Category: Legendary Pictures

For my pick in our “Legendary Pictures” series, I decided to take things back to another world, another time… in the age of wonder. I want to divulge why a film that I watched ad nauseum in my childhood to the point that our VHS copy was worn thin reminds me so much of The Legend of Zelda. I want to discuss my treasure, my fate: The Dark Crystal. I’m sure my fellow editors will no doubt convey this sentiment…

Over the years, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto has been outspoken about his love for classic Disney films and about their influence on his own creative work. As an aspiring cartoonist in his youth, he looked to the characters of Disney’s golden age for inspiration; and upon breaking into the video game industry, elements from those animated classics invariably informed his early works. Miyamoto has even admitted that Disney’s Peter Pan served as an inspiration for Link in The Legend of…

It’s beyond doubt that the myths of King Arthur and the mystical sword Excalibur influenced many aspects of the Zelda series, particularly in Ocarina of Time. As a result, Excalibur, based on Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory, is possibly the most Zelda-like movie that can be found. The film’s setting, characters, and depiction of the Hero’s Journey have a clear connection to the core elements of the Zelda series, and it thus succeeds in bringing the the core elements of the…

I like to consider myself a Disney enthusiast, and I’m happy to say that I’ve seen every animated classic that Disney has under its belt. Disney has many major franchises under its umbrella of influence, but the thing that puts Disney on top was its animation. Everyone knows the classics: Snow White, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, and the list goes on. Many of these classics we’ve watched since childhood, but there are a few of Disney’s animated…

A Knight’s Tale was released in cinemas back in 2001. Produced and directed by Brian Helgeland, this adventure / comedy film stars the late Heath Ledger as peasant William Thatcher. The story follows the adventures of William as he seeks to “change his stars” and become a knight. In other words, this is our “quest” in the film. Along the way, he gains the respect of friends old and new, and falls in love with noblewoman Jocelyn, who has also…

When I first started watching anime — and realized how much I enjoyed it — it felt like my eyes were opened to a whole other world, and somewhat literally. With few exceptions, I hadn’t grown up with Japanese animation and it wasn’t until high school that I was fully introduced to the genre, and by extension, Studio Ghibli films. It all started during a vacation to Colorado. Anime was a staple in the household where we were staying, with…

Guided by an old man, wise by age and cloaked in mystery, a youth takes a blade with ideas of heroism. A life wandering at the unknown and longing for adventure is cut short abruptly when his home is destroyed by the forces of evil. The youth is left with no choice but to trust his inner courage and face the growing evils in a world otherwise foreign. Faced with hardships, the youth rises to the challenge for the characters…