Rating: 
Summary: A niche movie
Review: People who will like Brazil will probably love it. It's in the vain of movies like Kafka, 12 Monkeys, 1984, and other literary flicks based on alienation, governmental totalitarianism, adventure/fantasy. Brazil may stand out for being more beautiful and comic than the others. It's really a damn funny satire even when it's dealing with the major fear themes of the 20th century: the loss of communication, love and especially freedom. Of course, we've all seen this sort of thing before, and director Terry Gilliam gets pretty caried away sometimes with how GREAT he seems to think the movie is, which can cause the veiwer's interest to flag a bit. Still, I didn't start to get tired of it till the 4th time I saw it. So that's pretty good...
Rating: 
Summary: Greatest American / British Film Ever Made!!!!
Review: I've loved this film ever since I woke up to the better film world in high school. It blew me away the first time and it has continued to blow me away with each additional viewing.
The beautiful cinematography from the eyes and numerous brains of Terry Gilliam along with the "bizarre" dream sequences and storyline make it a must for all film fans to see.
It is easily my favorite film of all time, as is Terry Gilliam my favorite director (despite his small library of work).
Without a doubt my last words when I die will be "Brazil" (a la Citizen Kane).
Rating:
Summary: Bizarre but fascinating.
Review: If you can get up the courage to watch it, BRAZIL is a thoroughly mind-blowing film. I say 'if' because I avoided the film for the longest time, having heard about how 'wierd' it was. Wierd it is indeed, but that's not a bad thing. There is 'crap wierd' (THE FISHER KING) and 'intriguing wierd' of which this film is the latter. It's incredible when everything comes together in the end. The sets and scenes are amazing. Often, before you've had a chance to determine exactly what you're looking at, the scene changes. You have to be on your toes when you watch this (not like an annoying MTV video mind you). The comedy is definitely BLACK, but very entertaining. This film fits nicely alongside the more serious tones of 1984. It is paranoid and bizarre like 1984, but has some comedy elements that lighten the load a bit. The DVD picture and sound quality are good I guess. The extras are nice, but I have not watched them in a while. There is no point in giving plot points here, you just have to see the film. It's like nothing you've ever seen. Oh, you get Robert De Niro too, so what are you waiting for? Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Gilliam...
Review: ...is some kind of mad genius. On a par with Blade Runner for its' inventive visuals, Brazil is awesome.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films ever-exceedingly overlooked!
Review: Let me just start off saying that this film would be thought of with the Godfathers'/Pulp Fiction's if there wasn't so bad studio marketing. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RELEASE IT! This great film is about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreat. I know that the criterion dvd (which I'm going to buy) goes into more detail, but the studio Universal didn't want to release it. Mean while, director Terry Gilliam (who is a member/actor/director of Monty Pythons flying circus/shows uses his wonderful animation and felloew castmember Michael Palin here, who would become popular a few years down the road for a fish called wanda) who directs with imaginitive spirit showed this in private screenings to critics. They loved it so much, they called it the best film of the year and embarresed Universal into releasing it. I don't usually like sci-fi's, but this, 12 monkeys (also by Gilliam), A Clockwork Orange, 2001, A.I. and E.T are undoubtable classics. Thank you Gilliam! Thank you for trying to find something else. Even if it bombed, even if your studio didn't like it, they learned! Gilliam only has made 2 movies after Brazil: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and 12 monkeys, both released by Universal! Plus, this film has a huge cult following, and you know its a great film if its released by Criterion. I can't wait to see he directors cut, the love conquers all version, and the battle over Brazil. Criterion releases the best fils, buy some people don't like some of them because they're contreversial, like this, Armageddon, and The Royal Tenenbaums (They really like Wes Anderson!).The Royal Tenenbaums is in my top 5 (see my review!), and I haven't seen Armageddon. At least rent this imaginative, think outside the box, wonderful, wonderful film.
