https://www.stevedrice.net/ 2026-06-03T19:01:51+00:00 https://www.stevedrice.net/ https://www.stevedrice.net/_media/wiki/dokuwiki.svg text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/6 Review of 'Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring' 1st film in the 'Lord of the Rings' series The first of the three books to be adapted to film and released over the next few years. This movie closely follows the books and provides a vivid interpretation of Tolkien's universe. The acting is adequate and the effects superb. Definitely a must see (if a bit long). text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/7 Review of 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' 2nd film in the 'Lord of the Rings' series The second of the series and it is really hotting up! The effects in this one are even better (the battle scenes are incredible!). It still strays a bit from the books but keeps the action going throughout. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/19 Review of 'Gormenghast' A DVD transfer of the recent BBC mini-series. This is an adaptation of the Mervyn Peake fantasy stories from the mid-20th century. A very gothic look with fantastic effects, a number of memorable performances (Spike Jones as the headmaster is truly incredible!). With a cast of many famous british actors this is very well done. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/30 Review of 'What Dreams May Come' This is a sentimental journey of a man coming to cope with his death. Yes, his death. His wife ends up following him and much of the story is his travelling to purgatory to save her. The vibrant colours of this movie overwhelm the screen and leave a washed-out appearance to the image. The effects are quite impressive but not entirely convincing (the picture that immediately springs to mind is Robin Williams walking under the water of the lake text/html 2026-01-25T14:08:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/78 Review of 'El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)' Set in war-torn 1944 Spain Ofelia, a young girl, is delivered with her mother (heavily pregnant) to live in the middle of forest (and the war with the Spanish gorilla fighters) to live with her mother's new husband text/html 2025-06-01T13:53:41+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/79 Review of '300' With what promised to be a blood-fest I did not hold up much hope for 300 being as it is an adoption of Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name telling the story of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. I was pleasantly surprised. Ok, there was a lot of blood (and accompanying squishy noises) but it actually DID have a story and followed the story of the last stand of the 300 Spartans in quite better fashion than I expected. The images on the screen are very much tr… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/81 Review of 'Curse of the Golden Flower' In early China an Emperor returns home after several years on the battlefield just before the Chong Yang Festival. While he has been absent life has moved on and gotten more complicated for the members of his royal household: His empress and three sons. One of the sons is having an affair with the Empress while the Empress herself appears to be slowly dying despite the regular drugs administered by the royal physician. Is she being poisoned? What ar… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/82 Review of 'Terry Pratchetts Hogfather' This is the first of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel to be adapted as a live action mini series. Originally broadcast for Christmas by the UK's Sky One satellite television station the effects are not bad but a bit pale when compared to the equivalent typical big-screen movies. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/86 Review of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' 5th film in the 'Harry Potter' series The latest installment of the Harry Potter series is the darkest by quite some ways. The story begins with Harry put on trial for using magic in the presence of Muggles after being attacked by Dementors. The year does not go all that better at Hogwarts as he is tormented by visions that appear to be from Voldemort while the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe that the one-who-must-not-be-named has r… text/html 2023-05-14T10:53:21+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/93 Review of 'Stardust' Tristan is a young man living in an English village beside the mysterious wall. When the object of his affections wishes that he retrieve a star that falls on the other side of the wall in order to woo her Tristan sets out on his journey. What awaits him on the other side of the wall is a fantasy land where the fallen star is actually a women and where fate has landed them both in the middle of a race between brothers for the throne of the kingdom. Did I mention the w… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/96 Review of 'The Golden Compass' Perhaps it is not a good idea for me to review this film. You see, I actually like the original source material in the book (known in the UK by the name “Northern Lights”) by Philip Pullman. This movie has all of the things that happen in the book but none of the philosophy and depth that the book offers. I am not even sure whether that is simply because the movie has to compress so much into a much smaller time on the screen. I think that the director, per… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/120 Review of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' The second film from Disney in the CS Lewis Narnia series sees the Pevensie children returning to Narnia many hundreds of years after they previously left. They are now legends with their castle in ruins. Narnia is in crisis with the land ruled by the Telmarine, a race of humans, who actively wish to stamp out the magical creatures that once ruled the land. A young prince, Caspian, flees an uncle who has killed his father (the former ki… text/html 2023-07-23T18:12:48+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/122 Review of 'The Dark Knight' A new criminal is in town: The Joker played by the brilliant Heath Ledger (who brings a truly disturbing take on the villain played by Jack Nicholson in the original Batman movie). The Joker is out to steal from the mob and the District Attorney, Harvey Dent, is out to stop all of them (with a little help from Batman and Lt. James Gordon let us not forget text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/134 Review of 'Coraline' I was lucky enough to see this, the latest Neil Gaiman story-based movie, in stop-motion animation 3-D. Mind you, it was in a very hot tent at the Glastonbury music festival but, in many ways, this was the perfect venue for this wonderful flight of whimsy yet with an undercurrent of very serious issues. