Top Ten Fantasy Movies

Posted on April 15, 2026 by erictaveren

Today’s category: Fantasy. Possibly my favorite genre across all media. The stakes are usually world-ending, and the stories live on metaphor and cultural commentary.

Fantasy has always been my comfort zone. Books, movies, games, D&D, Magic: The Gathering… if there are dragons, magic, or morally questionable wizards, I’m in. This is also the genre that probably shaped my writing the most. Somewhere in my brain, a dark elf detective is constantly making poor life choices because I grew up on this stuff.

As always, these aren’t ranked. They’re just the ones that stuck with me.

Prepare for swords, spells, and at least one extremely questionable comedy.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Pan’s Labyrinth
Your Highness
Reign of Fire
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The Brothers Grimm
Willow
DragonHeart
Enchanted

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

I already talked about this in adaptations, but it deserves to be here too. This movie reignited mainstream fantasy in a way we’re still benefiting from. It’s cozy, it’s epic, and it perfectly captures the feeling of leaving home for the first time. Of all the movies I’m waiting for my kid to be old enough to watch, this might be at the top of the list.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

One of the most satisfying endings in movie history. It somehow balances massive battles with deeply personal moments. And yes, it has a lot of endings. That was a criticism I had after my first watch. But there’s just so much going on. Give me the endings. I’ve invested eight hours (extended editions) already. I want closure and it gives me closure. Also, the “you bow to no one” line? Chokes me up every time.

Pan’s Labyrinth

This is fantasy as art. Dark, beautiful, terrifying, and layered. It’s a fairy tale that refuses to be comforting. The creatures, the symbolism, the emotional weight—it’s unforgettable. There are two movies I’ve seen a the theatre where I was literally on the edge of my seat. This is one. Utterly fantastic.

Your Highness

I will defend this movie forever. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it immature? Absolutely. Did I laugh harder than I expected? Also yes. It’s a perfect parody of fantasy tropes, and sometimes you just need a movie that knows exactly how dumb it is. It probably didn’t hurt that at the time of release I had huge crushes on both Natalie and Zooey.

Reign of Fire

Dragons versus modern military. That’s the pitch. That’s the movie. And it works. Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey being absolutely unhinged, and a world that feels gritty and lived in. This is one of those movies I will stop and watch anytime it’s on. This is a dragon movie that works.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

After all the bad D&D movies that preceded this, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But holy crap did it deliver. It’s funny, heartfelt, and feels like an actual D&D campaign. The tone, the party dynamics, the chaos—it all lands. Also, it captures the spirit of collaborative storytelling, which is probably why I loved it so much.

The Brothers Grimm

Weird. Very weird. But I love the idea of folklore coming to life and the blurred line between tricksters and heroes. It feels like a story someone would tell by candlelight in a tavern while the storm rages outside. Also, there were so many times I forgot it was Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. They weren’t famous actors, they were the Brothers Grimm.

Willow

Pure adventure. This movie is messy and charming and full of heart. I also had the benefit of watching it for the first time at such a young age that I didn’t know any of the actors. Now when I watch it, I don’t see Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. I see Willow and Madmartigan.

DragonHeart

If you grew up in the 90s, this movie has a special place in your heart. Sean Connery as a dragon. A friendship story. A surprisingly emotional ending. And a good reminder that David Thewlis is rarely to be trusted.

Enchanted

This movie is so much smarter than it gets credit for. It’s a loving parody of Disney while also being a genuinely sweet romance. It’s funny, self-aware, and Amy Adams is perfect. And if you don’t have a perpetual crush on James Marsden, there’s something wrong with you. Plus, it proves that fantasy can exist in the real world without losing its magic.

What fantasy movies would you add? Which ones did I miss? And more importantly, which ones will you never forgive me for including? Let me know. I’m always ready to defend my choices like a wizard with too many spell slots and not enough common sense.

