Five Movies for Fans of “The Lord of the Rings”

The film version of “The Lord of the Rings”, directed by Peter Jackson, is counted among one of the most successful film adaptations in the world of cinematography, and is also considered one of the best movies ever. Although it’s difficult to find movies that can match the legendary trilogy, fans of Tolkien’s work should like these five movies.

“Willow” (1988)

Born in captivity, trapped by the powerful queen and sorceress Bavmorda (Jean Marsh), a girl called Elora is born, which, according to a prophecy, should take the queen’s throne. The ruler therefore decided to kill her, but her nanny manages to save her by letting her flow down the river.

The water carries Elora to a dwarves’ village, where the farmer Willow (Warwick Davis) finds her and is given a difficult task of enabling her to realize the prophecy. In his adventure, he is joined by the warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), legendary creatures called brownies and the sorceress Raziel (Patricia Hayes).

The movie was produced by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, and the imaginative world depicted in this movie earned “Willow” the status of a cult work.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” will notice many elements inspired by Tolkien’s Middle Earth in this movie.

“Time Bandits” (1981)

The fantasy comedy movie “Time Bandits” sees the young Kevin (Craig Warnock) accidentally becoming a member of a team of dwarves who travel through time and steal treasure. This unusual company goes through various adventures, from the time of Napoleon, through the Middle Ages, all the way to the era of legends where they face primeval evil.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005)

“The Chronicles of Narnia” is a movie based on a series of books by C. S. Lewis, Tolkien’s contemporary and friend.

The story begins near London, at the beginning of the Second World War, when a group of children, hiding from the bombing, spend their time in an old house where they discover an unusual wardrobe. This seemingly ordinary piece of furniture is in fact a portal to another world, covered in ice and snow, where the children go through many adventures together with the wise lion Aslan, who is supposed to fight back against the evil White Which.

Both Tolkien and Lewis drew inspiration from Nordic myths, which is noticeable in this movie too.

“Tolkien” (2019)

The biographical drama “Tolkien” centers on the legendary writer (Nicholas Hoult), and the film follows his life from the school days to his battlefield service during the First World War.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” novels and movie adaptations are likely to appreciate the insight into Tolkien’s past and inspiration and see how his friendships, his war experience and his love of languages were infused in his work.

The animated film “The Lord of the Rings” (1978)

The animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” is also based on Tolkien’s books. In a story which encompasses only the period from the beginning of “The Fellowship of the Ring” to the first half of “The Two Towers”, Frodo is voiced by Christopher Guard, and Jackson once said that it was this cartoon that inspired him to film his famous adaptation.

The Lord of the Rings

Willow

Time Bandits

The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

animated film The Lord of the Rings

Peter Jackson

Tolkien

C S Lewis

Jean Marsh

Warwick Davis

Val Kilmer

Patricia Hayes

George Lucas

Ron Howard

Craig Warnock

Nicholas Hoult

Christopher Guard

Nordic mythology

Nordic myths