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Empires of the Imagination: A Critical Survey of Fantasy Cinema from Georges Méliès to the Lord of the Rings
The warlocks and ghosts of fantasy film haunt our popular culture, but the genre has too long been ignored by critics. This comprehensive critical survey of fantasy cinema demonstrates that the fantasy genre amounts to more than escapism. Through a meticulously researched analysis of more than a century of fantasy pictures--from the seminal work of Georges Melies to Peter Jackson's recent tours of Middle-earth--the work identifies narrative strategies and their recurring components and studies patterns of challenge and return, setting and character. First addressing the difficult task of defining the genre, the work examines fantasy as a cultural force in both film and literature and explores its relation to science fiction, horror, and fairy tales. Fantasy's development is traced from the first days of film, with emphasis on how the evolving genre reflected such events as economic depression and war. Also considered is fantasy's expression of politics, as either the subject of satire or fuel for the fires of propaganda. Discussion ventures into the subgenres, from stories of invented lands inhabited by fantastic creatures to magical adventures set in the familiar world, and addresses clashes between fantasy and faith, such as the religious opposition to the Harry Potter phenomenon. From the money-making classics to little-known arthouse films, this richly illustrated work covers every aspect of fantasy film.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2005
21 people want to read
About the author
Alec Worley
153 books48 followersAlec Worley is an author from South London.
He writes stories for readers (and listeners) of all ages who like smart, funny and - above all - thrilling tales of fantasy, horror and sci-fi.
If you're into stories about swords, fangs and lasers, then you're in luck!
Best known for his work on 2000 AD (the home of Judge Dredd), Star Wars and Games Workshop's Warhammer, he's also created many stories of his own.
He is the co-creator of apocalyptic werewolf saga Age of the Wolf (with Jon Davis-Hunt for 2000 AD), paranormal comedy Dandridge (with Warren Pleece for 2000 AD), and plenty more either in the pipeline or waiting to be announced...
He writes stories for readers (and listeners) of all ages who like smart, funny and - above all - thrilling tales of fantasy, horror and sci-fi.
If you're into stories about swords, fangs and lasers, then you're in luck!
Best known for his work on 2000 AD (the home of Judge Dredd), Star Wars and Games Workshop's Warhammer, he's also created many stories of his own.
He is the co-creator of apocalyptic werewolf saga Age of the Wolf (with Jon Davis-Hunt for 2000 AD), paranormal comedy Dandridge (with Warren Pleece for 2000 AD), and plenty more either in the pipeline or waiting to be announced...
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 22, 2022
It was very disappointing:
1) Far too many fantasy films were covered. Discussions of an individual work sometimes had just a few sentences, and maybe 1 paragraph. Hardly the "critical" survey that the book's title had promised!
A focused selection of a few film works would've been better, e.g., ignoring early fantasy film works which are cheesy by today's standards.
2) The analysis was not very good. His assertions are easily refuted (e.g., "fairy tales consist of [these narrative themes], heroic fantasy are different and consist of [these other narrative themes]"). I understand when one speaks "generally" of something, but there are so many -very- famous film works that don't fall into his categories, it's hard to go along with what he says.
3) Following from above, of the film works I was familiar with, his analysis was very weak (i.e., shoehorning his interpretation), or frankly, quite wrong (I don't use this lightly; so saying he was "wrong" means he was -really, really- off)
4) He injected too many of his interpretations everywhere, particularly when he was giving summaries of film works (oddly enough, as summaries should just stick to the subject itself).
Only the first introductory chapter was worth reading.
Did not finish at 60%.
1) Far too many fantasy films were covered. Discussions of an individual work sometimes had just a few sentences, and maybe 1 paragraph. Hardly the "critical" survey that the book's title had promised!
A focused selection of a few film works would've been better, e.g., ignoring early fantasy film works which are cheesy by today's standards.
2) The analysis was not very good. His assertions are easily refuted (e.g., "fairy tales consist of [these narrative themes], heroic fantasy are different and consist of [these other narrative themes]"). I understand when one speaks "generally" of something, but there are so many -very- famous film works that don't fall into his categories, it's hard to go along with what he says.
3) Following from above, of the film works I was familiar with, his analysis was very weak (i.e., shoehorning his interpretation), or frankly, quite wrong (I don't use this lightly; so saying he was "wrong" means he was -really, really- off)
4) He injected too many of his interpretations everywhere, particularly when he was giving summaries of film works (oddly enough, as summaries should just stick to the subject itself).
Only the first introductory chapter was worth reading.
Did not finish at 60%.
Displaying 1 of 1 review