Fantasy: 264

Shrek Forever After (2010) is an American animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book Shrek! by William Steig. Many years ago, King Harold and Queen Lillian were ready to hand over control of Far Far Away to Rumpelstiltskin (‘Rumpel’) in exchange for breaking the curse on their daughter, Princess Fiona – cursed to turn into an ogre every night and locked away until her ‘true love’ rescued her. However, before they could sign the deal, news arrived that she had been saved and they called it off. In present times, Rumpel has become an outcast and holds a ...

Tangled (2010), a 2010 American animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film, was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. A single drop of sunlight, descending from the sky, produces a magical flower with healing properties. An elderly woman named Gothel utilizes it to retain her youth. After many centuries, soldiers from the kingdom of Corona take the flower and utilize it to save their queen who is pregnant and ill. The queen gives birth to a daughter named Rapunzel. Gothel sneaks into the castle and discovers that Rapunzel’s hair inherited the magic from the flower, but loses its power when cut. To maintain control of ...

The 17 minute sequel short film, Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010), is a follow-up to the feature film How to Train Your Dragon. Originally aired on television on October 14, 2010, on Cartoon Network, it was also released as a special feature on Blu-ray and double DVD editions of the original movie the next day. The story centers around Hiccup and his friends, who join their mentor Gobber on a mission to defeat the legendary Boneknapper Dragon. While about half of the film features traditional animation, it also delves into Gobber’s past and his encounters with the fearsome creature, revealing how he came to look as he does now.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010), an animated film based on the book by Cressida Cowell, follows the story of Hiccup, the son of Viking chieftain Stoick the Vast. The village of Berk is constantly under attack by dragons, and Hiccup, who is considered too weak to fight, instead devotes himself to creating mechanical devices with guidance from village blacksmith, Gobber. When he accidentally shoots down a rare dragon known as a Night Fury, he can’t bring himself to kill it. As Stoick prepares to lead a strike against the dragons’ nest, he enrolls Hiccup in dragon-fighting training with fellow teens Fishlegs, ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) is a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name, it is the first of two cinematic installments. At Malfoy Manor, Severus Snape meets with Lord Voldemort and his followers to report that Harry Potter will be moved to a safe location by the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy’s wand since his own is powerless against Harry’s, as they both share a phoenix feather core. ...

Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) is a fantasy adventure film, directed and co-written by Luc Besson. It is based on the third installment of Besson’s beloved children’s book series featuring Arthur.It has been two years since Arthur saved his grandparents’ home and the Minimoys from Maltazard’s evil grasp. During his holiday stay with his grandparents, the Bogo Matassalai, a fictional African society, gives Arthur various challenges to test his skills in camouflage and environmental nonviolence. After successfully completing these trials, Arthur plans to celebrate with the Minimoys. However, his father unexpectedly decides to take him ...

Prep & Landing (2009) is an American animated television special, based on an idea by Chris Williams at Walt Disney Animation Studios and developed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers into a half-hour Christmas special. Wayne, a dedicated Christmas elf, is part of this elite organization whose important job is to prepare homes around the world for Santa’s visit. After 227 years with ‘Prep & Landing’, Wayne eagerly anticipates being promoted to director of the naughty list. However, his former ...

In London on Christmas Eve 1843, Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009) follows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy miser who despises the joyous festivities of the holiday season. Despite his nephew Fred’s invitation to a Christmas dinner party and the urging of two charity workers, Scrooge refuses to participate in any acts of kindness or generosity. His dedicated employee Bob Cratchit must even ask for a single day off on Christmas Day, which Scrooge reluctantly grants. However, when Scrooge encounters the ghost of his late business partner Jacob Marley at home, he soon realizes that his selfish ways may lead him down a path of eternal suffering. Marley ...

Partly Cloudy (2009) is an American computer-animated comedy short film, written and directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Kevin Reher. Throughout the day, jovial clouds in the sky create sweet and endearing babies – human boys and girls, kittens, puppies, and various other creatures – entrusting them to storks for delivery to their awaiting families. However, one cloud named Gus has a unique task: crafting adorable yet not-so-snuggly animals. His loyal delivery stork, Peck, often bears the brunt of this assignment, enduring bites from crocodiles, headbutts ...

The Secret of Kells (2009) is an animated fantasy film set in 9th-century Ireland during the Viking expansion. It follows the story of Brendan, a curious and brave boy living in an Abbey under the watchful eye of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach. The Abbot’s main concern is protecting the Abbey from Viking attacks by building a wall around it. Brendan is apprenticed in the monastery’s scriptorium where he first hears about Brother Aidan, the renowned creator of the Book of Iona. As he becomes more fascinated with the illuminator and his unfinished masterpiece, Aidan arrives in Kells with his unique white cat, Pangur Bán, after escaping a raid on his ...

