Also, if you can, how do you think others can appreciate it and may be some recommendations to get started with.
Are you strictly talking movies or any 1-2 hour long content because… have I told you about our lord and savior SummoningSalt?
It used to be very popular, so I don’t know if this qualifies, but I watch a lot of noir and neo-noir. Specifically, I like the ones told from the criminal’s perspective. Films like Double Indemnity, Body Heat and The Postman Always Rings Twice are great places to start.
Romantic drama, I usually just see these for research purposes.
A Walk in the Clouds with Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, and Anthony Quinn. You’re welcome!
The previous film from the same director is solid too, if you’re OK with subtitled Spanish:
I don’t know if they are that less popular, but I like a good “Mindfuck” film.
Like: Cube (1997), Cthulhu (2007), In The Mouth Of Madness (1994), Naked Lunch (1991).
I don’t know if the movies listed are the best representations, but they were some of the first that popped into mind.
I’ve always been fascinated with the '80s Sword & Sorcery genre; e.g. Willow, Conan the Barbarian (the Schwarzenegger versions), Deathstalker 1-4, Labyrinth, The Beastmaster, Red Sonja, The Neverending Story trilogy, Dragonslayer, Masters of the Universe, Ladyhawke, etc. Just to name a few.
I dunno why they fascinate me so much. I’m a very outdoorsy kind of person and I guess I like the simplicity of the medieval settings and lifestyle. Living freely off the land, going on grand adventures in undiscovered realms, fighting against evil forces who want to rule the world, and a hint of magic to make it that much more interesting.
Plus, the sets and costume design were pretty simple back then. I feel like I could probably make my own Sword & Sorcery films in my forested backyard and they’d turn out just about the same quality. I actually enjoy going to Renaissance fairs every summer, just because it feels like I stepped into one of those old classic films.
When I was living in Europe for a few years, I joined the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), which is a global organization that reenacts pre-17th century lifestyles. Since I was in Europe at the time, we would actually rent out castles and would spend weekends living like medieval peasants and/or nobles, and learning all sorts of primitive trades like blacksmithing and tailoring. It was a ton of fun! Sword & Sorcery films just take that a step further, with action/adventure and fantasy elements mixed in.
I love Xena! It’s technically a '90s show, but it fits with the '80s Sword & Sorcery theme pretty well.
I used to love these movies where they send people from a fantasy world into our world as a kid. I always thought it’s so funny and genius. Later i realised that that was just a money saver and out of laziness, and usually happened in the sequel. I do need to rewatch masters of the universe tho.