The Return of Sword & Sorcery Cinema?

[Yora]

I haven't seen it, but The Northman is a fairly high-profile, generally well-reviewed movie that seems S&S-ish.

Really? Isn't it just a period piece where some characters occasionally have weird visions?

 

[RuinousPowers]

It's sad that not a single one of the classic S&S movies mentioned in the OP came to pass.

 

[ART!]

Really? Isn't it just a period piece where some characters occasionally have weird visions?

When I Google for "is The Northman sword & sorcery", a lot of the results refer to it as such, so...? Definitions of S&S vary, and some people use it to refer to any gritty, swords-y stuff that has a fantasy element to it. Again, I haven't seen it myself.

 

[CapnZapp]

I haven't seen it, but The Northman is a fairly high-profile, generally well-reviewed movie that seems S&S-ish.

I can understand how someone reading a plot summary could arrive to that conclusion. However, I would say it is very far from what I think of when somebody says "Sword & Sorcery movie". It aims for far different feelings and emotions, taking itself very seriously, being super serious and theatrical and "arty". It does contains many elements from the genre, but if I have to find any connection, I'd call it a deconstruction of the genre (not saying that was its intention). Anyhoo, it certainly did not slake my thirst for "proper" S&S goodness.

 

[CapnZapp]

We also have The Witcher on television, which goes a long way to making up for the lack.

I really wish I could agree, but I find that the way the showrunners have revealed themselves wanting to take their show in a "new direction" rather than remaining faithful to Andrzej Sapkowski's works (or CD Projekt Red's works for that matter) manifests in unfortunate ways.

 

[CapnZapp]

It's sad that not a single one of the classic S&S movies mentioned in the OP came to pass.

Agree.

 

[CapnZapp]

Here's a Wikipedia list if anyone wants to comment:

That list conflates "sword & sorcery" with "epic fantasy".

 

[Yora]

"Not Lord of the Rings" is literally the most fundamental definition of Sword & Sorcery. That's why Moorcock and Leiber were thinking about creating a new term for their works in the first place.

 

[aco175]

I love Sword and Sorcery, still cannot believe the movie was voted out early in the poll last month. Talk about CGI

 

[Paul Farquhar]

People didn't like the 2011 Conan the Barbarian reboot with Jason Momoa, but I did.

It was entertaining but totally forgettable. And (if I haven't forgotten) it is more a good vs. evil Heroic Fantasy plot rather than sword and sorcery.

Onward is more of a kids' buddy movie, but I think technically fits.

Heroic fantasy, sure. Sword and Sorcery? Not even close.

The Great Wall has sword and sorcery elements.