News

Filmmaker Zack Snyder is known for his comic book-inspired films that often combine highly stylized visuals with graphic sex and violence. It should come as no surprise, then, that Snyder's personal favorite film is an epic fantasy with its own distinctively expressionistic visuals and more than its fair share of sex and violence: John Boorman's Excalibur (1981).Snyder has described this condensed retelling of the legend of King Arthur as "incredibly poignant" and "the perfect meeting between movies and mythology," and has emulated its style throughout his own filmography.

Excalibur is known for its bloody battle sequences, gorgeous cinematography, and a soundtrack that includes compositions by Richard Wagner and Carl Orff. The film is also known for boosting the careers of several British and Irish actors who would later become household names, including Ciarán Hinds, Patrick Stewart, Gabriel Byrne, and even Liam Neeson,who had a small but memorable...

Llinos Cathryn Thomas Aug 5, 2016

Thirty years since it ended, we revisit much-loved 80s historical fantasy series Robin Of Sherwood...

The Robin Hood legend has been retold in countless ways, but one of the most memorable of modern times is Richard Carpenter’s hugely influential 1980s imagining, telling the story of Sherwood’s band of outlaws with a combination of realism and luminous fantasy with its roots in British folklore.

Made by Htv in association with production company Goldcrest Films (which was also behind Chariots Of Fire and Gandhi), its 26 episodes ran on ITV from 1984 to 1986, garnering a positive critical reception and inspiring a fan following that’s still enthusiastically active today.

Much of the success of the show was down to the spot-on casting and the chemistry between the performers. Michael Praed’s charismatic-yet-otherworldly presence as Robin was the perfect match for the show’s aesthetic, and the more down-to-earth Little John,...

Warner Bros. have clinched the rights to remake the 1981 fantasy film “Excalibur,” with “X-Men” director Bryan Singer signed to produce and develop the picture as a potential developing vehicle. According to Variety, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have been working for months to secure the rights to the film, which Singer will produce with Julie Yorn and “Superman Returns” producer Polly Johnsen (formerly Cohen).

Excalibur was the ultimate fantasy film based on the Arthurian legend of Merlin the wizard, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, it grossed $34,967,437 and was the 18th most successful film of that year. The film was directed by John Boorman and adapted from the Thomas Malory book by Rospo Pallenberg and Boorman. The film broke out some of today’s biggest stars and starred Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Nicol Williamson and Robert Addie.

No writer...

TV Show Info: Writers: Richard Carpenter, Anthony Horowitz, Andrew McCulloch and John Flanagan Directors: Ian Sharp, Robert Young, Ben Bolt, James Allen, Gerry Mill, Sid Roberson and Alex Kirby Cast: Michael Praed, Jason Connery, Ray Winstone, Clive Mantle, Phil Rose, Peter Llewellyn Williams, Mark Ryan, Judi Trott, Nickolas Grace, Robert Addie, Philip Jackson, John Abineri Rating: Not Rated Studio: Acorn [...]ShareThis...