Most viewers know to take the world-building withinfantasymovies with a grain of salt, as the magical systems and cultural hierarchies aren’t always easy to follow. However,a good speculative fiction film will ease audiences in and help them understand the charactersand the universe they inhabit. Despite this, there are plenty of examples of when a movie slips up and incorporates a scene that doesn’t align with the logic of the world or makes a character act unlike themselves. These missteps often occur when a film needs to move the plot forward, whether it makes sense or not.
Confusion is hardly unique to the fantasy genre, as there aresuperhero movie scenes that make no sense, and plenty of sci-fi films are confusing from beginning to end. However, viewers are already looking for holes in the plot and character development, so the pressure is doubly on. Whilethese moments don’t typically make or break a story,they do take the audience out of the world for a second, which is the opposite of what a fantasy narrative wants to do. When the plot moves forward seamlessly, it’s the mark of a flawless addition to the genre.
Stardust
Cast
Stardust is a fantasy-based romantic adventure-comedy by director Matthew Vaughn and based on the original novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. In the film, Tristan, a young man who lives in an English town near a magical border wall, decides to catch a fallen star to win the affection of a woman named Yvaine. However, Tristan soon learns what - or who - the star is, and a grand adventure back to England begins.
Tristan and Yvaine’s love story is one for the ages, and though a good romance is full of miscommunications, the final complication for them is a little confusing. Played by Charlie Cox and Claire Danes, Tristan and Yvaine have an amazing chemistry, which makes it all the more exciting when they finally get together in the final act ofStardust. However,Yvaine is devastated to find herself alone when she wakes upand learns that Tristan’s gone back to the other side of the wall to see Victoria.
Leaving her a note or even waking her up to let her know he was going makes a lot more sense and is more in line with Tristan’s character.
However, this isn’t exactly the truth, asTristan has merely gone to make good on his promiseand say farewell to Victoria. Leaving this rather complicated message in the hands of an innkeeper who clearly doesn’t care is too naive a move for Tristan at this point. Leaving her a note or even waking her up to let her know he was going makes a lot more sense and is more in line with Tristan’s character. It’s because of this action that Yvaine gets kidnapped in time for the film’s climax.
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Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, set in 19th century England, follows Count Dracula as he journeys to London. There, he encounters Mina Harker, who bears a striking resemblance to his long-lost love.
Bram Stoker’s Draculais afantasy movie that’s actually pretty darkand is very memorable for its polarizing style. Though it’s universally agreed upon thatFrancis Ford Coppola’s seminal vampire story is gorgeous to behold,Coppola wasn’t afraid to experiment with emotional realism and fantastical elements rather than a script that’s easy to follow. One of the most egregious examples of this is through how the men overlook Mina’s importance and think she’ll be safe alone in an asylum.
Winona Ryder’s turn as Mina is as tragically romantic as possible,and she has already made it clear in the story that she feels drawn to Dracula and likely won’t be able to resist him. It’s also a known fact that she’s the only person he wants, and putting bars on a window isn’t going to keep him out. As soon as Mina is left on her own, it’s difficult not to stifle a groan, as it’s incredibly obvious this was just a way to get her and Dracula in the same room.
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released in 2009, continues the saga of Harry Potter as he faces growing threats from Lord Voldemort. While navigating the complexities of teenage romance, Harry and Dumbledore seek crucial information to thwart Voldemort’s plans, leading to pivotal encounters that alter the dynamics of Hogwarts.
A moment from the originalHarry Pottermovies that had audiences up in arms was when a scene that was not in the books was added toHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Though Death Eater activity is ramping up in the sixth installment, and Harry is harboring anger toward Bellatrix for murdering Sirius the year before,their burning down the Burrow doesn’t elevate or change this.During Christmas, which is usually a welcome break in the action during theHarry Potteryear, the Death Eaters strike the Burrow.
Destroying the Weasleys' home doesn’t add motivation, as the characters are already certain of their mission to defeat Voldemort.
