And for something fun I thought to expand that thread here so as not to "pollute" Morts thread or site, but give him full credits for the inspirations.
It would be easy to list lots of movies as we all are inspired either by Hollywood or literature, but I will limit to these.
BEST D&D feel movie > Ladyhawk Curses, Quests, beautiful woman, cool crossbow, redemption, has it all.
WORST D&D feel movie> Mazes & Monsters Even Tom Hanks could not save this one.
MADE ME LAUGH> Too close to call here so went with Monty Python's Holy Grail. Though Dorkness Rising did have its moments (the Mountain of Bards)
MADE ME CRY> Red Sonja... The original story (if they actually bothered to read them) has soooo many possibilities for ties to the Conan works and the screwed it all up.
BEST Example of Character Type> El Cid for a Paladin. What noble paladin would not want to win his last battle riding with his king while already dead upon his horse and still strike fear in the hearts of his enemies?
WORST Example of Character Type> 1st D&D Movie Damodar... sorry my BAD guys don't wear powder blue lipstick.
BEST Example of a Monster Type> Again too close to call but would would say a Dragon and would go with either Reign of Fire or Dragonslayer. Both inspire the feel of what a Dragon should bring to the table. Not only the "look" but the cunning and ruthless qualities as well.
WORST Example of a Monster Type> Go with dragon again, and though there are ALOT of Bad movies with dragons, my vote goes to Eragon. Great books poorly done into movie. My dragons DON'T have feathers and is it just me but doesn't Saphira look like Nessie's Cousin?
Joined: May 22, 2007 Posts: 11 Location: Batavia, IL
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:18 am Post subject:
Worst Monster Example -- I gotta go with the Beholders from the first D&D movie. One simply does not throw a rock and make a Beholder fly off in another direction. Last time I checked, they had an INT of around 17..... _________________ CN -- It makes firing into combat a whole lot more fun
Joined: Jul 26, 2010 Posts: 1610 Location: LG Dyvers
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:31 am Post subject:
I like all of your recommendations, DLG, and won't argue with any of them. So, I'll see if I can add a few.
BEST D&D feel movie>Lord of the Rings trilogy, of course, Conan the Barbarian (the first one with Schwartzenegger) and Beast Master (with Marc Singer). Honorable mention must go to Kingdom of Heaven.
WORST D&D feel movie>The Sword and the Sorceror and Krull.
BEST D&D movie characters > Gandalf (Sir Ian McLellan), Frodo (Isaiah Wood), Boramir (Sean Bean), and Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones).
WORST D&D movie characters > Smeagle, Haldir (just too chubby to be an elf),
BEST D&D movie Monster Type > The Balrog, Nazgul, and (Tr)E(a)nts from LotR, the wizard's conjured shadow steed from Eragon, the Kraken and Medusa from the newer version of Clash of the Titans, and the Chimera from Wrath of the Titans.
WORST D&D movie Monster Type > Spider Climbing Goblins in Moria from LotR.
Joined: Sep 09, 2009 Posts: 1572 Location: SW WA state (Highvale)
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject:
I am glad that Xaris mentioned the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I don't think that any other movie series gets me 'in the mood' (FOR GAMING) than those films. I would also agree with the original Conan the Barbarian as well.
However, as a Ray Harryhausen fan, I feel obligated to mention some of his award winning films (back in the day, but I think they are still worthy) such as The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts (and not just cuz the hero and I share the same first name), and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Some of you may laugh at the use of stop motion fight scenes with monster models b/c of our modern (over?)reliance on CGI, but I think those movies are still great.
Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 2871 Location: So. Cal
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:37 am Post subject:
I thought I had lost all faith in you lot...until I got to Lanthorn's post. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is pretty much D&D in a bottle. The king in the mask was basically fried by a fireball cast by the evil wizard (played by Tom Baker), the wizard literally makes a homonculus in the movie, there are fantastical creatures, magical fountains and crowns, evil wizard magic tricks, etc. It really has it all. If you have never seen it, well, we might as well put you out of your misery like a horse with a broken leg. BLAM! If you haven't seen it in a while, such that it didn't even come to mind and make your list, it is high time that you watched it again.
Sure, LotR is awesome and so is Game of Thrones, and there is always Conan the Barbarian, but if you want a movie that actually fits the idea of what a D&D adventure is all about then you won't find one that does so better than the Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Also, Conan the Destroyer actually fits the D&D adventure model better than Conan the Barbarian does.
So, I think people are putting up lists of movies they like more so than lists of movies that exemplify D&D. Otherwise we would see Krull in the list of very D&D-esque movies, and no, I am not much of a Krull fan at all, but it does have some cool stuff in it (just not the story ). Krull fits the average adventure idea of a quest, as it doesn't last for very long and yet spans a variety of locales and features all sorts of bizarre/interesting characters. Too bad it couldn't have been just a little bit less hokey.
...and i just have to include THIS.