Top Ten Adaptations

Posted on April 12, 2026 by erictaveren

We continue our journey through my ever-growing pile of movie lists. Today’s category: Adaptations. Books to movies. The eternal battlefield. The place where readers go to be disappointed and filmmakers go to be judged.

The book is often better. Almost always. But sometimes the movie does something different. Sometimes it captures the spirit instead of the details. And sometimes it pulls off the impossible and actually improves on the source material.

I’m not trying to do a comparison here of book versus movie. They’re inherently different and comparable enjoyment is, like most things super subjective. The goal here is simply to find movies based on books and base my judgment on the quality of the movie.

These are the ones that worked best for me.

Fellowship of the Ring
The Green Mile
Jurassic Park
Misery
Fight Club
Life of Pi
The Three Musketeers
12 Years a Slave
Contact
I, Robot

Honorable Mention: Cloud Atlas

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Fellowship of the Ring

This is the gold standard. The very first movie that came to mind for adaptation. Massive world, massive cast, massive expectations, and somehow Peter Jackson pulled it off. As much as I love the book, I love the movie more (in no small part because they skipped Bombadil). Also, the music alone deserves its own category/award/statue/anything and everything. Bridge of Khazad-dum.

The Green Mile

Stephen King adaptations are wildly inconsistent. For every masterpiece there are… other things. But this one captures the heart of the story perfectly. The performances, the pacing, the emotion—it all works. Tom Hanks is always amazing, but Michael Clarke Duncan… that big man tenderness is was makes the emotion work. It’s long, but it earns every minute.

Jurassic Park

The book is darker. The movie is more wonder-filled. Both are incredible. This is one of the best examples of understanding the medium. Spielberg knew exactly what to change and why. Crichton is one of my favorite authors, and this has the best bits of Crichton working with one of the best creators of cinema. That final T-Rex roar… iconic.

Misery

Another King win. This movie is proof that you don’t need explosions or giant monsters to create tension. Just two people, one room, and Kathy Bates being absolutely terrifying. Just looking at that sledgehammer on the cover gives me shivers.

Fight Club

One of the few adaptations where people regularly argue the movie might be better. It’s sharp, weird, uncomfortable, and incredibly rewatchable. I think this was my first real exposure to Edward Norton and with very few exceptions he simply makes everything better. I almost didn’t include this, mainly because I’m not supposed to talk about it. :)

Life of Pi

This one feels almost unfilmable on the page. The fact that it works visually is a miracle. It’s beautiful, philosophical, and somehow makes you emotionally invested in a boy and a tiger on a boat. I’m not a religious person, but this movie makes religion seem real. It’s hard to appreciate the metaphor.

The Three Musketeers (1993)

Is this the most faithful adaptation? No. Is it the most fun? Yes. The cast is ridiculous in the best way. The sword fights, the humor, the energy—it feels like a story being told around a campfire or your grandpa talking about that walleye he tried to catch for ten years. It almost makes me feel good about Charlie Sheen.

12 Years a Slave

Here it is again, on another list. And rightfully so. Another powerful and necessary adaptation. It’s one thing to read history. It’s another to see it brought to life. I can’t say enough good things about it. The restraint in the filmmaking makes the brutality hit even harder.

Contact

This one might be controversial, but I love it. I watched it at a young age and was blown away by the concepts. And that’s what it’s supposed to do. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and asks big questions about science, faith, and humanity. The book goes deeper into the science, but the movie finds the emotional core.

I, Robot

Very loosely based on Asimov, which usually makes book fans grumpy. But adaptions don’t always have to be 100% faithful. That would arguably make the movie bad. I, Robot is fun, it’s thoughtful, and it introduces big ideas about AI and ethics in a very accessible way. And Alan Tudyk was the perfect Sonny.

Honorable Mention: Cloud Atlas

This movie is on the list because it’s based on my favorite book. Does it work perfectly? No. Does it capture the fun ideas and the interconnectivity of the book? Yes. Are some of the accents and performances forced? Definitely. But I’ll still watch it whenever it’s on.

