More adventurers and superheroes throughout the ages
Batman D: Tim Burton (1989) 126m
Buy Amazon
The joyously camp Batman of the 1966-68 TV series was replaced by the "Dark Knight" of Gotham City in this faithful rendition of the caped crusader's evolution in contemporary DC Comics. Michael Keaton is appropriately moody and brooding in the lead role, but it is Jack Nicholson's Smilex-gassing Joker that steals the show.
Sean Connery voices Draco the dragon, who teams up with Bowen (Dennis Quaid) - the last of the great dragon-slayers - in a travelling roadshow designed to convince the masses of their worth. As fate would have it, circumstances arise that pit them against real evil once again. Lots of terrific action, humour and heroism.
Kull the Conqueror D: John Nicolella (1997) 96m
Buy Amazon
Campy sword & sorcery fantasy with Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) in the lead role in a story based on a Robert E Howard character. The barbarian Kull, the son of Conan, is given a crown by a king he has killed in battle. It's all good fun when you toss in an evil goddess, a plot to overthrow the throne and some great Slovakian locations.
The Mummy D: Stephen Sommers (1999) 124m
Buy Amazon
Terrific film starring Brendan Fraser as a rogue adventurer out to help an Egyptologist find the lost city of Hamunaptra. Once there they accidentally unleash the mummy of Imhotep and all manner of mayhem ensues. The critics didn't like it much, but fans will tell you the blend of action, humour, adventure and horror is just about right.
The 13th Warrior D: John McTiernan (1992) 102m
Buy Amazon
In the 10th century an Arab is banished from his homeland thanks to his romantic interests. He joins up with a motley band of Vikings whose personal habits he finds pretty disgusting. Unbeknownst to the hero, he is earmarked to be the 13th warrior in a brutal battle against unspeakable evil. Loosely based on the Beowulf myth.
Spider-Man D: Sam Raimi (2002) 121m
Buy Amazon
Claimed by both the fantasy and sci-fi communities, Spider-Man is a passable superhero blockbuster that pretty much offers up what most would expect. A high school geek (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically-modified spider and attains spidery super-powers. He squares off against the Green Goblin and goes OK with his girl.
The Scorpion King D: Chuck Russell (2002) 92m
Buy Amazon
Don't expect too much from a film starring a WWF wrestler (The Rock), but if sword & sorcery that bears little relevance to real history is your thing you might give this a try. In the age before the Egyptian pharaohs an Akkadian assassin takes on an evil king. One of them will end up ruling the desert as the Scorpion King.
The Dark Knight D: Christopher Nolan (2008) 152m
Buy Amazon
The second instalment in Christopher Nolan's Batman series is a marked improvement over 2005's Batman Begins. Featuring a remarkable performance from the late-Heath Ledger as the Joker, he described the character as a, "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy". Fine performances all around make this the best Batman in a long while.
