What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy?

Lucy of Ravenscar
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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 15:47:25 GMT foresthermit likes this

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Post by Lucy of Ravenscar on May 31, 2014 15:47:25 GMT

What other fantasy and historical shows and films do you like?

Television's never been all that great at doing fantasy, although that's improving as CGI has got more affordable (not that you need CGI, but a decent budget always helps). It's much better a historical shows, though again, if you want an epic sweep and lots of battles, you need a bit of money.

I'm really enjoying Game of Thrones at the moment, partly for the plots and characters, but also for the look (the costumes are amazing) and just for the fact that it's great to see big chunky fantasy books turned into a popular tv show. I've read the books as well now, which are great, but mainly so I wouldn't read inadvertent spoilers.

One of my all time favourite shows is Sharpe. Great stories, beautifully made, and Sean Bean looking gorgeous (and he doesn't die!). In the same vein I like Hornblower - I love a bit of historical action, although I also enjoy more sedate and romantic productions such as any of the Jane Austen adaptations.

Cadfael was an excellent series, with a nice mix of historical background and murder mystery.

Otherwise, most good fantasy and historical action drama works best on the big screen, with a big budget. My all time favourites are The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, just because they're so inventive and the puppets are so believable (of course Jim Henson worked his magic on the TV series The Storyteller too). I love the Lord of the Rings films, being a big fan of the books I thought they did a good job of adapting them (something I'm not sure I can say about The Hobbit). All the Harry Potter films are enjoyable, and I really like the Narnia adaptations that have been filmed so far - I can't resist a massive battle with griffins, centaurs and minotaurs!

I love Excalibur, and I also enjoyed the totally different take on the legend, King Arthur, probably because all the guys in it (including Ray Winstone) worked well together. Other films I like include Highlander, Willow, Ladyhawke, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Kingdom of Heaven, Stardust, Pan's Labyrinth, and many of the animated Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Nausicaa and Howl's Moving Castle.

So, is anyone else a fan of these particular genres?

It's not over. It'll never be over.

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 17:03:28 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on May 31, 2014 17:03:28 GMT Um I don't like any of those. I'm more into period/costume dramas. Funny how I love the magical element of RoS though. Having said that there was one 80s film I liked "Legend"

Lucy of Ravenscar Global Moderator Lady Wolfshead Meddlesome hussy Posts: 20,608	What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 18:11:30 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lucy of Ravenscar on May 31, 2014 18:11:30 GMT Legend's good, really lovely look to it and amazing make up on Tim Curry. So what historical dramas do you enjoy?
	It's not over. It'll never be over.

Dennis of Ravenscar Administrator The Cookie Meister Currently Seated Posts: 23,497	What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 19:10:31 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Dennis of Ravenscar on May 31, 2014 19:10:31 GMT I just was watching Dungeons and Dragons the movie (terrible film btw) But of course it does feature Richard O'Brian as a master thief. (also Tom Baker)
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BettyButtercup
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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 21:58:18 GMT

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Post by BettyButtercup on May 31, 2014 21:58:18 GMT

Great thread, Lucy. I'll mention books too if I may! I am addicted to historical novels - it's far and away my favourite genre - the nearest thing to time-travel and total escapism. I love Elizabeth Chadwick's novels - she's able to conjure up such a wonderful and convincing atmosphere and the same is true of Sharon Kay Penman. Her 'The Sunne in Splendour' re the Wars of the Roses and her 'Welsh Princes' trilogy are just amazing and reduce me to tears. I read 'The Lord of the Rings' and really enjoyed it but it's one of those very rare occasions when I can say I love the films more as they are just so stunning to watch on a big screen. 'Game of Thrones' I had to give up on in the middle of season 2, I think - there were many aspects of it which appealed to me but I just found it too graphic and cruel (maybe surprising as I am such a Walking Dead fan!). I've recently started watching 'The Vikings' which is quite brutal but I can cope with it at the moment!

Costume/period dramas are must-sees in my house and the boxsets I revisit the most are 'Miss Marple' and 'The House of Eliott'; my most recent favourite was 'The White Queen' which was rather mauled by the critics but I loved it - very entertaining and it looks beautiful on Blu-Ray. 'Legend' is gorgeous to look at too- I love this film! I've heard that it's Tom Cruise's least favourite film and he doesn't like to talk about it much - why??? It's fab! Elves, fairies, unicorns.... it could have been made for me and the magical music of Tangerine Dream (and Jason Connery's ex, Mia Sara providing a RoS connection). Coincidentally I watched 'The Dark Crystal' last week as my friend and I were talking about it and I said I hadn't seen it for years and so she lent me her DVD. Fantastic! Without any CGI, it is such a treat to watch - the animatronics are so convincing, the characters feel so real. The scene when the little Podling is drained of his essence is so sad; he is so cute! I need a 'Labyrinth' rewatch too. I had a slight obsession with 'Krull' too haha. I was totally sucked into the world of 'Lost' and was a big fan of that show.

