Review of Time Bandits (1981) by Stuart K — 18 Apr 2010
After the success of Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), Terry Gilliam teamed up again with Handmade Films to produce this family fantasy adventure with a black sense of humour and brilliant visual panache, which he co-wrote with Michael Palin.
It would help put Gilliam on the map as a director, (it went down a storm in America), and it has a brilliant all-star cast, and a brilliant gang of dwarves. It has 11 year old Kevin (Craig Warnock) who loves history, but his parents always ignore him.
One night, 6 dwarves appear in his bedroom, (Randall) David Rappaport, Fidgit (Kenny Baker), Strutter (Malcolm Dixon), Og (Mike Edmonds), Wally (Jack Purvis) and Vermin (Tiny Ross). Kevin's bedroom is a portal to places in space and time, and it takes them to historical locations including Napoleonic France, Sherwood Forest, Ancient Greece and the Titanic.
Watching them is the Evil Genius (David Warner), who wants the map of space and time they have. It's a brilliant film, with all of the best ideas and set-pieces Gilliam has ever dreamt up, complete with the most shocking ending of them all.
The dwarves are brilliant to watch, and it's always enjoyable to watch. It's one of the best films of the 1980's, and the all star cameos from John Cleese as Robin Hood, Sean Connery as King Agamemnon, Ian Holm as Napoleon and Ralph Richardson as Supreme Being.
It's a perfect introduction for anyone who has ever wanted to know about Gilliam's films. He was on perfect form in the 1980's!! :D.
This review of Time Bandits (1981) was written by Stuart K on 18 Apr 2010.
Time Bandits has generally received positive reviews.
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