Fantasy films are entertaining because they create an entirely new world populated by interesting characters doing amazing things. Each of these family-friendly movies features a quest, in which a young or inexperienced protagonist must venture into an unknown land of weird creatures and characters in order to save a life. Along the way, the hero/heroine is helped by a motley crew of new allies and together they find the ability and courage to succeed in their task.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Starring Barret Oliver (Bastion), Noah Hathaway (Atreyu), Gerald McRaney (Bastion’s Father), Thomas Hill (Mr. Koreander), Tami Stronach (Childlike Empress)
While hiding from bullies in an old bookstore, Bastion finds the mysterious book, The NeverEnding Story. He begins to read about the Nothing that is destroying the world of Fantasia and killing the Childlike Empress. The boy warrior Atreyu is Fantasia’s only hope, and he sets off with his horse Artax and meets such strange creatures as the Rock Biter, Morla the Ancient Turtle, and Falcor the Luck Dragon as he tries to find a cure for the Nothing. As Bastion becomes more drawn into the story, he begins to realize that his own imagination may be needed to save Fantasia.
This movie covers the first half of the book by Michael Ende, and there are two sequels and a TV show that dramatize other events from the book. The title song, sung by Kajagoogoo’s Limahl, is also fairly famous, and the music video is worth searching for.
Labyrinth (1986)
Starring Jennifer Connelly (Sarah), David Bowie (Goblin King Jareth), Brian Henson (Hoggle)
When the imaginative Sarah wishes that the goblins would take her baby brother away, she is immediately remorseful and begs the Goblin King Jareth to give Toby back. Jareth makes a deal with her: If she can reach the center of the labyrinth in thirteen hours, she can rescue her brother. With the help of the cynical goblin Hoggle, the sweet beast Ludo, and the brave fox Sir Didymus, Sarah is able to overcome all the obstacles Jareth sets before her and find her way through the labyrinth to the Goblin Castle for one final battle with the Goblin King.
Directed by Jim Henson and written by the Monty Python’s Terry Jones, this movie believably creates the fantasy world of the labyrinth, inhabited by muppets and ruled by a powerful king. David Bowie plays the Goblin King as a rock star, wearing glamorous costumes and singing Bowie-written songs.
The 2-disc special edition DVD is full of interesting extras, including commentary by conceptual designer Brian Froud, the original “Inside the Labyrinth” documentary, two new documentaries about the development of the story and characters, and interviews with cast and crew.
Willow (1988)
Starring Warwick Davis (Willow), Val Kilmer (Madmartigan), Jean Marsh (Queen Bavmorda), Joanne Whalley (Sorsha), Patricia Hayes (Fin Raziel), Billy Barty (High Aldwin)
The evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda tries to kill the baby Elora Danan because of a prophecy that the baby will one day destroy her. But a kindly midwife saves the baby, who is soon found by the farmer Willow. He volunteers to protect her and take her back to her own people. Along the way, he is helped by the washed-up sword-for-hire Madmartigan, two tiny Brownies, and the sorceress Fin Raziel. Willow finds courage and Madmartigan finds humanity as they help this tiny child defeat the evil queen.
Directed by Ron Howard, this movie creates a medieval-fantasy world of dwarfish Elwyns, tall Daikinis, and tiny Brownies who dislike and distrust each other but eventually have to work together to defeat the evil sorceress. The DVD extras include commentary by star Warwick Davis, the original making-of documentary, and a documentary on the special effect “morphing.”
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