Coelacanth | 28 Apr 2015 7:16 a.m. PST |
With fantasy media so commonplace today, what movies or shows inspire you to go down into the dungeon? Here are a few of mine: Atlantis (TV series, dir. Justin Molotnikov et al. 2013-15) Loosely based on Greek mythology, this show is no good for schoolwork, but just loaded with dungeoncrawls (I think Queen Ariadne made level this season). It's a fun series, but not for purists. Big Trouble in Little China (dir John Carpenter, 1986) Set in the modern day (well, the 1980s anyhow) this movie has all the earmarks of a good dungeon expedition. A small band of adventurers (complete with wizard) descend into the depths of the Earth to rescue a princess or two, and to defeat an ancient evil. One of Carpenter's most entertaining films. Kontroll (dir. Nimród Antal, 2003) Set completely in the Budapest Metro, there are heroes (ticket collectors!) villains (Gyalogkakukk, a.k.a. Bootsie) and a monster of sorts. The movie doesn't really follow the dungeoncrawl structure, but it does inspire me to use a subway system for a dungeon game some day. Also a great movie. As one can see, I haven't restricted myself to the "high fantasy" genre in making my choices. Thanks in advance for your suggestions and remarks. Ron |
PatrickWR | 28 Apr 2015 8:45 a.m. PST |
I would love to see a pure dungeoncrawl movie… in fact, given the confining nature of the set pieces, this could probably be done convincingly on a moderate budget. You can do a lot with tight corridors, dim lighting, character tension and a few monsters. |
latto6plus2 | 28 Apr 2015 9:04 a.m. PST |
Its a fairly short bit of the film but I like when they infiltrate the vampire nest in Thirty Days After |
RavenscraftCybernetics | 28 Apr 2015 9:49 a.m. PST |
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mad monkey 1 | 28 Apr 2015 10:54 a.m. PST |
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optional field | 28 Apr 2015 11:14 a.m. PST |
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willthepiper | 28 Apr 2015 12:02 p.m. PST |
13th Warrior anyone?
Really, any Beowulf vs Grendel movie will have a dungeon crawl as Beowulf goes after Grendel's mama. Fellowship of the Ring has the Mines of Moria, and The Hobbit has both Goblin Town and Bilbo exploring the Lonely Mountain. Labyrinth is terrific with young Jennifer Connolly on a dungeon crawl to rescue her baby brother from David Bowie. |
DeHewes | 28 Apr 2015 12:48 p.m. PST |
The finale of Aliens and the raid on the temple early in the first Conan film are some good examples, but a whole film? I'm drawing a blank. |
JSchutt | 28 Apr 2015 2:48 p.m. PST |
Probably half the Dr. Who episodes are crawls through some confined spaces or the other. I was thinking it was a required part of the plot formula. Certainly they must have full time staffers looking for abandonded, decaying, leaky, pipe and conduit laden tunnels, mineshafts and power plants for Who and his pals to run thru! Lots of fun. |
Dynaman8789 | 28 Apr 2015 2:53 p.m. PST |
> I was thinking it was a required part of the plot formula Nope, just the budget… Did "Wizards and Warriors" have a Dungeon Crawl episode? It would be perfect for it. No one has mentioned it yet but the most obvious is the first Lord of the Rings movie of course. The first and second Hobbit films too (but they are not as good). |
f u u f n f | 28 Apr 2015 3:08 p.m. PST |
Sadly all three of the Dungeons & Dragons movies are rather lacking on the dungeons part. Just a few minutes here and there. Of course that these movies are even called Dungeons & Dragons is pretty sad itself. The best "dungeoncrawls" are usually sci-fi movies on spaceships or space stations. Even those underwater monster flicks (Deep Star Six, Leviathan, etc) were pretty inspiring. |
skippy0001 | 28 Apr 2015 5:01 p.m. PST |
Everyone forgot the ultimate Dungeoncrawl-- Die Hard! Mclane took out a whole level with a tad too much C4…. |
Coelacanth | 28 Apr 2015 5:22 p.m. PST |
The finale of Aliens and the raid on the temple early in the first Conan film are some good examples, but a whole film? It need not be a whole film, any story with definite elements of a dungeoncrawl will do. I'm trying to open up the definition of dungeon adventures into a wider variety of times and places. Aliens and Conan the Barbarian will do just fine. The best "dungeoncrawls" are usually sci-fi movies on spaceships or space stations. This is true. Ron P.S. I am surprised that nobody has mentioned The Goonies yet. |
saltflats1929 | 28 Apr 2015 9:35 p.m. PST |
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Parzival | 29 Apr 2015 10:18 a.m. PST |
Th opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark is basically a dungeoncrawl focusing on traps (and who hasn't used or encountered all of them? The other Indiana Jones films also all have dungeoncrawl moments, with the best being The Last Crusade and its puzzle-path to the Holy Grail. The hero enters Vermithrax's lair in Dragonslayer and kills the dragon hatchlings, so that briefly counts. Elaborate haunted house movies are dungeoncrawls of a sort, and nearly al vampire movies feature a trip into the vampire's vaults. |
Redmenace | 30 Apr 2015 4:43 a.m. PST |
There is a show called Legacy of the Lodoss War. It's basically a fantasy rpg inspired anime. It had atleast one episode witha short dungeon crawl.. link |
Landorl | 30 Apr 2015 8:24 a.m. PST |
Would Krull count? At the end they had to go through the enemy fortress. How about Labyrinth? Complete dungeon crawl! Goonies? booby traps, bad guys, and a treasure! |
Coelacanth | 30 Apr 2015 7:47 p.m. PST |
I forgot that in most of the Ray Harryhausen fantasy movies Sinbad, Jason, et al. were always going into dungeons. The hero enters Vermithrax's lair in Dragonslayer and kills the dragon hatchlings, so that briefly counts. If I remember right, he was carrying a shield made of dragon scales that his girlfriend had scavenged from that very same lair (going in completely unarmed!) You can see who wears the trousers in that relationship. Ron |
Jakar Nilson | 01 May 2015 5:56 p.m. PST |
There are two Record of Lodoss War series. The first was a 13-episode OVA and contains dungeon crawls in at least four episodes. The second was a 27-episode TV series, that mostly concerns the next generation of heroes, but I haven't watched it. |
miniMo | 07 May 2015 12:17 p.m. PST |
Both Conan movies. Indiana Jones. Several episodes of the Dungeons & Dragons animated series. |
Redmenace | 13 May 2015 6:10 p.m. PST |
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snurl1 | 18 May 2015 9:56 p.m. PST |
Legend, with Tom Cruise, Krull Journey to the Center of the Earth Alien Vs. Predator |