# Sugggest me some fantasy and sci-fi movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952 "2011-02-02T23:32:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/21 "2011-02-03T03:20:43Z")
> [@Lars\_Aruns](#): > > I don’t care if the actors are not top celebrities, or if the effects are a bit cheesy, as long as the movies are fun and enjoyable to watch. > > So hit me with your favourite titles, please! **Battle beyond the stars.** Not very well known self-aware star wars rip off with some humor and pretty good scenery for the budget and the time with George Peppard as “Space Cowboy” - yes, really. It’s fun! You may also like: Gremlins, Critters and Tremors, for cheesy sci-fi/action 80s stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/22 "2011-02-03T03:27:26Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > Big Trouble in Little China – Totally awesome One of the greatest movies of our time, nay, all time, as measured in pure unadulterated zaniness. THE greatest movie is, of course, _Demolition Man_. Which has a certain SF element to it (defrosted Sylvester Stallone in an incredibly ridiculous future) but no rocket ships going boom. Um, yeah, and I just re-read the OP and you’ve seen Ladyhawke. D- on reading comprehension for me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/23 "2011-02-03T03:28:44Z")
Just don’t watch “Reign of Fire.” That movie actually made me stupider. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/24 "2011-02-03T03:30:45Z")
Oh, and **Zardoz**. It’s got loads of boobs and Connery in the most ridiculous outfit ever. Not sure if the ending is a happy one, though - it’s sort of hard to tell. ETA: Demolition man definitely counts. As does Judge Dread. Oh, and **Planet Terror** ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/25 "2011-02-03T03:31:33Z")
If you can find it, try_Six-String Samurai_ ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/26 "2011-02-03T03:37:53Z")
In the fantasy genre, you can’t go past _The 13th Warrior_, It’s a bit dark and gritty, and the ending is… satisfying more than happy. But great Sword (and not so much sorcery) fantasy. If you haven’t come across the new _Sparticus_ TV series yet, it’s also some pretty good Sword and Sandal action. Again though, not so good on the happy ending front. Or Kull the Conquerer, a very cheesy Sword and Sorcery flick starring Kevin Sorbo (of TV series Hercules fame). ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/27 "2011-02-03T04:06:59Z")
> [@brocks](#): > > Serenity. Best sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen. Note the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/28 "2011-02-03T04:16:24Z")
Another vote for _Krull_—good, big-damn-fantasy movie. It apparently was actually supposed to be the first Dungeons & Dragons movie, but they lost the license before release. Nice cast, [great music.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W4MgawwFEs) On that note, do **not** watch the official _Dungeons and Dragons_ movie. I mean, you _can_, but you’ll probably regret it. I also agree with _The 13th Warrior_—a criminally underexposed movie. Though as a matter of fact, I never really thought of it as a “fantasy” movie till now, more just a plain “adventure” movie, though I can see how it could qualify. But now that I think about it, I think when you get down to it, it might actually be closer to “historical science fiction”! As for sci-fi…I’d go with _Tron_, if you can find it. I’m actually puzzling a bit over more-than-decent sci-fi movies with unambiguously happy endings…_The Fifth Element_ works, I’d say. Of course, as Ray Bradbury put it, technically, _Singing in the Rain_ is a science fiction movie. _And_ a musical, too! ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/29 "2011-02-03T04:19:01Z")
I was going to recommend _The Last Starfighter_, but now I’ll recommend _Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins_. It’s more of a martial-arts/action movie than a fantasy, but it has feel-good fantasy elements to it as well. And an awesome soundtrack. [Listen to this!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8VeH3JykPo&playnext=1&list=PL53205F3D2A5833F9) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/30 "2011-02-03T05:18:56Z")
_Street Fighter_. Long live the Pax Bisonica! ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/31 "2011-02-03T06:59:29Z")
_Mom and Dad Save the World_ Epic adventure to happy ending… I hope I didn’t spoil it for you! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/32 "2011-02-03T12:04:41Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > _Mom and Dad Save the World_ > > Epic adventure to happy ending… I hope I didn’t spoil it for you! 😛 I _gotta_ watch something with a title like that. And thanks, everyone, for the suggestions! I added lots of interesting titles to my watching queue. Allow me to expand the target a bit then, to include animation, both for adults and kids (_Coraline_ was really quite good!), and both Western and Japanese. Series are also OK, provided they’re not too long - a friend lent me _Trigun_ and _Outlaw Star_, and I’m having great fun watching them! Especially _Outlaw Star_, I got to run a role playing campaign based on that some time. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/33 "2011-02-03T12:31:04Z")
_Iron Giant_ is inarguably one of the best animated films ever made. And I also love Disney’s _Tarzan_. _Meet the Robinsons_ is a fun romp, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/34 "2011-02-03T13:37:14Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Another vote for _Krull_—good, big-damn-fantasy movie. It apparently was actually supposed to be the first Dungeons & Dragons movie, but they lost the license before release. Nice cast, [great music.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W4MgawwFEs) And another. Watch out for Liam Neeson in a minor role. > [@](#): > > I also agree with _The 13th Warrior_—a criminally underexposed movie. Though as a matter of fact, I never really thought of it as a “fantasy” movie till now, more just a plain “adventure” movie, though I can see how it could qualify. But now that I think about it, I think when you get down to it, it might actually be closer to “historical science fiction”! Note that the film (and the book it’s based on, “Eaters of the Dead”) is basically an unsubtle adaptation of _Beowulf_ told from a third-party perspective. Hell, the Beowulf character is named “Buliwyf”, the monster is “Wendol” (Grendel), and so forth. That said, I enjoyed it. Worth a watch. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/35 "2011-02-03T16:15:45Z")
This isn’t fantasy, sci-fi, or animated, but when I’m feeling down, my favorite movie to watch is _The Best of Times_, with Kurt Russell and Robin Williams. I know a group of people who get together and watch it every New Year’s Eve. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/36 "2011-02-03T18:13:36Z")
_ **Outlander** _ is a sci-fi movie based on Beowulf. Jim “Jesus” Caviezel plays a soldier from another world who follows an alien monster to Norway in the Viking era. The cast is pretty good, including Caviezel, John Hurt, Ron Perlman, and Sophia Myles. The monster itself is pretty cool, too. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/37 "2011-02-03T18:23:36Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > Deathstalker – I can’t remember if it has a happy ending. I think so. It does. And it has Barbi Benton in it, and they were smart enough to not let her speak. And try Deathstalker 2. It is hilarious. And has a happy ending. One of the road signs points to Fredonia, the heroine is a princess who can tell the future who doesn’t understand why telling a king that he is being cuckolded doesn’t go over well, and in an early bar scene the words “hello, sailor” is used in context. Real Genius, mentioned above, is a great movie but not really science fiction or fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/38 "2011-02-03T19:49:32Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > On that note, do **not** watch the official _Dungeons and Dragons_ movie. I mean, you _can_, but you’ll probably regret it. I never saw it, but it led to my all-time favorite title for a review: a gaming site declared, “Dungeons and Dragons Movie Fails Saving Throw Against Sucking Ass.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/39 "2011-02-03T20:07:32Z")
_Highlander_ but NOT THE SEQUELS Second the recommends for Stardust and the Flash Gordon movie. Second the warning about _Dungeons and Dragons_ which goes right through “so bad it’s good” territory and comes out bad again. It’s not fantasy, but _Rob Roy_ has most of the trappings and an all-time great swordfight. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952/40 "2011-02-03T20:07:56Z")
There are better fantasy movies but [Eragon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449010/) is worth a look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugggest-me-some-fantasy-and-sci-fi-movies/569952.md?page=3)