Well, well, well! If it isn’t the brightest budding film buff in all the land looking for the crème de la crème of the fantasy flicks from the groovy, gravy-flowin’ days of the 1970s! Step right up, ladies and gents! Let’s break out the magic movie projector and take a spin through the golden age of Hollywood fantasy like nobody else can! The 1970s, when bell-bottoms were cool, disco was king and fantasy films were… well, let’s just say ‘unique’ and leave it at that, shall we? Okay, sit tight, because THIS is going to be a ride!
1. Alright first up! “The Dark Crystal” – just squeaking into our timeline with a 1982 release date. Now hold on to your feather hat, because this isn’t your everyday puppet show, folks! Directed by Jim Henson (ya know, the muppet guy!) and Frank Oz, this one’s a visual feast with layers of themes about good and evil, life and death. Fans of Cloud Atlas, that sprawling, ever-changing universe, will appreciate the world-building and intricate lore!
2. Moving swiftly along, we have “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory” from 1971. Sure, you’re thinking, “what’s that got to do with Cloud Atlas?” Well, lemme tell you! Just like Cloud Atlas takes you on a journey across different periods and realities, Willy Wonka takes you through different fantastical rooms each more wonderful, and occasionally terrifying, than the last!
3. And now, for something completely different! “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975)! Don’t look at me like I’ve got two heads! This gem from across the pond is a hilariously absurd ride through the Arthurian legends. Monty Python’s unique, genre-bending comedy feels absolutely Cloud Atlas-esque, where the unexpected is your only expectation!
4. “The Rescuers” (1977)! Journey into the bayou of Louisiana with a couple of mice from the Rescue Aid Society! This heartwarming tale of adventure and courage might seem far from Cloud Atlas, but the intricate storytelling, and spirited characters might suggest otherwise.
5. Oh ho! Hold your horses, because next up we’re journeying to Middle-Earth with “The Lord of the Rings” (1978). Directed by Ralph Bakshi, this animated adaptation of Tolkien’s masterpiece shares its meticulous world-building and grand themes with Cloud Atlas.
6. Up next! We got “Watership Down” (1978)! Talking animals? Check! Adventure? Double-check! Delve into the world of rabbits and their societal structures. It’s not just about cute bunnies. It mirrors human societies in a way that Cloud Atlas fans would definitely appreciate!
7. Step into the time machine folks because “Time After Time” (1979) is next! H.G. Wells chasing Jack the Ripper into present day, does it get any better? Just like Cloud Atlas, it’s all about that chronology-crashing craziness!
8. Our penultimate stop, “The Muppet Movie” (1979)! Another one from Henson but oh boy what a ride! What does this have to do with Cloud Atlas? This self-aware, slapstick comedy dabbles in meta-storytelling which is akin to some of the narrative mirrorings in Cloud Atlas.
9. And finally, hold on to your capes and broomsticks, because we got “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971)! It’s got adventure, it’s got magic, it’s got talking animals – see a pattern here?!
Now, with all that mambo-jumbo said and done, what’s my top pick for the Cloud Atlas of the 70s? Gotto be… drumroll please… “The Dark Crystal”! It embodies the complex world-building, the examining of good and evil and life and death, and frankly the absolute spectacle that Cloud Atlas is. It’s a mesmerizing blend of puppetry and animatronics, and manages to capture this ancient, epic struggle of opposites in a way that feels tangible and incredibly… ‘real’. Which, if you ask me, is something Cloud Atlas achieves, too.