What adaptations would you add? Which ones did Hollywood completely ruin for you? I’m always ready to debate with the passion of someone who has absolutely said “the book was better” at least once a week for most of my life.

Top Ten Drama Movies

Posted on April 7, 2026 by erictaveren

I’m back with another list. Turns out when you start making movie lists, it’s very hard to stop. I’m pretty sure this is how addiction starts. I didn’t realize how carried away I’d get doing these. They’re all done, but no one needs that much in their face at once. No one.

Today’s genre: Drama. Probably my least favorite genre after horror. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like any of them. I had a period from the end of high school through mid-college where I watched a bunch (which is probably indicative based on the years most of these came out), but lately I’ve avoided them. The world is serious enough right now. Levity is appreciated.

Here you go.

Forrest Gump
Inside Man
American History X
Dead Poet’s Society
Good Will Hunting
Training Day
A Beautiful Mind
The Prestige
12 Years a Slave
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Forrest Gump

I don’t know how many times I’ve had an idea about connecting many different events and then am like, oh, that’s Forrest Gump. There are so many quotable lines, which doesn’t happen too often outside the comedy genre. Between Bubba and Lieutenant Dan and Jenny and, of course, Forrest, there are more perfect characters than should exist in a single movie.

Inside Man

One of the smartest heist movies ever made, and one that somehow still feels grounded. I went into this thinking Spike Lee. This was not typical Spike Lee. It’s a different kind of brilliant. Clive Owen is cool, Denzel is cooler, and the layers in this movie reward every rewatch. Also, I love a story where the win condition isn’t what you think it is.

American History X

This is just… heavy. I think why it resonated so much was that it was one of the first movies I watched that seemed like it could be real. Like there was a way to capture the hate that exists outside of documentaries. I only watched it once. I don’t know that I can ever watch it again.

Dead Poet’s Society

Robin Williams brought life and energy to everything he did, but this was something special, even for him. Maybe it was the latent teacher in me, but the way he connected and inspired the kids… it was what all those “inspiring teacher” movies wanted to be. None could ever hold a candle to this.

Good Will Hunting

“It’s not your fault.” That’s it. That’s the rationale. This movie is about intelligence, trauma, friendship, and the terrifying vulnerability of letting someone actually know you. Robin is back, Matt and Ben are showing the world who they are, and Minnie makes everything that much more watchable. How do you like them apples?

Training Day

Denzel Washington is terrifying in this. The slow realization of what’s happening over the course of the day is brilliant. It’s a masterclass in tension and character, and one of those performances that makes you forget you’re watching an actor. He might be the actor who shows up the most across these lists.

A Beautiful Mind

I watched this in high school. I’d gotten it in my head I was going to be a legit movie buff and decided to watch all the award darlings that year. I think it was the first non-animated movie I’d seen in the theater. Blew my freaking mind. Ed Harris is a special kind of creepy, and Russell Crowe made me believe in magical floating numbers.

The Prestige

This movie is about obsession, sacrifice, and the cost of greatness. It’s one of the most perfectly structured films I’ve ever seen. You think you know what’s happening and then you’re wrong. Repeatedly. Every time you watch it, you see something new. One of those movies that makes you stop what you’re doing and watch it whenever it happens to be on.

12 Years a Slave

I first saw Chiwetel Ejiofor in Serenity (on a different list) and shortly thereafter in Inside Man (on this list), and then Children of Men (definitely on a list). I knew he was special. Then came this. The brutality is the point. McQueen forces you to confront a reality that is often softened or skipped over. It’s not entertainment. It’s remembrance.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This might be the most hopeful movie on this list. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, choosing adventure, and realizing your life can be bigger than your fears. I watched the original with Jimmy Stewart when I was a kid, and was expecting that. This was so much more. Also, the soundtrack alone could convince me to quit my job and travel the world. (I will not do this. I like summers off too much.)

Any movies you’d swap in? Any you can’t believe I left out? Let me know. I’m always happy to defend my choices with the stubborn confidence of someone who has thought about movies far too much.

