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Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:06 pm
by Karaptis
I was wondering if people thought of any movies that they feel captures this type of genre. To me something like Ralph Bakshi's Wizards comes to mind. I'm interesred in what many people here think?

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:27 pm
by Geoffrey
Ray Harryhausen's movies (especially Jason and the Argonauts and the Sinbad movies) would fit the bill, I think.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:00 pm
by Karaptis
They would for sure!

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:21 am
by mythfish
Anyone else see John Carter yet? Am I the only one who hated it?

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:24 am
by Karaptis
I'll let you know tonight. I am skeptical of Disney but it couldnt be any worse that that monstrocity starring Traci Lords (could it? :shock: ).

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:37 pm
by Klyngster
The first two Conan movies starring Arnold, and Kull the Conqueror starring Tia Carrere (currently on Celebrity Apprentice).

While I'm not entirely certain if this would qualify as 'Appendix N', I can't help but mention that there were some gritty moments in 'The Dark Crystal' that blew my young mind when it first came out.

'The Beastmaster' and 'The 13th Warrior' also qualify, I think.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:25 pm
by reverenddak
I thought the Solomon Kane movie was pretty good. I also enjoyed Valhalla Rising, it had some moments that reminded me of S&S. Those are all recent movies.

The classics like Krull, Sword & the Sorcerer and Hawk The Slayer are awesome, cheesy and low-budget at times, but they're charming and true to the spirit. Ray Harryhausen movies are also fantastic.

I don't know why it is, but fantasy movies seem tough to make. There are rare exceptions, like Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and it's officially Appendix N.

John Carter let me down pretty bad, I don't even want to talk about it. It's not as bad as the 2010 Conan, but it ain't good.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:27 pm
by Ravenheart87
reverenddak wrote:I also enjoyed Valhalla Rising, it had some moments that reminded me of S&S.
This is a movie that people either love or hate. I loved it's grim atmosphere, the visuals and the strange relationship between One-Eye and the kid. The latter pair would make interesting sword & sorcery heroes.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:40 pm
by reverenddak
Ravenheart87 wrote:
reverenddak wrote:I also enjoyed Valhalla Rising, it had some moments that reminded me of S&S.
This is a movie that people either love or hate. I loved it's grim atmosphere, the visuals and the strange relationship between One-Eye and the kid. The latter pair would make interesting sword & sorcery heroes.
It's full of the "unexplained", a mysterious land and threat, and focused on one man's journey, which is very S&S.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:00 am
by onearmspence
reverenddak wrote:John Carter let me down pretty bad, I don't even want to talk about it. It's not as bad as the 2010 Conan, but it ain't good.
Yep… disappointing.




I don’t know if it applies as a S&S/Appendix N movie but I like the 2007 Beowulf
It has some awesome epic lines.

"I am ripper, slasher, tearer, gouger! I am the teeth in the darkness, the talons in the night! Mine is strength and lust and power! I AM BEOWULF!"

That's a MDA roll!

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:05 pm
by goodmangames
Krull! I just re-watched that a couple months ago. Hokey but fun.

I watched Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon again last week. Not fantasy by any stretch but still got me thinking about D&D. Basically a tournament of fighters...

And you can't forget Dragonslayer, the 80's classic!

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:45 pm
by Aplus
Fire and Ice (1983 iirc)
Black Death (recent, and very good)
Zardoz
Alien
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (not appendix N but a good representation on what a lot of my D&D games end up looking like)

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:32 am
by JediOre
I would add The Dark Crystal.

My Appendix N leanings is to Lord Dunsany and Jim Henson's fantasy evokes the same feel to me.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:04 am
by RevTurkey
Does 'Jabberwocky' count? Havn't seen that one in years. Used to like it.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:36 am
by Karaptis
Jabberwocky totally qualifies. If everyone can quote Monte Python at the gaming table, then Jabberwocky has to qualify!

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:48 pm
by GnomeBoy
I keep wanting to type Raiders of the Lost Ark, but then I think you'll just think I'm crazy, and I'd be crazy to encourage you to think of me as I am...

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:54 pm
by ragboy
GnomeBoy wrote:I keep wanting to type Raiders of the Lost Ark, but then I think you'll just think I'm crazy, and I'd be crazy to encourage you to think of me as I am...
It's pulp. Don't be afraid to type it. Born of the same mad place as Conan and Princess of Mars and all of it.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:55 am
by JediOre
GnomeBoy wrote:I keep wanting to type Raiders of the Lost Ark, but then I think you'll just think I'm crazy, and I'd be crazy to encourage you to think of me as I am...
I think this totally qualifies. To be honest, I also think the 1990's Mummy movie fits in there too. Both have "modern" adventurers getting in over their heads with the unknown. That is the type of story Lovecraft often pulled from as well.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:42 am
by reverenddak
The Pirates of the Caribbean series, and pirate adventures in general, are also very pulp fares.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:20 am
by blindelf
I think it's fascinating that there are so relatively few "proper" swords & sorcery films and we have to quickly venture out into movies with the correct feel but different settings.

Anybody seen the low-budget 1970 horror film Equinox?

Kids find a Necronomicon-esque tome and wander into the woods searching for a vanishing castle.
Demons from another dimension attack. Fritz Leiber plays the lost scientist they're trying to find.

I saw that movie as a kid on TV and literally told people about it futilely for 30 years
until Criterion released it on DVD awhile back.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:35 am
by Karaptis
Nice call on Equinox! Has anyone seen the Corman films Deathstalker and Barbarian Queen? Not to mention Warrior and the Sorceress with the late David Carradine.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:00 pm
by finarvyn
onearmspence wrote:
reverenddak wrote:John Carter let me down pretty bad, I don't even want to talk about it. It's not as bad as the 2010 Conan, but it ain't good.
Yep… disappointing.
Sorry you guys didn't like it. I've seen it twice and am planning on taking the family to it this weekend. I've been a huge ERB and John Carter fan since the 1970's, right about the time I first discovered OD&D, and I've been waiting 35 years for this movie. I enjoyed it a lot!

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:14 pm
by shadewest
Hammer Horror! Peter Cushing's Van Helsing is practically the prototype for the adventuring cleric.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:28 pm
by blindelf
>Peter Cushing's Van Helsing is practically the prototype for the adventuring cleric.

I like that. Hammer stuff is so atmospheric and perfect.

Re: Appendix N type movies.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:40 pm
by Wandering-Nephilim
It is comedic, juvenile, and reminds me of my high school D&D experiences but Your Highness has some elements. I'm watching it, the classic Conan flicks, Beastmaster, and a few other films mentioned to get myself in the mindset for DCC.