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5 Favourite Fantasy Films
Wizards, dragons, goblin kings, magical gemstones, yellow brick roads...there’s nothing better than a good fantasy film, is there? With their sweeping landscapes and wonderful costumes, fantasy movies are a real feast for the eyes and for the soul! They’re a chance to get lost in another world for a little while, and to get swept up in the danger and adventure alongside our favourite heroes and heroines.
While there are so many amazing fantasy films to choose from out there, we’ve picked five of our Dragonspace favourites to shine a spotlight on this week:
#1 THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (2001 - 2003)
It’s always hard to adapt a beloved book series onto the screen, but Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy did Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece undeniable justice. The film trilogy isn’t just adored by fantasy fans—it’s a true legend of the film world in general. The third installment in the series, The Return of the King, was the first fantasy film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it currently holds the record for the highest Oscars sweep. So who says that fantasy films are niche?
There’s so much about The Lord of the Rings trilogy to love. The films are visually stunning, thanks to the epic New Zealand landscapes that were used to bring Middle-earth to life. The superstar cast—including Sir Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Cate Blanchett—deliver stellar performances. And the visual effects of the films still manage to hold up, even decades later. Yep, as fantasy movies go, The Lord of the Rings is as good as they come, and is yet to be de-throned in our opinion!
(If you're a fan of Tolkien and Middle-earth, check out our range of Tolkien books here!)
#2 LABYRINTH (1986)
Fantasies and musicals are two film genres that aren’t often combined, but if anyone’s going to pull such a trick off, of course it would be Jim Henson, George Lucas, Brian Froud and David Bowie! Joined by Jennifer Connelly as the film’s heroic lead, this team created Labyrinth, the 1986 musical-fantasy classic. With Henson as director, Lucas as exec-producer, Froud as costume designer, and Bowie playing the Goblin King, Labyrinth brought us a world like no other. Goblins dance and sing, monsters become friends, and staircases turn upside-down in this wild adventure, in which protagonist Sarah must navigate a mystical labyrinth to rescue her baby brother from the dark Goblin King.
The thing that makes this film so unique is its fantastical puppetry. With the exception of Connelly and Bowie’s characters, the rest of the characters in the film are puppets created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (best known for The Muppets). The distinctive puppetry of Labyrinth gives the film an eerie surreal aesthetic, which still stands out in an age when most fantasy is heavy CGI. And of course, Labyrinth delivers some great singalongs, courtesy of the late great Bowie. A lot of fantasy films tend to be quite serious, so Labyrinth is a refreshingly quirky and comical addition to the genre.
#3 THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982)
But before there was Labyrinth, there was The Dark Crystal. This 1982 fantasy adventure classic is also the creation of Jim Henson and Brian Froud, along with famous puppeteer Frank Oz. Like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, relies heavily on puppetry and animatronics to bring the fantasy characters of the film to life. As Jen, the ‘Gelfling’ hero of the story, undertakes a quest to restore a powerful gemstone, he traverses a weird and wonderful world that’s now become iconic.
The Dark Crystal was actually the first live-action film without any human beings on screen. Perhaps due to its ground-breaking and unprecedented nature, the film received mixed reviews when it was first released. It was much darker than Jim Henson’s Muppet work, so people didn’t quite know what to think. Now, however, The Dark Crystal is a firm fantasy favourite! And good news for all fans of the movie—there’s actually going to be a prequel produced in association with Netflix, so we all get to explore the surreal world of The Dark Crystal even further.
(If you're a fan of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, check out our full range of Brian Froud books here, featuring his distinctive and imaginative artwork.)
#4 THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
Technicolor musical The Wizard of Oz isn’t just one of the greatest fantasy films of all time—it’s one of the greatest films of all time in general. Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz was one of the first examples of a film shot in colour, and it definitely used vivid Technicolor to its advantage, from the bright Yellow Brick Road to the glittering Emerald City.
Based on the children’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the film follows the adventures of Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) and her little dog Toto as they enter an incredible fantasyland via a tornado. The friends Dorothy makes along the way—the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion—are iconic, as are the dazzling show-tunes that pepper the story. The Wizard of Oz won Academy Awards for Best Music - Original Score, and Original Song for Over The Rainbow, which is now a classic. From the munchkins to the Wicked Witch of the West to Dorothy’s ruby slippers, The Wizard of Oz made a lasting legacy that hasn’t faded even eighty years later!
#5 THE HARRY POTTER SERIES (2001 - 2011)
J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise created a world-wide fantasy mania that had never been seen before. And it wasn’t just the books that had fans lining up for midnight releases—the movies caused just as much of a stir! The film series ended up stretching over ten years, and viewers saw the young cast—with British actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the helm—literally grow up on screen.
Including film legends like Dame Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh and dozens of others, the cast of the Harry Potter films are one of its main strengths. But they’re also very visually impressive, with incredible set design, costuming, props and visual effects. When you watch these films, you truly feel like you’re inhabiting the wizarding world and joining in the adventures and trials of Harry and his comrades. Which is what all good fantasy films should make you feel!
