Whatever my reservations, and they are only few, I welcome back the Gilliam of old.
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11/09/09
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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
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Reviews Counted:60
Fresh:39
Rotten:21
Average Rating:5.9/10
Consensus: Terry Gilliam remains as indulgent as ever, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus represents a return to the intoxicatingly imaginative, darkly beautiful power of his earlier work, with fine performances to match all the visual spectacle.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating]
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Theatrical Release:Dec 25, 2009 Limited
Synopsis: In THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, director Terry Gilliam continues the trippy tradition he began with inventive films such as TIME BANDITS and BRAZIL. This time, he reteams with Heath Ledger... [More]
Starring: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield
Director: Terry Gilliam
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Reviews for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
It's weird, wicked, wonderful and whacky for sure - much more a dark fantasy than a horror film (Waits' amazing Devil notwithstanding) - but it's also done with finesse, beauty, emotion and aplomb.
11/04/09
The beautiful special effects sequences can drag on, but Gilliam's crafted an intriguing, old-fashioned fairytale framework for them.
11/02/09
If fantasy is your thing, take a trip through Gilliam's mirror and drink your fill, but don't blame me for your indigestion.
11/01/09
The melding together of the streamlined urbanscapes of modern London with the old-time production design of the Parnassus carriage, not to mention the CGI wonderlands beyond the mirror, is a spectacle that's worth the price of admission alone.
10/29/09
This is a wonderous, dark and opulent film, that captivates and moves the audience. Fans of Ledger or Gilliam will feel rewarded for their time in the Imaginarium.
10/29/09
The film is classic Gilliam, the imaginative brilliance tempered by moments of incoherence and a strange lassitude.
10/29/09
Doctor Parnassus is sometimes exhilarating, sometimes merely deranged -- but since excess and fragmentation are Gilliam's trademarks, his virtues are impossible to separate from his vices.
10/28/09
A visual feast is served up in former Monty Python cast member Terry Gilliam's fantasy -- credited to "Heath Ledger and friends" -- that should enthral loyal fans of the veteran's colourful film history, but is more than likely to baffle Gilliam novices.
10/28/09
It's unlikely Gilliam's own, undeniably brilliant career will be revitalised by this rambling, undisciplined and indulgent piece of work.
10/28/09
For a film that lost one of its key players, Heath Ledger, mid-way through production, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus is remarkably cohesive. Marks a return to form for Gilliam.
10/28/09
The film continually shifts in and out of coherency, much a like a radio trying to fix on a station broadcasting from far, far away.
10/28/09
A hard to fathom storyline and obvious CGI effects detract from an otherwise big-hearted final film for Heath Ledger.
10/27/09
Those willing to ignore these indulgences are guaranteed to be swept away by the sublime visuals, energetic performances and Gilliam’s own incredibly unbridled imagination.
10/27/09
The script could have done with a little more work and the story loses its way more than once, but the weird and wonderful world Gilliam and Ledger have created is worth a peek.
10/25/09
[Gilliam's] got this imagination that shoots off into the stratosphere and, to a certain extent, you've got to travel with him. But there's no one like him in film.
10/21/09
On one level this is a typically chaotic and rather overdone fantasy from Terry Gilliam, but on another it’s an immensely touching film because it contains Heath Ledger’s last screen appearance.
10/21/09
Somewhat intellectually mushy and sentimental, though never less than visually impressive.
10/20/09
Gilliam takes us on a whimsical flight through his imagination with this scruffy, messy movie. The plot doesn't really hang together, but the cast and imagery are magical.
10/20/09
There are thrilling flashes of Gilliam getting back to top form here. A scrappy movie with more ideas than it can control, but one born out of a passion and determination that are wholly infectious.
10/16/09
Latest News for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
October 25, 2009:
Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
He's known as Captain Chaos and his productions are notoriously problematic. Brazil (1985) almost never saw the light of day when battles raged over final cut. On The Adventures... More...
October 25, 2009:
Trailer & Poster review 
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October 18, 2009:
See Doctor Parnassus and chat to Terry Gilliam
It's the film audiences around the world have been curious about: Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, snatched from the jaws of disaster after one of its... More...
October 12, 2009:
New: Brand New Trailer Now Online.
More...
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