Rating: 
Summary: Creative and imaginative dystopia
Review: Both haunting and amusing at the same time. Any fan of Terry Gilliam should see this film. The Harry Tuttle character now has a very interesting parallel to modern day hackers, as well.
Rating:
Summary: System Overload
Review: Ofcourse Terry Gilliam is a self-indulgent director, thats what makes him unique, thats what makes his fans love him. If an undiscovered Gilliam film were to be unearthed 20 years from now anybody would able to vouch for its authenticity by watching 10 seconds of screen time. His style is that distinctive. However that same self-indulgence makes the second half of Brazil almost completely redundant. As Leonard Maltin correctly points out above "a relentless film that doesn't know when to quit." By the time the audience gets to the dream sequence where Sam Lowry is fighting a huge-goblin like creature they will be in an absolute refractory period, in need of a break. There is simply too much footage here to gel togather to make a whole with something resembling a story arc. Yet I still consider Brazil to be a masterpiece. From that tracking shot that pulls you through an office where overworked government employees pretend to labour on computers with transparent monitors to the grotesque beauty of Sam Lowry's mother, this is as pure an artistic vision as you're even going to get. So many people keep refering to Brazil as futuristic, perhaps this is because of the abundance of gadgets and technology in the film, but the opening credits clearly state "Somewhere in the Twentieth Cnetury". I think that Gilliam overstates the presence of the machines inorder to highlight their uselessness. The catalyst for the story is a mechanical error caused by a bug(the creepy crawly variety) that causes hooded agents of the Information Ministry to apprehend a Mr.Buttle instead of a Mr.Tuttle. A lot of the humour is derived from the fact that everything needs a hundred "forms" to get done. You may want to watch stretches of the film at a time so you could enjoy (and comprehend) whats going on . And despite any quams I may have with this film, I still think it is an essential item on the shelf of any movie buff. To me 12 Monkeys is Terry Gilliam's finest film, he managed to get the balance between his unique vision and the story just right there, but that film was written by someone else. Perhaps we could call Brazil : GILLIAM RAW. It has all the frustration and the uncensored splendor of what that title suggests.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible DVD!
Review: Criterion rocks again! This is the best DVD(s) I will ever own next to Criterion's Wages of Fear remaster. The first disc has The Final Cut of Brazil, its Gilliam's version, and it has the best ending. I think the one with the clouds is kinda stupid, this one is much better. Gilliam's commentary is not great but is still very cool, he often strays off on long speeches about society and the film business and misses some things he was gonna start on but its still a good commentary. Gilliam says the best line about the late Siskel (thumbs up, thumbs down guy). An absolute classic. The Second disc is basicly what they couldn't fit on disc one. The EXTRAS section. This isn't no ordinary EXTRAS section, this EXTRAS section is so huge it barely fits on one disc! It has a What is Brazil? documentry that looks like a 30 minute commercial for the film but is the ONLY place where you are gonna see the deleted Eyeball Sequence and its worth it. Only if its 13 seconds of it. The disc also has a real eye opener called The Battle of Brazil. Man, I think everyone should see this one. It shows pretty much Hollywood thinks you, the American public are abunch of idiots. This disc also has script drafts and allllll kinds of stuff, lots and lots and lots of it. Disc 3 is horrible. Its the product(what studio execs call films) that we get most of the time. Half of the films you see have undergone this treatment. This is the stupid version of Brazil and I reccomend it for your friends that thought The Matrix was really deep. It has a really good commentary track on it and after hearing it when I look at some films you start to notice things. Take a look at Alien 3 (very intelligent thriller until it was turned into absolute sh$t by studio execs) which had the "Love Conquers All" treatment done to it. Its amazing how much a film can be changed with a couple of snips and music placed out of order. These 3 discs come in a very cool looking package that is a very clever illusion. Brazil is my favorite movie and this 3 disc collection is totally awesome. Keep it up Criterion!
Rating:
Summary: Universal release doesn't compare to Criterion.
Review: Criterion collection discs are almost always a big improvement but, in the case of Brazil, it is essential. You can't even appreciate the movie with the standard release. The full director's cut really makes the story come together. I would've given other versions I've seen three stars, but this version shows that the movie deserved all the critical acclaim. All the supplements are amazing, and the director's commentary is one of the best I've heard, very informative and helpul. If you thought this movie was lacking after viewing other versions, spend the money on Criterion and you'll fully appreciate a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: im speachless
Review: WOW! What an amazing DVD or shall i say 3 DVDS.I had never seen this movie before i bought this collection but i knew all about the battle of brazil from a book called the cutting room floor.If you have absolutely nothing to do for this next week sit down and go through this set. Although a week might not be enough time.Watching the love conquers all version is appalling without the commentary and the transfer just looks terrible without widescreen. The Gilliam transfer is beautifully done and the bonus materials will leave you with no doubt about the films meaning.This is criterions absolute best DVD that i have seen from them. A must for the DVD and movie fanatic.