Rating:
Summary: IMPROVED WITH AGE
Review: This is one of a handful of films that seems to improve with age (Dr. Strangelove is a film in a similar vein that fits this category). I liked the movie when I saw it in 1985, seeing it again in 2002 it is even better. Perhaps it is because the question of Freedom vs Security has become so much more relevant to us today. Along with this we can also look back and see what a big influence Brazil has been on filmmaking from a purely technical standpoint. So many careful details now stand out: script, design, score, casting. The casting is marvelous. Johnathan Pryce is superb and it is a delight to see actors such as Katherine Helmond, Jim Broadbent, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin at their quirky best. The Criterion edition is worth the extra money for the fascinating story of the battle over Brazil. Some of what is put on the CD, information about the making of the film, is disappointing as it is only text and could have been simply put in an accompanying booklet. I have not yet had the heart to look at the studio cut, the so-called "Love Conquers All" version, but am glad to have it. This is the version you are likely to see on televion that is typically given about a 2-star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Tiny mirrors reflecting the video
Review: If you miss the first five minutes of this movie, you will not
get it. Everything began to fall apart with one person's
inability to live with their fellow being. It really is that
simple of a story. That is the genius of Terry Gilliam....This movie encompasses this and everything else you can think
of into the wildest, darkest, happiest, stupidest ride you ever
had in your life! Probably one of the best ten movies of all
time. Sincerely.
Rating:
Summary: ESN
Review: Regarding the comments of reviewer from Michigan, dated 15th October 2002: I am afraid you are clearly a simpleton. Brazil is quite simply one of the finest movies ever made, and has been hugely influential on subsequent films (Minority Report, for example). It is not necessarily an easy movie to watch, I agree, but rewards the viewer with subsequent viewings. It is muli-faceted and multi-layered, and is a wonderful satire on society at the moment. It does tend to polarize opinion, but then it is making many a strong point, and thankfully avoids an upbeat, schmaltzy ending. Brazil is, incredibly, unavailable on DVD in the UK, but is a must for any collection, and this edition well worth the money and the wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Weird.
Review: Weird movie. Saw it in 1990. Still trying to suppress the memory. Even after so many years, simply seeing the name of the movie gives me the creeps.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant black comedy
Review: The fiasco that surrounded the release of Brazil would have made a wonderful subplot for this entertaining black comedy. Gilliam's comments are enlightening particularly on the documentary included with this three disc set. Is three discs too much for Brazil? Frankly, no as the second disc is the version that Universal had wanted to release. It's quite a different film with a surprisingly upbeat finale. It's amazing what a few snips (or quite a few) can do here and there. The plot is the stuff of a Kafka nightmare; The Government goes after a subversive "terrorist" who is repairing residents' air conditioning, plumbing, etc. illegally. The problem is that he's getting it right without the red tape or hassle of the bureaucracy. His name is Tuttle. Due to a transcription error (a bug drops from the ceiling where the warrant is being issued and gets stuck in the auto typewriter printing it up), the wrong man Buttle is arrested. Buttle's upstairs neightbor tries to get him released from jail. Jack who works for the Ministry of Information recognizes that this woman is the woman from his dreams. In his dreams Jack is a superhero of sorts battling demons (representing the government) thatare dedicated to kidnapping his girlfriend and destroying the beautiful world. The result is that Jack becomes involved with the girl, tries to sort out the Buttle vs. Tuttle issue, has his air conditioning repaired by the repair terrorist Tuttle and becomes a sort of revolutionary himself. He recognizes the world he lives in for what it is but just hopes to get along until the real world echoes his dream. He tries to fight the "warrior" (represented by a samurai demon in his dreams)evil government to save people he now cares about that he had never met before. That's about as clear as I can describe the plot. This is satire with streaks of black humor running through it. One could easily imagine this as the love child of the Marx Brothers' Duck Soup and Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. The cinematography is beautiful and the production design very imaginative. It has the look and feel of much of Gilliam's work--it appears to be outside time and our world but the situations in the film echo what's happening in real life. The transfer great although there are a couple of analog artifacts (dirt, dust, etc.) that can be seen. The studio cut is shown in full screen format (unlike the wide screen aspect ratio of Gilliam's version). I'm not sure if that's because it hadn't been matted yet for theatrical display (Gilliam, like Kubrick, from what I understand shoots in television aspect ratio so his work isn't ruined when shown on television). Gilliam's comments are informative and often funny as heck. Part satire/black comedy, retro science fiction and Kafkaesque nightmare, Brazil stands as Gilliam's masterpiece. He's certainly done films as good (Time Bandits, The Fisher King and The 12 Monkeys)as this but none with as richly imagined world. Gilliam is an acquired taste and, like the Marx Brothers or Monty Python, his work won't be for everyone. Gilliam may have tried to make a populist, intellectual satire but I'm afraid the film is over some folks heads (and not to everyone's taste). If in doubt, rent the 131 minute US release on DVD and watch it. If you really like it then move on to this ultimate version.
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