10. Firefly (Series) - This one might take people by surprise, but if you haven't seen it believe me, Firefly really embraces the western genre. Yes they are in space some of the time, and yes this might appear on another list, but come on! This show did less with a full seasons than most shows do with several seasons.
9. High Noon - I originally saw this film in my Film Study Class. Classic film, with a basic but powerful premise, a showdown at High Noon.
8. Once Upon a Time in the West - Can you believe this movie was a financial flop in the US? Me neither. Many people consider this to be one of the greatest westerns of all time, and for good reason. The cast of this film is amazing.
7. The Searchers - John Wayne... nuff said.
6. Fist Full of Dollars - One of Eastwood's "Man with No Name" films. There is a reason there is more than one. The formula works and Eastwood is awesome.
5. 3:10 to
4. The Magnificent Seven - Was a movie ever so set up to be a gamer movie? Seven men are brought together to protect a small village from a band of outlaws. Sounds like a great game to me.
3. The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - This was my father's favorite western and we used to watch it a lot when I was a kid. In many ways this movie exemplifies everything that a western is. This movie is an enduring classic, and is heaped with praise even by modern filmmakers. Quentin Tarantino has said that he believes the film is the best directed film of all time.
2. Deadwood (Series) - This show was like a long running Aces and Eights game. This was a great series and is available on DVD. If you are planning on running or playing in a A&8 game, go pick it up.
1. Unforgiven - In my opinion the ultimate western. Eastwood is nothing short of amazing in this movie. It is gritty and realistic, and cuts through a lot of the glamorizing of how things were in the old west. This movie shows that one doesn't call his enemies out to the center of town, he waits until he is drunk and shoots him in the back. A Must See.
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Once Upon a Time in
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
American Outlaws
10. The Labyrinth – Ok this isn’t shameless self promotion, I promise! This movie really was great, and kids still love it today. Jim Henson did an amazing job in this film… plus it has David Bowie. Bonus!
9. Conan the Adventurer – By Crom, it’s Conan again! This is actually a cartoon series that aired in the early 90’s. It should not be confused with the live action television series. To prevent confusion, and to give you a glimpse how awesome this cartoon was (It was like a D&D campaign in cartoon form) here is the intro! WARNING: Do not start the video unless you are prepared for something amazing.
8. Legend – Holy hell, it’s Tom Cruise before he lost his mind! This movie had one of the coolest and scariest looking villains in movie history.
7. The Chronicles of Narnia - Though they haven’t met with much commercial success these films are actually quite good. From magic items, to fantastic creatures, the Chronicles of Narnia have plenty of things that can be dropped right into your game.
6. The Wizard of Oz – I know some people are going to be pissed that his is so low on the list. If this was just about how great it was as children’s a movie it would probably be at the top followed by Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but this is about Gaming! That having been said there is still plenty of gamer inspiration to be drawn from the Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West is an archetype that can be used as a template for a villain in your own game.
5. The Goonies – Simply amazing. This remains one of my favorite films to this day. Spielberg and Donner really created a masterpiece with this one. It is also teeming with gaming inspiration. One Eyed Willie’s traps could fit into your own game to provide an unique challenge for your players.
4. The Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling is a very gifted writer. All of her books were very good, but the same cannot be said for the films. The first two, directed by Christopher Columbus, were excellent adaptation, but after that things get a bit more sketchy. Still the story is still there (or some of it at least) and the series has inspired millions and millions of people around the world. Voldemort is another classic villain that can provide inspiration for a villain in your own game.
3. The Neverending Story – The entire movie was meant to inspire the imagination and succeeds spectacularly. This movie really shows children that there are not limits to your imagination. It also provides a deal of bizarre creatures that can be put into any fantasy game.
2. Dungeons and Dragons – The beloved cartoon series of the 80s, not the movie, silly! Come on, you knew it was on this list! Venger, Dungeon Master, and the rest of the gang had some amazing adventures. Was it corny? Yes. Was it silly? Yes. Was it great? You better believe it.
1. The Hobbit – A timeless classic. The music, the animation, the voice acting, and the heart warming tale penned by perhaps the greatest fantasy author of all time make this a must see. Yes a live action movie is on the way, and yes I fully believe it will be amazing, but I think there will always be a place for the classic animated movie as well.
Skip It
The Return of the King (The Cartoon) – Why? Watch this.
The Black Caldron