I must be one of the few people to have never watched a single Harry Potter film (I have read one of the books!) - I don't know why, the premise just doesn't interest me hugely. I've enjoyed the recent Narnia adaptations but prefer the books - I do have a fondness for the 80s BBC series. Another fantasy 80s series is a huge Christmas tradition in our family - 'The Box of Delights' which I simply adore; it is magical and so nostalgic

Oh Dennis, I quite like 'Dungeons and Dragons', it's good fun. Historical films which spring to mind are 'Gladiator' and 'Braveheart' and Lucy, I like 'Kingdom of Heaven' too. 'Robin of Sherwood' was the definitive Robin Hood take but I feel as if I'm still waiting for a film/TV series to do the same with King Arthur. Nothing's come close to the imaginings I have in my mind.

Sprinkling fairy dust across the forum x

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? May 31, 2014 23:35:14 GMT

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Post by Lucy of Ravenscar on May 31, 2014 23:35:14 GMT

I was going to do another thread for books, since adding my favourites to my first post would have made it massive!

I've been recording The Vikings but haven't started watching it yet, might save it for when Game of Thrones finishes.

We love Box of Delights too, I read the book to the boys once and they thought it was very weird!

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 5:40:03 GMT

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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 5:40:03 GMT

Costume/period dramas are must-sees in my house and the boxsets I revisit the most are 'Miss Marple'

Oh yes me too. My fav Miss Marple is Joan Hicks. "More Tea Vicar?"

I love most period dramas, Downton Abbey, Larkrise to Candleford etc.

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 5:43:05 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 5:43:05 GMT I must be one of the few people to have never watched a single Harry Potter film I'm one of the few too OH has but they don't do it for me.

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 8:24:36 GMT

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Post by Dennis of Ravenscar on Jun 1, 2014 8:24:36 GMT

Just watched Excalibur last night. (1981 - Boorman)

Love this film, yes I know its not historically accurate, but it is played as such, with the atmosphere and mood (albeit a bit more graphic) like RoS.
Robert Addie is superb as Mordred, lots of other big names in it too (Liam Neeson, Pat Stewart, Nicholas Clay etc.)

I mistakenly thought some of the castle scenes were done at Chepstow, but I realised all of the filming is done in Ireland.

Looking out for nesting pigs!

ginberg
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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 10:04:47 GMT

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Post by ginberg on Jun 1, 2014 10:04:47 GMT

I saw the first series of Vikings last year and am half way through season 2. I think it's quite authentic,grimy,bloody,mystical and makes use of Ireland's stunning beauty where the series is filmed. I think Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok has a lot of screen presence and Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha a strong character and a great shield maiden. I also like George Blagden as Athelstan,a priest taken as slave by the Vikings when they raid Lindisfarne,and his struggles with his god,and the old gods. Gabriel Byrne plays a good baddie in season 1,and Linus Roache appears as King Ecbert in season 2. A third season has already been commissioned. I also loved the Lord Of The Rings movies,such grand scope and storytelling,though I've not read the novels,and the Hobbit movies too. Legolas is my favourite character. It's weird seeing John Rhys Davies as Gimli when I've only ever thought of him as Lionheart. I'd only seen Excalibur once before,years ago,and it made a lasting impression on me,and so when the blu ray was released I feverishly threw down my bags od silver,and wasn't disappointed! The picture is sumptuous,and yes,Robert Addie is magnificent as Mordred. Arthur Of The Britons is another favourite,though I found Oliver Tobias' Arthur quite often cold and detached. I'm a fan of Game Of Thrones too,though again haven't read any of the books. I can see Betty's point about how cruel and graphic the tv series is,but I'm in it for the long haul now. Maybe we should start a Never Watched Harry Potter club! The films have never appealed to me,though my son has read all the novels and has the entire movie collection. They're the only books he has read though. Another fantasy series I enjoyed was Neverwhere based on Neil Gaiman's novel,which,yup,I've never read! Set in the alternate world of London Below it really captured my imagination. I also enjoyed The Children Of The Stones with Gareth Thomas. I'm currently watching Grimm,an American series an their take on the fairy tales,which is quite original and entertaining. Almost forgot The Devil's Whore,a costume drama set before and during the 'reign' of Oliver Cromell. I'm not sure if The Walking Dead counts as 'fantasy',probably leans more towards horror,but like Betty,I'm a big fan. I also loved Afterlife with Lesley Sharpe playing a reluctant medium.

My favourite fantasy/historical movies include Braveheart,Highlander,Spartacus,Gladiator,The Wicker Man,Pan's Labyrinth,Ironclad,Excalibur,though The Wicker Man is again probably classed as horror.

