wicked stepfather by transforming a red wagon into a fantastical flying…
- Are You Afraid of the Dark? (TV Series) (1991)
- 13 episodes of the first season of this 90's Nickelodeon show following the escapades of the "Midnight Society", a group of teen horror aficionados.
- Chinese Ghost Story 3 (1991)
- Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung
- Spirited retread of the first movie, in which the evil Tree Spirit is back with yet another ghost played by Joey Wong.
It takes place 100 years…
- Drop Dead Fred (1991)
- Dir. Ate De Jong
Feat. Rik Mayall, Phoebe Cates, Marsha Mason
- Rik Mayall extends his hyperactive 'Young Ones' persona as the imaginary childhood friend of a grown–up Phoebe Cates. The silly stuff is offset…
- Edward Scissorhands (1991)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Vincent Price
- This inspired contemporary fairy–tale posits Johnny Depp as a boy endowed with sharp appendages, a mixed blessing when it comes to fitting into…
- Eerie Indiana (TV Series) (1991-1992)
- Feat. Omri Katz, Justin Shenkarow
- Short–lived, cult TWIN PEAKS–offshoot follows the arrival of a young boy to Eerie, Indiana, a town overrun with urban legends, a living…
- Erotic Ghost Story 2 (1991)
- Dir. Lam Ngai Kai
Feat. Charine Chan, King-Man Chik, Yiu-Wah Kwok
- Sequel mixes up similar ingredients, but story is unrelated to the first.
- Fisher King, The (1991)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams
- Jeff Bridges plays a self–obssesed DJ who regains his compassion when his life is saved by an endearing lunatic hobo (Robin Williams) –…
- Grampire (Moonrise) (1991)
- Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Al Lewis
- The Munsters' Al Lewis turns up on our shores to star in a ghoulish comedy as the blood–sucking but well–meaning grandfather of a…
- Highlander 2 (1991)
- Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Michael Ironside…
- Sequel to the video blockbuster of the 80's sees the back–story of the original film ditched and Scottish immortal MacLeod now in fact an alien…
- Hook (1991)
- Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts…
- Spielberg's big–budget rendition of the magical fairy tale. Robin Williams stars as a grown–up Peter Pan enticed to Neverland to reclaim…
- Rocketeer, The (1991)
- Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin…
- A young pilot stumbles upon a jetpack that enables him to fly, but greedy villains lurk in the wings. Exciting update of the comicbook hero evokes…
- Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country (1991)
- Dir. Nicholas Meyer
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- Gracious conclusion to the film series featuring the original cast. Combines great special effects, a plot with a social conscience, and some deft…
- Toto the Hero (1991)
- Dir. Jaco Van Dormael
Feat. Michel Bouquet
- Fascinating tragicomedy about an old man who bitterly reflects on his life and the privileged life he feels was stolen from him. Intricate and fresh…
- Volere Volare (1991)
- Dir. Maurizio Nichetti
Feat. Maurizio Nichetti
- From the director of THE ICICLE THIEF comes another enjoyable comic fantasy inter–relating real and fictional worlds. Nichetti himself plays a…
- Zeram (1991)
- Dir. Keita Amamiya
Feat. Yuko Moriyama, Kunihiro Ida, Yukijiro Hotaru
- A ninja babe bounty hunter and two hapless mortals are stalked by a mutating alien in this engaging live–action 'manga'. Beefing up its…
- Alice (1990)
- Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Mia Farrow
- Whimsical fantasy tale of a rich, bored housewife who takes on a new lease on life when prescibed with mind–altering herbs from a Chinese…
- Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (Tune in Tomorrow) (1990)
- Dir. Jon Amiel
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Barbara Hershey, Peter Falk
- A sophisticated cocktail of fantasy and bent reality in which Keanu Reeves and Barbara Hershey meet an endearing yet shrewd scriptwriter (Peter Falk)…
- Chinese Ghost Story 2 (1990)
- Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung
- The original cast return for another surreal, big–budget fantasy that delivers as much as the first one, with more of a comedic slant.
This…
- Chronicles of Narnia - The Silver Chair (1990)
- Dir. Alex Kirby
Feat. David Thwaites, Camilla Power, Tom Baker
- Fine BBC production of the C.S. Lewis fantasy tale. This final part of the saga sees Jill, Eustace, Aslan and King Caspian search for the lost Prince…
- Darkman (1990)
- Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels
- A superhero emerges from a scientist charred beyond recognition, but able to assume the identity of anyone he chooses. Fun all the way, with the…
- Erik the Viking (1990)
- Dir. Terry Jones
Feat. Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt
- A swashbuckling comic fantasy from the Monty Python stable about a Nordic warrior who develops a conscience, and so leads his unruly band of…
- Erotic Ghost Story (1990)
- Dir. Lam Ngai Kai
Feat. Amy Yip
- Buxom starlet Amy Yip lets it all hang out with other 'foxes' in this Eastern spin on the WITCHES OF EASTWICK. Generous nudity and dry ice steam up…
- Ghost (1990)
- Dir. Jerry Zucker
Feat. Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Whoopi Goldberg
- Technically brilliant amalgam of fantasy, thriller, comedy and love story is entertainment Hollywood wish they could make more often.
- Guy Maddin Collection, The (Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, The Heart of the World, Archangel) (1990-2000)
- Dir. Guy Maddin
Feat. Michael Gottli, David Falkenburg, Michael O’Sullivan…
- Three films from Canada's silent movie alchemist, all deliciously dreamlike examples of the cult filmmaker's brilliant oeuvre.
