The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES
A true story. We've got the film to prove it.
Adventure, Comedy, Romance. He was full of it.
Bull. He was full of it.
From the director of "Time Bandits" and "Brazil" a new movie full of NOISE...FLYING OBJECTS...SEAFOOD...CELEBRITIES...COMPASSION...TRAVEL...HONOR...GRAVITY...BULL...he was full of it. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Remarkable. Unbelievable. Impossible. And true.
Baron Munchausen is a character of European myth that might be considered the predecessor of American tales of Pecos Bill or Paul Bunyan. The Baron's stories are taken to be outrageous and fanciful lies. This is the origin of the name of the psychiatric diagnosis of "Munchausen's Syndrome", a particularly bizzare form of hypochondria.
| John Neville | Hieronymus Karl Frederick Baron von Munchausen |
| Eric Idle | Desmond/Berthold |
| Sarah Polley | Sally Salt |
| Oliver Reed | Vulcan |
| Charles McKeown | Rupert/Adolphus |
| Winston Dennis | Bill/Albrecht |
| Jack Purvis | Jeremy/Gustavus |
| Valentina Cortese | Queen Ariadne/Violet |
| Jonathan Pryce | The Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson |
| Bill Paterson | Henry Salt |
| Peter Jeffrey | Sultan |
| Uma Thurman | Venus/Rose |
| Alison Steadman | Daisy |
| Ray Cooper | Functionary |
| Don Henderson | Commander |
| Terry Gilliam |
6.90 out of 10 (9119 votes)
Visitor Reviews
"We're out of virgins."
posted on 22 Jun 2009Yet another wild, whacked out fantasy from Terry Gilliam, the only American born member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. This is the story of Baron Munchausen (Neville), an old man still being chased by an Arabian king because after winning a bet Munchausen took too much money out of the king's vaults and now the king and his army are apparently attacking a colony because Munchausen's there. With the help of toothy little girl (Sarah Polley before she grew up to do the remake of "Dawn of the Dead") and rounding up his old comrades (among them Eric Idle, the "third tallest member of Monty Python"). All sorts of wild insanity ensues. This was the last of Gilliam's "trilogy of the imagination", the other two entries in this so called trilogy being "Time Bandits" and "Brazil". If Terry Gilliam has a flaw with his fantasies, it may very well be that he drags out some gags too long, even if its a really good gag. Though I'm not entirely sure I enjoy his work, I must say I admire Gilliam and the recklessness of his projects, because at least he's got the balls to try to do things differently. To this day, he still ranks as being one of the most off the wall, unconventional director chaps out there.All in all, I think I liked this one better than either "Time Bandits" or "Brazil" (though "Brazil" probably has the most racy commentary of Gilliam's so called trilogy). Best line: "We're out of virgins." - Jonathan Pryce
The very definition of wondrous
posted on 11 May 2009This struck me as the height of whimsy and marvel on its initial release, and it has only improved with each subsequent viewing. Wondrous and magical. The sets and effects are exquisite; the scene of the baron latching onto the cannonball always sends me into spasms of mirth. The performances are likewise uniformly excellent, from the main roles to the cameos: Oliver Reed is hilarious; Sarah Polley turns in one of the most memorable child performances ever (and amazingly has gotten better and better since, as evidenced by "The Sweet Hereafter" and "Go"); and John Neville holds it all together mightily as the baron ("Beautiful ladies!" -- a treat for viewers who might only know him from "The X-Files"). Jonathan Pryce, Robin Williams, Eric Idle, Uma Thurman, etc. -- everyone outstanding. "Munchausen" melds the regular Gilliam themes -- adventure, fantasy, raucous comedy, melancholy, the struggle against mindless and repressive authority, the spectre of death -- into a jewel, his crowning achievement to date, topping even "Brazil." Kudos, kudos, kudos. A true 10 out of 10.
A hymn to the fantasy
posted on 11 Apr 2009Great movie about the importance of fantasy, without which we cannot live happily. It's for all kind of people: children, adults who has lost the will of dreaming, people that blindly only believe in reason and pragmatism...The plot is different from the book but the story is adapted in an excellent way. The actors are great and the director and the make-up artists made a very good job.8/10 for this simple and honest fantasy film.
Sheer Nonsense
posted on 21 Mar 2009I love Terry Gilliam, because even before I gave two shits about directors, I loved his movies, "Time Bandits" and "The Adventures Of Baron Munchaussen".This film is an epic children's fantasy about getting old and dying, and the role of the imagination there in. As always illusions and dreams go hand in hand with manipulation and lies, and the story that can give you a balloon ride to the moon, can just as simply keep you enslaved in your community huddled together in fear of invading and ever present barbarians.What I like about this film, is the fantastic set designs, and the creative zeal that oozes out of every frame. Not as funny as "Brazil" or "Fear And Loathing", but not as childish as "Time Bandits", either.It's just one of those great 80's fantasy films that has a texture CGI can't touch, as well as a genuine sense of humor, history, and a director who cares (maybe too much) about the images he is putting on screen. A classic fantasy story told by one of fantasy and cinema's great directors and visionaries.
Gilliam does it again...
posted on 02 Jan 2009With Time Bandits and Brazil, Terry Gilliam amazed me with the way in which he directed and wrote some amazing works of fiction. A similar thing happens here but in a much larger scale. The film is so full of magnificent visuals, including the magnificent balloon ride in which they travel to the moon. Excellent stuff, and spellbounding everything!!
