Welcome to Tavern Talk Thursday! We are expanding! What started as a column dedicated to chatting with members of the TTRPG community is growing to talk about all things TTRPG. We aim to continue sharing all the things we love about the community and all the content within. So, consider this a little peek into our favorite worlds and creators as we explore everything we love.
Sometimes, when life gets a bit too hard, you need to settle into a high fantasy adventure. And when you can’t sit at a table with friends and adventure through a TTRPG, the next best thing is to cuddle up on the couch and enjoy a high-fantasy movie. With so many to choose from, we wanted to share a handful of our favorite choices. And by no means are we saying these are the best out there, but they are the ones that hold a special place in our hearts and are our go-to when making recommendations. So, settle in and enjoy.
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The Lord of the Rings
We could not write a list of our favorite epic fantasy films to watch without The Lord of the Rings. For many TTRPG players and fantasy lovers, this series is what started it all. Whether you read the books first or found the movies, it features everything we have come to connect with the genre. From an epic quest to save the world, to found family tropes, grizzly battles and that genuine push for adventure, it has everything. If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching this franchise yet, we suggest setting aside an entire weekend and going the extra mile with themed snacks and activities.
Labyrinth
If you grew up in the 80s or have loved fantasy your entire life, then you already know we had to include Labyrinth on this list. Jim Henson and George Lucas’s incredible high fantasy musical featured heartthrob David Bowe and the incredible Jennifer Connelly. It’s a wild adventure that is beautiful yet unsettling at times as Sarah races against time to solve the Goblin King’s puzzle. The film entirely lives up to its cult following fan base and is worthy of a watch at least once, if not multiple times in your life. Over the years, we have loved seeing TTRPG players bring their ideas of the world and inhabitants to life at the table and continue to expand on Henson and Lucas’s incredible creation.
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Princess Mononoke
While sometimes overlooked as being just another anime film from Japan, Hayao Miyazaki’s work, including Princess Mononoke, is pure genius. In fact, Princess Mononoke is Tavern Talk Thursday’s favorite Miyazaki film. The fantasy adventure is set in the Muromachi period and follows Ashitaka as he heads off to cure his cursed arm and finds himself amid an ongoing conflict. The breathtaking art aids in how powerful the movie’s storytelling truly is. We highly suggest adding this to your next fantasy movie binge, along with the other Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli works.
The Princess Bride
We know this might be a no-brainer to a large portion of the TTRPG community, but like The Lord of the Rings, we couldn’t leave The Princess Bride off this fantasy movies list. It has everything. Incredible storytelling, an epic adventure, true love, sword fighting, a corrupt prince, and a fantastic cast. We love recommending this movie to younger fantasy fans looking for something to enjoy that isn’t packed with gore or overly complicated plotlines. Like most fantasy films of the ’80s, this one is also very deserving of its cult following. We dare anyone to watch this movie and not spend the rest of their lives quoting different lines from it.
Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
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