Directed by:
Terry GilliamCinematography:
Giuseppe RotunnoComposer:
Michael KamenCast:
John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Valentina Cortese, Jonathan Pryce, Bill Paterson, Uma Thurman, Alison Steadman, Robin Williams, Sting (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
The boundless imagination of Terry Gilliam yields a dazzling fantasy of epic proportions. Inspired by the extravagant exploits of the fabled Baron Munchausen, this spectacle - born of a famously turbulent production - follows the whimsical eighteenth-century nobleman (John Neville) as he embarks on an outlandish quest that takes him from faraway lands to the moon to the belly of a sea monster and beyond, meanwhile waging battle against a vengeful sultan and the tyranny of logic. (Criterion)
(more)Reviews (4)
It is not a pure fairy tale and it also doesn't work as an adventure film – perhaps there is enough humor and irony – but for my taste, it is a bit lacking. Visually, it is typically Gilliam, with bizarre and sometimes insanely theatrical-looking sets – I'm starting to become a little allergic to the director's name because every film is eccentricity. It's not that I mind the fact that everything is not typically Hollywood, but I simply don't like this style. The running time is also too long considering how simple the screenplay is, and essentially we only have three big flashback parts (moon, volcano, and fish). The ending is also quite strange, they did let their imagination run wild here, and it shows.
()
A magical fairy tale in the inimitable style of Terry Gilliam. I wonder what would have happened if he had made a Harry Potter film, which was reportedly under consideration.
()
Narrative hedonism that divides its audience right in the film. I'll always choose John Neville over Vincent Price, my old pals aren't what they used to be either, but I have faith that one day we'll all get together and save the city. And then we'll get trashed. Yeah.)
()
Visually, it's definitely an interesting film, but honestly, I'm not that into Gilliam's visual side of things. Not when the story isn't interesting enough to impress me with the film as a whole. And that's exactly what happened to me with The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. It’s visually interesting, with beautiful effects and masks, but the overall impression is diluted by an uninterestingly presented story.
()