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/135 Review of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' 6th film in the 'Harry Potter' series I saw this the other day in IMAX with the first 15 minutes or so in 3-D. The 3-D does not really add a whole lot to the experience. The only bits of note are the movie titles, which look cool in 3-D, and the whip of the carriage driver text/html 2024-10-06T16:35:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/141 Review of 'Alice in Wonderland' This is the much-anticipated film from Tim Burton. Shame it is such a disappointment. I want to tell you that it was absolutely fantastic, that Johnny Depp jumped out of the screen as the Mad Hatter, that the film was a rollicking-good ride text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/150 Review of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' 7th film in the 'Harry Potter' series Here we are at the final installment of the Harry Potter series but have to wait for the second part to see how things all turn out (which should be a surprise to no one really). text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/151 Review of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' 8th film in the 'Harry Potter' series Well, this is it, the last of the Harry Potter films and hang on to your hats for some big moments...and some small, intimate, ones as well. Snape has taken over as headmaster of Hogwarts while Harry, Hermione and Ron continue to search then destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The tension between the three is largely left alone with it obvious very early on that Ron and Hermione were going to get tog… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/177 Review of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' 1st film in the 'The Hobbit' series After years of wrangling and waiting the first of the Hobbit trilogy is now with us. Peter Jackson once again brings his magic to the world of Tolkien to film the un-filmable. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/189 Review of 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' 2nd film in the 'The Hobbit' series Perhaps I was one of the few people to find “An Unexpected Journey” went by way to quickly and had a lot of “running around”. Boy, that was nothing compared to this one. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/212 Review of 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' 3rd film in the 'The Hobbit' series So, here we are, the final chapter in the massively-inflated Hobbit trilogy. For those of you that have not been paying attention, the story so far: Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a hobbit from the shire, has joined a group of Dwarves headed by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) who are seeking to reclaim their home (stacked with treasure) in text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/250 Review of 'Labyrinth' With the recent death of David Bowie I decided to have a look once again at this classic film. Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is a teenage girl left by her parents to take care of her infant brother, Toby. When Toby refuses to stop crying she makes a wish that the Goblin King (David Bowie) would come and take Toby away. Much to her surprise, Jareth, the Goblin King, does take Toby with Sarah having to navigate through a Labyrinth leading to the Goblin King's castle before… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/276 Review of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' 1st film in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a young wizard from England, arrives in 1920s New York carrying a suitcase full of magical creatures he has collected and now protects from around the world as he seeks to encourage other wizards that these creatures are not to be feared. In the US, there is a fragile peace between the magical and non-magical ( text/html 2024-10-06T16:35:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/296 Review of 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' Jake (Asa Butterfield) is a young man who has grown up with tales from his grandfather Abe (Terence Stamp) of a home for “peculiar children” on an island off the coast of Wales. These text/html 2026-05-31T12:03:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/304 Review of 'The Jungle Book' This live action remake of the 1967 Walt Disney animation classic “The Jungle Book” tells the story of Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a young boy raised by wolves in the jungle. When the menacing tiger Shere Kahn (voiced by Idris Elba) threatens Mowgli out of revenge for being attacked by humans Akela (voiced by Giancarlo Esposito), the wolf that raised Mowgli, and the rest of the wolf pack agree it would be best to send Mowgli to the man village to protect him from Kahn. … text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/305 Review of 'Beauty and the Beast' This live action remake of the 1991 animation “Beauty and the Beast” sees the young girl Belle (Emma Watson) living in a small provincial