_________________ - Moderator/Admin/Member
If we're not constraining our lists to things that are good, the recent Conan remake was laughably awful (especially the ending, which was one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've ever seen) but really, really D&D-esque, especially once Conan recruits a thief for his party. Also, Your Highness.
Joined: Jul 26, 2010 Posts: 1610 Location: LG Dyvers
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:16 am Post subject:
Lol! Your Highness was worth watching just to see Natalie Portman in a bikini.
I remember Hawk The Slayer! I didn't remember that Jack Palance was in it. The only thing I remember appreciating was the way they made the elven archer fire his bow so quickly.
Joined: Nov 07, 2004 Posts: 1466 Location: Mt. Smolderac
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:20 am Post subject:
My vote for worst fantasy movie ever, The Warrior and the Sorceress with David Carradine. Witness the awfulness!. For added bad points, it takes the story from Yojimbo and does horrible things to it.
I thought I had lost all faith in you lot...until I got to Lanthorn's post. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is pretty much D&D in a bottle.
So, I think people are putting up lists of movies they like more so than lists of movies that exemplify D&D.
Totally agree on the classics (Sinbad and as you can see I listed El Cid)
BUT... I would point out the D&D feel was only PART of the intent of the thread.
I think, as you point out, we can all generate a favorite movie list, but was intending to seek more of a list that not only personifies the game, but may be some game elements.
There are, I'm sure movies that perfect the CN character type, or a good monster concept, etc.
Being a "movie-a-holic" I try to find good elements in most that I watch. And much to my wife's annoyance, I game compare.. "so hun, what kind of character would that be? What alignment does Bruce Willis portray in Die Hard" etc.
For example, I think the captain of the guard in Dragonslayer is a great example of LN... "sorry my king, but the lotto says the dragon gets to eat the princess"....
BIG C.. keep the Faith
Joined: Sep 09, 2009 Posts: 1572 Location: SW WA state (Highvale)
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:13 am Post subject:
DLG, I suffer from a similar affliction. From time to time I find myself reverting to 'gamespeak.'
For the record, my favorite dragon concept/design of all time, thus far, has to be Vermithrax from Dragonslayer. Another one of Ray Harryhausen's excellent creature effects. I still find it hard to believe that movie was a DISNEY film (if memory serves).
I prefer to think that I am adding to the general discourse of Canonfire! At least, hope so!
-Lanthorn the Query-Plagued
NO Hope required. You venture into the wilds that only the Fearless would dare venture inspires. Somebody has to test Rasgon's resources, Sir Xaris's pearls of wisdom and Cebrions Patience hehe
Joined: Nov 07, 2004 Posts: 1466 Location: Mt. Smolderac
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:01 am Post subject:
Cebrion wrote:
Well, now I just have to go out an find a copy of "The Warrior and the Sorceress".
It should be required viewing. Does anyone else remember This -- The Archer - Fugitive From the Empire. It was supposedly meant to be a tv series in the early 80's. It only got as far as showing the pilot. I remember me and my D&D playing nerd-o friends in middle school geeking out over it when it came out. It was utter crap, but we loved it. If you look it up on Youtube someone has the entire thing posted in segments. Give it watch.
I thought I had lost all faith in you lot...until I got to Lanthorn's post. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is pretty much D&D in a bottle. The king in the mask was basically fried by a fireball cast by the evil wizard (played by Tom Baker), the wizard literally makes a homonculus in the movie...
-When Lanthorn mentioned Sinbad, I thought of the homunculous, but you beat me to it. It must have been taken from the movie.
I liked Koura's second in command, Achmed. He didn't seem like an inherently bad sort. I thought there would have been possibility for role (as opposed to roll) play there. But Koura's guys disappear half way through the movie.
The merchant's loser son Haroun: 1st level PC! (D&D 3.5 Rogue?)
smillan_31 wrote:
...Does anyone else remember url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/archer_the_fugitive_from_the_empire/trailers/]This[/url] -- The Archer - Fugitive From the Empire. It was supposedly meant to be a tv series in the early 80's. It only got as far as showing the pilot. I remember me and my D&D playing nerd-o friends in middle school geeking out over it when it came out. It was utter crap, but we loved it...
-I do remember that, although I didn't know the name. As I was watching it with my sister, my family was asking "Does this have anything to do with that Dragons and Dungeons thing you keep playing?
I still wonder why exploding arrows aren't a regular magic item.
The was a movie in the 1960s (I think), which UHF channels would play on Saturday afternoons. It involved a young squire who sets off on a quest with a magically acquired an international team of knights (i.e., a Scottish knight, a German knight, a Spanish knight, etc). His companions all get killed, but at the end of the story, his mom (?) brings them all back to life with here magic ring. I swear the mom (?) was played by Agnes Moorehead. I've tried google, no luck.
DLG, I suffer from a similar affliction. From time to time I find myself reverting to 'gamespeak.'
