Fantasy cinema has always been the ultimate playground for creativity. It lets the author stretch their imagination to its limits, conjure up dragons & parallel worlds, & create intricate magic systems that utterly defy reality.
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| Image Credit: Disney |
That's why, when a fantasy film goes wrong, we all feel a bigger letdown than usual. It's not just a bad film - it's a missed opportunity that could've been something special. Over the years, some big name releases have shown that having a great idea at the start doesn't guarantee a great film at the end.
Eragon – The Dragon Rider
The film version of Christopher Paolini's novel had a ton of potential - it had a richly detailed world, a unique mythology, and that grand hero's journey that we all love in fantasy. However, the film's writers made a big mistake by trying to cram it all in, eliminating the elements that made the story tick and turning the characters into cardboard cutouts instead of flesh-and-blood people. The end result is a rushed story that just doesn't do the original universe justice, leaving everyone - whether they're fans of the book or not - feeling pretty disappointed.
Warcraft – The Beginning
Trying to turn one of the biggest video game universes into a film was always going to be a challenge, but supposedly & the people behind it had some big guns: iconic characters, epic conflicts, and a deep, rich lore to draw from. The problem is, they tried to pack way too much in & lost the thread in the process. The story's all over the place & not very easy to follow at all, especially if you're new to the game, while the old fans just felt like they were being given short-shrift
The Seventh Son
This film was inspired by a series of really dark fantasy novels, but unfortunately didn't live up to its promise. A weak script and some pretty underdeveloped characters made the whole thing fall flat, even with the talented cast that was supposed to be the film's saving grace. The end result was just another run of the mill film, trudging along all familiar paths without adding anything new or exciting to the mix.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
When you're given a chance to revisit the wildest, most surreal & visually-stunning world of Wonderland, you'd think you could just let your imagination run & create something truly special. Sadly, this film chose to play it safe & instead of going down the road less travelled, went for a boring, predictable plot & focused way too much on the special effects side of things. & meanwhile, the one thing that really made the originals special - its wilfully absurd sense of imagination - was thrown out in favour of a story that just didn't surprise us.
Mortal Engines
The film starts off on a high note with London on the move - a massive, chomping monster of a city chasing & devouring this little mining town. It's a great hook for a revolutionary sci-fi epic. Based on Philip Reeve's novel, the film introduces the concept of Municipal Darwinism - a whole world where cities on wheels are the predators & the prey, all fighting each other in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The idea was bold & unlike every other fantasy film out there, no zombies or apocalyptic wastes to be seen. However, just as soon as it gets going, it hits a wall & the story falls flat. Hester Shaw & Tom Natsworthy get swept up in a generic Young Adult style plot that's been done to death before.
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