An Escape from Reality: Fantasy

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The rainy season is fast approaching!

What is a better thing to do than stay in and watch tons of movies on a rainy day?

Moreover, the dark skies and the fascinating thunder storms makes me feel like I am in a different world.

That’s right. Our genre for today is the Fantasy Genre!

Do you ever want to escape from reality?

I feel like escaping the world when I have had a rough day or when I wish that I could be by myself somewhere nobody knows.

Immersing yourself in fantasy movies is just the perfect way to escape reality- at least for a short while!

So, what exactly is a fantasy film?

According to The Script Lab, a software company from which writers of all levels can receive help in screenwriting education and development, fantasy film is a genre that incorporates imaginative and fantastic themes. These themes usually involve magic, supernatural events, or fantasy worlds. Although it is its own distinct genre, these films can overlap into the horror and science fiction genres. Unlike science fiction, a fantasy film does not need to be rooted in fact. This element allows the audience to be transported into a new and unique world. Often, these films center on an ordinary hero in an extraordinary situation.

What are some of the most favored fantasy movies?

Based on statistics from IMDb, a trusted movie review community, the top ten fantasy films of all times are:

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) IMDb Rating: 8.9
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 8.8
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 8.7
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 8.7
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) 8.6
The Green Mile (1999) 8.6
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) 8.3
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 8.3
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 8.3
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 8.2

Next up is a top five recommendation of personally-picked fantasy film series.

Let’s get right to it!

⦿ The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-2010)

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Directors: Andrew Adamson, Michael Apted, Joe Johnston

Detail: The Chronicles of Narnia series of films is based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels by C. S. Lewis. From the seven books, the first three were adapted —The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader —which grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide among them.

Cast:

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Blogger’s Comment: The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the best fantasy films indeed because its story begins as characters from a normal world enter a magical world that they have never before seen. I think the series of films is an amazing way to stimulate one’s imagination. I would really recommend it to people who are craving for an exciting and satisfying adventure.

⦿ Harry Potter (2001-2011)

Directors: David Yates, Alfonso Cuarón, Chris Columbus, Mike Newell

Detail: Harry Potter is a British-American namesake film series based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

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Blogger’s Comment: Harry Potter is one of my favorite fantasy series because it has so much to do with magic. The characters in the movie cast spells or curses and the protagonists fight the antagonists using their magical power. With no doubt, anyone who watches a single film among the series will wish to view the rest of the movie series.

⦿ Pirates of the Caribbean (2003-2017)

Directors: Gore Verbinski, Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg, Rob Marshall

Detail: Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of five fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and based on Walt Disney’s eponymous theme park ride.

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Blogger’s Comment: Pirates of the Caribbean is a film series worth watching because not only is its plot unimaginable but its main character Jack Sparrow is also extremely interesting. Personally, I really liked the fantasy series because we are able to learn valuable lessons from Jack Sparrow; for example, he said there is more to life than riches. His unique yet charming character encourages us to become sociable and to change our attitudes for the better.

⦿ The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

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Director: Peter Jackson

Detail: The Lord of the Rings is a film series of three epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson, based on the novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are subtitled The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). They are a New Zealand-American venture, produced and distributed by New Line Cinema with the co-production of WingNut Films.

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Blogger’s Comment: The Lord of the Rings is a series that reminds me of my childhood because my whole family used to watch it together in the living room. In my opinion, The Lord of the Rings is acknowledged by many people as a great film series because it has an incredibly well-organized plot. Also, it has introduced many awesome tag lines such as “Fly, you fools!” and “Potatoes? Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew?” or the most well-known: “My preciousssssss.”

⦿ Star Wars (1977-2019)

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Directors: George Lucas, Rian Johnson, J.J. Abrams, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand

Detail: Star Wars is an American epic space-opera media franchise created by George Lucas. The franchise began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon.

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Blogger’s Comment: Star Wars is one of the best fantasy series because there’s literally something for everyone. No matter who you are, what you like, or what you believe in, you’ll find something to which you relate. These movies aren’t just fantasy; there’s science fiction, action, adventure, and romance, just to name a few. Plus, the series is worth the watch just because Yoda is in it!