The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]
by Terry Gilliam

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]

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Blu-ray details

Actor: Eric Idle, John Neville, Jonathan Pryce, Sarah Polley, Uma Thurman
Director: Terry Gilliam
Brand: N/A
Cinematographer: Giuseppe Rotunno
Composer: Michael Kamen
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 126 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-04-08
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Product features:

Condition: New
Format: Blu-ray
AC-3; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; Subtitled; Widescreen

Blu-ray Reviews of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray Review: You Want the Baron? You Can 'AVE the Baron!!
Summary: 4 Stars

The Baron is back in blue! Terry Gilliam's notoriously production-plagued film of the legendary Baron von Munchausen has taken 20 years to find its way to a home video version worthy of the director's vision. A study in eye-popping outlandishness, Gilliam's Munchausen always looked great even in mediocre transfers; in high definition it looks the best ever, rewarding its long-supportive fan base with the package it should always have been.... a meticulously detailed masterpiece.

So what makes a movie worth owning? In the case of Gilliam's films, a single viewing is never sufficient. Every aspect of each segment is so chock full of image, information and performance, moving along relentlessly to the point that it can be overwhelming, and this director has been accused more than once of "overloading" his movies. What happens in Munchausen? Well.... a ragtag troupe of actors is attempting to stage a play about the Baron as their town (known only as "The Town") is being devastated by war. An eccentric older gentleman in military garb appears, claiming to be the true Baron von Munchausen, barges onstage and explains that only he can stop this war because he began it. He collects the undergarments of several ladies present, constructs a hot air balloon from them, and floats off to the moon, along with the theater owner's daughter Sally, who stowed away as the craft was launching. They encounter the giant King of the Moon, whose head keeps detaching, and who throws them in a dungeon with one of the Baron's old associates. They escape, hurtling to earth and plunge into a volcano, where they encounter the Greek demigods Vulcan and Venus, as well as another cohort of the Baron. Munchausen gets a little too friendly with Venus, and a jealous Vulcan hurls them all into the ocean, where they are devoured by a grotesque giant fish-thing, inside which they meet two more of the Baron's pals, and his magnificent white stallion. Escaping once again, they float/swim to shore, and with the help of Munchausen's accomplices' revived super powers, return to confront the invaders of The Town and liberate its civilians from both the armies and their own oppressive government.

That's the simplified synopsis.

Without giving too much else away, what makes this story work so well is Gilliam's off kilter humor and other idiosyncrasies that call a certain Monty Python to mind. The sets, locations and attention to detail are all simply awesome; many scenes literally resemble classic paintings, further complimented by the hi def picture. As far as the ensemble.... John Neville NAILS the Baron in energy and look (compare him to the classic etching of Munchausen by Gustav Dore); Robin Williams nearly steals the show in a last-minute uncredited performance (Sean Connery was the original choice) as the Moon King's head; a 17 year-old Uma Thurman stuns as the beautiful Venus; Jonathan Pryce slithers through a villainous role as the self-assumed ruler of The Town, and Sting makes an ill-fated walk-on. Eric Idle, Oliver Reed, Charles McKeown (also the screenwriter), Valentina Cortese, Jack Purvis et al contribute memorable characters. But make no mistake -- the show belongs to little Sally Salt played by Sarah Polley, who at age 9 proved she was well capable of commanding a starring role. Her character is the connection with the audience to the story, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe her performance as iconic.

This movie was criminally overlooked at its release (as excruciatingly detailed in the accompanying feature), though as you can see from the other reviews it commands an enthusiastic audience all its own, which continues to grow. Now that audience can enjoy this preposterous tale in a transfer that does it honor, and hopefully reconciles the calamity of its creation 20 years ago. Thank God for unrealistic filmmakers like Gilliam who take on all odds to bring the lives of other dreamers to cinematic immortality. To paraquote the Baron himself (who ALWAYS tells the truth): "Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash, and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever!"

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Description of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]

Genre: Feature Film Family
Rating: PG
Release Date: 8-APR-2008
Media Type: Blu-Ray

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