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The Fantasy Film (New Approaches to Film Genre)
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Review
"Written in prose that is careful and cogent, the book provides a defence of what Fowkes calls the "orphan" genre (unloved; neglected; even, perhaps, of questionable legitimacy), one which she argues has long been excluded from serious analysis by "dogmas of realism" that privilege "codes of . . . mimesis." (Times Literary Supplement, 18 February 2011)
Review
“With celebratory spirit, wicked scholarship and impish wit, Katherine Fowkes mines the labyrinth of cult classics and box office hits, striking Fantasy’s mother lode right where timeless stories meet popular culture – and where fans and theorists collide.Readers will find this book as illuminating and entertaining as the great films of the genre.” Catherine Warren, President, FanTrust Entertainment Strategies & FanTrust.com
"A lively, informative, and much needed work on contemporary cinema’s most lucrative genre. Fowkes’s discussion of fantasy films and their constitutive elements—from rabbits to reincarnation and homes to Hogwarts—is a thought-provoking and invigorating read." Harry Benshoff, University of North Texas
"This is a terrific, well-written survey of the fantasy film genre. Theoretically sophisticated and well-grounded historically, it provides illuminating readings of the most popular recent examples of a genre that’s never been more robust." Peter Brunette, Reynolds Professor of Film Studies, Wake Forest University, and Film Critic, The Hollywood Reporter.
"The Fantasy Film is an exciting and readable adventure into the formulas and pleasures of films unjustly neglected in favor of their genre kin. This book will help remedy that." Janet Staiger, University of Texas
"Fowkes’s book provides a lively, informed and accessible introduction to the important area of Fantasy Film. The author’s enthusiasm for her subject is unmistakeable as she moves from classics such as The Wizard of Oz to contemporary fantasy blockbusters such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter movies." Peter Hutchings, Northumbria University
“An illuminating analysis of key American fantasy films, from The Wizard of Oz to The Lord of the Rings. This study has a keen eye for the literary antecedents and the many guises of fantasy, including comics and animation film." Ernest Mathijs, University of British Columbia
"Meticulously researched, elegantly written, and filled with insight, this is a graceful tribute to an important but elusive genre that is often overlooked. Katherine Fowkes has a deep and wise appreciation for these films that will enlighten those who know them well and inspire those who have not seen them to fire up their Netflix queue and start watching." Nell Minow, Beliefnet Movie Critic
07/06/2011
Many people with a scholarly interest in fantasy film have found it to be a fairly bare area, especially in comparison to science fiction and horror. This makes Katherine A. Fowkes's The Fantasy Film a particularly valuable contribution. It gives intelligent treatments to canonical fantasy films from The Wizard of Oz to the Harry Potter films, and also gives a welcome level of attention to films like Harvey, Big and Groundhog Day, which do not contain otherworldly settings or special effects. The Fantasy Film would be a good textbook for a genre class on fantasy.
12/09/2010
This is a great book for avid movie goers and film students. It's fun to read and covers a wide range of movies and styles. Unlike 'textbook' film books, this one reads as if it was intended for anyone to pick it up but it still manages to provide a lot of essential background in film history and theory. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes fantasy movies (like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings), older movies (like Wizard of Oz or Harvey), or is generally interested in how movies function as stories. It would make a great text for college courses in film because it presents major theories and approaches to film study in an unintimidating and fun context. Great read--I recommend it highly!
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