Review of Time Bandits (1981) by Tamsin P — 23 Mar 2011

I actually really enjoyed this. It's clearly not as substantial and profound as Terry Gilliam's other works, but as a kids movie I thought it was really cool. In some ways I would classify it under sort of the same fantasy genre that includes The Princess Bride, The Neverending Story, those weird 80's Jim Henson fantasies, but with a much wittier and bizarre sense of humor.

In many ways it very much resembles the kinds of stories Roald Dahl might have come up with, coupled with much of the same style that is typical of Monty Python. It actually seems like this was kind of the transition movie for Gilliam between the stuff he did for Monty Python and his own personal brand.

The entire cast is pretty much amazing with Sean Connery as a totally bad ass Agamemnon and the reams of cameos from Monty Python veterans and terrific British actors. The midgets it centers around are actually a pretty funny comedy team of sorts and were lovable in their own distinctively odd ways.

Though I admit I didn't enjoy it as much as other films by Gilliam, what makes it special to me is it's defiantly dark aspects for a kids movie and it's insane sense of humor. It has it's fair share of camp and corniness, but it's a pretty harmless little gem of a family film that doesn't care how nutty it is.