Twilight of the Ice…
- Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
- Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Akira Terao, Mitsuko Baisho, Martin Scorsese
- Opinions vary wildly over this sequence of eight re–enactments of Akira's very own dreams – stunning photography and subtle use of…
- Neverending Story 2, The (1990)
- Dir. George Miller
- A young boy escapes from his drab reality in a storybook land called Fantasia where a child empress (Alexandra Johnes) is in danger. Some cute animal…
- Storyteller: Greek Myths, The (1990)
- Feat. Michael Gambon
- Another excellently produced run of Jim Henson's STORYTELLER tales, this time focusing on the Greek myths of "Daedalus and Icarus", "Orpheus and…
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
- Dir. Steve Barron
- Now something of relic from a fad gone by, but it remains an entertaining, if fairly violent slice of '90s pop culture. Jim Henson's creature shop…
- What the Moon Saw (1990)
- Dir. Pino Amenta
Feat. Pat Evison
- A family delight from across the Tasman about a young boy who attends a pantomime of Sinbad's Last Adventure, and finds himself caught up in a wild…
- Witches, The (1990)
- Dir. Nicolas Roeg
Feat. Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher…
- Anjelica Huston is a scream as the grotesque Queen of witches who plots to rid the nation's children by turning them into mice! Marvellously macabre…
- Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Robin Williams
- An elaborate and hugely expensive adventure for dir. Gilliam who successfully visualises the fantastic tall–tales of the real–life 18th…
- Batman (1989)
- Dir. Tim Burton
Feat. Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
- The box–office sensation that almost survived its own hype. Jack Nicholson's Joker and the incredible set designs will ensure it to be…
- Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian (1989)
- Dir. Alex Kirby
Feat. Richard Dempsey, Johnathon R. Scott, Sophie Cook…
- Fine BBC production of the C.S. Lewis fantasy tale. This second part of the saga sees Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy return to the enchanted land of…
- Chronicles of Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989)
- Dir. Alex Kirby
Feat. Richard Dempsey, Johnathon R. Scott, Sophie Cook…
- Fine BBC production of the C.S. Lewis fantasy tale. This third part of the saga sees Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace search with King Caspian…
- George's Island (1989)
- Dir. Paul Donovan
Feat. Ian Bannen, Sheila McCarthy, Maury Chaykin…
- Fleeing his nasty foster parents, 10–year old George goes in search of Captain Kidd's buried treasure, having to outwit, among other adults,…
- Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
- Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver…
- A cash–in for sure, but as much fun as the original, with the paranormal pests here thriving on all the "bad vibes" of grumpy Manhattanites.…
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Rick Moranis
- An inventor inadvertently reduces his and the neighbour's kids to a grasshopper's knee–height. With the help of FX wizardry, they fend for…
- Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Matthew Lawrence…
- A magical animation from the masterful Japanese dir. Miyazaki, which delivers a contemporary fairytale with strong characters, rich visuals and a…
- Nightmare On Elm Street 5: Dream Child, A (1989)
- Dir. Stephen Hopkins
Feat. Robert Englund
- Fourth sequel milks the wise–cracking dream–demon premise to the point of exhaustion. Still, the franchise continues to provide a handy…
- Punisher, The (1989)
- Dir. Mark Goldblatt
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Louis Jr. Gossett
- Based on the Marvel comic hero, a NY cop emerges as a merciless vigilante after his family is murdered in a car bomb.
- Santa Sangre (1989)
- Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky
Feat. Guy Stockwell
- The title means 'holy blood', a fair indication of the twin themes of this strikingly grotesque tale of a disturbed circus–performer. With its…
- Star Trek V - The Final Frontier (1989)
- Dir. William Shatner
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- This time Shatner tries his hand at directing, in what turns out to be one of the less memorable missions of the series. The crew travel through…
- Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
- Dir. Shinya Tsukamoto
Feat. Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara
- Mind–blowing cyberpunk tour–de–force that sandwiches enough visuals to fill three movies into its sweat–breaking 67 minutes.…
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1989)
- Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy…
- A staggering blend of live–action and brillaint animation conjures up a believable world where people and cartoons…
- 18 Again! (1988)
- Dir. Paul Flaherty
Feat. George Burns, Charlie Schlatter, Tony Roberts
- Cigar–chomping icon George Burns stars in this gauche 80's comedy in which he inadvertently switches souls with his grandson.
- Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (1988)
- Dir. Marilyn Fox
Feat. Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Johnathon R. Scott
- Fine BBC production of the C.S. Lewis fantasy tale. This first part of the saga sees Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy travel through the wardrobe into…
- Hellraiser 2: Hellbound (1988)
- Dir. Tony Randel
Feat. Doug Bradley, Clare Higgins, Kenneth Cranham
- Ok sequel dishes up plenty of grim, garish special effects as the teenage heroine of the original confronts Pinhead, this time in the corridors of…
- Kingsajz (Kingsize) (1988)
- Locked inside an abandoned library basement, tiny dwarfs work hard to maintain their all–male dwarf commune.
When a scientist synthesizes…
- My Neighbour Totoro (Tonari no Totoro) (1988)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
- Dir. Miyazaki’s first huge hit in Japan is a model family film: realistic characters responding to realistic crises in a realistic way, though…
- Navigator, The (A Medieval Odyssey) (1988)
- Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Bruce Lyons, Chris Haywood, Marshall Napier
- A group of 14th Century Cumbrians experience future shock when their mining expedition leads them to contemporary New Zealand. A terrific adventure…
- Nightmare On Elm Street 4: Dream Master, A (1988)
- Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Robert Englund
- The franchise, now in full commercial flight, but bereft of new ideas, resorts to self–parody with Freddy Pizza Face Krueger having a riot…
- Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (1988)
- Dir. Michael Rubbo
- Tommy Tricker is a crafty lad who discovers how to shrink oneself onto postage stamps and thus be mailed anywhere in the world. Quality,…
- Warlock (1988)
- Dir. Steve Miner
Feat. Richard E. Grant, Julian Sands, Mary Woronov
- Richard E. Grant plays a witch–hunter on the tail of an evil 17th Century Warlock (Julian Sands) in this hammy fantasy adventure that enjoyed a…
- Willow (1988)
- Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis…
- Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley–Kilmer employ swords against sorcery to protect a young baby from the powers of evil. A…
- Beauty and the Beast (TV Series) (1987)
- Feat. Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman
- Distinctively 80s drama series is a twist on the classic tale, where 'Beast' (Perlman) is a noble–man living in New York's hidden underworld of…
- Chinese Ghost Story, A (1987)
- Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Leslie Cheung
- The first of a marvellous trilogy of outrageous fantasies set in Ming Dynasty–era China, in which student Leslie Cheung falls in love with an…
- Deathstalker II - Duel Of The Titans (Deathstalker 2) (1987)
- Dir. Jim Wynorski
Feat. John Terlesky, Monique Gabrielle, John Lazar
- Sword and sorcery bollocks with weedy John Terlesky stepping into Rick Hill's furry boots and helping future soft porn hall–of–famer…
- Girl Who Lived Twice, The (1987)
- Dir. Francois Villiers
Feat. Julian Sands
- Julian Sands stars in this fantasy/drama about an Indian girl's obsession with finding her alleged rich husband of a past life. Shot in Nepal.
- Hellraiser (1987)
- Dir. Clive Barker
Feat. Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence
- Stylised, influential horror film with outstanding effects, well directed by the man who wrote the novel. Extravagant visuals compensate some holes…
- Lionheart (1987)
- Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner
Feat. Eric Stoltz, Gabriel Byrne, Nicholas Clay…
- Young knight Eric Stoltz and a band of medieval tykes join King Richard II's crusade to defeat the Black Prince.
- Masters of the Universe (1987)
- Dir. Gary Goddard
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster…
- Brain–deadening adaptation of the TV cartoon has Dolph Lundgren stepping into the furry loincloth to take on Skeletor and his robotic guards.
- Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A (1987)
- Dir. Chuck Russell
Feat. Robert Englund, Patricia Arquette, Laurence Fishburne…
- Improving on the perfunctory Pt. 2, this ups the ante on the gross–out special effects as Freddy wreaks further havoc on the kids he's helped…
- Princess Bride, The (1987)
- Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin…
- An elaborate and whimsical fairytale told to a bedridden young boy conjures up images of good versus evil in a world of monsters, giants and…
- Running Man, The (1987)
- Dir. Paul Michael Glaser
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto…
- Schwarzenegger is in his element in this dystopian fantasy set around a televised game–show. The story has much in common with ROLLERBALL, but…
- Wings of Desire (1987)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander…
- Wenders ambitious and hypnotic film centres around two angels who can listen into human thought in pre–unified Berlin. This rich and surreal…
- Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- Dir. George Miller
Feat. Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer…
- Lively comic fantasy about three bored spinsters whose dreams of Mr. Right unwittingly conjure up a diabolical Jack Nicholson.
- Castle in the Sky (Laputa) (1986)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman
- A triumph of craft and narrative sophistication, this is an epic, supremely imaginative feature from master animator/storyteller Miyazaki that will…
- Flight of the Navigator (1986)
- Dir. Randal Kleiser
Feat. Joey Cramer, Veronica Cartwright, Cliff De Young…
- An ordinary boy is thrown behind the wheel of a fantastic flying machine, accompanied by an assortment of bizarre aliens. A fun–filled odyssey…
- Golden Child, The (1986)
- Dir. Michael Ritchie
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance
- Hot off BEVERLY HILLS COP, Eddie Murphy plays a private detective specializing in missing children who is charged with finding a special child whom…
- Highlander, The (1986)
- Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown…
- Visually splendid action–fantasy with Christopher Lambert as a 16th Century immortal, destined to battle his arch enemy through the ages. This…
- Labyrinth (1986)
- Dir. Jim Henson
Feat. David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly
- Jennifer Connelly goes in search of her baby brother, kidnapped by the Goblin King (David Bowie). An entourage of creatures from Jim Henson highlight…
- Legend (1986)
- Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Tom Cruise, Tim Curry
- Breathtaking imagery highlights this fantasy adventure about evil trying to corrupt innocence. Tom Cruise struts around in tights, but it's Tim Curry…
- Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986)
- Dir. Leonard Nimoy
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- Kirk and his crew must travel back in time to the 20th century in order to save the Earth. Far more comedic than previous entries in the series, as…
- Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985)
- Dir. Bill L. Norton
Feat. William Katt, Sean Young, Patrick McGoohan
- Adventure fantasy film about a paleontologist and her husband who discover a mother and baby brontosaurus in Africa, and try to protect them from a…
- Brazil (1985)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Ian Holm…
- Daydreaming bureaucrat Jonathan Pryce becomes unwittingly involved with an underground superhero and a mystery woman before falling victim to his own…
- Creator (1985)
- Dir. Ivan Passer
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Mariel Hemingway, Vincent Spano…
- A charmingly absurd sci–fi rom–com from the 1980's starring Peter O'Toole as a madcap scientist who applies his eccentric methodology to…
- Dreamchild (1985)
- Dir. Gavin Millar
Feat. Coral Browne, Ian Holm, Peter Gallagher
- The real–life Alice who inspired Lewis Carroll's stories, reflects upon her life and offers some insight into his eccentric and fantasiacal…
- Explorers, The (1985)
- Dir. Joe Dante
Feat. Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix
- Imaginative space adventure film also has enormous fun at the expense of American popular culture. Among the explorers are a very baby–faced…
- Flesh and Blood (1985)
- Dir. Paul Verhoeven
Feat. Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh are mercenary soldier and captive who fall in love amid rampant flesh and blood–letting in medieval…
- Goonies, The (1985)
- Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton
- Junior edition of 'Indiana Jones', from a Steven Speilberg story, has seven bored kids on the Oregon coast hunting for pirate booty after they…
- Ladyhawke (1985)
- Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
- Enjoyable sword–and–sorcery yarn filmed in the Dolomites pits Matthew Broderick as a Medieval tyke who must unlock the evil spell cast on…
- Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, A (1985)
- Dir. Jack Sholder
Feat. Robert Englund, Mark Patton, Clu Gulager…
- More of the same special f/x–assisted mayhem from Freddy Krueger and the helpless adolescent residents of Elm Street. Just ask Mom and Dad to…
- Red Sonja (1985)
- Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielsen, Sandahl Bergman…
- Unremarkable except for its silliness, this excursion into CONAN territory pits uber–bimbo Nielsen against various diehard villains.…
- Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley…
- Fred Ward plays a tough NYC cop whose death is faked and a new identity of "Remo Williams" is bestowed by a secret organization known as CURE who…
- Return to Oz (1985)
- Dir. Walter Murch
Feat. Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh
- This unusually–conceived sequel to THE WIZARD OF OZ is almost too scary for kids, with a disturbed Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) blown by a storm from…
- Company of Wolves (1984)
- Dir. Neil Jordan
Feat. Angela Lansbury, Stephen Rea
- This modest, dream–like horror fantasy was liked so much by author Anne Rice, it led to the Irish director calling the shots on INTERVIEW WITH…
- Conan the Destroyer (1984)
- Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones
- Semi–nude Arnie grunts through his second Conan adventure.
- Dream One (Nemo) (1984)
- Dir. Arnaud Sélignac
Feat. Jason Connery, Harvey Keitel, Mathilda May
- Very strange, tonally confused but often fascinating fantasia, a very loose adaptation of Winsor McKay's 1920s comic strip Little Nemo – itself…
- Dreamscape (1984)
- Dir. Joseph Ruben
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer
- Psychic Dennis Quaid treks through the dreams and nightmares of others, ultimately confronting the nihilistic visions of the President. Works well…
- Garbo Talks (1984)
- Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Ron Silver, Greta Garbo, Anne Bancroft…
- This enchanting film sees Ron Silver attempting to fulfil his dying mother's last request; to meet Greta Garbo. Fine supporting cast.
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver…
- Blockbuster supernatural comedy follows the lives of three flaky paranormal investigators who find themselves in countless gooey situations. The…
- Highway to Heaven (TV Series) (1984)
- Feat. Michael Landon, Victor French
- Feelgood, down–to–earth fantasy series for the whole family, starring Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie) as a "probational"…
- Neverending Story, The (1984)
- Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. Barret Oliver, Gerald McRaney, Moses Gunn
- A boy escapes the neighbourhood bullies by retreating into a mysterious book, where fantasical and exhilirating adventures take flight. Visually…
- Nightmare On Elm Street, A (1984)
- Dir. Wes Craven
Feat. John Saxon, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp…
- The maiden nightmare of the razor–fingered dream–demon Freddie Krueger, who went on to become the pre–eminent horror icon of the…
- Repo Man (1984)
- Dir. Alex Cox
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton
- Young punk Emilio Estevez unwittingly becomes involved in the car re–possession business in this curious cocktail of action, sci–fi and…
- Robin of Sherwood (TV Series) (1984-1986)
- Feat. Michael Praed, Ray Winstone
- A serious–minded retelling of the 'Robin Hood' legend with Michael Praed playing the handsome 'Robin of Loxley' who copes not only the…
- Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1984)
- Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. Tanya Roberts, Ted Wass, Donovan Scott
- 80's cult fantasy flop based on the comic book jungle girl heroine Sheena, a female version of Tarzan who was raised by a fictional African tribe.