town in France dreaming of living in a larger world. She is being pursued by the narcissistic hunter/former war captain Gaston (Luke Evans) despite Belle expressing no interest in him whatsoever. When Belle's father comes across a seemingly abandoned castle in the middle of the forest he picks a rose and the owner is not … text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/321 Review of 'The Dark Tower' Jake (Tom Taylor) is a young man troubled by disturbing dreams of children being harnessed for their power to attack the “Dark Tower”, a tower that saves the universe from the darkness. After he runs away from home when his parents seek to send him to a psychiatric retreat Jake finds a house he saw in his visions that contains a portal to another planet. Stepping through into a dessert he wanders aimlessly until he comes across Roland (Idris Elba), a mystical text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/350 Review of 'The BFG' Based on the children's book by Roald Dahl “The BFG” tells the story of 10-year old orphan Sophia (Ruby Barnhill) suffering from insomnia who late one night discovers a giant roaming the dark streets of London. The dream-collecting giant takes Sophia to his home in text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/363 Review of 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' Toby (Adam Driver) is a jaded director attempting to film “Don Quixote” who, on one his frequent excursions into the Spanish countryside stumbles across the actor from his original college film who believes himself to be Don Quixote (Jonathan Pryce) - originally a man named Javier who Toby discovered repairing shoes. Believing Toby to be his loyal text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/368 Review of 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' 2nd film in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series Sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sees the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) escaping from prison to raise an army seeking to have wizards rule the world. After the events of the first film Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) faces a travel ban. The Ministry of Magic propose that Newt assist his auror brother Theseus (Callum Turner) in locating the Obscurial Credence Bare… text/html 2024-10-06T16:35:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/392 Review of 'Big Fish' As Ed Bloom (Albert Finney), a former travelling salesman, lies on his death bed his son Will (Billy Crudup) attempts to get to know the man he sees as very distant due to his nature of spinning elaborate tales from his life experiences. Bloom's stories include rescuing a giant from the people of the town when he was a young man (played by Ewan McGregor) then finding the creepy, too-perfect, town of text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/412 Review of 'Mortal Engines' An odd film produced (and written) by Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films telling an equally odd story based on the young adult books by Philip Reeve. 1,700 years in the future, humanity has risen from a planet devastated by the effects of the use of an apocalyptic text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/414 Review of 'Hook' An interesting take on the story of Peter Pan sees a grown-up Peter (Robin Williams) having forgotten his time in Neverland and now a high profile executive who has little time for his family. It is Christmas and the family take a trip to visit Wendy (Maggie Smith) in London to attend a ceremony at Great Ormand Street Children's hospital where she is being honoured for her work with children (including Peter who she taught to read). A much older Wendy is dismayed at what P… text/html 2025-10-26T15:04:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/415 Review of 'Willow' Using black magic the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) has enslaved the people. She is determined to kill a child who has been born with a particular birthmark which the prophecies fortell will bring about her downfall. Before she can get near the child it is taken away by the midwife who places the child on a small raft in the river. The raft is discovered by Willow (Warwick Davis), an Nelwyn who are a dwarf-like people. The Nelwyn task Willow with returning the child… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/427 Review of 'The Dark Crystal' The Dark Crystal takes place on the planet Thra. Many creatures and races inhabit the planet the vulture-like, cruel Skeksis are the guardians of the Crystal of Truth which that was cracked 1,000 years ago, gentle hunchbacked beings known as Mystics, the small child-like Podlings, and the all but extinct elf-like Gelfling. Having been brought up by the Mystics Jen (performed by Jim Henson) believes herself to be the last of the Gelflings. When Jen's Mystic guar… text/html 2024-12-22T15:27:17+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/445 Review of 'Big Trouble in Little China' Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is a fast talking trucker who finds himself in the middle of a battle between good and evil in San Francisco's Chinatown. When picking up Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) the girlfriend of Chinese friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) at the airport she is abducted by the text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/544 Review of 'R.I.P.D.' Policeman Nick (Ryan Reynolds) is killed after being betrayed by his partner Hayes (Kevin Bacon), finding himself recruited by the supernatural “Rest In Peace Department” (RIPD). With the help of the bitter veteran member of the force Roy (Jeff Bridges doing a firmly tongue-in-cheek impersonation of an old cowboy) Nick attempts to first come to terms with what has happened to him and bring Hayes to justice all the while hoping his former wife Julia (Stephanie Szostak) w… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/545 Review of 