Rating:
Summary: Criterion Should Do All Universal DVDs
Review: Just a warning, but if you buy the non-Criterion Collection version of Brazil, you are getting the 2 hour, 11 minute American release, which is what people got in theatres in America in 1985, in other words, the Universal Studios domestic release. If you buy the Criterion Collection Version, you get two movies, neither of which is 2 hours, 11 minutes long! The first disc is the International Release from 1985, as distributed by Fox, which is 2 hours, 22 minutes long. The other disc is the 94 minute cut (abomination, what have you) created by Sid Sheinberg and Universal Studios. Again, even the standard release of the Brazil DVD is a product of Universal butchering, which, while it allows for a dark ending, cuts a couple of scenes at the end that help to tie the film together. If you have not seen all 142 minutes (2 hours, 11 minutes) of Brazil, you have not been to Brazil... Universal has continued to disappoint me with sub-standard DVD releases (the Jerk and The Sting, both full screen and poor digital transfers, Dune in its shortened domestic release, and many more), which brings me to my original point, which is that Criterion, who's special edition DVDs are consistently wonderful, should do all of Universal's DVDs, and put us out of our misery.
Rating: 
Summary: an interesting surrealistic dream
Review: I have noticed that people either think that this movie is the best movie ever or that it is absolute trash. In my opinion, the truth is somewhere in the middle. While it is not bad by any stretch of the imagination, the story is really not all that interesting. Granted, the film does contain many interesting sequences and both the acting and art direction are great, but the story leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, there is a great ending and there are some good ideas but some suspense wouldn't have hurt either. As much as I liked the set design and the characters, I couldn't help but feel bored in the last third of the film. In short, great visuals and ideas but the story itself could've been better. I guess, that is the problem with most surrealistic films: they throw so many suprises at you that you quickly become accustomed to them and ,as a result, you are no longer suprised by anything in the movie.
Rating:
Summary: God's gift to movies
Review: Brazil is in my opinion the best movie ever made. Beautiful direction, beautiful story. The epic battle against the dehumanizing establishment. Finding the ultimate utopian epiphany in the escape into insanity. Beautiful. Saddly enough, this movie is a relfection on our own existence in society. People work dull, mundane desk jobs until they can retire to Florida and die. Their lasting impression is a marble tombstone in the middle of some cemetery were the only people that remember them are there closest of close friends. Sometimes escaping to your imagination and creativity is the only way you can make amends with this seemingly trivial existence. At least that is what I do. Watch this and enjoy. By the way, it isn't that hard to understand, and if you don't understand it, watch it again. If you don't understand it after multiple viewings go home and watch "Friends" or "Melrose Place" or read a romance novel, at least find something that superficial and redundant to entertain yourself. It is a beautiful peice of art that is easy to relate to and understand. If you enjoy this watch "Time Bandits," "The Adventures of Barron Munchousen," "Fight Club," or e-mail me and we can talk about the meaning of life.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended
Review: Brazil was a mystery to most people and one of those movies you watched late at night, lights turned out. I liked the film that played on video way back when, so seeing the 'real' movie was an eye opener. It is amazing what a studio can do with someone's film but the studio may have had a point. This version is overly long, muddled and not as precise as Terry Gilliam normally is. Maybe he was hurried, maybe he was running out of money... whatever. It is still good and this original version doesn't leave you feeling that "What was that?" which used to accompany many first time viewers. Gilliam is a masterful movie maker. The Criterion Collection of 3 DVD's is very good too, I particularly like the fact that they include the one released in the US plus a great disc that gives all the background behind how it was made and released. You can't go wrong if you like Gilliam's movies.
Rating:
Summary: Best DVD-released product EVER!
Review: After spending a day watching as much as I could (and I'm still not through it all), I could see Terry Gilliam pouring his heart and soul into releasing this definitive DVD package. Not only do you get to see one of the greatest films ever made, you get commentaries, documentaries, screenplays, an in-depth account of the battle between Gilliam and Universal, storyboards, special effects, trailers, deleted concepts, a director's cut, a studio cut. I could go on and on. If there ever was the most perfect DVD release out there, this one easily takes the cake. I don't have any other DVD that even comes close to being as cool as this one. Way to go, Terry!
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