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Since the days of cinema classics like Ben-Hur, fantasy movies have set the benchmark for quality, high-budget entertainment, as can be seen in iconic franchises like The Lord of the Rings. From focusing on heroes embarking on epic quests to reimaginings of beloved fairy tales, the 1990s gave audiences some of the most enjoyable entries in the genre, though with an emphasis on smaller budgets, comedy, and animation.

The 1990s saw something of a slump in fantasy cinema, as the '80s had no shortage of campy flops in the genre, but still remains a great decade for family-oriented adventure. From worlds populated by knights and dragons to reboots of classic Universal Monsters, the decade is practically synonymous with adventure. With many of these movies still household names for fantasy fans, it's worth remembering some of the best the '90s had to offer.

The Phantom Revived A 1930s Comic...

The most influential movies today are based on superhero comics. However, before the era of caped and costumed heroes, there was the age of pulp magazines. Popular until the 1950s, these magazines featured a wide range of heroes, from adventurers to noir detectives to horror protagonists. Pulp heroes were, in many ways, the precursors to modern superheroes.

After the success of Tim Burton’s Batman, an influx of pulp-inspired movies emerged in the 1990s. This era appealed to an older generation nostalgic for simpler heroes, while also embracing the stylish aesthetics of the 1930s and 1940s. Pulp-inspired movies were simpler, less flashy, and often cheesier than today’s superhero blockbusters, yet they retained a unique charm.

The Phantom was Arguably the First Superhero

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*Availability in US Director...

Curious to know what frightful films and devilish discs will be available to view in the privacy of your own digital dungeon this week? Fango's got you covered.

Below the jump you'll find the full list of titles arriving in-stores this Tuesday, October 6, 2009 in our weekly version of the famous Fangoria Chopping List. It's a Big week, with Trick 'R Treat finally hitting the home market, along with re-issues of The Gate, Audition, and a whole lot more!

Note: Clickable links lead to Amazon.com

Audition (Bd)

New 1080P High-Definition Transfer From The Negative!

Deceptively innocent at first, Takashi Miikes Audition finds Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, Suicide Club, The Grudge), a middle-aged widower of many years, urged by his teenage son and his film producer friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura, Ichi The Killer) to get out and start dating again. To help Aoyama meet women, Yoshikawa devises a plan to...