One of my favorite things about my work here at Chivalry Sports is keeping an eye on the movie industry. There's nothing better than leaving the scorching afternoon heat outside and entering that welcome air-conditioned zone where anything can happen -- the cinema. For those of us who like times past and fantasy, the screen is giving us more excitement than ever. Period pictures are gaining ground. Over the past ten years seven films set in various historical periods ranging from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century have won the Oscar for best picture. Typically, historicals are thought of as high budget risks, but lately, Hollywood is responding with an increase in period films for us to enjoy. Aside from big name stars, today's movies rely on a combination of factors for audience appeal and to lend the film an authentic feel. The challenge of accuracy is always enormous. Location, costume and weaponry, accent and language, customs and practice are just a few of the elements to fill a screen in a genre where everything must be recreated. Even the story has to be adjusted to meet modern day perceptions.

The Results Are in. Period Movies Dominate the Oscars Accademy Award Winners For Best Picture American Beauty 1999 Shakespeare In Love 1998 Titanic 1997 The English Patient 1996 Braveheart 1995 Forest Gump 1994 Schindler's List 1993 Unforgiven 1992 The Silence of the Lambs 1991 Dances With Wolves 1990

Herein lies the challenge of the historical. When the mixture is right, the audience is swept away into a satisfying journey. The danger is to tip the delicate balance in one of the wrong directions. All the miscalculations aside, if we're willing to suspend our disbelief, then into the story we go on a marvelous adventure. For now enjoy the current trend and a peek at what's to come.

For Highlander Fans, the wait is almost over. Highlander: End Game (the fourth sequel to The Highlander) is scheduled for release on September 1, 2000. It was filmed in London and Romania last winter and stars both Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul. The success of the features and the television series leans on the flashbacks into the past that reveal more of the highlander saga and further character development throughout the story. Producer, Bill Panzer gives us some hints, "We see both Conner and Duncan together in the past. We see them meet, learn a secret from Conner's past that we never knew and that Duncan never knew. We meet a villain who's known Conner since he was a boy. I think you can watch Highlander I and then this movie and they will flow seamlessly together."

The big screen isn't the only place to enjoy the genre. Made for TV movies are growing in number along with the cable channels that produce them and fantasy is gaining not only on the bookstore shelf, but on the small and big screen as well. On August 27, Witchblade premiers on TNT. In the two hour movie based on the Top Cow comic a homicide detective comes across a mystical gauntlet called the Witchblade; an ancient object that once every generation chooses a female host to invest with its superhuman powers. Rumor has it the armor and weapons are fantastic. Witchblade swats bullets, morphs into a 14" stiletto or a full length sword and turns into head to toe battle armor.

Closer to home, Hollywood looks to its own backyard, Southern California, almost two centuries ago in a new series, The Queen of Spades from the producers of Le Femme Nikita and Highlander. Reminiscient of the ÔZorro' legends, a beautiful masked avenger aims her rapier and dagger at injustice. Her identity is unknown, but in her wake falls a tarot card, The Queen of Swords, a symbol the poor and oppressed look to for justice in the California of wealthy Spanish landholders and local miltary tyrants of 1817. Look for it on Warner Brothers TV (WBTV) this fall.

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy will come to life with three live action features currently in production. The first feature, The Fellowship of the Ring is scheduled for release Christmas 2001 with The Two Towers and The Return of the King each to follow one year later.

Ahead, but without specific dates, there's lots to look forward to. Another remake of Alexander Dumas' novel, The Count of Monte Cristo , is in the works for the big screen and another Dumas classic, The Three Musketeers, will see a face lift. This time titled, D'Artagnan. Gary Oldman should add just the right touch to the devious Cardinal Richelieu.

The city of Prague in the Czech Republic seems to be the industry's time machine. It's home to an elaborate jousting arena built for A Knight's Tale. Battle on horseback seems to agree with Patriot star, Heath Ledger. He brings Chaucer's medieval adventure to life sometime next year. And could there be another eerie period picture in the works for Johnny Depp? Why not after he did such a great job in Sleepy Hollow? Prague hosts another production as Jack the Ripper terrorizes Victorian London in From Hell, an adaption of the dark, bloody Alan Moore/Eddie Campbell comic book series.

With all the excitement ahead, looks like you won't have any trouble planning your nights out. Pull out your calendar and pencil your favorites in. Most production companies have websites for their features so you can check updates on production and release dates. Start your countdown and get ready for another ride.