'The Christmas Chronicles' This is Christmas story focusing on sister Kate (Darby Camp) and older brother Teddy (Judah Lewis) who have lost their father, a huge fan of Christmas, in the previous year. Teddy has started down the path of rebelling, looking for kicks by stealing cars. Their mother Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is hard hit by the loss of her husband and busies herself with work as a nurse largely leaving the children to themselves. Kate concocts an idea that t… text/html 2026-01-25T14:08:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/546 Review of 'The Shape of Water' In a 1960s top secret laboratory cleaning lady Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is enchanted with an amphibious creature that is the object of study by it's sadistic discoverer, Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). The mute Elisa lives a lonely, unfulfilled, life with only her friendly older neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins) and her co-worker friend Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer) for company. Elisa slowly forms a relationship with the creature who is relentless… text/html 2025-12-31T12:02:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/548 Review of 'The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two' Following up the reasonably successful The Christmas Chronicles inevitably led to this sequel which is not as good as the original. Two years after the events of the first film see Kate Pierce (Darby Camp) and her brother Teddy (Judah Lewis) spending Christmas in Cancun with their mother Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and new boyfriend Bob (Tyrese Gibson) along with his son Jack (Jahzir Bruno). Kate is not happy spending Christmas away f… text/html 2024-12-16T19:36:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/586 Review of 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' I was a bit sceptical when I learned of this remake of the classic 1995 Jumanji starring Robin Williams. A new version staring the Rock (Dwayne Johnson), are you serious? I really enjoyed the original film but it is a much darker film than text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/612 Review of 'Time Bandits' A classic film from Monty Python alumni “Terry Gilliam” that just so happens to feature other Pythons including Michal Palin and John Cleese never mind cameos from various cinema and theatre greats including Ian Holm, Kenny Baker (famous for his role as R2-D2 in Star Wars), Shell Duvall, and Sean Connery. text/html 2024-12-16T19:36:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/627 Review of 'Jumanji: The Next Level' Initially sceptical at the original remake of Jumanji (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), staring, for goodness sake, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), I really ended up enjoying it's much more humorous approach to the story than the original starring Robin Williams which was far scarier and much more serious. Now that the sequel is out, we decided to give it a go and we were again not disappointed: text/html 2026-01-25T14:08:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/695 Review of 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' An amazing remake of a classic tale by the incredible director Guillermo del Toro. In Italy during the great war the village carpenter Geppetto loses his much loved and devoted son Carlos when a bomb lands in the church. Geppetto plants a pinecone beside his son's grave and spends many years mourning his loss. A cricket named Sebastian decides to make his home in the tree that grew from the pinecone. In a drunken rage Geppetto chops down the t… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/698 Review of 'Aladdin' Based on the stage show Aladdin this film stars Will Smith as the genie, stepping into the shoes of Robin Williams who voiced the role in the original film... Aladdin (Mena Massoud) is a petty young thief living on the streets of Agrabah who captures the heart of Jasmine (Naomi Scott), who is really the Princess of Agrabah in disguise as another child of the street. Aladdin discovers her secret and the fact that she can only wed a prince. When Aladdin is kidnapped by t… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/703 Review of 'Casper' “Casper” is the big-screen live action adaptation of the television cartoon which started in the 1960s but was earlier a comic book character. When the spoiled woman Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) is left only the run down house text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/705 Review of 'Dolittle' If you are used to seeing Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies brace yourself for a bit of a shock as he appears as the famous animal-talking doctor in this turkey of a film. Dr. Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) is able to speak to the animals though has retreated from the world after the death of his wife Lily (Kasia Smutniak). Called upon to save the life of the queen and a squirrel accidently shot by Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett), budding veterinary d… text/html 2026-01-25T14:38:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/706 Review of 'Troll' As a girl Nora Tidemann's (Ameli Olving Sælevik as a child, Ine Marie Wilmann as an adult) father, Tobias (Gard B. Eidsvold), teaches her the mythology of Trolls and the origin of their local mountains in Norway. Tobias believes the trolls are real, becoming a recluse as he becomes more and more obsessed with them. Nora grows up becoming a palaeontologist when she is called by the government to join a group of scientists investigating an eruption at a tunnel drilling site… text/html 2023-08-20T17:20:09+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/734 Review of 'Barbie' The much-anticipated “Barbie” film finally hits the big screen and it is, surprisingly, much more than you might expect. Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in the magical, fantastic “Barbieland” surrounded by other Barbie (doll) variations including some discontinued models who run the world as well as various versions of Ken (Ryan Gosling). When she has unusual thoughts about mortality the magic starts to leave her life so she is encouraged by text/html 2024-02-18T16:16:13+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/753 Review of 'Three Thousand Years of Longing' We meet the introverted Dr Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) who studies myth and fantasy. While in Istanbul for a conference she visits the souk and is drawn to purchase an unusual glass jar. While cleaning the jar in her hotel room she is surprised that when a Djinn ( text/html 2024-02-18T16:56:02+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/754 Review of 'The Witches' An orphaned young boy (Jahzir Bruno as a young boy, voiced by Chris Rock as an adult and also narrator) is sent to live with is grandmother (Octavia Spencer). Slowly, the sad boy is cheered up by his effervescent grandmother who buys him a mouse to keep him company. Encountering an unusual woman in a shop his grandmother is convinced the woman was a witch who will never leave until once they have found a child they want. Frantically, the two decide to stay in a hot… text/html 2024-02-18T17:35:42+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/755 Review of 'Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (L'Empire du Milieu)' The famous inhabitants of the last remaining Gaul outpost of resistance against the all conquering Roman empire, aided by a mysterious potion that gives them superhuman strength, are visited by Princess Fu Yi (Julie Chen), fleeing from prince Deng Tsin Qin (Bun Hay Mean). The empress of China (Linh-Dan Pham) has struggled to maintain control of China following the death of the emperor with the princes vying for power. Th… text/html 2024-07-07T12:53:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/775 Review of 'Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves' Imprisoned bard Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) describes his story as a Harpers, an order of peacekeepers, to a parole board. His wife Zia (Georgia Landers) was killed by a red wizard. Barbarian Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez) manages to pull Edgin out of his despair, helping to build a life for him and his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) by turning to theft accompanied by inept sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), con artist Forge Fitz… text/html 2025-08-02T16:22:25+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/823 Review of 'How to Train Your Dragon' A live-action remake of 2010's animated film of the same name, “How to Train Your Dragon” is largely a scene-for-scene retelling of the original. On the isolated island of Berk Viking villagers have lived for years in fear of dragons who regularly invade and steal their sheep. During one attack the awkward, clumsy teenager Hiccup (Mason Thames) tries to help but is sent home by his father, chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler - who voiced the same cha… text/html 2025-08-16T15:19:10+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/827 Review of 'Once Upon a Crime (Akazukin, tabi no tochû de shitai to dea)' I stumbled across this Japanese film (dubbed into English) on Netflix. It looked like it might be interesting... Little Red Riding Hood (Kanna Hashimoto) meets Cinderella (Yuko Araki) in the woods where they encounter two witches - Tekla (Mirei Kiritani) and Barbara (Midoriko Kimura). They express their desire to go to the ball so the witches dress them both in ballgowns and, of course, glass slippers. As they trave… text/html 2025-11-02T18:04:24+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/835 Review of 'A Minecraft Movie' This film follows four misfit characters who are unexpectedly transported into the Overworld—a vibrant, blocky dimension built on creativity—where they must master crafting, building, and teamwork to find their way home. Led by Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa) who operates a retro computer-game store, the group—each grappling with personal struggles—embarks on a perilous quest through this pixelated realm, guided by the quirky and resourceful St… text/html 2026-01-25T14:38:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/851 Review of 'Troll 2' Three years after the events of the first film Troll, Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann) lives in a remote cabin when she is visited by Andreas Isaksen (Kim S. Falck-Jorgensen), former Prime Minister office worker and author, who has something she should see. Nora is taken to an underground facility run by Marion Rhadani (Sara Khorami) where a massive hibernating troll, the Troll King, has been kept hidden for more than 100 years. Attempting to communicate with the creature Nora … text/html 2026-02-24T20:19:34+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/861 Review of 'IF' The film begins with a young family playing and having fun - Bea (Cailey Fleming), her mother (Catharine Daddario) and father (John Krasinski) but soon, a la the tear-jerking beginning of Up, we see her mother undergoing cancer treatment, then bedridden in hospital text/html 2026-02-24T20:19:34+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/introduction Fantasy Fantasy can be hokey and it can be excellent. Very seldom do you see anything in between. It is a great way to escape and enjoy something completely different...the more unusual the better for me. If it makes you think, so much the better. Jackson's Lord of the Rings? Amazing. He sort of lost the plot in The Hobbit movies which I consider a fairly self-indulgent bit of cinema that was over done and over long (though still, it has to be said, amazing looking). text/html 2026-02-24T20:19:34+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/film/fantasy/list List