Top Ten Romance Movies

Posted on April 4, 2026 by erictaveren

The other day a coworker mentioned to me that he’s been into romance movies lately, and as with all things entertainment, I had suggestions. So I made a top ten list. After finishing the list I was like, dang, that was fun. Let me do another genre. And another. And another. Now I’ve got lists coming out the wazoo.

What does one do with a plethora of lists? Share them, of course! I’ll start with the romance list, then each day for the next however many days until I run out of lists, I’ll share another. They’re not in any order, and they don’t all have the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores. But they’re movies that I enjoy.

Also, and I’m not saying this to insinuate any level of expertise… but I’ve seen a lot of movies. A family member told me about Letterboxd this past Thanksgiving and what their total was. Naturally, I wanted to know my own. I’m currently sitting at 2,126 different movies watched. That doesn’t include short films or TV shows. Just movies. So I have a lot to choose from.

Anyway, prepare to be romanced.

Moulin Rouge
About Time
50 First Dates
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The Princess Bride
Love Hard
Love Actually
WALL-E
Grosse Pointe Blank
Fever Pitch

Honorable Mention: Anyone But You

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Moulin Rouge

Growing up on musicals, this was the first (for my high school self) edgy musical I saw. I’m a sucker for love stories, and as uncomfortable as Satine’s wooing of Christian made me, the songs, the stakes, the spectacle of Moulin Rouge cemented its place in my heart forever. Also, I can’t believe Chicago won best picture that year. Moulin Rouge may not have been the best of the year, but it was better than that overrated noise.

About Time

There are always those movies that will make you cry every time you watch them. This is one of those movies. The love and heartbreak and gumption and reality of Tim and Mary’s life is real and fantastic and reminds you of everything you should be in a spouse and a parent and a child. One of my all-time favorites of any genre.

50 First Dates

Quite possibly the world’s perfect Rom-Com. Well, take about Rob Schneider and it would be. There’s something about the idea of winning the love of someone over and over and over, despite setbacks and hiccups and cheeky walruses that drives home the romance in this. It’s not your typical Adam Sandler, and it’s one of the best movies he’s ever done. At least once a week I quote the “What an asshole!” line (usually in my head).

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Kids today throw the word rizz around like it’s candy. There’s what they think is rizz, and then there’s 2000s Matthew McConaughey. The cat and mouse game between him and Kate Hudson is hilarious and awkward and you feel for both of them but also can’t wait for the train to wreck even harder. Besides, who doesn’t love alliteratively-named protagonists?

The Princess Bride

This may be the most well-loved movie in the history of movies. I don’t know anyone who hates it (and if you do, then I don’t want to know you). My wife and I love this movie so much, we named our kid Westley. Between the multitude of quotable lines to the honest emotions to the iconic performances, there’s no reason this shouldn’t be on the list.

Love Hard

This may be the movie I have to defend the most on this list. I watched it a few years ago thinking it’d be another Hallmark Christmas type movie. It’s so much more. The writing is clever, the plot is just the right level of ridiculous, and Jimmy O. Yang and Nina Dobrev are the adorable couple I never knew I needed. Heart, humor, and holidays: the perfect combination.

Love Actually

The other holiday movie on the list, Love Actually kicked off the braided, themed movie genre. Everyone’s got their favorite storyline. Some are more understandable than others, but the best is always what I call the Lost in Translation story with Colin Firth. I love the idea of two people so perfect for each other that they say and think the same things without the other knowing.

WALL-E

A dystopic world? Robots in love? President Fred Willard? Sign me up! The beauty of WALL-E is that Pixar is able to tell a story with relatively little dialogue. We know exactly what WALL-E is doing and why and it’s perfectly reasonable. Is his obsession with EVE a bit much? Yeah. Is he still adorable? Very much so.