I'm an avid reader and enjoy most genres,but fantasy,sci-fi,horror and animal fiction is where it all started. I've become an ardent historical fiction reader,including the sub-genres of historical action and crime. I really enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles,now re-named Warrior Chronicles set during the reign of Alfred The Great,C.J.Sansom's historical crime series set during Henry VIII's reign ,and more recently Rory Clement's Elizabethan crime series. I also like Sharon Kay Penman,and will have to read her final Welsh Princes novel,The Reckoning to finish the trilogy. In fantasy I started with Terry Brook's Shannara series years ago,and more recently read William Horwood's eco-fantasy series,Hyddenworld,based on seasons. Another favourite is Mark Chadbourn's Age Of Misrule trilogy set in the modern day when technology fails and the old gods,fairy tales and superstitions return. Watership Down is top of my book pile! I'm certain I can see I'll have to dispatch a garrison of guarded silver for Robin of Sherwood Vol 1 or I'm going to badly miss out!

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 17:17:12 GMT

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Post by Lucy of Ravenscar on Jun 1, 2014 17:17:12 GMT

I'm glad you like Vikings, I'd generally heard good things about it so I'm looking forward to giving it a go.

We bought the DVD of Arthur Of The Britons a little while back, started watching it but didn't finish. We'll have to give it another try.

I thought Neverwhere was great, and I watched it again on DVD recently. It was a pity it was filmed on video rather than film, because a lot of thought and effort went into the look, and it would have been much more effective on film. I think Neil Gaiman wrote the screenplay, then adapted it later into a novel, so it's very close to the series.

Children of the Stones is excellent, we went to Avebury last year to see the stones, very impressive. Grimm's good fun, and Walking Dead always has me on the edge of my seat!

Book-wise I'm very much into fantasy, though I think I should give some more strictly historical stuff a go, a lot of the books you've mentioned ginburg sound very interesting, and Watership Down is one of my most loved books. My favourite authors are Diana Wynne Jones, Terry Pratchett, Guy Gavriel Kay (he does a lot of alternate histories, where the names and details are changed, but the basic ideas of that historical period are still there), Robin Hobb, Ursula Le Guin, Charles de Lint, Katherine Kerr, Robert Holdstock and Garth Nix.

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ginberg
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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 18:53:11 GMT

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Post by ginberg on Jun 1, 2014 18:53:11 GMT

The Marquis de Carabas played by Paterson Joseph is my favourite character in Neverwhere,Lucy,and I was hoping he'd get the Doctor Who job when David Tennant left,but alas,though Matt Smith is my No.2 after Tom Baker! I have read both Charles de Lint (Moonheart) and Robert Holdstock(Mythago Wood & The Fetch) and enjoyed both,and hope to read more. I've never visitedAvebury,but I expect the countryside has changed since the series was filmed,but imagine the stones are still quite magical.

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 19:07:53 GMT

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Post by Lucy of Ravenscar on Jun 1, 2014 19:07:53 GMT

Paterson Joseph was great as the Marquis, and he would have made a good Doctor. That said, I think Neverwhere was the first thing I'd seen Peter Capaldi in, and he seems to be doing all right for himself! I've read a lot of Charles de Lint books and enjoyed them all, though they don't always seem that easy to get in the UK (I've picked most of them up second-hand), I would definitely recommend others if you liked Moonheart. Robert Holdstock's books are quite dense, and although I've read a few I definitely need to read them again. Doesn't Robin Hood turn up in Mythago Wood?

Avebury does not seem to have changed much at all - the village is very old-fashioned, I think a new building there is at least 200 years old! It's very much dominated by the stones, you even see the odd one by the side of the road as you're approaching, makes you think they can move, like the Ogri!

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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 1, 2014 19:37:20 GMT

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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 19:37:20 GMT

I've never visitedAvebury,but I expect the countryside has changed since the series was filmed,but imagine the stones are still quite magical.

Avebury does not seem to have changed much at all - the village is very old-fashioned, I think a new building there is at least 200 years old! It's very much dominated by the stones, you even see the odd one by the side of the road as you're approaching, makes you think they can move, like the Ogri!

It's wonderful there, have you ever walked along the processional avenues of stones Lucy? There's also Kennet Long barrow nearby and Silbury hill

BettyButtercup
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What other fantasy and historical productions do you enjoy? Jun 2, 2014 19:24:16 GMT

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Post by BettyButtercup on Jun 2, 2014 19:24:16 GMT

Jun 1, 2014 5:40:03 GMT @marion said:

Costume/period dramas are must-sees in my house and the boxsets I revisit the most are 'Miss Marple'

Oh yes me too. My fav Miss Marple is Joan Hicks. "More Tea Vicar?"

I love most period dramas, Downton Abbey, Larkrise to Candleford etc.

Oh yes, Joan Hickson IS Miss Marple. She's perfect. I refuse to accept anyone else in the role!
How could I have forgotten Downton Abbey?? I love it! As soon as the theme music starts playing, I go all tingly!