Category: Fantasy

Willow

Willow VHS box cover art. Fantasy adventure movie starring Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis, Billy Barty, Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes. Story by George Lucas. Screenplay by Bob Dolman. Directed by Ron Howard. 1988

Willow on VHS. Starring Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis, Billy Barty, Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes. Story by George Lucas. Screenplay by Bob Dolman. Directed by Ron Howard. 1988.

From the box:

When young Willow Ufgood finds an abandoned baby, he is suddenly thrust into an adventure filled with magic and danger. According to an ancient prophecy, the sacred child is destined to end the reign of evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda. Now, with only a single swordsman at his side, Willow must overcome the forces of darkness that threaten to destroy anyone who stands in the Queen’s way!

DVD Upgrade: Willow (Blu-ray / DVD Combo)

Legend

Legend VHS cover art. Movie starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry. With David Bennent, Alice Playten, Billy Barty. Directed by Ridley Scott. 1985.

Legend on VHS. Starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry. With David Bennent, Alice Playten, Billy Barty. Directed by Ridley Scott. 1985.

From the box:

A World Full Of Magic, Wonder And Desire.

Tom Cruise stars in this visually stunning fantasy adventure in which pure good and evil battle to the death amidst spectacular surroundings. Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, the fantastic story has Tom Cruise, a mythical forest dweller, chosen by fate to undertake a heroic quest. He must save a beautiful princess, Mia Sara, and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, Tim Curry, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.

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Instant Rental: Legend

Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings

Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings VHS cover art. Movie starring Timothy Stultz, Ken Mitzkovitz, Erika Ann, Steven Barry Prince. Directed by Kevin Summerfield. 2002.

Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings on VHS. Starring Timothy Stultz, Ken Mitzkovitz, Erika Ann, Steven Barry Prince. Directed by Kevin Summerfield. 2002.

From the box:

“A fantasy epic in the tradition of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.” — Science Fiction Chronicle

Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings is a magical tale about young Max, a shy, bullied boy. His life is forever changed when he receives an ancient magical book that opens a mystical door into an enchanted kingdom where an adventure filled with warriors, elves, queens and sorcerers awaits.

Once the young magician learns that an evil underworld king threatens the beautiful forest realm, Max must summon the courage and knowledge to help them survive.

Join him on his magical adventure to a world where people and forests are one, kings and queens still rule, animals talk and mysterious villains haunt the shadows. Follow Max’s journey as he transforms from a timid weakling to a skilled warrior and master of sorcery, returning to his own world after saving another with more confidence and wisdom than ever imagined.

DVD Upgrade: Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings

Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings VHS cover art. Animated movie starring Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. From the novels "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tolkien. 1978.

Lord of the Rings on VHS. Starring Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. From the novels “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers” by J.R.R. Tolkien. 1978.

From the box:

All the magical adventure of J.R.R. Tolkien’s thrilling fantasy classic comes to life in this brilliantly animated tale of the enchanted land of Middle Earth — and the brave band of hobbits, heroes and wizards who set out to protect it!

When a dangerous and powerful magic Ring falls into his hands, a little hobbit named Frodo is caught up in a gigantic adventure! Now, join him, the mighty wizard Gandalf and a daring band of elves, dwarfs and warriors as they set out to defend their enchanted land from the wicked sorcerer who would destroy it. Set in a mystical age of magic, monsters and unlikely heroes on incredible journeys, The Lord of the Rings will cast its spell over your entire family!

DVD Upgrade: The Lord of the Rings: 1978 Animated Movie (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

Read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings

Read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers: The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings

Dracula’s Daughter

Dracula's Daughter VHS cover art. Classic horror movie starring Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden, Marguerite Churchill, Edward Van Sloan, Nan Grey. Directed by Lambert Hillyer. 1936.

Dracula’s Daughter on VHS. Starring Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden, Marguerite Churchill, Edward Van Sloan, Nan Grey. Directed by Lambert Hillyer. 1936.

From the box:

This popular horror classic picks up where Dracula left off. Dr. Von Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), thinking he has rid London of all vampire, is instead arrested for murder. Just when Von Helsing’s fate seems sealed, the bodies suddenly disappear. Soon, several people are found mysteriously killed, their bodies drained of all blood.
Meanwhile, beautiful and mysterious Countess Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden) appears in London. The trouble woman seeks the understanding Dr. Garth (Otto Kruger), Von Helsing’s psychiatrist for consultation.
A mysterious sequence of events surrounding a disoriented young girl (Nan Grey) leads Von Helsing and Garth to deduce the countess must be a vampire. They set off to Transylvania after the elusive countess to rescue Garth’s beautiful fiancée (Marguerite Churchill) in this engrossing thriller.

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Read The Novel Inspired By The Classic Film (Like A Movie Tie-In Written 40 Years After) By John Ramsey Campbell: Dracula’s Daughter Mass Market Paperback by Carl Dreadstone (Author)

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice VHS cover art. Animated movie starring Randy Norton, Cynthia Leake, Steve Sandor, Sean Hannon, Leo Gordon, William Ostrander. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. Produced by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta. 1983.