For the record, my favorite dragon concept/design of all time, thus far, has to be Vermithrax from Dragonslayer. Another one of Ray Harryhausen's excellent creature effects. I still find it hard to believe that movie was a DISNEY film (if memory serves).
-Lanthorn
That was a Disney film, but I don't think Harryhausen was involved.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Excalibur, which had absolutely the best Merlin ever on screen!
In addition to movies, there have been a *few* fantasy TV series worth watching.
Game of Thrones, obviously. Ned Stark, I think, has many paladin-like qualities, despite the fact he doesn't seem to be of the typical cavalier breed.
The 1980s British Robin of Sherwood series brought elements of magic & pagan mysticism into the RH legend, & IMO is the "Excalibur" of Robin Hood adaptions. Picture a band of rangers & rogues (& one cleric), with a druidic mentor (Herene the Hunter).
The Starz series Camelot is also worth a look. Despite the poor casting of Arthur, it had some interesting takes on the Arthurian legends, & I thought Joseph Fiennes was the second best Merlin I've seen.
As for movies to avoid, I would watch a marathon of The Warrior and the Sorceress, Mazes and Monsters, & every D&D movie made to avoid watching 1984's The Dungeonmaster!
Joined: Sep 09, 2009 Posts: 1572 Location: SW WA state (Highvale)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject:
I did some basic research on this, and I may be in error. Robbastard may be correct on this account. Although I dimly recall seeing a picture of Ray Harryhausen posing near Vermithrax (did he have any influence on the creature creation?), my casual perusing online has suggested that Phil Tippett (of the various Star Wars films) may be the mastermind behind that amazing beast. Still the best damn dragon around as far as I am concerned!
Joined: Jul 26, 2010 Posts: 1610 Location: LG Dyvers
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:36 pm Post subject:
I think DLG named the best dragon in Reign of Fire.
I would like to say again how empressed I was with the Balrog from the Lord of the Rings. I loved the heat when it roared. No flight, no dragon-like fire breath because it didn't need those things to be perfectly terrifying.
Joined: Nov 07, 2004 Posts: 1466 Location: Mt. Smolderac
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject:
Lanthorn wrote:
I did some basic research on this, and I may be in error. Robbastard may be correct on this account. Although I dimly recall seeing a picture of Ray Harryhausen posing near Vermithrax (did he have any influence on the creature creation?), my casual perusing online has suggested that Phil Tippett (of the various Star Wars films) may be the mastermind behind that amazing beast. Still the best damn dragon around as far as I am concerned!
-Lanthorn
It was Phil Tippet. Harryhausen had been working on Clash of the Titans, which was released about the same time as Dragonslayer. Vermithrax was definitely a ground-breaking dragon design. You can still see its influence today.
I've been watching a ton of historical series lately that has been very influential on what I'm doing in D&D and Greyhawk. The Borgias, Pillars of the Earth, and The Shadow of the Tower. Good stuff if you like medieval and renaissance politics and intrigue.
Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 2871 Location: So. Cal
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:33 pm Post subject:
For the time, and considering how much bad fantasy stuff came out in the early 80's, The Archer wasn't that bad. I think I recall liking it more than Krull, which, granted, isn't saying much. _________________ - Moderator/Admin/Member
For the time, and considering how much bad fantasy stuff came out in the early 80's, The Archer wasn't that bad. I think I recall liking it more than Krull, which, granted, isn't saying much.
LOL I hear Ya there! ... there was an abundance of "film waste". But Lysette Anthony did look pretty good as a redhead.
By comparison I would agree, and since the "trend" seems for the moment, to define "less stellar" choices, I would have to add Legend. But I tend to "try" to find some good elements, the best part was making the goblin look like Kieth Richards of the Rolling Stones hehe And the "look" of the Lord of Darkness wasn't terrible.
Joined: Nov 07, 2004 Posts: 1466 Location: Mt. Smolderac
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:43 am Post subject:
Overall, I like Legend. There are some things about it I cringe at. The worst being the god-awful Tangerine Dream soundtrack. Also on the plus side, two words. Billy. Barty.
Which reminds me, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Willow yet.
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(FOR GAMING) than those films. I would also agree with the original 
If you have never seen it, well, we might as well put you out of your misery like a horse with a broken leg. BLAM! If you haven't seen it in a while, such that it didn't even come to mind and make your list, it is high time that you watched it again.
). Krull fits the average adventure idea of a quest, as it doesn't last for very long and yet spans a variety of locales and features all sorts of bizarre/interesting characters. Too bad it couldn't have been just a little bit less hokey.
Robbastard may be correct on this account. Although I dimly recall seeing a picture of Ray Harryhausen posing near Vermithrax (did he have any influence on the creature creation?), my casual perusing online has suggested that Phil Tippett (of the various Star Wars films) may be the mastermind behind that amazing beast. Still the best damn dragon around as far as I am concerned!