W is for Wizards

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Wizards.

Who doesn't love a little wizardry? A flash of light. A whispered enchantment. A thrown voice. An optical illusion. So many possibilities.

Wizards are handy to have around. Questing without one isn't wise. Angering one isn't either. You never know when they might turn you into something...unnatural.

They have a way with dragons. They have a way with weather. They have a way with just about everything.

From Gandalf to Zed, from Merlin to Dumbledore, from Middle Earth to Oz, they cast their spells upon us all.

Their magic ensnares imagination, quickens the pulse and fills us with wonder.

Wizards are wondrous reasons why I love science fiction and fantasy.

M is for Merlin

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Merlin.

I can't recall ever reading or watching a depiction of Merlin that didn't fascinate or entertain me on some level. This wizard has surfaced in tales and shows I'd never have expected.  Even Stargate!

Everything about him is rooted in mystery. The source of his allegiances. The nature of his beliefs. His origins.  He's been rumored to be ageless, an alien, aging backwards, and the list goes ever on.  And no one seems to agree on how much power he really possessed.

I have to stop and wonder how much of a role the legend of Merlin played in J. R. R. Tolkien's mind when he created Gandalf.

But whether wizard, magician or merely a mysterious mortal, Merlin is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

Top Ten Movie Countdown BlogFest

Ninja Captain Alex is hosting the...

And I decided to participate.  A true countdown requires ranking, but I cannot, in all fairness, truly rank these.  The rankings would change with the wind.  These are ten OF my favorites today.  Listed in no particular order, they are...

 Lord of the Rings trilogy (duh!)

The Two Towers was my favorite movie, but the Mines of Moria was my favorite scene.

Star Trek (the entire gambit)

But nobody does bad as good as Ricardo Montalban does.

Star Wars (yeah, all six!)

Let's hear it for the Wookie!!

The Avengers

I don't believe they could have done a better job with this movie.

Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars

I cannot tell you how many times I've watched this. I so miss the series.

Serenity (The Firefly movie)

From a series that died before its time. Not shiny!

Merlin

Several Merlin/Camelot adaptations vied for this slot; Sam Neill's portrayal won.

The Bourne Series (Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum)

Not Sci-Fi/Fantasy, but close enough. My favorite changes with time.

A Knight's Tale

This one starred an actor that died before his time.

The Sixth Sense

The best thing (IMHO) Bruce did after Moonlighting.

I have watched these movies so many times.  I can quote way too much from way too many of them, and there is much within them worth quoting.

Any of these make your Top Ten list?