- Splash (1984)
- Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah
- Winning comic fantasy with Tom Hanks falling for mermaid Daryl Hannah.
- Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (1984)
- Dir. Leonard Nimoy
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- Leonard Nimoy himself directed this continuation of 'The Wrath of Khan', in which the crew set out to rescue Spock from Kurge (Christopher Lloyd).…
- Star Wars Ewok Adventures (Caravan of Courage / The Battle for Endor) (1984-1985)
- Feat. Wilford Brimley, Warwick Davis, Aubree Miller…
- George Lucas–created fantasies especially for younger STAR WARS admirers, following further adventures of the creatures so fondly remembered in…
- Starman (1984)
- Dir. John Carpenter
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith…
- Jeff Bridges plays an alien trying to recover his spaceship on Earth with the help of young widow Karen Allen. Entertaining fantasy–drama.
- Sword of the Valiant (The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight) (1984)
- Dir. Stephen Weeks
Feat. Miles O'Keefe, Cyrielle Clair, Leigh Lawson…
- Cannon Films fantasy fodder from the 1980's starring a hilariously coiffured Miles O'Keefe as Sir Gawain and Sean Connery as the Green Knight,…
- Deathstalker: Last Great Warrior King (1983)
- Dir. James Sbardellati
Feat. Rick Hill, Barbi Benton, Richard Brooker
- Trashtastic sword–and–sandals fantasy sees a chiselled Rick Hill play a warrior who must save the earth (and the girl) from a wicked…
- Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983)
- Feat. Peter Davison, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee…
- 25th Anniversary Edition of this Sci–Fi classic featuring five embodiments of the doctor. Most of the doctors find themselves transported to…
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983-1985)
- In its time this animated TV series was a ubiquitous pop phenomena, being simultaneously unleashed on the world with a line of model toys and…
- Krull (1983)
- Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Ken Marshall, Francesca Annis
- Well–remembered though mostly incoherent grafting of fantasy and sci–fi elements, in which laser–beams jostle with monsters, Celtic…
- Life Is A Bed Of Roses (1983)
- Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Ruggero Raimondi, Fanny Ardant, Geraldine Chaplin
- Ambitious fantastical oddity from dir. Resnais was made as a tribute to era–defining French directors Melies, L'Herbier and Rohmer, weaving…
- Orpheus in the Underworld (1983)
- Dir. Derek Bailey
Feat. Denis Quilley, Honor Blackman, Christopher Gable
- Handsomely mounted production of the famed operetta with Orpheus and his lyre meeting much opposition as he searches the underworld for his dead wife.
- Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Dir. Richard Marquand
Feat. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford…
- Final installment in George Lucas' space–trilogy sees the conclusion of the galactic war between the Empire and the 'Rebel forces'.
Mark…
- Two of a Kind (1983)
- Dir. John Herzfeld
Feat. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Charles Durning…
- God (voiced by Gene Hackman) is so disappointed with mankind he prepares a second Flood, but is persuaded by angels to bet on the reformation of two…
- Zu Warriors (Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain) (1983)
- Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Biao Yuen, Moon Lee, Brigitte Lin…
- A renowned fantasy film, in which four medieval warriors search the universe for twin swords with which to defeat a powerful demon, which threatens…
- Beastmaster, The (1982)
- Dir. Don Coscarelli
Feat. Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, Rip Torn
- Hammy fantastical adventure centred on a mighty warrior on a revenge mission for the death of his family at the hands of a tyrannical priest. An 80's…
- Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Dir. John Milius
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Slave–turned–swordsman Arnold Schwarzenegger's 20 year search for his parent's killers is a violent, comic–pulp romp through a…
- Dark Crystal, The (1982)
- Dir. Jim Henson, Frank Oz
Feat. Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw…
- Wonderful fantasy from the Muppet main–man about a cute Gelfling who is must return light to a dark world by restoring the Crystal. With an…
- E.T. (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial) (1982)
- Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Dee Wallace Stone, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote…
- Steven Spielberg cemented his genius with this, possibly the best live–action family film ever made. It's the moving tale of a benign alien who…
- Fire and Ice (1982)
- Dir. Ralph Bakshi
- One of dir. Bashki’s (FRITZ THE CAT) lesser efforts, this sword–and–sorcery animated fantasy is notable for the seminal visuals by…
- Last Unicorn, The (1982)
- Dir. Arthur Rankin Jnr, Jules Bass
Feat. Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee, Mia Farrow…
- Underrated (and under–known) animated gem, concerns the quest of the world’s last unicorn to find the rest of the unicorn herd. Strongly…
- One from the Heart (1982)
- Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr, Raul Julia
- A lavishly mounted curiosity loosely following the romantic plight of an estranged couple, set against an impressively stylised backdrop of Las…
- Pink Floyd - The Wall (1982)
- Dir. Alan Parker
- Based on Roger Waters' personal vision that was the mega–selling Pink Floyd album of 1980, this feature brings the concept of a rock star's…
- Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Dir. Nicholas Meyer
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- The Enterprise crew are back to do battle with Kirk's old enemy Khan, as he takes control of a Federation Starship. Nice touches of humour and…
- Sword and the Sorcerer, The (1982)
- Dir. Albert Pyun
Feat. Kathleen Beller, Simon MacCorkindale, George Maharis…
- Not bad swords–and–sandals fantasy, set in a medieval kingdom ruled by an evil sorcerer. To the rescue comes a mercenary who wields a…
- Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) (1982- 1983)
- Dir. Various
Feat. Peter Cushing, Brenda Blethyn, Liza Goddard…
- Fondly remembered British television series of self–contained stories – each with a twist – inspired by the adult macabre of Roald…
- Clash of the Titans (1981)
- Dir. Desmond Davis
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress
- Brave stab at visualising Greek mythology, taking the Perseus legend as its basis, this turned out to be the swansong for Ray Harryhausen and his…
- Dragonslayer (1981)
- Dir. Matthew Robbins
Feat. Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson…
- Highly under–rated medieval fantasy in which a young wizard defies substantial and often thrilling odds to defeat a malevolent dragon.…
- Excalibur (1981)
- Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Nicholas Clay…
- The King Arthur legend is given a fanciful, dynamic spin by a director at his creative peak in an epic fantasy tale of sorcery and magic.