Not only isthis not part of the book’s canon,but it also just adds another unnecessary moment of grief to a year that’s been bleak to begin with. Destroying the Weasleys' home doesn’t add motivation, as the characters are already certain of their mission to defeat Voldemort.HBO’s upcomingHarry PotterTV showshould remember the moments like this that were so polarizing to audiences and not vital to the plot. Additionally, this moment isn’t a plot point that the movies come back to.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
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Jumanji
Jumanji is an action-adventure comedy film by director Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams. Two orphan siblings move into a home occupied by the former Parrish family, whose son disappeared years ago. When the two start playing a mysterious board game known as “Jumanji,” they unknowingly release the missing Alan Parrish later, along with various other jungle-themed dangers that can only be stopped if they finish the game.
There’s little question thatRobbin Williams' performance is a large part of whyJumanjihas become such an enduring children’s fantasy franchise.Though the recent reboots try to grapple with some of the holes in the universe’s logic, there’s no going back to fix the original. Williams' character, Alan, has a pretty tragic arc at the beginning of the film, as he’s trapped inside the game for decades and has his entire life stolen from him.
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This is a dark element ofJumanji, but it’s also resolved too easily by the movie in the final hour. When Alan and the others beat the game, it resets and Alan gets his life back. However, in this new timeline Alan seems to possess some residual knowledge from his first life, allowing him to prevent the deaths of Judy and Peter’s parents. Of course, this provides the happily-ever-after that children’s movies rely on, but how this is possible is never explained byJumanji.
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Labyrinth
Directed by Jim Henson and written by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, Labyrinth stars Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, a teenage girl whose accidental wish that her baby brother be taken by the Goblin King results in an epic quest to save the baby from the King through a vast labyrinth, accompanied by its inhabitants. David Bowie also stars as Jareth, the Goblin King, and many of the characters are played by puppets created by Henson.
For all the magic and mysticism of Jim Henson’sLabyrinth, the relationship between Jareth and Sarah has only become more uncomfortable with time.David Bowie plays the Goblin King Jareth, who has an unhealthy and borderline creepy obsession with the young Sarah,played by Jennifer Connelly. Though he traps her in the Labyrinth so she can get her baby brother back after she makes a rash wish, the movie includes a scene where Jareth attempts to seduce her.
The movie itself is a gorgeous and moving addition to the fantasy genre, elevated by Henson’s classic puppetry and understanding of the pitfalls of coming-of-age.
As time has passed, this dynamic doesn’t fly anymore, not that it really did in 1986, either. The movie itself is a gorgeous and moving addition to the fantasy genre, elevated by Henson’s classic puppetry and understanding of the pitfalls of coming-of-age. Unfortunately,the scene between Jareth and Sarah raises eyebrows and doesn’t further the plot,only confusing the viewer about his role as a villain in the story. Though this dynamic can be interpreted as Sarah’s first steps into her sexual awakening, this could’ve been handled more delicately.
Highlander
Connor MacLeod, born in 16th century Scotland, is one of a few immortals who can only be killed by beheading. Now, in 1985, the immortals who have survived their centuries-long secret war meet in New Yor for the “Gathering” to fight for the mysterious “Prize.” It’s up to MacLeod to make sure that the Prize does not fall into the hands of his enemy, Kurgan.
Brenda is the love interest inHighlander, and Roxanne Hart does a great job of rolling with the punches in the action-fantasy film.Christopher Lambert is Connor MacLeod, the titular Highlander, an immortal being from Scotlandlocked in an epic battle of good versus evil until the end of time. Of course, Brenda doesn’t know this when she first encounters clues that ancient beings might be in 1980s New York City, discovering a sword whose origins plague her.
She’s ultimately led to Connor because she has a deep knowledge of metallurgy and just so happens to be working for the NYPD when Connor clashes with one of his foes.Why a metallurgy expert would be lending her skills to the police as a forensic scientist is unclear,and how she was able to instantly recognize how unique the sword is with limited testing is also a bit too convenient. It’s fairly obvious that this underdeveloped plot point was meant to get Connor and Brenda together.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is a fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson. It follows the story of four siblings who discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. They join forces with Aslan, the majestic lion, to battle against the evil White Witch. The film features Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell in the leading roles.