(If you love Harry Potter, check out our new range of Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts mini activity kits here!)
Mythical Creatures Spotlight: Unicorns
Our Mythical Creatures Spotlight is a new blog feature that will take a deep-dive into mythical creatures, from dragons to mermaids and all in-between. This week’s spotlight is on: Unicorns.
Unicorns have had a comeback in popular culture lately. The rainbows-and-sparkles version of the unicorn can be found on stationery, beauty products, clothing and even consumables (Unicorn Frappuccino, anyone?) Once again, people have fallen in love with this beautiful creature, and it has become a symbol of “believing in yourself” and embracing the magic in life.
While this colourful version of the unicorn is a bit gaudier than the traditional myth, it all makes sense. Throughout history, people have seen the unicorn as a powerful symbol of things they wish they could attain. Whether that’s innocence, strength or beauty, the unicorn represents all that is special and rare.
So let’s delve into the lore and legend of unicorns, and learn a bit more about this fantastic beast.
Are unicorns real?
If you think about all your typical fantasy creatures - fairies, dragons, mermaids - the unicorn is perhaps the most believable of them all. After all, white horses and animals with horns are both real things - so why not a creature that combines the two?
As we wrote about in our Dragonspace Bestiary post, people did definitely once believe that unicorns were real animals. Ancient Greek writers were the first to note the unicorn in natural history, writing of “wild asses, fleet of foot, having on the forehead a horn a cubit and a half in length”. What were they writing about? Some scholars muse that they might have mistaken another horned or antlered animal - like a rhinoceros, an oryx or an eland - for a magical unicorn. But perhaps they were recording a real creature that has become even more elusive over time.
More recently, the American Journal of Applied Science published a research piece about an ancient animal known as the “Elasmotherium” or, the “Siberian unicorn”. This now-extinct creature was actually a type of rare rhinoceros, but its rarity and horned appearance makes it a close contender for being a “real” unicorn.
But of course, the allure of the unicorn is about more than just its appearance. Much of the unicorn frenzy throughout history comes from the magical powers that the creature - and its distinctive horn - were said to possess.
The Alicorn: a unicorn’s horn
Did you know that a unicorn’s horn is called an ‘alicorn’? This unique feature and its healing attributes are one of the things that make unicorns so special.
Up until the 18th-century, it was widely accepted that that a unicorn’s horn had healing powers, and it was one of the most expensive and sought-after remedies in Medieval Europe. Some of the main medicinal purposes of the alicorn included it being:
- an antidote against poisons
- a treatment for leprosy
- a protection from plague and fever
- a way to purify water
- an aphrodisiac
Alicorns were legitimately sold in apothecaries and distributed throughout royal courts. Queen Elizabeth I reportedly paid a massive 10,000 pounds for a unicorn horn. But were these horns really from the elusive magical horse?
Unfortunately, probably not. The “alicorns” often used in medieval medicine most likely came from narwhals - real marine mammals with a horn similar to that of the unicorn. And as the use of animal horns for human gain is largely unethical, the alicorn is no longer a sought-after medicine.
But just because this element of the unicorn myth turned out to be a fraud, it still doesn’t disprove the existence of unicorns. It just means that these magical beasts wouldn’t easily allow themselves to be captured and turned into a medicinal commodity, of course.
A symbol of innocence and purity
Unicorns have a strong connection with purity, innocence and chastity. Most legends tell that the wild and elusive unicorn could only be tamed by an innocent maiden. In fact, young maidens were said to have been used as “bait” to lure unicorns in, as described by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous notebooks:
“The unicorn…because of its intemperance, not knowing how to control itself before the delight it feels towards maidens, forgets its ferocity and wildness, and casting aside all fear it will go up to the seated maiden and sleep in her lap, and thus the hunter takes it.”
Unicorns are still considered an emblem of purity and innocence. They also represent a beautiful balance between feminine wisdom and masculine strength.
A national icon
Because of its powerful symbolism, the unicorn often appears in royal heraldry. Most notably, the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. Some might think it’s odd that a country known for being quite strong, proud and rugged would have such a “delicate” create as its national animal, but those people obviously don’t understand Scotland...or the unicorn.
The unicorn embodies wildness, intelligence and a fierce determination to be free. As Scotland has a long history of fighting for its independence, the unicorn is in fact the perfect symbol for this proud nation.
Using unicorn energy
Most of us won’t be lucky enough to encounter a physical unicorn in real life, but their strong energy can be called on in your spiritual practice. Understanding the lore and legend of the unicorn will help you known when to call on this energy - in times when cleansing, purity, wisdom and wildness are needed. They’re also a powerful elemental mascot when something is evading you, be it knowledge, wealth or healing. If you can connect with the power of the unicorn, you're a step closer to achieving the unattainable.
