The 2000s marked a turning point in the film industry. With the arrival of 3D and especially motion capture, the possibilities for creating worlds crazier than the last were multiplied tenfold. While we had already had great fantasy films like Willow or The NeverEnding Story, the advent of digital technologies allowed an unprecedented leap in audiovisual productions. A phenomenon that led the 2000s to be so flourishing in fantasy films; That's why we're taking a look today at the 10 most notable films of this genre during those years.
#10 His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
We're starting this top with an adaptation that has caused a stir many of them. While the resources used, the casting and the artistic direction were most convincing, the adaptation itself was so watered down in its message and the issues of Philip Pullman's book that this film received rather harsh criticism from fans of the literary work. However, we must recognize that with His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass we have here a truly beautiful film that transports us brilliantly into this epic and grandiose fantasy universe.
#9The Secret of Terabithia
Even if this film may not speak to the new generations or to children of the 80s/90s, The Secret of Terabithia left its mark on the youth of the 2000s. The story takes us to two young teenagers who invent a world of their own, before the latter comes to life and our heroes find themselves embarked with the viewer in a universe full of magic. While the film is not without flaws, it is a very beautiful film about the loss of a loved one.
#8 The Legend of Beowulf
We continue with the famous warrior Beowulf and his legendary poem which takes place in the 6th century in medieval Scandinavia. The adaptation of this legend which so inspired J.R.R. Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy, offers us a film entirely made with motion capture and offers an audiovisual experience which has managed to mark an entire decade. Even though the 3D technology used at the time has aged, The Legend of Beowulf brilliantly transports us to this Nordic king and his fight against the terrible Grendel and his mother.
#7 Stardust, the Mystery of the Star
Adapted from the eponymous novel by British writer Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Coraline), Stardust, the Mystery of the Star is a gem of 2000s fantasy. In a 19th-century English village, Tristan promises to capture a shooting star to win the heart of his beloved. For his journey, he goes beyond the wall that separates the human world from the magical world of Stormhold. There he will meet evil witches, ambitious princes and flying pirates. With its cocktail of humor, adventure and romance, the film is marked by its careful aesthetic (it is directed by the future director of the Kingsman films) and by its multi-star cast (Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Charlie Cox, etc.).
#6The Chronicles of Narnia
The world created by C. S. Lewis in the mid-20th century was not easy to adapt to film, and while the visual rendering is convincing, its fidelity to the literary work is more questionable. Unlike the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, which take place in a Middle-earth facing undeniable evil powers with great epic battles, the world of Narnia is more enchanted, and some might even say innocent. This is a key element that has been somewhat modified in the film adaptations to create a more reminiscent version of The Lord of the Rings films. Even if they are far from being the most faithful adaptations, the Chronicles of Narnia trilogy offers us magnificent fantasy films that transport us to an enchanted universe full of magic.
#5Hellboy
While some might be tempted to classify the Hellboy feature films in the superhero category, what Guillermo del Toro has done with them are far from being simple adaptations of comics and are more of a fantasy work in their own right. If the first Hellboy film offers us a story more centered around the half-demon with severed horns and his past with some fantastic creatures, the second film transports us to the Kingdom of the Elves and the terrible Golden Legions. With this second film, Guillermo del Toro takes us on a journey into a world of fantasy with disconcerting ease and a quality of writing that is not found everywhere.
#4 Pan's Labyrinth
We Let's meet Guillermo del Toro once again with perhaps his greatest masterpiece: Pan's Labyrinth. The story takes place in Franco's Spain, with a heroine who turns out to be the princess of a forgotten kingdom full of magic. With Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro brilliantly offers us a tale for adults about one of the darkest periods in Spanish history and the end of innocence. One of the most significant films in contemporary cinema!
#3Pirates of the Caribbean
While the Pirates of the Caribbean saga is above all a pirate adventure, these feature films are nonetheless full of elements that make them true fantasy films. With a true mythology from the second film onwards, which is no longer just about a cursed ship and crew, but real stakes worthy of tales and legends of the 7 seas, Verbinski and his screenwriters offer a wonderful historical fantasy saga that pays homage to the marvelous sailor. With this trilogy directed by Verbinski, we have a saga that fully deserves third place in this top.
#2 Harry Potter
The literary work of J.K. Rowling, brilliantly adapted for the screen in its almost entirety during the 2000s, could only have taken second place in this ranking. With a teeming magical universe and a legendary golden trio, we have a saga that has marked more than one generation and has carved out a special place for itself in the hearts of many magic fans. The British writer has created a fabulous fantasy universe inspired by the greatest, and the adaptations that have been made, even if far from perfect, have managed to amaze more than 130 million viewers across the globe.
#1 The Lord of the Rings
First place could only go to this trilogy of films. The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien in the mid-20th century, left an indelible mark on the world of fantasy, to the point that its author is considered the father of modern fantasy. However, it was with the trilogy directed by Peter Jackson that Middle-earth became known to the world and managed to collect a host of awards. The mastery of the production and the relative fidelity to the source material allowed the New Zealand director to offer us the greatest fantasy saga in cinema and perhaps even the greatest saga in the 7th art.
Tell us in the comments section your favorite saga from the 2000s and don't miss this ranking of the 15 most legendary swords from the fantasy universe.
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