Search - Time Bandits [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Excellent For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1981 DVD Release: 03/30/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 56 Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy, Fantasy Adventure See Also: Time Bandits, Time Bandits [Divimax], Time Bandits [UMD for PSP]

A young boy joins a group of renegade dwarves on an unpredictable journey through time in this humorous fantasy. Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam mostly achieves a tricky balancing act in his second feature as sole director, creating a dark, irreverent comedy disguised as a family adventure. Particularly amusing are the boy's encounters with various historical figures, including an entertainment-starved Napoleon (Ian Holm), a powerful Agamemnon (Sean Connery), and a surprisingly stuffy Robin Hood, embodied by Gilliam's Python cohort John Cleese. Episodic by nature, the film is less successful when dealing with the larger narrative, which concerns the pursuit of the dwarves and their time-traveling map by the Supreme Being. However, the combination of Gilliam's visual exuberance and the witty script (by Gilliam and Michael Palin) ensures an entertaining, if erratic, journey. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

John Cleese - Robin Hood
Sean Connery - Agamemnon
Shelley Duvall - Pansy
Katherine Helmond - Mrs. Ogre
Ian Holm - Napolean

Former Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam broke free of the comedy troupe with this over-the-top fantasy film. Now fans and newcomers alike can enjoy it again in this DVD release from the Criterion Collection. Even for those who remember seeing this film as a kid, the beautiful widescreen transfer makes it feel brand new. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio showcases the otherworldly atmospheres and historical locales, while the Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack offers crystal-clear, multilayered sound. The DVD is fairly short on extras, featuring a "scrapbook" of behind-the-scenes photos and a theatrical trailer. But the commentary track is top-notch. Gilliam, co-writer Michael Palin, and stars John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock all share their thoughts and insights about making the film. Gilliam provides the best bits, blending technical info with witty asides. Although Anchor Bay produces its own DVD edition of =Time Bandits, the Criterion edition is the one to buy. ~ Jeremy Brown, All Movie Guide