- Grendel Grendel Grendel (1981)
- Dir. Alexander Stitt
Feat. Peter Ustinov, Keith Michell, Arthur Dignam
- Lively animated version of the Beowulf legend, but this time told from the perspective of the monster.
- Mad Max II - The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) (1981)
- Dir. George Miller
Feat. Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence
- Studio–backed sequel retains the integrity of the first while sprucing up the artillery, pyrotechnics and going for a more futuristic style.…
- Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1981)
- Dir. Elijah Moshinsky
Feat. Helen Mirren, Nigel Davenport, Brian Glover
- Part of the BBC's excellent series of Shakespeare productions, filmed in a 'theatrical' TV environment utilising the best of English acting talent.
- Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians, The (Tajemstvi hradu v Karpatech) (1981)
- Dir. Oldrich Lipsky
Feat. Michal Docolomansky, Rudolf Hrusinsky, Vlastimil Brodsky…
- Cult oddity based on the Jules Verne novel The Carpathian Castle, a sci–fi horror story about a campy count who haunts a house overlooking a…
- Quest for Fire (1981)
- Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud
Feat. Everett McGill, Ron Perlman
- Sci–fi set 80,000 years ago, it follows a tribe's attempt to replenish fire when it is stolen from them. Ambitious production makes the most of…
- Harlequin (1980)
- Dir. Simon Wincer
Feat. David Hemmings, Robert Powell, Broderick Crawford
- A modern–day version of the Rasputin story, in which a senator and his wife fall prey to the spellbinding powers of a manipulative Harlequin…
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford…
- The remaining rebel forces play a game of cat and mouse with the emperors immense galactic armada.
Tight action sequences, deft plot twists and a…
- Superman 2 (Superman II) (1980)
- Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
- Laudable continuation of the super–hero franchise, that adds more action and comic sparks to the familiar characters –The Man of Steel…
- Time Bandits (1980)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall
- John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall and others star in this breathlessly inventive fantasy in which a young boy journeys through history to…
- Arabian Adventure (1979)
- Dir. Kevin Conner
Feat. Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea, Mickey Rooney…
- Sumptuous Arabic fantasy set around a treasure hunt for the mystical Rose of Elil. Good f/x and a great British cast make for smooth entertainment.
- Legend of the Mountain (Shan zhong zhuan qi) (1979)
- Dir. King Hu
Feat. Shih Chun, Hsu Feng, Sylvia Chang
- A scholar translating Buddhist sutras visits a monastery filled with various mysterious characters, in this soothing spiritual drama with elements of…
- Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979)
- Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley…
- Starring the cast from the 60's TV phenomenon, this special effects fest features the crew fighting a lethal force field spinning toward Earth.…
- Worzel Gummidge (TV Series) (1979-1981)
- Feat. Jon Pertwee, Una Stubbs, Geoffrey Bayldon
- Oddball and much–loved children's TV series about a living, grubby and rather bad–tempered scarecrow (Pertwee) who muddles through life…
- Circle Of Iron (The Silent Flute) (1978)
- Dir. Richard Moore
Feat. David Carradine, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall
- Bizarre 80s fantasy tells the story of a young fighter who seeks a spiritual identity through martial arts, and goes on a quest to find the legendary…
- Lord of the Rings (1978)
- Dir. Ralph Bakshi
- Likable animation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy classic, admirably captures the personalities of the novel's horde of eccentric characters and…
- Monkey! (TV Series) (Volumes 1-6) (1978- 1979)
- Feat. Masaaki Sakai, Toshiyuki Nishida, Shiro Kishibe…
- Colourful, supernatural adventures in feudal Japan with the invincible Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and Tripitaka! This Japanese tele show became a favourite…
- Return From Witch Mountain (1978)
- Dir. John Hough
Feat. Bette Davis, Christopher Lee
- Above–average sequel to ESCAPE FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN reprises the story of two runaway orphans with supernatural powers, adding the star presence…
- Superman (1978)
- Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
- Christopher Reeve is the Man of Steel in the first and best adventure – from his humble inception through to…
- Freaky Friday (1977)
- Dir. Gary Nelson
Feat. Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris
- Barbara Harris and a 13–year–old Jodie Foster are mother and daughter who miraculosly swap personalities for a day. Plenty of fun here.
- Hobbit, The (1977)
- Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jnr
Feat. Orson Bean, Richard Boone, John Huston…
- A homebody demi–human in Middle Earth gets talked into joining a quest with a group of dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon.…
- Jabberwocky (1977)
- Dir. Terry Gilliam
Feat. Michael Palin
- Monty Python's Lewis Carroll–inspired medieval farce with Michael Palin in the lead.
- People That Time Forgot, The (1977)
- Dir. Kevin Connor
Feat. Patrick Wayne
- Sequel to THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, sees Patrick Wayne return to the monster–ridden island in search of lost colleagues.
- Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
- Dir. Sam Wanamaker
Feat. Patrick Wayne, Jane Seymour, Patrick Troughton
- The last of Ray Harryhausen's 'Sinbad' series and probably the weakest as hero sails to break a spell that has turned a prince into a baboon. Some…
- Spiderman (1977)
- Dir. E.W. Swackhamer
Feat. Nicholas Hammond
- Becoming The Webbed One when bitten by a radioactive spider, Nicholas Hammond goes on to display wall–hugging behaviour and lumpy costume, with…
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- Dir. George Lucas
Feat. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford…
- George Lucas' epic trilogy of space adventure begins "long ago and far far away", with the life of Luke Skywalker being disturbed by the galactic war…
- Wizards (1977)
- Dir. Ralph Bakshi
- A counter–culture animated fantasy, set in a supernatural future populated by elves, fairies and derelict technology.
Centred around two…
- Wonder Woman, The New Adventures of (TV Series) (1977-1979)
- Feat. Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner
- Charles Moulon’s 1940s comic strip updated to the feminist 70s, his superheroine fighting terrorist and subversive elements for undercover…
- Pinocchio (1976)
- Feat. Danny Kaye
- Bright and energetic musical adaptation of the beloved children's fable, framed around the story of a young theater girl's desire to study and work…
- Shaggy D.A., The (1976)
- Dir. Robert Stevenson
Feat. Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Suzanne Pleshette…
- Extremely shaggy later Disney live–actioner, with Dean Jones playing a District Attorney who finds himself repeatedly turning into a dog.…
- Black Moon (1975)
- Dir. Louis Malle
Feat. Cathryn Harrison, Therese Giehse, Joe Dallesandro
- A vastly ambitious and haunting fantasy excursion for dir. Malle proffers an allegorical future world in which civil war rages between the sexes,…
- Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
- Dir. John Hough
Feat. Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasence
- One of Disney's best live–action telemovies, where two orphans with mysterious telekinetic powers flee the attentions of a shifty entrepeneur.…
- Lisztomania (1975)
- Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Roger Daltrey, Ringo Starr, Fiona Lewis
- Ken Russell's erotic send–up of the bawdy life of virtuoso composer Franz Liszt – whose piano performances were attended by hordes of…
- Magic Flute, The (1975)
- Dir. Ingmar Bergman
- An immaculately delivered version of Mozart's operatic fairytale, filmed on a special replica of the original 18th century stage.