We love that these magical beasts are still going strong in popular culture, continuing to inspire our spirits and imaginations. Take a look at our whimsical range of unicorn giftware below, and let us know what unicorns mean to you in the comments.
View All Our Unicorn Giftware
The Magic of Trees
There’s just something magical about trees. Who hasn’t felt an otherworldly presence when standing in a forest of mighty redwoods, or looking up at an ancient oak?
Trees give us the leaves, bark, seeds and flowers that we use in healing remedies and rituals. They feature in stories the world over, from the sacred banyan tree to the Tree of Life. Some cultures worship trees as deities and nature spirits, like the Druids of old.
As you walk around Dragonspace or browse our online store, you’ll find tree-ish treasures of all kinds. From Celtic t-shirts and Tree of Life necklaces, to themed books and oracle decks, the connection between magic and trees is keenly felt here. Below, we take a look at the important role trees play in mythology and spirituality.
Celtic Sacred Trees
Trees are considered sacred in Celtic culture, both as spiritual symbols and physical healers. The main sacred trees include: alder, apple, ash, beech, birch, blackthorn, elder, elm, fir, hawthorn, hazel, holly, larch, mistletoe, oak, pear, pine, poplar, rowan, willow and yew.
These trees have powerful magical properties related to the tree’s physical character. For example, yew is a poisonous tree so is associated with death, transformation and change. The elegant willow is associated with femininity, enchantment and the moon. While the mighty oak is a symbol of strength, stability and protection. Offerings from these sacred trees - such as their bark, leaves or fruits - are often used in magical ritual. And the trees themselves can become sites of ceremony and gathering for magical communities.
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is a powerful icon in several spiritualities, from Islam to Kabbalah and many in between. In Norse legend, the Tree of Life - or Yggdrasil - connected the nine different worlds in Norse cosmology. These worlds included the world of the dead (Hel) and the land of the Aesir (better know as Asgard).
It’s widely believed that the Ancient Celts adopted their own belief in the Tree of Life from Norse mythology. The Celtic Tree of Life connects the upper and lower worlds - the roots lead down to the underworld and the branches grow up to the heavens. The Ancient Celts also manifested their Tree of Life in a literal way. When they were clearing new land for settlement, they would always leave a single tree in the centre of the clearing. This physical Tree of Life would provide food, warmth and shelter to the community, and was also an important meeting place for council and ceremony.
Tree Deities
Some cultures believe that trees contain nature spirits, or that trees themselves are spiritual deities. The Green Man is a popular icon in Celtic mythology, appearing as masculine figure with a face made of leaves that epitomises the cycle of nature and the seasons. The Greek dryads are also well-known figures - beautiful nature spirits that appear in many Greek legends, often looking like half-tree, half-woman.
In Japanese folklore, the Kodama are spirits that inhabit trees. Some stories depict the Kodama as looking like regular trees in appearance, while others show the spirits as beasts, humans or ghostly lights. These spirits are fiercely protective of the trees they inhabit and will curse anyone who threatens their home.
Tree spirits also appear in Thai folklore, such as the Nang Ta-khian, a female spirit that haunts Hopea odorata trees. In Latvian mythology, the figure of Lauma is a woodland fae and tree spirit who descended from the sky to earth to share human’s suffering. While each culture has its own distinctive version of the tree spirit myth, these spirits or deities all tend to be elegant, benevolent and protective of the nature they dwell in.
Fairy Trees
In our last blog post, we delved into the world of fairies and the mythology that surrounds them. An interesting element of fairy lore is the idea of fairy trees. In Ireland, a lone hawthorne tree standing in the middle of a field is considered to be a fairy tree belonging to the ‘otherworld’ of the fairies. Such a tree should be treated with utmost respect and shouldn’t be tampered with or cut down. There are many stories of ill luck befalling anyone who meddles with a fairy tree.
The hawthorne is associated with the world of fairies because it flowers at Beltane, the Pagan festival of Spring. This was an important and sacred time to the ancient Irish, and the flowers from the hawthorne were sometimes considered an offering from the fairy world. The connection between the hawthorne and the magical realms also found its way into other myths - it’s widely said that witches make their brooms from the branches of the hawthorne tree.
Wish Trees
Wish trees are individual trees that people make offerings to, in order to secure good fortune and prosperity. People will visit these trees and drape them with items like photographs, letters, ribbon or bits of clothing in the hope of having a wish granted by a nature deity or spirit. Other forms of wish tree offerings include coins, alcohol, or shoes.
While the concept of wish trees is popular in rural parts of Britain and Ireland, they also exist worldwide. The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in Hong Kong are frequented by tourists and locals during the Lunar New Year, and holy trees are found in many parts of Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia hung with gifts and offerings.
The iconic Christmas Tree is even considered a kind of wish tree, draped in seasonal decorations and bestowed with gifts to honour loved ones at the close of the year.