Tristan & Isolde (2006)

A modern retelling of an old Celtic tale that was clearly the precursor and blueprint for the Lancelot, Guinevere and King Arthur love-triangle (and also Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet), Tristan & Isolde is a classic story of star-crossed lovers on opposite sides of a bitter and blood thirsty conflict.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Irish - led by Donnchadh (David O'Hara) - take advantage of the chaos of the feuding British tribes to seize control of the island.

Years later, warlord Marke (Rufus Sewell) is still trying to unite the various tribes to take a stand against their Irish overlords, with his adopted son, and finest warrior, Tristan (James Franco) at his side.

However through a wildly far-fetched series of incidents (without which, of course, there would be no story), a near-dead Tristan meets, and falls in love with, Donnchadh's daughter, Isolde (Sophia Myles).

She nurses him back to the health, then sends him on his way before her father can find him.

However, Donnchadh devises a cunning plan to keep the tribes at each others' throats that involves a tournament for the hand of his daughter in wedlock.

Tristan is chosen by Marke as his champion. But when Tristan eventually discovers who Isolde is, he is torn by his loyalty and duty to the kindly Marke and his burning passion for Isolde.

An excellent blend of gritty Dark Ages swordplay, Machiavellian politicking and tragic romance, Tristan & Isolde has something for everyone.

Set against wonderfully authentic backdrops, without a hint of CGI, this is a cracking period piece that balances gruesome combat with heart-breaking romance perfectly.

A New Excalibur Is Being Forged

Before Tolkien.

Before Narnia.

Before fantasy became English.

From the mist-shrouded mountains of Wales comes a forgotten origin — a myth born in the land itself.

Excalibur returns to the earliest roots of the Arthurian legend — mysterious, magical, ancient, and forged in Welsh myth.

Featuring Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who, The Hobbit) in the official teaser. Bringing Fantasy Home to Wales. Follow the journey at www.excaliburfilm.com

Multi award-winning writer, director and producer, Dan Freeman's Excalibur, a £13 million fantasy feature drawing directly from Welsh mythological sources, has officially entered pre-production.

Written and directed by Dan Freeman (The Minister of Chance, Death Comes to Time), Excalibur tells the story behind the Arthurian legend as it appears in early Welsh tradition, including material associated with The Mabinogion, rather than later Anglo-French medieval romance.

The film aims to reclaim Arthur as a Welsh hero and place Wales at the centre of the fantasy tradition it helped inspire.

Dan said:

"We're not remaking the English version of Arthur. John Boorman did that in 1981 and it was perfect. We're going back to the source – the Welsh myths that inspired Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and every fantasy epic that followed. This time though we’re making it in Wales, about Wales, for Wales."

You can learn more about Dan's plans, the movie, and the creators involved at the website, and even get involved and support it through a monthly subscription.

Cult 1980's Fantasy Worth Watching (or Rewatching)

For some reason, fantasy movies feel especially good to revisit in winter, so in this video I decided to focus on the genre, specifically the 1980s.

You won’t find obvious picks like Krull, Excalibur, or Conan the Barbarian here, not because they don’t belong, but because you already know them well. Instead, this list makes room for slightly less popular titles.

Some proper classics here, including my boy, the pioneering Hawk The Slayer and his sleazy cousin Deathstalker, as well as Beastmaster and a wonderful Ray Harryhausen epic in the shape of Clash of The Titans (his Medusa is the definitive Medusa for me!).

Plenty of old school Dungeons & Dragons inspiration to be found in this lot as well.

Gwenevere (2023)

Poster by Sarah McIntyre

Banished from Camelot, Queen Gwenevere (Laura Frances Martin) must travel across wild country to the abbey where she is to live out her remaining years. She is accompanied by her loyal lady-in-waiting, Laudine (Joanna Neary) and young knight Sir Ruan (Jonny Hibbs). But their journey is interrupted by the menacing Knight of the Wild Woods...

Gwenevere: a film by Philip Reeve & Sarah Reeve, starring Laura Frances Martin, Joanna Neary, Jonny Hibbs, Tessa Arrowsmith-Brown, Sasha Innes and Roseanna Lambert. Guest appearance by Alan Lee. Shields designed by Sarah McIntyre. Music by Brian Mitchell. Filmed on Dartmoor.

As a long-time fan of the work of author Philip Reeve, I was delighted to learn that he was planning to bring his passion for Arthurian legends to life in a low-budget, short movie to be shot on Dartmoor, where he lives.

The resulting film, Gwenevere, was officially released on YouTube at the end of 2023.

It is a half-hour film following the titular queen (Laura Frances Martin) after she has been exiled from Camelot for her dalliance with Lancelot (Arran Hawkins).

She has been commanded to walk across country to the abbey where she will see out her days in quiet contemplation, accompanied only by her faithful handmaid, Laudine (an outstanding performance from Joanna Neary) and reluctant young knight Sir Ruan (Jonny Hibbs).

However, passing through some woodland their way is blocked by the mythical Knight of the Wild Woods (Niall Parker).

In the ensuing melee, Sir Ruan is rendered unconscious and the ladies bear him away to a nearby village, where they learn the story of the Knight of The Wild Woods.

Gwenevere then takes it upon herself to bring an end to the monstrous knight's reign of terror.

The beautiful short film is full of ethereal visuals and lyrical, evocative dialogue - as readers of Reeve's books have come to expect - strengthening the mythological bedrock upon which Gwenevere is built.

Dream logic and otherworldly rules lay at the heart of the story, while the smoke-filled forest is a visual tie to another classic of British fantasy film, my old favourite Hawk The Slayer.