At its simplest,…
- Ultimate Warrior (1975)
- Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Max von Sydow, Yul Brynner
- Post–Armageddon tale with Max Von Sydow as a tyrannical dictator and Yul Brynner a rebel street–fighter.
- Arabian Nights (Il Fiore Delle Mille e Una Notte) (1974)
- Dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini
Feat. Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Tessa Bouche
- For the final part of his “Trilogy of Life”, Pasolini interweaves several of the tales of the ‘Thousand and One Nights’,…
- Electra, My Love (Szerelmem, Elektra) (1974)
- Dir. Miklos Jancso
- This surreal re–imagining of a greek myth utilizes a striking anachronistic twist to draw parallels between the ages. Humiliated and filled…
- Land That Time Forgot, The (1974)
- Dir. Kevin Conner
Feat. Doug McClure, John McEnery, Susan Penhaligon
- After ending up on a German submarine in WWI several Americans stumble across an undiscovered South American island, which holds adventure in the…
- Little Prince, The (1974)
- Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Richard Kiley, Bob Fosse, Gene Wilder
- The classic childern's story by aviator Antoine de Saint–Exupery is here translated with whimsy and wit intact. A pilot is stranded in a desert…
- Zardoz (1974)
- Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Sean Connery, Charlotte Rampling
- Sean Connery stars in this enigmatic, garish space odyssey about a group of eternally young intellectuals in the year 2293. The bizarre visual…
- Golden Voyage of Sinbad, The (1973)
- Dir. Gordon Hessler
Feat. John Phillip Law, Caroline Munro, Tom Baker…
- Arabian Nightish saga with Tom Baker (Dr Who) as Sinbad's adversary. The swordplay of a six–armed statue is but one of the Harryhausen FX…
- Sigmund and the Seamonsters (TV Series) (1973-1975)
- Sid and Marty Krofft's low–budget kids sitcom about two brothers, Johnny and Scott, who harbour a friendly sea monster named Sigmund in their…
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
- Dir. William Sterling
Feat. Michael Crawford, Peter Sellers, Dudley Moore…
- Star–packed, centennial adaptation of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece follows young Alice (Fullerton) down the rabbithole and on to her adventures…
- Slaughterhouse Five (1972)
- Dir. George Roy Hill
Feat. Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche
- Though a conservative adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's time–tripping novel, this is still a significant entry to the genre, with a wide cult…
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
- Dir. Robert Stevenson
Feat. Angela Lansbury
- An apprentice witch wants to use her powers to contribute to the English war effort against the Nazis, plus a trip to the cartoon Island of…
- Lidsville (TV Series) (1971)
- Feat. Charles Nelson Reilly, Butch Patrick, Billie Hayes
- Kookiest and perhaps the most hilarious of the Sid & Marty Krofft children's productions about a teenager who gets lost in a fantasy world of…
- Under Milkwood (1971)
- Dir. Andrew Sinclair
Feat. Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O'Toole…
- Celebrated radio play by Dylan Thomas gets a surprisingly successful visual rendering, though some will always prefer the original format for Thomas'…
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) (1971)
- Dir. Mel Stuart
Feat. Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson
- Roald Dahl adapts his own book for this lively, almost psychedelic musical adaptation about a boy's desire to see inside a chocolate factory run by…
- Donkey Skin (Peau d'âne) (1970)
- Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Jean Marais, Delphine Seyrig…
- A vibrant, whimsical and genuinely fantastic adaptation of Perrault's classic 17th century fairy tale in which a Princess (Deneuve) disguises herself…
- Projectionist, The (1970)
- Dir. Harry Hurwitz
Feat. Chuck McCann, Rodney Dangerfield
- An experimental, off–beat collage of social commentary, in–jokes and satire, about a projectionist who constantly imagines himself as…
- World of Sid & Marty Krofft, The (1969-1984)
- Excellent sampler of the children’s television productions made by the Krofft brothers, whose most famous hit was perhaps 'H.R. Pufnstuf', but who…
- Barbarella (1968)
- Dir. Roger Vadim
Feat. Jane Fonda, John Phillip Law, Milo O'Shea…
- Camp fantasy film starring Jane Fonda as an innocent space vixen who adventures through lands of drooling men and phallic spaceships. Funny, crazy…
- Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)
- Dir. Robert Stevenson
Feat. Peter Ustinov
- Peter Ustinov applies his comic talents to playing the ghost of the notorious pirate, conjured into the present by Disney Studios, to rescue a high…
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- Dir. Ken Hughes
Feat. Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries…
- Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor and who gives a run–down race car a magical new lease of life.
This musical comedy masterpiece…
- Cremator, The (1968)
- Dir. Juraz Herz
Feat. Rudolf Hrusinsky, Vlasta Chramostova
- Widely considered one of the greatest films of the Czech new wave, a blackly humorous fantasy horror following the increasingly deranged impulses of…
- Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The (TV Series) (1968)
- Feat. Hope Lange, Edward Mulhare
- Fondly remembered sitcom based on the R. A. Dick novel (itself made into a 1947 film) about a young widow and family who befriend a ghost haunting…
- Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1968)
- Dir. Sir Peter Hall
Feat. Helen Mirren, David Warner, Diana Rigg…
- The Royal Shakespeare Company's film production of one of Shakespeare's most hilarious and witty plays, featuring a strong ensemble cast.
- Swimmer, The (1968)
- Dir. Frank Perry
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Kim Hunter, Janice Rule
- Burt Lancaster decides to swim from pool to pool on his way home on a hot afternoon, each swim evoking different memories and events in this unique…
- Yellow Submarine (1968)
- Dir. George Dunning
- 12 classic Beatles tunes and 90 minutes of bright and whimsical imagery are showcased in this surrealist fantasy from the days when all you needed…
- Bedazzled (1967)
- Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Raquel Welch…
- A brilliant and enduring satire that updates of the 'Faust' tale to swinging London, with Moore playing a lovelorn chef who is lured into a pact by…
- Frank's Greatest Adventure (Fearless Frank) (1967)
- Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Jon Voight, Severn Darden
- Curious superhero spoof in which Jon Voight is topped by gangsters and reincarnated as a crime–fighter extraordinaire. The director's career…
- Herculoids, The (TV Series) (1967)
- Dir. Joseph Barbera, William Hanna
- Saturday–morning cartoon from Hanna–Barbera in the late 60's, following a space barbarian family and their giant pets the Herculoids…
- Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- Dir. The Beatles
Feat. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison…
- The Beatles take us on a spiritual/musical journey with a distinctly pychedelic ethos. Full of subversive satire that marked many British films of…
- Alice in Wonderland (1966)
- Dir. Jonathan Miller
Feat. Peter Cook, Michael Redgrave, Peter Sellers…
- Cult BBC version of Lewis Carroll's classic children's book, in which drowsing Alice enters the dreamscape of 'Wonderland'.
