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Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky

List Price: $24.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: fabulously ctude
Review: Gilliam at his most mad and outragous. Gorgeous to look at. Hilarious. Michael Palin is brilliant. A collection of some of the greatest British comics - all in great form. The middle ages have never been so smelly. I loved it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Entertaining but uneven film from a "beamish" boy
Review: Gilliam's first solo feature was very much a transitional effort; While trying to stretch his wings as a film director, Gilliam also falls back on a number of Pythonish devices throughout the film. In many respects, Jabberwocky is a reaction to the first Python film co-directed by Gilliam and Terry Jones (who is killed in the first scene of this movie interestingly enough): Gilliam hasn't fully integrated his cynical and dark observations with the slapstick inspired humor of the Monty Python brood.

Nevertheless, Jabberwocky is a fun film particularly with Gilliam and Michael Palin providing audio commentary throughout the film. The film was shot for less than a million dollars on sets for other films (Olivier Twist for one). Gilliam used many of Bosch's paintings as inspiration throughout the film and his take on Lewis Carroll's classic poem is unique and, at times, devestatingly funny.

The extras are quite nice on this DVD edition. The comparison between Gilliam's sketchbook and the final film is particularly interesting. Although there isn't a documentary looking back on this pivotal film, Gilliam and Palin manage to provide a funny and interesting look back on their commentary track.

Make no mistake, this isn't a Monty Pyton film. It does share much of the same humor and irreverent look at human nature that appears throughout the Python canon. Gilliam continues to be one our most talented and iconoclastic film makers. His skewed vision on humanity manages to both celebrate and satirize human nature at the same time. Jabberwocky represents an artist finding his voice and, although a bit inconsistent, is well worth purchasing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'd pay full price to see this at the movies.
Review: I normally don't see movies or check out videos because I don't really find anything that I really want to see. Everything is a a variation of a tired theme. Jabberwocky is anything but that. I really liked the fact that it wasn't predictable, there was a story to it, and I could laugh at it. Don't expect "Holy Grail" or "Meaning of Life" slapstick. The humor is often more subtle, punctuated by the really absurd moments. Although there is certainly social commentary in there, you can also see the movie as a movie for its own sake, which is the sign of a truly great film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'd pay full price to see this at the movies.
Review: I normally don't see movies or check out videos because I don't really find anything that I really want to see. Everything is a a variation of a tired theme. Jabberwocky is anything but that. I really liked the fact that it wasn't predictable, there was a story to it, and I could laugh at it. Don't expect "Holy Grail" or "Meaning of Life" slapstick. The humor is often more subtle, punctuated by the really absurd moments. Although there is certainly social commentary in there, you can also see the movie as a movie for its own sake, which is the sign of a truly great film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: hilariously quirky
Review: I remember this movie when it was first released. I have always thought that it was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. The lead character Dennis Cooper is disinherited by his father and scorned by the woman he loves. Thus, he sets out on his own to make his way in the world. He succeeds beyond his dreams and in the process wins all the things he doesn't want. Fame, adoration of the people and the hand of the princess in marriage. If you get a chance to see this movie or to own the video I highly recommend it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Should NOT be rated PG!
Review: I saw this at a store one time and was intrigued because it shared the name of a classic Lewis Carroll poem, which I have memorized. The Monty Python name worried me (you know how British humor is), but it was rated PG. I asked my mom if we could buy it or buy it when I would be getting my tonsils out. Boy, am I glad we didn't buy it!

So we rented it, although I was the only one who watched it- really, half watched it.

The first scene was violent, and all throughout was potty humor and a glimpse or two of a male backside without clothes. Oh, well, I thought.
About halfway through the movie there was one particular scene. It showed the full nude back (from head to ankles) of a woman. She then started to turn around. No, I thought, they wouldn't show nudity in a PG movie. I could see her full nude side. I then put my hands about two feet away from my eyes, blocking the screen, but what I could still see was that she was continuing to turn, which meant that there was full frontal nudity of a woman. It wasn't long before she was dressed again, but I didn't care. I turned it off and didn't even watch the rest.
So you've probably figured by now I'm a prude, but I know I'm not the only one who will be offended so I thought I'd warn you.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What is it?
Review: I'm a great fan of the Pythons, and this was the first "independent" film of theirs that I've seen. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I also found it confusing. It has some wonderfully funny moments, but it also has some serious moments. It is a comedy, and it is dark, but it is not a dark comedy. It's as if the movie can't decide which to be. The result is that you want to care about the characters, but you also want bad things to happen to them, because it would be funny. This is confusing, and ulimately annoying.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What is it?
Review: I'm a great fan of the Pythons, and this was the first "independent" film of theirs that I've seen. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I also found it confusing. It has some wonderfully funny moments, but it also has some serious moments. It is a comedy, and it is dark, but it is not a dark comedy. It's as if the movie can't decide which to be. The result is that you want to care about the characters, but you also want bad things to happen to them, because it would be funny. This is confusing, and ulimately annoying.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GREAT FILM
Review: I'm looking foward to this coming out on DVD, I only have it on video when I recorded it from the television years ago.
I heard about it when I started really getting into Python a few years ago, when I was looking at what other projects Palin and Gilliam had been involved in. It can take a couple of watches, as the story can seem a bit weird first time round, but it is a very funny film, and Palin's performence along with other actors like Warren Mitchell and John Le Mesurier are all superb. This one is certainly for fans of Python, but of course this is just a quick review of the film - the next question is how the DVD itself will be, and if there will be any extras included. Even if there isn't this is worth buying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great fun and with Hidden Depths too
Review: If you're not a Brit (or an anglophile) and not, say, in your 40s or older, you may actually miss much of the comedy in this movie.

Most people outside the UK are aware of the connection with Monty Python, but few, I'll bet, are aware that many of the actors appearing in this excellent movie are in fact UK TV and film celebrities in their own right and some are classical thespians.

Check out each of the participating actors in the IMDB and you may begin to appreciate the hidden depths of this movie - there are layers within layers.

Accomplished actors from such cult series as Steptoe and Son, The Likely Lads, 'Allo, 'Allo, Dad's Army and even the Carry On films pepper this wonderfully atmospheric example of Terry Gilliam's art.

This movie also showcases Max Wall (the King), who had enjoyed a long career as a music hall comedy act before turning to acting in his twilight years - where he proved that he was an excellent actor to boot.

Even some of the very minor roles feature pretty heavy duty Shakespearean actors, and the professionalism of the entire cast really shines through.

Michael Palin is, in my opinion, probably the most talented of the highly talented Python crew and he has demonstrated that incredible ability time and time again (examine his various characters in Life of Brian and you'll see what I mean).

All in all, an extremely enjoyable hoot - and not just for Friday/Saturday night either!

If you like your films to have substance (i.e. lots of fascinating behind the scenes material to discover) then Jabberwocky has it in abundance and will repay deeper examination - although you'll probably have to use the IMDB and other resources on the Internet to get the fuller picture.


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