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Thefantasy genrehas come a long way in recent age , but the classical moving picture of the 1980s bring an alone horse sense of magic and admiration . Of naturally , these film ca n’t contend with New Hollywood in the way of particular effects . On - screen door battle scenes did n’t look as naturalistic as they do in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Rings , and animatronic flying dragon of the 1980s are nowhere near as convincing asGame of Thrones . Still , these campy and cheap 1980s fantasy movies have a certain flavor that modern technology could never double .
Of course , nostalgia has a lot to do with why these fantasy movies of yore are still so appealing . Kids of the ' LXXX and ' 90sdidn’t care that take likeThe NeverEnding StoryorThe Labyrinthused puppets to land magical beasts to biography or thatThe Secret of NIMHdepended on cellphone spiritedness . Now that they are all grown up and have farm habitual to whatCGI and massive budgetscan do , the flaws of these older film are a bit more obvious . Still , when sitting down to watch 1980s fantasy classics , these jaded adult are quickly ship back to a simpler fourth dimension .
10Excalibur
Release Year: 1981
Thelegend of King Arthuris one of the oldest and most familiar illusion stories , and this tale has made it onto the screen in scores of variations . 1981’sExcaliburmight not be the most technically advanced Arthurian film Hollywood has ever produce , but it is extremely memorable all the same . It ’s a classic , full of action - packed sword fights and electrifying thaumaturgy . Sure , the visuals inExcaliburare a bit overly dramatic and sleazy , butthis all give to the overall sense of wonderthat audiences just ca n’t help but experience .
Excaliburset the tone for the fantasy writing style in the 1980s , combine that blue grittiness with a balmy romanticism at all the right moments . The film ’s familiar cast is also an asset , with nostalgic performances from Nigel Terry , Helen Mirren , Patrick Stewart , Liam Neeson , Ciarán Hinds , and many more . There may be right versions of this account out there , butExcaliburcaptures a certain magic that modern adaptations could n’t dream of .
9Clash of the Titans
The 1981 phantasy epicClash of the Titansis the very definition of one-time - school . The storey is as classic as it get , ground on the Hellenic myth of Perseus , and is overeat with all the thrills this musical genre could possibly summon . It has gods , Ubermensch , underdog heroes , Titan , monsters , steel fight , medusoid , romance , and a whole lot of bivouac . Clash of the Titansalso features an exceptional mould , with names like Harry Hamlin , Maggie Smith , Laurence Olivier , and more , urinate this a film to call up .
Maggie Smith has made a big impact in film , appearing in some of the best movies over the ten , including Gosford Park and Harry Potter .
As Hollywood has evolve , attempts have been made to bringClash of the Titansinto the modern era of picture - devising . The 2010 remake featured CGI leagues beyond what the 1981 movie could have ever fathomed . However , without that silly , camp thrill , this upgraded version just fell flavorless . In the end , Perseus ' report just was n’t the same without the quirky movie magic of the 1980s .
8The Last Unicorn
Release Year: 1982
The Last Unicornarrived early in the 1980s , joining the fantasy film that would help establish this genre within the decade . However , it was a commercial bankruptcy when it was ab initio free in the United States . Regardless , as another Rankin / Bass Productions chef-d’oeuvre , this movie finally base its consultation . Though attract to young looker , The Last Unicornis surprisingly dark , withheartbreakingly mature themes conceal beneath the whimsey .
Though archaic by today ’s standards , the vogue of Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass could be described as wizard , regardless of the news report the vivification depicts .
PerhapsThe Last Unicorn’sgreatest plus is its breathless living . Though archaic by today ’s standard , the vogue of Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass could be account as magical , regardless of the story the invigoration depict . Add in the dear story by Peter S. Beagle , and it is absolutely no stretch to callThe Last Unicorna masterpiece . It ’s the sort of a project that forward-looking fantasy employment from Disney just ca n’t keep up with .
7The Dark Crystal
The Dark Crystalwas many 80s and 90s child ' first dark fantasy picture . The film is technically for families , but its themes and general aesthetic werefar granulose and more thrilling than many had expected . Of course , this is part of whyThe Dark Crystalis so striking . The story is fairly standard for a fantasy , but this contributes to the charm as well and makes the film a staring debut to the musical style .
Once again , The Dark Crystalleaves no doubt that it was made in the 1980s . Today ’s special effect are more convincing , butJim Henson ’s animatronics were rotatory for the timeand are still a work of graphics today . Whilemodern machine ofThe Dark Crystalhave been attempted , it just could n’t hold up in the same mode .
6The Secret Of NIMH
Don Bluth was a key figure in the world of animation in the 1980s , andThe Secret of NIMHplayed a significant persona in establishing this truth . The animator had a recognizable style that was dark and granular while remaining adorable , light , and whimsical . This made Bluth the utter pick to adjust Robert C. O’Brien ’s novelMrs . Frisby and the Rats of NIMH . In many ways , it ’s a classic story about the secret life of mice and strikebreaker ( something Bluth is do it for ) . However , the magical qualities ofThe Secret of NIMHtake this further .
Don Bluth was behind animated movies likeThe Land Before Time , All Dogs Go to Heaven , Anastasia , Thumbelina , and much more .
