MOVIE GENRE STUDY: Fantasy-Adventure movies
The genre of fantasy is a large, vast genre, and one of the most versatile, commonly mistaken for horror or sci-fi. It can be paired with any other genre, which gives great freedom of creativity in creating a movie. The most common sub-genre for Fantasy movies is fantasy-adventure, with movies such as How To Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland and Avatar.
The codes and conventions of Fantasy-Adventure movies are common and repeated amongst the films of this genre, and are easy to detect and expect while watching.
CODES AND CONVENTIONS:
CODES AND CONVENTIONS:
CHARACTER:
Fantasy movies are defined by their setting which, in turn, defines their characters. For example, because Pirates of the Carribbean is based in a fantasy world where sea creatures and monsters are common, we in turn get characters such as Davy Jones and his Kraken. The same applies to Star Wars and their aliens and space creatures, built around the setting of the film. The type of setting in a movie defines what their character looks and acts like.
Fantasy movies are defined by their setting which, in turn, defines their characters. For example, because Pirates of the Carribbean is based in a fantasy world where sea creatures and monsters are common, we in turn get characters such as Davy Jones and his Kraken. The same applies to Star Wars and their aliens and space creatures, built around the setting of the film. The type of setting in a movie defines what their character looks and acts like.
A common feature of the main character in fantasy-adventure movies is that he/she is an underdog, different from the rest in an obvious way. Be it they are much weaker and smaller in comparison to their peers (Harry Potter), or they have much stronger abilities and are cast out because of it (Percy Jackson). Or sometimes, they are just plain-out different. The main character usually stands out, in a positive or a negative way. Sometimes they even have a side kick who is just as different, or who has been assigned to them to watch them (Digimon, Lord of the Rings)
PLOT:
Fantasy-Adventure movies are based around a main character, or hero, who has to partake in an adventure or some form of quest, and the movie centers around this. Commonly seen quests in movies are: To save the world (Eragon), Save someone they love (Golden Compass), or just to make it home (Spirited Away). All plots are based around a quest, the end of which has a bad guy and something the character is hoping to achieve.
Often in Fantasy-Adventure movies, there is also a sub-plot, a personal quest or goal for the character, that they will achieve during their adventures. This sub-plot could be romantic, where the main character seeks to win the heart of their love, a search for knowledge (ex. To find out where you came from or who your father is; percy jackson), to gain courage from the adventures, or to gain some sort of realization from their travels. The main character goes on their quests/journeys to save the day, as well as achieve their personal goal.
SETTING:
The setting is often what makes a fantasy movie what it is, because it gives the freedom of having the movie based in any sort of world or place imaginable, or one that is based on our own with supernatural aspects. Some movies hold the same qualities or a resemblance to our world, with a fantastical twist on setting or characters (Such as How To Train Your Dragon, which is based in a world similar to ours just with dragons and over-exaggeratedly muscular vikings). Others are based in a world outside, or parallel to, our own, which can be found by entering a portal of some sort, such as a rabbit hole or a wardrobe (Alice in Wonderland), or by being able to see this different world. (For example, Harry Potter, where they live amongst normal humans, but are able to see Magic and Wizardry because they are wizards).
The construction of reality in fantasy movies can be next to normal, with different species living in our world, or one similar to ours (Narnia), or can be very obscure, strange, and completely fantastical (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar). The artistic boundaries of the Fantasy Genre are unlimited, and can be as realistic or as obscure as the creator wishes.
VALUES AND CREEDS:
Most fantasy-adventure movies have a strong moral in the end, that the main character learns from his struggles. The most commonly seen are:
-You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it (How to Train your Dragon)
-Never doubt yourself (Big Fish)
-Always do what you believe is right; Don't let anyone alter your opinion. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
VALUES AND CREEDS:
Most fantasy-adventure movies have a strong moral in the end, that the main character learns from his struggles. The most commonly seen are:
-You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it (How to Train your Dragon)
-Never doubt yourself (Big Fish)
-Always do what you believe is right; Don't let anyone alter your opinion. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
CONCLUSION/REPEATED FILM TECHNIQUES
Modern day computer animation technology has opened these movies to a world of possibilities, that may have been too challenging decades ago. This has led to an influx of movies in this genre, with stunning special effects, and creatures that reach beyond the imagination.
In contemporary fantasy-adventures, the trend has been to create sequels as the audiences are often left wanting to see more of their hero and their adventures. For example the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars, and the Chronicles of Narnia.
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