In any children’s fantasy series, kids go through a lot more than they should and are put in dangerous situations. However, inThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this happens to an extreme degree. Already,the Pevensies are asked to save Narnia as soon as they get theredespite having recently evacuated a city wracked with bombings. However, by the end, when they unite with Aslan, they fight in an actual war against the White Witch and are given weapons to do so.
Lucy, the youngest Pevensie, is given a dagger among her gifts at eight years old.
Lucy, the youngest Pevensie, is given a dagger among her gifts at eight years old. While she’s been holding her own thus far,it asks a bit too much of the audience to make them believe that giving an elementary-aged child a dagger is the right thing to do.The author of the original series, C.S. Lewis, might have made this choice to increase the drama and give her a tangible gift, but the movie could’ve altered this and made it safer.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
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Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, directed by Chris Columbus, follows a teenager who learns he is the demigod son of Poseidon. Faced with the task of recovering Zeus' stolen lightning, Percy must harness his newfound abilities to avert a catastrophic war among the gods.
It’s universally agreed upon that the 2010 adaptation of Rick Riordan’sPercy Jacksonbooks doesn’t do justice to the original work. ThePercy JacksonTV show will return with season 2, and this version has been praised by fans and critics alike. However, the bar is quite low, asnot only did thePercy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thiefmovie alter the novel, but it also contradicted Greek mythologyfor no reason. If it wasn’t enough to age the actors up, the movie put Persephone in the Underworld.
While this might not sound too bad,the movie takes place during the summer solstice, the time of year when Persephone is above groundand making the world warm with her mother, Demeter. Percy and his friends only encounter Hades when they make it to the Underworld, and Persephone’s character is just played for laughs, undercutting the gravity of their journey. The Underworld scenes should be impactful and dangerous, and Persephone would never be there.
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The Princess Bride
Based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a comical fantasy adventure film that tells a swashbuckling tale of a hero and a princess, read to a young, sick boy in bed by his grandfather. The story itself follows farmhand Westley, who embarks on an epic journey to save his beloved princess from an evil prince as he meets strange but reliable companions along the way.
Based on the seminal novel by William Goldman,The Princess Brideis well known within the fantasy world as being a romantic and hilarious addition to the genre. Full of heart and humor, there are many tongue-in-cheek jokes inThe Princess Bride, as the plot plays with the tropes traditionally found in sweeping fantasy romances. This means that there are moments when the audience must suspend their disbelief and let the unrealistic elements of the story go by.
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Between the Pit of Despair and the Fireswamp, few creatures or terrifying settings could surprise the viewer, butwhen Westley makes his interpretation of the law his reality, it’s a little silly.Westley successfully interrupts Buttercup’s marriage to Humperdinck, but only at the last second when their vows are pretty much complete. However, since Buttercup never said “I do,” Westley claims it doesn’t count. While this might be wishful thinking, it’s still a nice ending to the classic movie.
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire follows Harry as he is unexpectedly entered into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, pitting him against other young wizards. Amid challenges involving dragons, water demons, and a mysterious labyrinth, Harry faces impending peril linked to the return of the dark wizard Voldemort.
The actor who portrayed Dumbledore in the first twoHarry Pottermovies, Richard Harris, tragically passed on before he could continue with the role. While his performance as the Headmaster of Hogwarts is of a gentle yet firm mystic being, his successor, Michael Gambon, needed to stand apart.Gambon was a touch more serious and authoritative,which suited the shifting tone of the movie as Harry got older and his responsibilities became more complex.
However, Gambon’s line reading of the moment when he questions Harry about putting his name in the goblet of fire differs so sharply from the book’s description that it’s difficult not to notice. He grabs Harry and yells at him, which is a kind of intensity and frustration that Dumbledore doesn’t show Harry for a few more years, if ever. While part of this is likely due to the direction of Mike Newell as well, it changes the wizard’s characterization in thefantasyfilm.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
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