29/52 - CHALLENGE FAILED; going again next year
In 2003 I set two challenges for myself – “Trashy” movies and Barbarian movies – and deeply enjoyed both journeys, so this year my goal is to head into the deep end of a genre I love on both film and page – fantasy. I thought for this challenge it would be fun to organize my viewing around a series of prompts like other film challenges in which I participate, so if you are interested in joining this adventure, you can find them below.
The idea of the challenge is to explore fantasy movies. I will be using a more limited definition of the genre, focusing on stories of otherworlds, which may…
29/52 - CHALLENGE FAILED; going again next year
In 2003 I set two challenges for myself – “Trashy” movies and Barbarian movies – and deeply enjoyed both journeys, so this year my goal is to head into the deep end of a genre I love on both film and page – fantasy. I thought for this challenge it would be fun to organize my viewing around a series of prompts like other film challenges in which I participate, so if you are interested in joining this adventure, you can find them below.
The idea of the challenge is to explore fantasy movies. I will be using a more limited definition of the genre, focusing on stories of otherworlds, which may have similarities to our own, especially our medieval past, but are marked by the magical, strange and supernatural. I am not restricting my viewing to Tolkein inspired high fantasy or Dungeons and Dragons inspired sword and sorcery tales, but the idea of quest narratives, magical complications, and creatures pulled or adapted from folklore and mythology will be at the center of most of my choices. So not everything on the Letterboxd genre filter is going to work for me, but make this challenge your own. And some of the prompts are written to invite participants to go off genre on occasion. In the end, craft your own experience.
Watch in any order. Skip prompts you do not like and double others instead. I will be using the tag “fantasy2024” to track all of my watches. My goal is to complete the list on or before December 31, 2024. I am going for all first time watches so my list has some deep cuts. If you do decide to participate, please comment below so I can follow your efforts.
Participants:
Nick Atkins - boxd.it/ur6QM
Charcastrology - boxd.it/uWIPO
1. Watch the most popular fantasy movie on your watchlist
2. Watch the least popular fantasy movie on your watchlist
3. Watch a fantasy film directed by a woman
4. Watch a black and white fantasy movie
5. Watch a fantasy film from before the 60s
6. Watch a fantasy movie from the 60s
7. Watch a fantasy movie from the 70s
8. Watch a fantasy movie from the 80s
9. Watch a fantasy movie from the 90s
10. Watch a fantasy movie from the 00s
11. Watch a fantasy movie from 2010 or later
12. Watch a Chinese fantasy movie
13. Watch an Indian fantasy movie
14. Watch an Italian fantasy movie
15. Watch a non-animated Japanese fantasy movie
16. Watch an animated Japanese fantasy movie
17. Watch an animated fantasy movie (non-Japanese)
18. Watch a fantasy movie from a European country other than Italy
19. Watch a movie based on a fairy tale
20. Watch a movie inspired by Arthurian Legends
21. Watch a fantasy movie which uses stop motion or Claymation effects
22. Watch a movie with dragons, where all the dragons are evil
23. Watch a movie with at least one good and/or friendly dragon
24. Watch a movie with elves
25. Watch a movie with dwarves or gnomes
26. Watch a movie with a troll or giant
27. Watch a movie with fantasy creatures living in the present/modern day
28. Watch a Viking movie
29. Watch a Peplum/ Sword and Sandals movie
30. Watch a movie with “fantasy” in its title
31. Watch a barbarian movie
32. Watch a movie with the word “fighter” or “knight” in its title
33. Watch a movie with the word “slayer” or “crusader” in its title
34. Watch a movie with a wizard
35. Watch a movie featuring a cleric or priest
36. Watch a movie about a druid or shapeshifter
37. Watch a movie about a sorcerer, warlock, or witch
38. Watch a movie about a rogue or thief
39. Watch a fantasy movie from Cannon films
40. Watch a fantasy movie from the Shaw Brothers
41. Watch a fantasy movie produced or released by Troma
42. Watch a fantasy movie from Arrowstorm Entertainment
43. Watch a fantasy movie from Full Moon Entertainment
44. Watch a fantasy movie from Uwe Boll (I’m sorry…)
45. Watch a fantasy movie from the Disturbing, Controversial, Shocking, Bizarre and Messed Up: The Ultimate Guide list
46. Watch a fantasy movie from The (Almost) Complete Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film list
47. Watch a fantasy movie with a poster on which a sword makes contact with the letters of the title of the film
48. Watch a fantasy movie with a bow and/or arrow on the poster
49. Watch a fantasy movie with King, Queen, Prince, or Princess in its title
50. Watch a fantasy movie with a number in its title
51. Watch a fantasy movie with a child or teen protagonist
52. Watch a fantasy movie with a female lead
Looking for movies to try? Here are some of my go-to lists:
Sword and Sorcery by Tobias Andersen - boxd.it/E9b4
Get Medieval! by Karl Janssen - boxd.it/CCi0
The Once and Future King by Troy Peterson - boxd.it/15QSu
Knights by Jack Eriksson - boxd.it/cgILw
My own S+S list - boxd.it/oe23G