Influenced by the…
- Fantastic Voyage (1966)
- Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Donald Pleasence, Raquel Welch, Stephen Boyd…
- A team of 'experts' are miniaturized and injected into a high–ranking scientist as a last resort to repair his medical condition.
An…
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
- Dir. Chuck Jones
- A classic Warner Bros cartoon, puts an animated spring into Dr Seuss's tale of the vicious Grinch who tries to steal Christmas from the folk at…
- Monkey - Journey to the West (The Monkey Goes West, Princess Iron Fan, The Cave of Silken Web, The Land of Many Perfumes) (1966-1968)
- Dir. Meng-Hwa Ho
- Generous, richly–hued Shaw Brothers adaptation of the Chinese folk tale 'Journey to the West', spread across four lushly presented widescreen…
- One Million Years B.C. (1966)
- Dir. Don Chaffey
Feat. Raquel Welch, John Richardson, Percy Herbert
- One of Hammer Studios greatest hits, this genuinely well–made adventure is set among cavemen and cavewomen struggling to survive in a world of…
- Ultraman (TV Series) (1966)
- When the world is threatened by aloien invaders and giant prehistoric monsters, There is only one agency equipped with the high tech weaponry to…
- City Under the Sea (1965)
- Dir. Jacques Tourneur
Feat. Vincent Price
- Cornish villagers discover a subterranean cult lead by Vincent Price in this hammy fantasy yarn.
- I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series) (1965-70)
- Feat. Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman
- Sitcom magic with a BEWITCHED–inspired premise, features Barbara Eden as the obliging but overzealous (and of course, sexy)…
- Juliet of the Spirits (1965)
- Dir. Federico Fellini
Feat. Giulietta Masina
- Perhaps the female flipside of Fellini's 8 1/2, he again infuses stylised flashbacks and fantasies into the real world of a gregarious housewife who…
- Saragossa Manuscript, The (1965)
- Dir. Wojciech Has
Feat. Zbigniew Cybulski
- Captivating Polish oddity with a labyrinthine plot involving the discovery of a book which reveals all manner of beguiling…
- Bewitched (TV Series) (1964-1972)
- Feat. Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent
- Sublime fantasy sitcom, anchored by the adorable Elizabeth Montgomery as witchy housewife, Samantha Stephens, who is married to mere mortal, Darren,…
- Brass Bottle, The (1964)
- Dir. Harry Keller
Feat. Tony Randall, Burl Ives, Barbara Eden…
- Agreeably daffy comedy that inspired I DREAM OF JEANNIE with Tony Randall accidentally releasing of a long trapped genie who predictably causes all…
- Jan Svankmajer: The Complete Short Films (1964-1992)
- Dir. Jan Svankmajer
- A superb, forty–year anthology of the terrifying, eccentric short films of Jan Svankmajer, the influential and cutting edge Czech…
- Mary Poppins (1964)
- Dir. Robert Stevenson
Feat. Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke
- Disney's beloved live–action feature is a timeless, dazzling musical with Julie Andrews as an enchanted London nanny. Dick Van Dyke…
- Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
- Dir. Don Chaffey
Feat. Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack
- Masterpiece of fantasy based on Greek mythology features the best stop–motion animation work from Ray Harryhausen. The skeleton…
- Jack the Giant Killer (1962)
- Dir. Nathan Juran
Feat. Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith, Torin Thatcher…
- From the same stable as Sinbad, comes another fantasy using wonderful stop–motion animation. Jack, against all odds, fights the evil Pendragon…
- Three Worlds of Gulliver (1960)
- Dir. Jack Sher
Feat. Kerwin Mathews, Jo Morrow, June Thorburn…
- Gulliver's travels bring him to the lands of the giants and the tiny in this adaptation of Johnathan Swift's classic. The then break–through…
- Shaggy Dog, The (1959)
- Dir. Charles Barton
Feat. Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen, Tommy Kirk…
- Fred MacMurray excels in this Disney live–actioner, playing a postman whose son accidentally transforms himself into a talking sheepdog with…
- Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
- Dir. Nathan Juran
Feat. Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant (Crosby), Richard Eyer…
- In his first and most engaging adventure, Sinbad convincingly duels the Cyclops, a dragon and a hyperactive skeleton without any computer assistance,…
- Viking Women And The Sea Serpent (Saga Of The Viking Women And Their Voyage To The Waters Of The Great Sea Serpent) (1958)
- Dir. Roger Corman
Feat. Abby Dalton, Susan Cabot
- Roger Corman schlock scraped from the seabed, about a clan of viking women who head out to sea in pursuit of their missing husbands. Soon they are…
- Kismet (1955)
- Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Feat. Howard Keel, Ann Blyth
- An Arabian–Nights style musical, with Howard Keel attempting to woo wicked wizar's wife Ann Blyth.
- 5000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)
- Dir. Roy Rowland
Feat. Tommy Rettig, Hans Conried
- From the genius of Dr. Seuss comes this live–action fantasy worthy of his wondrous imagination. A nine–year–old boy's daydreams of…
- Peter Pan (1953)
- Dir. Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson
- Walt's version of the J M Barrie classic, animated with consummate skill by his army of inhouse artisans.
