10 Most Popular Fantasy Movies - October 2009 Update!

In one of the very first posts of this blog, I presented a list over the 10 most popular fantasy movies ever. I believe I'll start this new week with an update. If there has been any changes, that is.Let's see...

Here are the 10 most popular fantasy movies at IMDB (Internet Movie Database) at the moment.

(The number in brackets after placement shows the rating the movie received from the users - out of a possible 10)

Strangely enough, the leader of the first list seems to have disappeared entirely - while still remaining at the 1st place in the Sci-Fi genre.Even more strange is that Star Wars 4 and 6 are both considered "Fantasy".

Anyway, here is the list. With Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope) as number 1. 

1. (8.8) Star Wars (1977)

2. (8.8) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

3. (8.7) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

4. (8.6) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

5. (8.6) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

6. (8.4) Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (Spirited Away, 2001)

7. (8.4) Laberinto del fauno, El (Pan's Labyrith, 2006)

So far no newcomers, but then - an old b/w classic has made it all the way up to 9th place! It's Fritz Lang's dystopia Metropolis, one of the movies that inspired the young George Lucas (director of Star Wars).

8. (8.4) Metropolis (1927)

What is even more surprising perhaps, is that another movie from the 30th Century has made it into the list: Sherlock Jr from 1924 with the amazing Buster Keaton!

9. (8.4) Sherlock Jr (1924)

10. (8.3) Det Sjunde Inseglet (The Seventh Seal, 1957)

This means there are 4 movies in the top 10 (5, 7, 8 and 9) that are yet to be seen by me. Note to self. The movie that has left since last time is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Challenging the top 10 from it's 11th position is The Green Mile, based on the novel by Stephen King.

The 10 Best Power Metal Albums

You find a list of 10 powerful albums and realize like I did that you have some great unheard albums to catch up on soon...

ower Metal is one of the metal genres closest related to fantasy and the fantastic you can find. The two groups I wrote about a couple of days ago - in the post
The Two Kings of Epic Fantasy Metal! - Blind guardian and former Rhapsody (now known as Rhapsody of Fire) are actually both usually labeled as Power Metal.

From my favorite site for music lovers and album collectors, rateyourmusic.com, I have found a top 10 list over the best power metal albums ever recorded according to the users of the site.

The list goes as follows:

1. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side (1995)

2. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (1988)

3. Kamelot - The Black Halo (2005)

4. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

5. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I (1987)

6. Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction (1984)

7. Virgin Steele - Invictus (1998)

8. Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003)

9. Lost Horizon - Awakening the World (2001)

10. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free (1995)

I have to admit that I actually only have one of these albums in my CD collection (Nightfall...), although most of the tracks from the two Helloween albums are included in the double-CD compilation Treasure chest that I do own.

Seems like I have got some really interesting musical experiences ahead of me (saw that Gamma Ray album at a really nice price the last time I was at the local record store). Hope you can find some undiscovered pieces of majestic gold as well.