80's Fantasy Movies

Nowadays finding a good fantasy movie is near impossible. The success of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy lends some hope that the world is ready for the magical worlds of fantasy once more, but as of now it remains a distant hope rather than an actual reality.

But there was a time when brave warriors and fearsome dragons captured the hearts of movie watchers all over the world. A time when buxom beauties and devious sorcerers ruled the cinemas. That time was the 80's.

Magical, lighthearted fantasies perfect for the entire family were certainly in no shortage, as films like Willow and The NeverEnding Story proved. And who can forget The Beastmaster, perhaps the most memorable fantasy movie ever made? At least it was the most replayed movie (thanks in large part to HBO and TBN) ever made…

Adults looking for serious romps were not disappointed either, for John Milius' adaptation of the barbarian anti-hero Conan the Barbarian was a rousing success. Lesser-known serious fantasy flicks aimed at adults are Excalibur and Flesh + Blood.

Ah, but even an adult fantasy buff wants to let their hair down from time to time and enjoy a guilty pleasure full of swordplay and (often unclad) beautiful people. The 80's provided plenty of B-movie cheesefests ranging from the higher end of the low-budget spectrum (The Sword and the Sorcerer) to the supreme in low budgets (Deathstalker II).

So put away your whetting stone, sheathe your broadsword and relive the times where barbarians and fantastical creatures reigned supreme.

Feature Films

The Beastmaster

The Beastmaster was a phenomenal fantasy flick that starred Marc Singer as Dar, a man gifted with the ability to speak with animals. He eventually teams up with a small group of brave companions that includes a beautiful slave girl named Kiri (Tanya Roberts) and sets out to defeat an evil high priest (performed deliciously by Rip Torn) that holds a town in fear.

While the plot is pretty common, the movie is anything but. The Beastmaster has a certain irresistible charm, one that made it a mainstay on cable stations such as HBO and TBN throughout the 80's.

Deathstalker II

The title of the film alone will cause many viewers to roll their eyes already, but this movie featured a cheese factor that blew through the roof and actually made for a perfect guilty pleasure. Unlike its low-budget prequel, Deathstalker II does not even bother attempting to present a serious film. It's a tongue-in-cheek movie through and through, propelled by the thoroughly amusing performance of John Terlesky, an actor that exhibited shades of B-movie hero Bruce Campbell's roguish charm in this film.

No, Deathstalker II isn't a good movie, but it's a definite good time for those who enjoy guilty pleasures chock full of swordplay, nudity and humor.

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