The flying imp Peter Pan leads Wendy and…
- Ugetsu Monogatari (1953)
- Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi
Feat. Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyo, Kinuyo Tanaka
- Stories by the 18th century writer Akinari Ueda are woven into an odyssey of civil–war misfortune, in which two peasant–potters and their…
- Adventures of Superman (TV Series) (1952-1958)
- Feat. George Reeves, Phyllis Coates
- The first ever 'Superman' TV series, this was an immensely popular rendition of the comicbook tale of the Man of Steel, whose life as…
- Monkey Business (1952)
- Dir. Howard Hawks
Feat. Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Charles Coburn…
- Scientist Cary Grant discovers a rejuvenation serum which has screwball side–effects. Stars include the director and writing team – Ben…
- Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
- Dir. Albert Lewin
Feat. Ava Gardner, James Mason, Nigel Patrick…
- Ava Gardner stars as the ravishing siren of a small Spanish town who has never fallen for anyone until the arrival of the mysterious James Mason, the…
- Harvey (1950)
- Dir. Henry Koster
Feat. James Stewart
- Jimmy Stewart's personal favourite role is his middle–aged drunk who has a six–foot rabbit friend that only he can see. From Mary Chase's…
- Batman and Robin (1949)
- Dir. Spencer Gordon Bennett
- The first screen incarnation of Bob Kane's comicbook duo – a 15–episode serial following the caped crusaders portentous perils. Two…
- Secret Garden, The (1949)
- Dir. Fred M. Wilcox
Feat. Margaret O'Brien, Herbert Marshall, Dean Stockwell…
- Story about an orphan who discovers a secret garden at her Uncle's Victorian manor continues to fascinate young and old. Colour sequences give the…
- Les Enfants Terribles (The Strange Ones) (1948)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville
Feat. Edouard Dermithe, Nicole Stephane
- A poetic drama–fantasy from the pen of Jean Cocteau (who also directed several scenes), that centres round the narcissistic,…
- Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The (1947)
- Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Feat. Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison
- A whimsical tone pervades this mildly spooky tale of widow Gene Tierney being haunted by phantom sea–captain Rex Harrison. Music by Bernard…
- Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- Dir. Norman Z. McLeod
Feat. Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Boris Karloff
- Danny Kaye shines in this delightful family film as a quiet day–dreamer whose real life catches up with his elaborate adventure fantasies.
- Belle Et La Bete, La (Beauty and the Beast) (1946)
- Dir. Jean Cocteau
Feat. Jean Marais, Josette Day
- Cocteau brings a fine sense of fantasy to the old fable, creating a luxuriant atmosphere unique to his film–making. A true classic.
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- Dir. Frank Capra
Feat. James Stewart
- A down–on–his–luck Jimmy Stewart is rescued from suicide by a Guardian Angel who shows him the virtues of his life gone by. This…
- Matter of Life and Death, A (1946)
- Dir. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Feat. David Niven
- By a miracle, RAF pilot David Niven escapes certain death, only to find he must argue for his right to live before a 'heavenly tribunal'. A…
- Wonder Man (1945)
- Dir. Bruce Humberstone
Feat. Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen…
- A typically zany fairy–tale for Danny Kaye, as a mild–mannered student persuaded by the ghost of his dead twin to seek out his murderer.…
- Heaven Can Wait (1943)
- Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, Charles Coburn
- Amusing comic fantasy in which playboy Don Ameche recalls his life of sin for the devil, to find he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
- Munchhausen (1943)
- Dir. Josef von Baky
Feat. Hans Albers
- This adaptation of the Rudolph Raspe novel about the extraordinary tall–tales of a German baron is a genuine oddity, both historically and…
- Les Visiteurs Du Soir (1942)
- Dir. Marcel Carne
Feat. Arletty, Marie Dea, Fernand Ledoux…
- Two of the Devil's henchmen are dispatched to a fairytale–like 15th century castle with an eye to corrupting its inhabitants, especially a pair…
- Captain Marvel (1941)
- Dir. Bill Witney
Feat. Tom Tyler
- Tom Tyler transforms himself into superhero Captain Marvel simply by saying the word...Shazam! Considered by some to be the finest pre–show…
- Devil and Daniel Webster, The (1941)
- Dir. William Dieterle
Feat. Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, James Craig…
- Originally released in a heavily edited version as "All That Money Can Buy", this recently restored version can now be fully appreciated as a true…
- Fantasia (1940)
- Dir. Ben Sharpsteen
- Glorious Disney musical fantasy set to a rousing classical score.
Highlights include Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's apprentice and the hippos and…
- Little Nellie Kelly (1940)
- Dir. Norman Taurog
Feat. Judy Garland, George Murphy
- Filmed version of the hit Broadway musical comedy from 1922 about Irish–American immigrants starring Judy Garland, who was fresh to…
- Thief of Bagdad, The (1940)
- Dir. Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, Tim Whelan
Feat. Sabu, Conrad Veidt, June Duprez
- Sabu stars in this magical, intoxicating vision of the Arabian Nights, some twenty years before the genre was revived in SINBAD. Romance, tragedy,…
- Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
- Dir. Victor Fleming, King Vidor
Feat. Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr…
- The world's best loved film down through and across the generations, and a key cultural icon.
MGM pulled out all the stops to realise L. Frank…
- Lost Horizon (1937)
- Dir. Frank Capra
Feat. Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt, Edward Everett Horton…
- Wonderful fantasy adventure about five people who find sanctuary in a Tibetan Valley where good health, peace and longevity reign. A haunting and…
- She (1935)
- Dir. Irving Pichel, Lansing C. Holden
Feat. Randolph Scott, Helen Gahagan, Helen Mack…
- Influential, special effects laden fantasy from KING KONG producer Merian C. Cooper about a beguiling, 500–year–old woman as ruler of a…
- L'Atalante (1934)
- Dir. Jean Vigo
Feat. Michel Simon, Jean Daste
- A recently restored master work from the French film archive combines lyrical romance with inspired touches of fantasy.
- March of the Wooden Soldiers (Babes In Toyland) (1934)
- Dir. Gus Meins, Charles R. Rogers
Feat. Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy
- Imaginative musical fantasia also makes the most of Laurel and Hardy's comic genius – as dim–witted toymakers whose mistaken order for…
- Alice in Wonderland (1933)
- Dir. Norman Z. McLeod
Feat. Charlotte Henry, Edward Everett Horton, W.C. Fields…
- Extravagant early version of the Lewis Carroll classic was a box office bomb in its day, but age has been kind, and if Charlotte Henry is a little…
- Adventures of Prince Achmed, The (1926)
- Dir. Lotte Reiniger
- The dashing Prince Achmed saves a lovely damsel from evil witches and mythical beasts, as well as discovering Aladdin's lamp, all in the primitive…
- Siegfried (Die Nibelungen Pt. 1) (1924)
- Dir. Fritz Lang
Feat. Paul Richter, Margarete Schon, Theodor Loos…
- First part of Dir. Lang's recreation of the German Nibelungen myth cycle (that inspired Wagner's 'Ring'), features fire–breathing dragons,…
- Thief of Bagdad (1924)
- Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Douglas Fairbanks, Anna May Wong, Brandon Hurst
- Douglas Fairbanks Snr. stars in this original version of the Arabian Nights fable about a young Indian native who out–smarts an evil magician.
- Wizard of Oz, The (1922)
- Dir. Larry Semon
Feat. Oliver Hardy, Larry Semon
- Original adaptation of the L Frank Baum story, conjures up more laughs than the Judy Garland version, with Oliver Hardy as the Tin–Man, and…
- Rik Mayall's Grimm Tales
- Feat. Rik Mayall
- Television's most famous Young One, Rik Mayall channels his raucous exuberance into narrating and performing a series of Grimm fables for your young…