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STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
This is the second and arguably best of the "Star Wars" franchise. Luke Skywalker is gaining experience, coming closer to the art of a Jedi master. Obi-Wan-Kenobi continues to mentor him, but now he has a new teacher, the funniest of all "Star Wars" creatures, Yoda. Hans Solo is becoming a legitimate warrior, losing his selfishness and arrogance a bit. Darth Vader has a stronger presence, and his evil is more known than ever before. The story takes a sharp turn with those classic words "I am your father." All the classic fantasy/sci-fi elements that made the first film so successful are capitalized upon again. However, "The Empire Strikes Back" was no mere repeat sequel for the sake of making more money; it had some brand new elements that made it another classic in its own rite. It was much more character-driven, following what we already knew about the characters we already loved, but letting us get to know them at a much deeper level. It went beyond good vs. evil into studies of relationships and how they effected the efforts to defeat "The Dark Side." The power and symbolism had great strength that made almost every other fantasy/sci-fi effort look shabby.

E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
The deep need for Elliot to have a father figure after his parents' divorce brings the heart to this classic fantasy. Elliot's craving for relationship meets his craving to fill his curiosity and adventurous spirit. E.T. shows up; he's just as scared and just as much of a lost little kid as Elliot, yet he has a great capacity to love which meets Elliot's needs. Ultimately, both characters are simply looking for a way to "phone home." The adventure they take together, most spectacularly when they fly together on bicycles, is as pure and beautiful as fantasy films come. Spawning out of Steven Spielberg's own life experience, he created an attempt to meet not only Elliot and E.T.'s deepest desires come true, but also his own. He often refers to "E.T." as his most personal movie, relating to his own childhood of growing up in a broken home.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986)
In 1960, Roger Corman made a low-budget, even lower quality, horror film that now days receives some attention for its laughably ridiculous nature. However, Broadway got their hands on the story, capitalized on the camp and made a delightful fantasy musical out of the original material. Frank Oz directed the 1986 film adaptation of the musical.

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