What Are Your Favorite Sword & Sorcery Movies?

[Thundarr]

Another Guilty Pleasure

Ator The Fighting Eagle

This movie is just so bad it's almost good. If that makes any sense.

 

[mclay18]

Again, no one's seen Stardust? It came out three years ago, was directed by the guy who did Kick-Ass, and had rave reviews. It's a great throwback to the 1980s fantasy films, but it's more self-aware and better acted than the hugely overrated The Princess Bride.

And people sadly overlook another film, the gorgeously shot Thief of Bagdad from 1940, featuring Sabu. Another gem.

 

[Thundarr]

Again, no one's seen Stardust? It came out three years ago, was directed by the guy who did Kick-Ass, and had rave reviews. It's a great throwback to the 1980s fantasy films, but it's more self-aware and better acted than the hugely overrated The Princess Bride.

And people sadly overlook another film, the gorgeously shot Thief of Bagdad from 1940, featuring Sabu. Another gem.

I haven't mentioned Stardust yet because I haven't seen it yet. I'm not in a HUGE rush to do so, as I have heard mixed reviews as to its quality (although I do try and go into movies with an open mind and not be swayed by the opinions of others).
I would hardly call The Princess Bride over rated however. It is one of my all time favorite movies, not just of the Sword & Sorcery genre, but EVER. Beautifully acted. Beautifully shot. Beautifully written. Beautifully cast. Beautifully directed. Movies in general do not get much better than The Princess Bride.

 

[That-Guy]

I mentioned Stardust. It was pretty good.

Also, I'm sure that "Season of the Witch" will soon be added to the "Guilty Pleasures" category.

 

[Figs]

The Adventures Of Hercules (starring Lou Ferrigno)

I watched that a few months ago and it was a pretty fun film. I was surprised.

 

[mclay18]

I would hardly call The Princess Bride over rated however. It is one of my all time favorite movies, not just of the Sword & Sorcery genre, but EVER. Beautifully acted. Beautifully shot. Beautifully written. Beautifully cast. Beautifully directed. Movies in general do not get much better than The Princess Bride.

For me, The Princess Bride is a cute film. I saw it before Stardust came out, but I was underwhelmed (aside from the classic quotes like "My name is Inigo Montoya..."). Cary Elwes and Robin Wright were really good, though. It almost seemed too self-aware at times -- I can sort of see why people like it, but it just doesn't speak to me.

Stardust is less self-aware, and it has fun doing so. The single flaw is Robert DeNiro prancing around in a pink tutu (I kid you not) -- it's the one scene in the film I always skip.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Lord of the Rings
Star Wars
Harry Potter

Guilty Pleasure:
Prince of Persia

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

A lot of film named are not Sword and Sorcery ( Star Wars, Harry Potter, Princess Bride or Adventure of Hercules etc ).

 

[lespaul59]

Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Destroyer
Red Sonja (only because Arnold is in it)
LOTR
Stardust


These are my go to Sword and Sorcery movies. I had actually put off watching Stardust just because I didn't think it would be any good. Then I finaly caught it on Showtime and was hooked. For me nothing will ever top either Conan movie just because I'm a hugh Arnold fan.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

A lot of film named are not Sword and Sorcery ( Star Wars, Harry Potter, Princess Bride or Adventure of Hercules etc ).

Star Wars isn't Sword and Sorcery? Lightsabers and the Force...

Harry Potter isn't Sword and Sorcery? Godric's sword and ...sorcery.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Star Wars isn't Sword and Sorcery? Lightsabers and the Force...

Harry Potter isn't Sword and Sorcery? Godric's sword and ...sorcery.

Star Wars is Space Opera
Harry Potter is Fantasy

 

[SuperFerret]

Star Wars is a sword and sorcery fantasy. It has a brave knight trained by a kindly old wizard wielding a sword of light to dethrone an evil wizard and a dark knight that have taken over the old nation.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Star Wars is a sword and sorcery fantasy. It has a brave knight trained by a kindly old wizard wielding a sword of light to dethrone an evil wizard and a dark knight that have taken over the old nation.

That doesn't make it Sword & Sorcery sorry.
It includes part of S&S imaging but is Space Opera.

 

[Tanin]

Ladyhawke is my ultimate favorite.

Stardust
Willow
Clash of the Titans (old)

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I haven't really watch many. The only sword and sorcery films I've watched are the LOTR films.

 

[C. Lee]

There are so many, and most have already been mentioned here. I've been a fan of the genre since the mid 60's when the Italian made HERCULES and the SWORD AND SANDALS type movies were the rage.

 

[mclay18]

I know Krull is on many people's lists. It's cheesy as all get-out, but James Horner's score was magnificent. It made the film entertaining.

 

[danoyse]

Willow. t:

 

[Speedball]

Lord of the Rings
Stardust
Harry Potter
Excalibur
Chronicles of Narnia (all three)
Willow
Prince of Persia (It's not a guilty pleasure, because I actually love the film and I'm not afraid to show it)

Guilty Pleasures
Clash of the Titans (new) - I really enjoyed this film, actually. I know it's actually pretty bad, but I really like Gemma Arterton and really enjoy the music. and I like how it's non-stop.

I think Star Wars isn't sword and sorcery. I regard it as Sci-Fi. I think Harry Potter is, because it still has the sorcery aspect in the film, even though it takes place in modern times.

Worst ones-
Eragon - Read the book before it came out, thought it wasn't bad, but like Star Wars with dragons. The movie takes the book and makes everything look cheap and takes the wonder out.

Dungeon Siege - I honestly love these games. I used to stay up all night playing them. When I heard there was a movie being made, I was excited. Then I heard who the director was, and I wanted to fly to Germany and kidnap Bolls family and hold them hostage until he gave up the rights to make the film.

 

[SuperFerret]

Star Wars is definitely not Sci Fi. A spaceship does not Sci Fi make. It's firmly within the fantasy genre, and fits Sword and Sorcery as much as it does Space Opera.

 

[Speedball]

Star Wars is definitely not Sci Fi. A spaceship does not Sci Fi make. It's firmly within the fantasy genre, and fits Sword and Sorcery as much as it does Space Opera.

But I don't see the force as sorcery. Sorcery involves some kind of magical basis in its powers, I don't see the force as magic. Vader even chokes someone because they call it magic. Star Wars is Fantasy SciFi.

edit - however, and this just occurred to me, that same person says "Sorcerer's Ways" and Uncle Owen refers to Ben Kenobi as a "Wizard"... But I think that's more misunderstanding of the force on the characters parts.

 

[SuperFerret]

The Force is magic. Before the atrocious prequels (which unfortunately became sci fi, due to the obsession people have had recently with explaining things that don't need it), the Force was this unexplained force that only a certain few could use. That seems to describe magic in my eyes.

Also, Vader choked that guy out because he was questioning Vader, not because he was calling the Force magic.

Sci Fi is basically stuff that can happen, due to use of some scientific explanation behind things (implied or spelled out). Star Trek, Jurassic Park, and Avatar are Sci Fi.

Fantasy is stuff that can't happen, due to the existence of magic (or some similar form of mysticism). Star Wars, Harry Potter and the comic book versions of the Marvel and DC Universes are Fantasy.

 

[Immortalfire]

The Force isn't magic. Its a blood condition.

 

[SuperFerret]

Not in the original trilogy.

 

[Immortalfire]

Once again, it just proves George Lucas is a loon who doesn't understand his own creation.