AFI Names Top Ten Fantasy Films of All Time
The Wizard of Oz Tops the American Film Institute List
The American Film Institute, AFI, has named the "Top 100 Films of all Time." Films are categorized in ten different categories, with the top ten films listed in each territory. The fantasy category brings up some older classics and some early favorites. "The Wizard of Oz" is the number one fantasy film of all time. The other fantasy films to make the top ten include: Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Rings; It's a Wonderful Life; King Kong; Miricle on 34th Street; Field of Dreams; Harvey; Groundhog Day; Thief of Bagdad and Big.
The American Film Institute states, in their website, that the AFI definition of "Fantasy" is a genre where live action characters inhabit imagined settings, or experience situations, that transcend the rules of the natural world.
Following are the AFI Top Ten Fantasy Films of all time.
- Wizard of Oz. Fantasy flick takes Dorothy and Toto away from Kansas to the fanciful fantasy land of Oz, where she meets a Cowardly Lion who wants courage, ,a Scarecrow who wants a brain and a Tin Man who wants a heart. The new friends follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City hoping to petition the Great Wizard to help send Dorothy back home and to make all their dreams come true. The Wicked Witch of the West interferes, stopping at nothing to get the magical ruby slippers off of Dorothy. Judy Garland is teenaged Dorothy, who longingly sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Stars: Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr. 1939. Women of Top Fantasy Movie "The Wizard of Oz"
- Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001. In this Tolkien classic, a young Hobbit named Frodo, has been entrusted with a powerful ancient ring and embarks on a quest. Frodo is joined by Gandolf, Legolas the elf, Gimli the Dwarf, Aragom, Bobomir and his three Hobbit friends. The characters travel through danger, mountains, darkness, forests, snow, rivers and plains. The One Ring must be destroyed to bring the end of the reign of the Dark Lords. Stars: Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Sean Bean. 2001.
- It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart Christmas classic often airs during the holiday season. George Bail is a frustrated businessman who thinks his life is pointless, until an angel shows him how the world would have been different without him. Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore. 1947
- King Kong. A giant gorilla takes a shine to a movie star on a tropical island. Stars Fay Wray. 1933
- Miracle on 34th Street A nice old man claims to be Santa Claus and ends up being called insane and institutionalized. A young lawyer defends Santa in court, claiming Santa is real, not a fantasy. Awards: 3 Oscars. Stars: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmond Gwenn, Gene Lockhart and a young Natalie Wood. 1947,
- Field of Dreams. "If you build it, they will come." A corn field is turned into a baseball field which is a bit of heaven on earth. Stars: Kevin Costner. 1989
- Harvey. Jimmy Stewart as Elwoood P. Dowd, a mild mannered man who has an invisible friend who looks like a six foot tall rabbit. 1950
- Groundhog Day. A weatherman is destined to live the same day repeatedly. Stars Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell. 1993
- Thief of Bagdad, Fantasy Arabian Nights story. 1940.
- Big. Stars Tom Hanks. 1988
Resources: American Film Institute, IMFB