The fantasy film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), was directed and co-written by Terry Gilliam along with Charles McKeown. Heath Ledger’s performance in most of the movie was later replaced by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell as different versions of his character in the dream world. This was Ledger’s final acting role and a dedication to him and ...

The British film Dorian Gray (2009), adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, was directed by Oliver Parker and written by Toby Finlay. A young and naive Dorian Gray arrives in Victorian London to inherit an estate from his abusive grandfather. There, he is introduced to the lavish lifestyle of the city by the charming Lord Henry “Harry” Wotton. Under Henry’s influence, Gray becomes enamored with the idea of eternal youth and makes a reckless vow to keep his beauty ...

The Lovely Bones (2009) is a supernatural drama film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay he co-wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, based on Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel of the same name. In 1973, 14-year-old high school freshman Susie Salmon has aspirations of becoming a photographer. She is asked out by Ray, the boy she has a crush on. One day while walking home through a cornfield, Susie encounters her neighbor George Harvey and follows him to an ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), was directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name. Lord Voldemort continues to tighten his grip on both the wizarding and Muggle worlds in the film: his Death Eaters abduct Mr Ollivander and cause destruction to London’s Millennium Bridge. As Lucius Malfoy remains imprisoned in Azkaban, Voldemort assigns his son, Draco Malfoy, with a secret mission at Hogwarts. To ensure Draco’s safety, ...

Directed by Iain Softley, Inkheart (2008) is a fantasy adventure film that follows the Folchart family. Mo and Resa read a fairy tale to their daughter, Meggie, when a red velvet hood appears mysteriously. Twelve years later, while on a trip to Europe with her father, Meggie finds herself in an old book shop. Little does she know, Mo is secretly searching for a specific copy of Inkheart. As he finds the book, Meggie has an encounter with a horned marten that tries to attack her fingers. A familiar man comes to her rescue, claiming to be an old friend. Recognizing him as Dustfinger, Mo quickly seeks refuge with Meggie. ...

Scooby-Doo and The Goblin King (2008) is a direct-to-DVD animated film that falls within the popular series of Scooby-Doo direct-to-video productions from Warner Bros. Animation (though it does feature a Hanna-Barbera logo at the end). The plot centers on the Mystery, Inc. gang who attend the annual Coolsville Halloween carnival. However, their evening takes an unexpected turn when they encounter ‘The Amazing Krudsky’, a resident magician who refuses to let Scooby see his show after an unfortunate incident. Angered, Shaggy and Scooby expose Krudsky as a fake during one of his performances, causing him to seek revenge on them. As they are kicked ...

Horton Hears a Who! (2008) is an American animated children’s film based on the 1954 book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. In the Jungle of Nool on May 15th, Horton, the eccentric nature teacher, discovers a faint cry coming from a floating dust speck. Curious, he pursues it and places it atop a pink clover. Much to his surprise, he learns that the speck is home to Whoville and its inhabitants, led by Mayor Ned McDodd. His family includes his wife Sally and 96 daughters with names all beginning with ‘H’, along with one son, JoJo. Despite being next in line for mayor, JoJo is reluctant to accept the role ...

Presto (2008) is an American computer-animated short film by Pixar that played in theaters prior to their feature-length film WALL-E. The film centers around Presto DiGiotagione, a vaudeville-era magician known for his hat trick involving his rabbit Alec Azam. However, in this particular performance, Alec finds himself locked in a cage and unable to reach his carrot. When Presto returns from eating, he attempts to practice his act with Alec using their magically connected hats – one of which is kept backstage with the rabbit. But as the show begins and Presto rushes onstage, Alec refuses to cooperate until he receives his carrot. This leads to multiple ...

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), an American action adventure fantasy film directed by Rob Cohen, is a story about a warlord who becomes the Dragon Emperor and unites China’s kingdoms to form an empire. The warlord then leads a civil war to establish the Qin dynasty and burns books and scrolls in the process. He also orders the construction of the Great Wall of China and buries his enemies’ remains underneath it. In addition, he discovers how to control fire, water, earth, wood, and metal using traditional Chinese elements known as Wuxing. However, fearing that his death will undo all he has ...

Coraline (2008) is an American dark fantasy horror film, animated using stop-motion and directed by Henry Selick. It is based on the novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman. The story follows a young girl named Coraline Jones as she moves from Pontiac, Michigan to the Pink Palace apartments in Ashland, Oregon. Her parents, Charlie and Mel, work from home and are often preoccupied with their urgent tasks. Along the way, Coraline encounters a black cat and Wyborne ‘Wybie’ Lovat, the grandson of her landlady. Wybie gives Coraline a ragdoll that looks just like her. This doll leads her to a small door with a ...