From rec.arts.sf.reviews Tue May 6 13:30:24 1997 Path: news.ifm.liu.se!news.lth.se!solace!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!news.wildstar.net!newsfeed.direct.ca!news.maxwell.syr.edu!howland.erols.net!worldnet.att.net!cbgw2.lucent.com!nntphub.cb.lucent.com!not-for-mail From: dml@gwis.com (David Landers) Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Subject: RETROSPECTIVE: TIME BANDITS (1980) Followup-To: rec.arts.movies.past-films Date: 22 Apr 1997 15:21:33 GMT Organization: Gateway to Internet Services Lines: 56 Sender: eleeper@lucent.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Approved: eleeper@lucent.com Message-ID: <5jil1t$57d@nntpa.cb.lucent.com> Reply-To: dml@gwis.com (David Landers) NNTP-Posting-Host: mtvoyager.mt.lucent.com Summary: r.a.m.r. #07368 Keywords: author=Landers Originator: ecl@mtvoyager Xref: news.ifm.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:6766 rec.arts.sf.reviews:1256 TIME BANDITS A film review by David Landers Copyright 1997 David Landers RATING: *** 1/2 out of **** - 8.5 out of 10.0 CAST: Craig Warnock (Kevin), David Rappaport (Randall), Kenny Baker (Fidgit), Malcolm Dixon (Strutter), Mike Edmonds (Og), Jack Purvis (Wally), Tiny Ross (Vermin), John Cleese (Robin Hood), Sean Connery (King Agamemnon), Ian Holm (Napoleon), Ralph Richardson (Supreme Being), David Warner (Evil Genius) DIRECTOR: Terry Gilliam CERTIFICATION: PG (USA) for mild violence YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1980 TIME BANDITS, from Director Terry Gilliam, is a very different fantasy Action/Adventure movie about a group of time-traveling dwarves, led by Randall (David Rappaport), who have stolen a map of the Universe. This map contains time hole, that, if exploited, enable the men to travel back and forth through time. The Supreme Being of the Universe (Ralph Richardson) is the former employer of these treasure-seeking bandits, and he wishes desperately to regain the map.. During the travels, he appears as a ghostly face, demanding that they return the map that they have stolen. But, according to Randall, they are just "borrowing" it. Kevin, a young boy who seems quite bored with his life, is unexpectedly brought into the schemes of the little men when they appear in his room, which has a portal for time traveling. He joins up with the men and becomes part of their gang, following them on their robberies. Their first victim is Napoleon (Ian Holm), whom they rob during a battle that he is commanding. From here, the group travels to the Middle Ages, meeting up with Robin Hood himself. Eventually, Kevin is separated from the group and travels to an Egyptian time where he is taken in by King Agamemnon, played by Sean Connery. Kevin accidentally saved the King's life, and the King wishes to have Kevin as his son. But the group of bandits find Kevin and transport onto the deck of the Titanic. Meanwhile, the Evil Genius (David Warner) is watching the group from Fortress of Ultimate Darkness, attempting to find a way in order to bring the men, and the map, to him. When Randall learns of the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness, which supposedly contains "the most fabulous object in the world", the dollar signs seemingly appear on his eyes, as he is convinced that they must travel there. Once inside the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness, it is unclear as to if any of the men will make it out alive. TIME BANDITS is a fantastically made film that caters to the imagination of anyone. With a terrific soundtrack, courtesy of George Harrison, whom also was an Executive Producer, TIME BANDITS is sure to be a very surrealistic, time-traveling adventure with unforgettable characters that is sure to entertain anyone. Terry Gilliam, however, does not utilize that greatly his trademark ability in moviemaking during this film, although this does not affect the film that greatly. And finally, if you liked LABYRINTH, you'll love TIME BANDITS. *--------------------------------------------------------------------* * David Landers - dml@gwis.com - http://www.gwis.com/~dml/ * *--------------------------------------------------------------------* From rec.arts.sf.reviews Tue Nov 4 17:45:20 1997 Path: news.ifm.liu.se!news.lth.se!feed1.news.luth.se!luth.se!news-ge.switch.ch!news-fra1.dfn.de!news-was.dfn.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.direct.ca!news.uoregon.edu!news.u.washington.edu!grahams From: Kevin Patterson Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Subject: Retrospective: Time Bandits (1981) Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.movies Date: 2 Nov 1997 19:29:40 GMT Organization: Princeton University Lines: 55 Approved: graham@ee.washington.edu Message-ID: <63ikb4$7vc$1@nntp5.u.washington.edu> Reply-To: kevinp@princeton.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: homer30.u.washington.edu X-Trace: nntp5.u.washington.edu 878498980 8172 (None) 140.142.64.7 X-Complaints-To: help@cac.washington.edu NNTP-Posting-User: grahams Summary: r.a.m.r. #09613 Keywords: author=patterson X-Questions-to: movie-rev-mod@www.ee.washington.edu X-Submissions-to: movie-reviews@www.ee.washington.edu Originator: grahams@homer30.u.washington.edu Xref: news.ifm.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:8939 rec.arts.sf.reviews:1589 Film review by Kevin Patterson Time Bandits * * * PG, 1981 Directed by Terry Gilliam. Written by Gilliam and Michael Palin. Starring Craig Warnock, Sean Connery. Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" was promoted as a children's movie when it was released, and it's easy to see from a marketing standpoint why this was done. The main character (Craig Warnock) is a child, and the story revolves around his fantastic adventures with a group of six mischievous "time bandits" - former servants of the Supreme Being who have used their knowledge of space and time to travel to various periods of history and steal valuable artifacts. Along the way they encounter Robin Hood (John Cleese), Agamemnon (Sean Connery), and other famous mythical-historical figures. Gilliam, who got off the ground career-wise as the animator for Monty Python, puts his visual sensibilities to good use, creating magnificent alternate worlds that are both epic and cartoonish at once. What elevates Gilliam's many cinematic flights of fancy above simple adventure stories, however, is his insight into the mindset and implications of fantasy, and "Time Bandits" is no exception. We don't just see the fun, care-free aspect of these childhood fantasies, but the dark side as well. Some of the young boy's heroes, for example, are not all they are cracked up to be. Robin Hood's band of merry men seem to be a rather cynical and mean-spirited bunch, as they amuse themselves by smacking the poor citizens around after they give them their handouts. When we meet Agamemnon, he is in the middle of a brutal fight to the death and seems genuinely regretful at having to cut down his enemy. And towards the end, when the six bandits are trying to summon up a portal to another dimension, one of them proclaims, "You just have to believe!" This is straight out of any kids' adventure movie; yet the bandit's intention is to transport himself and his companions to a realm ruled by greed and evil. "Time Bandits" succeeds at both romanticizing and pointing out the hazards of childhood fantasies, then, but it ultimately drags on a little too long. The motley crew's various adventures are completely disconnected from each other, and not until the end, when they enter the realm of evil and it becomes Warnock's responsibility to fight for the cause of good, are any of them possessed of a real sense of urgency. It might also have helped if Gilliam had been a little clearer about his internal logic, because "Time Bandits" is thoroughly confusing at times, such as when the young boy's parents disappear for no definite reason. All in all, "Time Bandits" is an enjoyable and intelligent film, and a prelude to later pieces such as "Brazil" and "The Fisher King" that would distinguish Gilliam as one of the most talented fantasy directors working in modern cinema. - - - - - - Visit my Film Reviews home page: http://members.aol.com/KTPattersn/home.html