Grosse Pointe Blank

The first celebrity crush I ever had when I was thirteen and I watched Lost in Space. That lasted until I was fourteen and watched Phantom Menace. My crush on Natalie Portman was unshakable until my mid-twenties when I stumbled across Grosse Pointe Blank and understood with 100 percent surety why John Cusack’s character would risk everything for Minnie Driver. A bonkers dark comedy romance, this movie is a great blend of genres that will leave you with a lingering smile.

Fever Pitch

I love baseball. I love Rom-Coms. I love quick wits and awkward flirting. Fever Pitch shows us how to spread your love, to understand that love means different things and can be directed toward different things without diminishing the quality of that love. And it’s got Yankee dancing. F the Yankees.

Honorable Mention: Anyone But You

This is an honorable mention because I’m not sure if I’m feeling recency bias. Sydney Sweeney is adorable and Glen Powell could charm a snake out of its skin. Plus it’s Shakespeare. I’ve been recommending it to everyone because it’s both fun and heart-felt and because Sydney deserves it after agreeing to be in Madame Web just so the studio would make this movie.

Any movies you disagree with, or think are more worthy? Drop a comment. I’m happy to let you know why they don’t belong on my list, even if they fit nicely on yours. :)

2025 Recap

Posted on January 1, 2026 by erictaveren

Another year in the books, another year of successes and setbacks. Highlights!

Publications

This year I had two pieces that went the distance. The first was a dream pub in F(r)iction Magazine. Echoes from the Abyss was based on a character from a novel idea I had, and when I saw they had an oceans themed issue I had to submit. And it’s a good thing I did.

The other piece I had published was my first ever poem. By that I mean the first one I ever wrote with the intent to send out. Usually poetry and I don’t get along well, but inspiration strikes whenever it wants. Unanimous was about Ichiro Suzuki and how he should have been unanimously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I actually heard from one of Under Review’s editors the other day with feedback he’d recently received. He said that someone reached out to him unsolicited just to say how much they liked the poem. Noice. :)

Milestones

Aside from F(r)iction, which I consider a milestone as it was my first professional pay publication, I also finished my MFA in Creative Writing this year. I defended my thesis—the first third of a fantasy/mystery novel—and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. One of the comments was that it read like an edited, published novel. I’ll take that any day.

Setbacks

So this is more of a writing inconvenience than a setback, but in the fall I went back to work. The prior year I’d been a stay at home dad with the baby, and I’d been able to write during nap time or if the grandparents wanted a turn with the baby.

Now I’m a middle school special ed math teacher. I’d been hopeful that I could write during prep periods, but those ended up being mostly non-existent. And working at a low-income school… let’s just say that the kids can be draining. By the end of the day, after a full day of school and an evening of my own kids, believe me when I say I’m in no condition to write. What started as 200 pages written over 6 months before work became 6 pages written over 4 months once I started.

I won’t blame everything on the job though. I get distracted with new ideas often. Sometimes it’s a good thing. Just today I finished the first draft of a middle grade novel I’m tentatively calling The Fart Heist. This summer I wrote a two short stories that I really need to get back to as well as an essay that I’m almost ready to go back to.

The essay was about my dad. He died in August and it still is strange whenever I remember he’s gone. It was especially in my mind around the holidays since he used to host Thanksgiving every year and just now at Christmas too. Eventually I’ll get back to it. I don’t know that I’ll ever try and publish it, but it’s something for me at the very least.

Looking Forward

I’m no longer hopeful I can get any real writing done during the school year. Breaks will be nice (most of that middle grade novel was written during winter break), but to finish the novel that was my thesis, I’ll probably have to wait until summer. The toddler will be in day care and the soon-to-be third grader will be able to mostly occupy himself when I need writing time.

I haven’t sent anything short out for a while, so I don’t expect any more lit mag publications anytime soon. Unless something crazy convenient comes up, of course. But I think over the next few days I’ll work on The Fart Heist, hopefully have it ready to send out by the end of spring break, and then I can get back to the novel once school’s out.

Thank to all who visit this site. The numbers aren’t spectacular, but they’re consistent. I appreciate it. I hope you all have a wonderful 2026.

Until next time,

Eric