Fantasy Films 101
There are just too many great fantasy films! Last time, I had to leave out two of 1981's great films - Dragonslayer and the immortal Excalibur. This time, there are four classics, but I don't have to decide because you've decided for me. This week, by popular demand, we'll explore the legendary Dark Crystal.
Terry Gilliam's romp through time with some little people is one of the most memorable fantasy films of all time, helped along by a solid cast (including cameos from Sean Connery and John Cleese). Better still, the time-travelling dwarves are a great place to grab ideas for a one-night gaming session, or a full-blown year-long campaign...
What makes a good role-playing adventure? The same things that make a good fantasy film. Maybe "good" is a strong word to describe this first installment of Fantasy Films 101, but "fun" is certainly acceptable. Hawk the Slayer is a ton of fun at a party, and a great place to rip off a plotline for a night of slaying bad guys.
Is there a "chain-mail" link between fantasy Role-Playing Games and fantasy films? I certainly think so - at least in one noteworthy case. And that link becomes obvious when you take a closer look at the 1980s, a decade of Reaganomics, Rubix Cubes, Role-Playing and Really good fantasy flicks...
