1. The Hobbit (1978 animated movie version)
The animated Hobbit film was by far one of the gretest influences on me growing up. I was a rather aimless little kid, sure I played outside, ran around pretending to be a cop (or typically a robber) but honestly nothing interested me all that much.
One summer night my mom basically tore me from a chruch picnic and took me home. I was mad as all get out at the time because while I wasn’t really doing anything I was having fun. We got home and she put on the CBS Sunday Night Family Movie … The Hobbit. My life hasn’t been the same since.
Oh sure there are tons of systems that I could go walking around in, there are video games and MMOs … but none of them are The Hobbit, not in look or feel or song. They’re fun, but I’ve never been able to emulate the feel of that movie in my mind.
2. Monster Squad
Here is something I do not expect many people to know. After all out of 368 people in my graduating class only two others even heard of the film!
From Wikipedia:
The Monster Squad is a 1987 comedy/horror film written by Shane Black and Fred Dekker and directed by Fred Dekker (who also wrote/directed Night of the Creeps). It was released by Tri-Star Pictures on August 14, 1987. The film features the Universal Monsters (re-imagined by a team of special effects artists including Stan Winston), led by Count Dracula. They, in turn, combat a group of savvy kids out to keep them from controlling the world. This is also a twist on horror movies as it reimagines classic monsters unleashed in a 1980s setting, and the film also makes a barb at incessant horror sequels when a “film within a film” is questioned as to how many times can a serial killer come back from the grave.
I have in the past been able to mimic the feel of this movie using the West End Game’s Ghostbusters ruleset, but it still is missing something, mainly the childishness innocence over the whole situations. Ther is only so many ways an adult or higher-up teenager can go about pretending to be a cocky ten year old before it gets annoying or tiring.
I think for this my best bet would have to be to force my daughter and her friends to watch the movie and then referee a game set in the same world. Maybe in modern times after Dracula manages to break out of limbo!
3. Legend
Yes, Legend is the proto-typical fantasy setting but one thing sets it apart, one thing that can never be replicated or copied and thus makes being able to play in the world of Legend impossible: Tim Curry’s voice. Honestly, unless Curry appeared at my door holding the Red Box and smiling I will never get to have adventures with Jack or fight against th eLord of Darkness … I now wish I still had Tangerine Dream’s soundtrack on my phone.
4. Willow
Honestly I just want to be Madmartigan. That’s all.
5. Masters of the Universe (Film, not the cartoon)
The must underrated cartoon to film adaptation of all time. All time! This movie was epically awesome, the connection of Earth to Eternia through the key, Skelator coming through a massive key hole portal. The final battle! Everything about this movie made me cheer in delight as a young kid. I lloved every moment of it and will personally face in honorable combat all ditractors!
Okay now than, from a serious stand point this game is one giant Plantery Romance story thrown on its head. Instead of the Manly Earthling being transported to an alien planet, the Manily Alien gets transported to modern (read 80s) Earth and has to adapt yet be epicly awesome all the same.
I could see playing this game going two ways. 1 as a group of Eternians trapped on Earth ro visa versa. either way, awesome.
