Stream it now Jabberwocky 1977

 

The ultimate in low fantasy. Awesome script, superb characters but some obvious visual weaknesses. Great cameo from the director.

Surprisingly hilarious and not at all dated humor, this Python-esque medieval farce with token Gilliam dark humor (emphasized with some nice splattery blood) is very effective at showing the Dark Ages squalor of the peasant life, achieving something very immersive that I didn't expect from what seemed like a silly movie. There isn't much connection with any of the characters, but that doesn't make what happens any less fun.

Jabberwocky is one of my favorite films. You follow Dennis Cooper in his quest to be worthy of a hideous fat girl who doesn't like him at all, a quest he ultimately fails by succeeding. The settings and direction are pure genius. Gilliam does more with a relatively low budget to make a ridiculous world believable than many directors with high budgets and state-of-the-art special effects.

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (8/10)



I refer to Beth's review as it says everything I want to. Do NOT watch this film as a date movie. Everone will find something to relate to in this film, and for some it will really resonate.

The boys are good. The girls are average. A shame really since I think Natalie Portman has some of the best lines. And she is obviously really uncomfortable in her role as a stripper; sexy and slutty she just can't do. I really want her to be able to act well; she is beautiful, very smart and not a slapper and yet...average. *cries*

Zip.ca rental of Jabberwocky, because I simply must see everything that Terry Gilliam has ever made.

To me, it just seemed like a Monty Python and The Holy Grail re-hashing, except nowhere near as funny. Michael Palin is a little too old here to play the age he is.

Production values were pretty good. The Jabberwocky itself was...interesting.

However, I did enjoy the fact that he's totally in love with the fat chick who doesn't love him, and has no interest in the princess who adores him. That twist did amuse me.

The Opinion: It's been done, and better.

(****)

Well, it turns out there were more "damn dirty apes" than money to continue for several more sequels to the Charlton Heston classic POA. The studio was not willing to throw a lot of money at these films. It's already quite evident in this first outing called Beneath the Planet of the Apes.



Carpenter goes a bit over the top with story (this stuff is best left simple: a guy trying to deal with the realities of transparency and going a little nutty in the process...just look at the classic version from James Whale) and adds all kinds of needless baggage involving Sam Neill. I guess that's expected. What isn't expected is how well Chevy Chase fits into this role. Perhaps there should've been more comedy; but really, I like Chase here. His style reminds me of Foul Play and Seems Like Old Times just a little bit. The effects are also quite good. Oh! And so is Darryl Hannah. Very enjoyable film.

JABBERWOCKY

After seeing a 50% rating for Jabberwocky, I felt the need to weigh in.

This movie is definitely for someone with a Monty Pyton bent. Gilliam's twisted sense of humor is very much in play throughout. Gilliam always infuses a disfunctional element to the worlds he creates and paints these worlds with flawed but simpathetic characters. This movie is no exception. I would love to have seem what could have resulted from a bigger budget as many of the effects in this movie show that modest budget.
Michael Palin provides a great performance as a hopeless, inept, dreamer, Dennis Cooper. Dennis' main motivation in life is to win the love of a vulgar, obese girl, Griselda Fishfinger and her father, Mr. Fishfinger.
Dennis sets off to find is way in the world and stubbles into ultimate success, though not through his own efforts.

Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite directors, third only to Wes Anderson and Ishiro Honda.

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL- co-directed with Terry Jones
10/10
My favorite movie of all.

JABBERWOCKY
6.5/10
Not really good, but a worthy effort. Very funny, and even managed to shock me one or twice, which is hard these days.

THE MEANING OF LIFE- co-directed with Terry Jones
8.5/10

THE CRIMSON PERMANENT ASSURANCE- short
9/10

BRAZIL
10/10

THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN
9.5/10

TWELVE MONKEYS
9/10
Brad Pitt's character is one of my favorite performances of all time.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
8.5/10
My first non-Python Gilliam film.