10 Worst Fantasy Movies in Film History: When Great Worlds Fall Flat

A vast world compressed

Stephen King’s mythology follows gunslinger Roland Deschain as he pursues the Man in Black across a dying world. The Dark Tower introduces the story through Jake Chambers, a troubled teenager whose visions lead him to Roland and a tower said to hold reality together.

In the film, Jake crosses into Roland’s world, where the gunslinger must overcome his desire for revenge and stop Walter from destroying the tower. Director Nikolaj Arcel condenses the mythology into approximately 95 minutes, leaving little room for Jake and Roland’s relationship to develop.

The world comes across as disconnected locations linked by exposition, while Walter’s personality extends little beyond his powers and unpleasant behavior. The story turns the novels’ unusual universe into a familiar struggle to save existence.

Eragon rushes its story

A farm boy, Eragon, finds a dragon egg and becomes one of the legendary Dragon Riders. He bonds with Saphira, trains with former Rider Brom and joins a rebellion against King Galbatorix, with the conflict also involving Durza.

Director Stefen Fangmeier also hurries through Eragon’s training, leaving the rebellion and its supporting characters underdeveloped. The conflict with Durza feels like another required fantasy showdown rather than a well-built culmination.

A different kind of Goku

Dragonball Evolution presents Goku as an awkward teenager facing bullies and romantic troubles. After his grandfather is murdered, Goku searches for seven magical Dragon Balls, gathers allies and trains with Master Roshi to stop Piccolo from obtaining the artifacts and conquering Earth.

The film’s problems go beyond its departures from the source material. James Wong’s version turns Goku’s enthusiasm for martial arts into generic teenage insecurity, while the fights lack the franchise’s exaggerated physical inventiveness.