Need fantasy movie recommendations...

[transcendation]

I'm looking to run some adventures based on movies, just to mess with the heads of my players.

I haven't seen too many fantasy movies over the past few years, and was wondering if there are any that you recommend.

transcendation

P.S.: Game collection for sale.  Over 3,000 RPG items.  For updates, contact me at transcendation@yahoo.com

[Nifelhein]

I don't know, never thought about using games as source for an adventure, except for the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, the moonlight and curse thing could do a great swashbuckling game, other than that i think books might be a much better source than movies, first the chance they have been read is lower than blockbuster movies, second you can get a good short stories book and use it as inspiration, 50 pages or so tales are excellent for plot ideas, fast enough to read through and easy enough to deploy in games.

Do not get attached to how the events unfold in either the movie or books though, get the idea and use it, leaving up to the players how it will play out.

[lilithraevyn]

Oh no! I can't believe you didn't get some more responses to this one. This is as much fun to answer as "RPG Music" questions!

Let's see what I've got just in my collection;

The 13th Warrior
The Brothers Grimm
Labyrinth
Legend
Dragonslayer
Conan (the Destroyer & the Barbarian)
Cutthroat Island
Crouching TIger, Hidden Dragon
The Last Unicorn
The Mummy
The Scorpion King

That's kind of a brief list (moreso than I expected)... but never underestimate the possibilities of turning more 'modern' movie plots into adventures.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - an undead killing adventure is still an undead killing adventure, even if it does star Luke Perry.

AI - Reimagined fairy tale motifs. In this case, the journey of Pinocchio to finding what it means to be 'real'. Could be turned into quite a psychologically heady adventure involving illusionists.

The Goonies - Even without the pirate treasure, it's a story about a rag tag band of 'adventurers' who are out to save something they love, while running afoul of various other complications.

The Island of Dr. Moreau - Crazy scientist (mage), screwing around with nature...

Willard - Admittedly, I own it but havent seen it. What happens when the little guy gets powers to vent his frustration over the years?

What Dreams May Come - Reaching a bit, maybe, but a good old journey into the land of the dead to find a lost loved one...

Dark City - Another possibility for a more psychologically heavy adventure. Alien (abberations) that can take over the bodies of the dead, control minds... Hmm. Sounds a lot like Illithids to me...

Frailty - I don't know if I should explain this one for fear of spoiling the movie for those who may not have seen it.

Hellraiser - Seriously. Puzzle box that promises power, immortality, but really gives only living hell?

In the Mouth of Madness - Adventurers investigate a missing individual (eccentric mage?) only to find out he was a cultist set on summoning his eldritch gods into the world, and suddenly are stuck and forced to face him... (you should probably give the adventurers a somewhat more positive possibility of outcome than poor Sam Neil's character had.)

Kill Bill - a former assassin is now the target of their old company. You can change this to almost anything. Maybe a character multiclassed and lost monk status.  I'm not suggesting using a lot, but the premise here.

...I think I'll stop there, though I could definitely keep going.

Never underestimate Anime or television series as source material either.

It may also be that I can make an adventure out of anything. The trick is to see everything as a story. Every story has a heart, a thread of its most basic composition. Man versus Nature, that kind of thing. Then you build on the details.

Short stories are also sometimes a good source.

"I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream."  A bit disturbing (and a bit more than PG rated).

In most of the above cases, it makes it easier to look at the plot possibilities if you ignore the romantic aspects.

[PhadeOut]

Speaking of Anime,

If you can find a copy of Ruin Explorers, it's very D&Dish.  The movie is actually based off an RPG Comic that appears in a Japanese Magazine.  It's also one of the best English converted Anime's I've watched.  One of the only I'd rather watch in English than Japanese with Subtitles.

[Neo]

I have to say personally I think the Eragon film would prot to Midnight real easily (and interestingly).

[InTheDark]

I'm looking to run some adventures based on movies, just to mess with the heads of my players.

I haven't seen too many fantasy movies over the past few years, and was wondering if there are any that you recommend.

transcendation

P.S.: Game collection for sale.  Over 3,000 RPG items.  For updates, contact me at transcendation@yahoo.com

I would recommend The Brother's Grimm.  I really enjoyed it.  Also if you haven't seen Avatar in 3d, you missed out.  Maybe there is some theater still playing it.  I loved it.  Although you might be able to catch it on TV in 3d.  I know most TVs are now 3d ready when sold.

[Doomed Hero]

Running Scared is a modern action movie with some *very* creepy fairy tale themes. It's fantastic, though not really a fantasy movie.

Also, damn... that's some *serious* thread necromancy there. I haven't seen a League Sig Banner in a long time.

[Caesar]

wow, the 13th warrior would translate really well for midnight... viking warriors (dorns), protecting the 13th warrior (a sarcosan?)... and dont bother with avatar, 3d or not... horrible movie.

[Kraken_rpgworld]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO8Vrcah-Y
Very creepy and grim moment from russian movie

[JustinInOz]

If you can get your hands on it:
Sauna ( Sauna - Wash Your Sins ) ( Filth )
It is a Finnish Horror flick set in the 1500s after a long war between Sweden and Russia.

Great characters and very atmospheric. In English, the title is given as Sauna. In Finnish it is called Flith. There is a monologue by the Russian Officer that makes sense if the film is called Filth.

I really liked it and I do not normally like horror.

[Messygamer]

Midnight chronicles?

[urwendor]

Lady Hawk and Flesh&Blood   are two "semi-historical"-stores with Rutger hauer you can see:

The Princess Bride   is a good "humoristic" movie.

Princess Mononoke   is a good fantasy anime

The flight of dragons   is an old animated movie but have a good story

Season of the witch  a good "dark" movie

Solomon Kane  A "dark" hero

Night Watch   A russian modern fantasy

Willow  (the movie is better than the book)

Ring of the Nibelungs  Good story but weak lead actor (I like the Icelandic Queen)

Musa - Princess of the desert  I can easily put an RPG-adventurer party as the protectors of the princess

Hope you'll enjoy these movies

[Messygamer]

Princess Mononoke   is a good fantasy anime

Princess Mononoke is a GREAT fantasy anime. I'm not a fan of anime at all, but still I believe anyone who likes fantasy should watch it. It's story is great and it's very different from most fantasy stuff out there. It's from the same creator of Howl's Moving Castle (which I haven't watched) and Spirited Away (another GREAT anime). I deeply recommend it.

[Jason_Foster]

I'm not sure how well it could translate to fantasy but maybe Fallout could work.

That is, if you're a fan of sci-fi converted to fantasy.

[Talen]

Brotherhood of the wolf would make a neat mystery