The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Rating:
Summary: Great... if you like English humor
Review: I have seen this movie about 4 times. Eric Idle in his greatest role ever. If you like Monty Python , you will love this movie. Other notable people in this movie are Robin Williams in a most zany role, Uma Thurman as Venus and plenty more you will recognize. Baron Munchausen's adventures are as crazy as they get and there are not any offensive parts as far as language however there are a few sexual innuendos.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely delightful!
Review: During the 1980s, Terry Gilliam directed a trio of movies that he referred to as a trilogy: "Time Bandits," "Brazil," and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." "Brazil" is the most popular of the three, having built a cult following over the years, and it's definitely an imaginitive movie -- Orwell's 1984 done as satire. But I consider "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" to be the best of the trio, and possibly Gilliam's best work overall. The "theme" of his trilogy is expressed differently in each of the three movies: in Brazil, the hero escapes the imagination-killing clutches of society in the only way he can, by going insane; whereas in Baron Munchausen, the so-called "age of reason" is seen as suppressing the imagination, to the point where even t he legendary Baron Munchausen himself doesn't want to go on because there's no place left in the world for dreams. This film is a sheer delight -- a magnificent, epic, hilarious fantasy that's worth watching for its sense of FUN as it is for the message, that imagination and fantasy are necessary in the face of an onrushing world.

Rating:
Summary: A movie of Big Ideas
Review: "It's all logic and reason now. Science, progress ... laws of hydraulics, laws of social dynamics. There's no place for three-legged Cyclops...no place for cucumber trees and oceans of wine. No place for me."

So says the titular Baron in "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen", another fantastic voyage from the writer/director who gave us "Brazil" and "Time Bandits".

While "12 Monkeys" is often cited as Gilliam's masterpiece, I believe that a strong case can be made for the big-budget extravaganza that is "Baron Munchausen". The fact that the movie did not do well financially reflects more on the audience than it does on the quality of the movie.

Make no mistake, this is a film of Big Ideas. The fantastic exploits of the Baron really hide a deeper debate over the nature of our modern society. In the movie, the French civil servant Horatio Jackson elucidates one side of the argument: the rational, scientific view. His is a cold, scheduled world that runs like clockwork, one in which reason is king.

In contrast stands Munchausen, the fantasist who spins unreal tales and mixes fancy with fact in a most distressing (to Jackson and his ilk) manner.

The interplay between these two competing world-views drives the conflict throughout the movie (which features excellent performances by Robin Williams, Sarah Polley, Eric Idle, and Uma Thurman, just to name a few), culminating in Munchausen's epic victory when he cries "open the gates!"

The special effects are great for a late-80s movie, and the wonderful sets and cinematography will delight both young and old.

This movie is on my personal top-10 list. Anyone with an imagination should find much to savor here, and perhaps a little to think about later.

Rating:
Summary: Munchausen is a fun Movie and that's no Lie
Review: Terry Gilliam's Baron von Munchausen is a fantastic adaptation of the Munchausen stories into film and a great homage to the greatest liar in literary history. Gilliam's approach to special effects are quite amazing considering this film was made in 1989. However the special effects to carry the movie as the story is not the most effective. It seems disjointed and has a plot which barely flows. Of course understanding that the film is supposed to be a conglomeration of several stories, we can cut Gilliam some slack. This being said, I really think the film is a worthwhile watch and if you are studying the Munchausen stories this is a certain must see. The cast is pretty close to all star including Robin Williams, Uma Thurman as a Botticelli-esque Venus, John Neville and even Terry Gilliam himself.

This is a fun movie and a better film than the 1943 German Version although this earlier one is truer to the original stories. For the Terry Gilliam fan this is of course a great movie but also fans of fantasy films. Of course Uma Thurman fans will love this movie too. I recommend the DVD highly: the quality is better and there are a few nice extras.

-- Ted Murena

Rating:
Summary: Wild adventure
Review: A bizarre and wacky adventure full of excitement and wonderful fantasy. I first saw this movie as a child under duress. After one viewing though I fell in love with the wacky and wonderful world of Munchausen. I went back to see the movie 4 more times in the theater and have never forgotten it.

Strange characters living in an even stranger world live out this dark themed but upbeat comedy/fantasy/adventure. No way to explain it in words, you just have to see it to believe that someone would make this movie.

Very fun, well worth the time, just go into the film with an open mind. Not really appropriate for young children. Watch it yourself before allowing any under the age of 12 to see it as some of the themes can be dark and spooky.

Rating:
Summary: ok, i think i missed something.
Review: what kind of movie is this? i put the VHS into my machine, expecting a swashbuckling adventure, and i get this! instead of swashbuckling action, i get some 5-year old fantasy about some wacko and his silly sidekicks. and worst of all, one of the leading characters is a little girl, not a day older than 8. and her reaction when the baron wants to quit is so stereotypical and contrived. "you CAHNT quit!" "i don't like you anymore"! how Disneyish! instead of a dashing hero swordfighting with 20 bad guys, i got a weirdo who runs 150 miles an hour. instead of thrills, excitement and humor, i got an old man travelling to the moon ina hot air balloon(come on!) and meeting people with detatchable heads, and some white faced dude screaming "I am your elephant of joy!" oh for Pete's sakes! there are some OK scenes near the end, but it's not worth your time or money, and you should just go rent Mask Of Zorro again instead.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: The best fantasy/fairytale move I've seen to date. It may be my favorite movie yet.

Rating:
Summary: Darn Good Movie
Review: check it out. a great fantasy tale.