The power of Game of Thrones occupy the lion’s share of attention.
However, there are a number of obscure films that are available for streaming now, in order to take us away from the world of coronavirus. And, they’re available on Amazon Prime!
The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King (2017)
This film, produced in Norway, is about a young man who sets out on an adventure to save his family’s farm from the depredations of the villainous Mountain King. It’s a beautiful film to watch, with some eye-popping CGI and a story that is as appealing to adults as it is to children. It’s a perfect film for those looking for a fantasy outing that’s different than most of what you would see from an American studio.
I Am Dragon (2015)
You might not normally associate Russia with fantasy films, but sometimes they manage to surprise you. It centers on a young woman who is kidnapped by a dragon and taken away to his island. It has some interesting visuals, and the narrative is an interesting spin on the traditional tale about a princess who is kidnapped by a dragon. It’s also a nice bit of a romance, an ideal choice for an afternoon on the couch.
The Fox & The Dragon (2018)
This one has quite a lot of action, with several shots of slow-motion fighting. Despite the fact that it clearly was made on a rather small budget, it has a surprisingly polished look, with particular praise being due to the costuming. There isn’t a great deal of dialogue, so you have to rely instead on the performances of the actors to convey such important elements of narrative as emotion.
Immortal Demon Slayer (2017)
For those looking for an epic fantasy film with a Chinese flavor, this film definitely fits the bill. It focuses on the traditional folk hero Sun Wukong. Immortal Demon Slayer has a decidedly darker edge to it, both in of the visuality and in of the emotions conveyed by the characters. All in all, it makes for a refreshing change from the traditional fantasy fare offered by American films and the studios that make them.
The Magic Sword (1962)
Reaching back into the height of classical Hollywood, The Magic Sword centers on the mythical figure of Saint George, famous for slaying of a dragon. Obviously, it fleshes out the narrative quite a bit, and it’s a surprisingly good film (due in part to the casting of the always-good Basil Rathbone, whom you can always rely on to play a villain with panache and sinister grace). It was also adapted into a comic book.
Dragonslayer (1981)
Though made in the 1980s, this film features some truly splendid CGI, particularly in the depiction of the dragon Vermithrax. In fact, Vermithrax has gone down in cinematic history as one of the finest dragons to have ever graced the screen (both Guillermo del Toro and George R.R. Martin have declared their iration).
The film features some fine performances, including a small part by none other than Ian McDiarmid, famous for playing Palpatine in Return of the Jedi a few years later.
Yamasong: March of the Hallows (2017)
Those looking for a fantasy film that has both an absolutely unique storyline and a truly eye-popping visual style (that’s like nothing else) should look no further than this film. Yamasong focuses on a automaton and a tortoise and their efforts to save their world from a sinister army. It features some stellar voice acting from the likes of Abigail Breslin, Frieda Pinto, Whoopi Goldberg, Edward Asner, George Takei, and Malcolm McDowell.
The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2014)
This film, which is a pretty standard epic fantasy combined with a coming-of-age-narrative, was originally intended to be part of a broader franchise (it concludes on a bit of a cliffhanger even has a mid-credits sequence), but unfortunately met with both critical disdain and a significant lack of box office success. That being said, there are some good performances in this film, including ones by Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, and Lena Headey.
The Stronghold (2017)
Once again, Eastern Europe has provided us with an interesting take on the fantasy trope of time travel. The Stronghold focuses on a young boy who finds himself transported into the past. It is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Volodymyr Rutkivskyi. It was adapted for the screen by Sashko Dermanskyi and Yaroslav Voitseshek, and the costume designer looked for inspiration to particular periods in history, creating a fascinating visual scheme.
Namiya: Adventures into the Past
This film, based on the novel Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino, is a light-hearted adventure that focuses on three young people who begin a written exchange with people that lived in the past. In addition to the other, younger of the cast (all of whom turn in very strong and charming performances) the film also features none other than Jackie Chan. This film is an interesting exploration of the ways in which various lives are connected to one another.