Fire and Ice on VHS. Starring Randy Norton, Cynthia Leake, Steve Sandor, Sean Hannon, Leo Gordon, William Ostrander. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. Produced by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta. 1983.

From the box:

A Masterpiece Of Fantasy And Illustration

Fire and Ice, an animated adventure film, is the work of the imaginations of Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta, masters of fantasy and illustration. A tiny village is destroyed by a surging glacier, which serves as the deadly domain for the evil Ice Lord, Nekron. The only survivor is a young warrior, Larn, who vows to avenge this act of destruction! The evil continues, however, as Nekron’s palace of ice heads straight towards Fire Keep, the great fortress ruled by the good King Jarol. When Jarol’s beautiful daughter, Teegra, is abducted by Nekron’s subhuman ape-like creatures, Larn begins a daring search for her. What results is a tense battle between good and evil, surrounded by the mystical elements of the ancient past!

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Needful Things

Needful Things VHS cover art. Movie starring Max von Sydow, Ed Harris, Bonnie Bedelia, Amanda Plummer, J.T. Walsh. Directed by Fraser Clarke Heston. From a Stephen King novel. 1993.

Needful Things on VHS. Starring Max von Sydow, Ed Harris, Bonnie Bedelia, Amanda Plummer, J.T. Walsh. Directed by Fraser Clarke Heston. From a Stephen King novel. 1993.

From the box:

The Town Of Castle Rock Just Made A Deal With The Devil… Now It’s Time To Pay.

A mysterious new store has opened in the town of Castle Rock, Maine. And though every item in it has a nerve-shattering price, the owner is always willing to make a devil of a deal.

DVD Upgrade: Needful Things

Stephen King’s #1 Bestseller: Needful Things: The Last Castle Rock Story

Pleasantville

Pleasantville VHS cover art. Movie starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Reese Witherspoon. With Don Knotts, Jane Kaczmarek, Jenny Lewis. Written and directed by Gary Ross. 1998.

Pleasantville on VHS. Starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Reese Witherspoon. With Don Knotts, Jane Kaczmarek, Jenny Lewis. Written and directed by Gary Ross. 1998.

From the box:

Nothing Is As Simple As Black And White

When ’90’s teens David and Jennifer (Tobey Maguire, The Ice Storm, Reese Witherspoon, Freeway) get zapped into the perfect suburbia of the black & white ’50’s sitcom, Pleasantville, what results is a “visionary adventure” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) that Siskel and Ebert give “Two big thumbs up!”

Pleasantville’s perfect people include a mild-mannered soda jerk (Jeff Daniels, Dumb and Dumber), a socially repressed mom (Joan Allen, Face/Off) and a father who always knows best (William H. Macy, Fargo). But, when ’90’s pop culture clashes with ’50’s family values, chaos ensues, turning the town of Pleasantville upside down and black and white into color.

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L.A. Story

L.A. Story VHS cover art. Movie starring Steve Martin. With Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patrick Stewart. Directed by Mick Jackson. 1991.

L.A. Story on VHS. Starring Steve Martin. With Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patrick Stewart. Directed by Mick Jackson. 1991.

From the box:

Something Funny Is Happening in L.A.

Steve Martin is Harris Telemacher, a wacky television weatherman, who thinks his life is perfect, except for an erratic relationship with a style-conscious girlfriend (Marilu Henner). Then, one bright and smoggy L.A. day, an electronic freeway sign changes his life, when its advice leads him into a frivolous romance with a young and beautiful blonde (Sarah Jessica Parker) and ultimately, to true love with the woman of his dreams (Victoria Tennant).

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Cool World

Cool World VHS cover art. Movie starring Gabriel Byrne, Kim Basinger, Brad Pitt. With Michele Abrams, Deirdre O'Connell. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. 1992.

Cool World on VHS. Starring Gabriel Byrne, Kim Basinger, Brad Pitt. With Michele Abrams, Deirdre O’Connell. Directed by Ralph Bakshi. 1992.

From the box:

When ex-con cartoonist Jack Deebs (Gabriel Byrne) was behind bars he found escape by creating Cool World, a cartoon series featuring a voluptuous vixen named Holli Would.

But the ‘toonsmith becomes a prisoner of his own fantasies when Holli pulls Jack into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. A hard-boiled detective (Brad Pitt)–the only other human in Cool World–cautions Jack with the law: ‘Noids (humans) don’t have sex with doodles (cartoons).

The flesh proves weaker than ink, however, as Holli takes human form (Kim Basinger) in Las Vegas, starting a trans-universal chase that threatens the destruction of both worlds.

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Play The Game 90s Style: Cool World – Nintendo Super NES

Read About Bakshi: Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi (The Force Behind Fritz the Cat, Mighty Mouse, Cool World, and The Lord of the Rings)