The rats of NIMH have been scientifically altered , but the events of this story are far more wizardly than methodical . The Secret Of NIMH ’s most powerful here and now is when Mrs. Brisby activates the amulet from Nicodemus to save her family from sinking into the clay . Thebreathtaking vivification and deep aroused storytelling , balanced out with round-eyed comedy , allowedThe Secret of NIMH , like most of Bluth ’s plastic film , to remain a hit with sept .
5The NeverEnding Story
Release Year: 1984
There ’s not much more charming than a storybook come to life . It ’s precisely this reason that the1979 novelThe Neverending Storybecame so popular and the tale was adapted into a film so quickly . Like many illusion movie of the prison term , The NeverEnding Storydepends heavily on marionette and extravagant costumes . The Luck Dragonand the wolf G’mork might not have looked real by any standard , but it ca n’t be reason that they looked magical and thrilling .
Even after all these years , The NeverEnding Story ’s soundtrack is easily among the most placeable of the music genre .
It would be a criminal offence to discussThe NeverEndingStory’smagic without cite Klaus Doldinger ’s musical score . Everything about the euphony in this film screamed the 1980s , and the combining of techno - pop and traditional orchestral score was a smooth conniption for the film ’s general artistic . Even after all these old age , The NeverEnding Story ’s soundtrack is easily among the most recognizable of the writing style .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
4The Labyrinth
Release Year: 1986
While illusion picture likeClash of the Titansare good , in part because of how ridiculously campy the particular effects are , movies likeThe Labyrinthcontinue to hold up decade after tenner . This is no surprisal since Jim Henson ’s control of puppets has already been shew timeless . When apply to a dark yet impulsive fancy likeThe Labyrinth , it ’s insufferable not to feel the magic come right through the screen . The monsters and animal are unsettling yet charming , produce each of them easy to love .
Of naturally , Henson ’s creature aren’tThe Labyrinth ’s only assets . Trevor Jones ’s euphony play a significant function in this picture staying relevant for so long . " Magic Dance " is an especially memorable song , andDavid Bowie ’s exceptionally magical performance deserves mention . Jennifer Connelly as Sarah add to the whimsy ofThe Labyrinthas well since it was through this role that audiences were spirit up away to know this kingdom of hobgoblin and tricks .
3Highlander
Highlanderwasn’t a smash remove when it was first release in 1986 , but it supervise to become a craze classic regardless . The idea of an immortal human being from 16th C Scotland living in 1980s New York City is something that really gained adhesive friction with younger consultation , particularly with all the exciting sword fight thrown in . The write up take a hop back and forth between these different full point in prison term , and this contributes to that magical quality . Then , with a sprinkling of love story and a whole quite a little of action , Highlandereasily tick off the box for an epic fantasy adventure .
The cast ofHighlanderis another agent that ca n’t be ignored . Christopher Lambert , as Connor MacLeod , is the perfect fatigued hero , while Sean Connery swear out as his wise teacher , Juan Sánchez - Villalobos Ramírez . Clancy Brown is also difficult to forget as the villainous Kurgan . Highlanderis the next definitive movie in line to get a modern remake , with Henry Cavill set to star in a movie due sometime in 2025 . Of course , to be successful , this film will have to capture that 1980s magic spell .
2The Princess Bride
Release Year: 1987
The 1980s provided a encompassing variety of fantasy movie selection , but there was nothing quite likeThe Princess Bride . This illusion dangerous undertaking contained all the foundational elements of the genre but with clever , comedic whirl around every turning . Buttercup and Westley ’s narration was entirely unserious — essentially satire — but without read by from the actual action , fervor , and romance of it all . Decades later on , The Princess Brideis even more engrained in popular finish than it was when it first took the humans by storm .
Buttercup and Westley ’s story was exclusively unserious — essentially satire — but without require off from the literal action , excitement , and Latinian language of it all .
Some ofthe standout features ofThe Princess Brideare the writing and cast . Cary Elwes , Robin Wright , Mandy Patinkin , Billy Crystal , Wallace Shawn , Andre the Giant , and much much more convey a combination of dramatic event and hilarity to the screen , pull off dialogue that would never have shoot down without their exceptional timing . What ’s more , The Princess Bridecould have get away with poor sets and half - bake special core , but what made it to the screen is still visually striking today .
1Willow
Release Year: 1988
George Lucas and Ron Howard’sWillowis another picture that screams 1980s fancy . The overall structure and plot of ground is a story as honest-to-goodness as sentence , with the villain tirelessly try out a minor of prophecy . However , Willowplayed around with the unconventional Italian sandwich figure , team up two characters who , for dissimilar reasons , would n’t be anticipate to save the 24-hour interval . Willowis heartwarming , inspiring , funny , charming , and everything else a house plastic film should be . However , it still has the unmistakable dark fantasy tone .
The Disney+ sequel serial Willow has done something that other modern fancy television series are afraid to do : completely espouse the music genre ’s trick .
Willow ’s cast contributed significantly to the thaumaturgy as well . Warwick Davis is a greatly beloved doer for this specific role , but he run on to shape the fancy musical style in further way as well . This make seeing the new variation of Davis inWillowall the more nostalgic . Then , of course , there are Val Kilmer , Joanne Whalley , Jean Marsh , and more . These actors were responsible for bring this story to life , and thefantasyworld ofWillowhas remain a magical home for audiences for decades .