Triumph of the Dreamer
posted on 03 Dec 2008The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a film most people aren't going to like, because it's not an easy film to watch. It is perhaps one of the most beautifully realised fantasy films made, and undoubtedly the best of all the crop of fantasy movies that sprang up over the eighties. If any one has read Andrew Yule's book "Loosing the Light", they will no doubt be familiar with the difficult filming conditions that director Terry Gilliam and crew where subjected to (harsh sand storms, food poisoning, producer Thomas Schühly sabotaging the set for insurance money where just some of the set backs). Yet still Gilliam managed to produce a visually stunning (are Gilliam's films anything else) and at times exciting film, full of wonder and adventure. So why doesn't the film work that well? Well, for a start it takes far to long to get going, and once where away it alternates between sequences that go on forever (Robin William's King of the Moon scene) and others that seem so rushed they're over in no time (inside the whale). There is no plot (not necessarily a bad thing), just a random collection of fantasy episodes. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a film that I would mainly recommend to Gilliam fans, if you are familiar with the director's other works (Time Bandits, Brazil and 12 Monkeys) you should get a lot out of this film. But to the casual viewer Munchausen might come off as a boring, meandering old man, who rambles on for too long, completely out staying his welcome. As a Gilliam fan myself, I can point out these flaws and still enjoy the beautiful images, over the top performances and episodic narrative with out those flaws getting in the way. Baron Munchausen is a good film, made under harsh conditions, and is a great testament to Gilliam's triumph as a dreamer. 8/10
Ridiculously underrated !!!
posted on 27 Jul 2008Terry Gilliam is a true cinematic genius.. I am so sorry for him that not more people have seen this film...it is a true undiscovered pearl..from the visuals to the acting to the script one is swept along on a rollercoaster of breathtaking exuberance. Very highly recommended indeed. Go see.
hit and miss ending to Gilliam's trilogy
posted on 12 Jul 2008Baron Munchausen started off with the possibilities of being really good; it had a decent cast, special effects, and a good back story. Somehow it doesn't gel. It feels like a set of sketches which don't belong together, as the Baron ventures to the moon (where Robin Williams' head and body struggle with their split personalities), to the home of Vulcan and Venus (where Oliver Reed has a bizarre Northern accent and Uma Thurman does very little except dance with the Baron several feet in the air - a good scene from the effects point of view), inside a whale with several strange companions (one can run very very fast, one has supersonic hearing, that kind of thing) ... and always accompanied by a little girl (played well by Sarah Polley). John Neville does what he can with the Baron, but Jonathan Pryce is wasted in a little role and Eric Idle manages to be more annoying than in any other film I've seen him in. Slightly disappointing as a whole.
Little Girl's Adventure with the Baron
posted on 24 Jun 2008I grew up as a young girl in the 50s and 60s, a huge fan of fantasy, science fiction, and adventure stories. The best part of this movie for me is the Baron's young co-adventurer being a little girl! Stories like this, with a boy as the adventurer, were all there were when I was a child. In my young imagination I would always replace the boy with myself in my re-imaginings. What a refreshing difference! That said, this is a beautiful movie. The scene with the boat sailing on a sea of sand is exquisite. Robin Williams is hysterical as the King of the Moon. I can't believe it didn't have a wider release. This is one of my all time favorite movies, along with The Princess Bride.
What happened? I'll tell you.
posted on 04 May 2008Some people might be confused as to what actually happened in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Let me explain:SPOILER!The city was being heavily rationed by The Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson, hoarding supplies for himself while convincing the city folk that they were still under attack by the Turks. Baron Munchausen enters the city, knowing full well that there is no attack. He proceeds to tell them a fantastic, fanciful tale to entrance them, using them as characters in the story (ie. Rose as Venus, Jackson as the villian as himself, etc.). The story is successfully able to liven their spirits, andis then able to lead a revolt, to open the gates and reveal there was no enemy - they had been lied to.END OF SPOILER.Of course, Terry Gilliam would get on my case for using Reason, and not accepting the events at face value.As for the film itself, it's a wonderful trestise on being old. Munchausen ages and gets younger as befits his mood. He romanticizes not only figuratively, but literally. To him, fantasies are reality - and you know what? He's right - perception is reality in many cases. When you're older, you CAN only look back, for the most part - and why not enjoy the past as well as your fantasies?
really something
posted on 22 Apr 2008"The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" has Terry Gilliam written all over it. The fantasy, the cleverness, and everything else. To me, the movie is looking at the challenge of distinguishing reality from fantasy, what with the possibility that the baron's stories just might be true. But whether or not they are, the movie is still really something. I personally think that Terry Gilliam has never gotten the credit that he deserves as a director (surely we have to agree that "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was infinitely better than any Jean-Claude Van Damme movie).Anyway, this is one movie that you're sure to like. Since I first saw it, John Neville has had some neat roles ("The X Files", "Urban Legend", "Sunshine"). Also starring Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Jonathan Pryce, Uma Thurman and an uncredited Robin Williams.
Are stories real? They are certainly powerful...
posted on 19 Apr 2008A magical film about the power and importance of story telling and imagination. The creation of the ever fecund mind of Terry Gilliam, this may very well be my favorite movie (ah, but it is so very hard to choose). Filled with a spirit of adventure, and a deftness far too rare these days, it is the delightful tale of the adventurous life of Baron Munchausen. He is a hero of the grand old sort, a kind of 17th century James Bond.Baron Munchausen has a knowledge of fine wines, is popular with the ladies, and is the finest soldier in the kingdom. He has a band of sidekicks (the fastest man, the strongest, one with amazing sight, another with amazing lungs and hearing) who assist him in fighting the Turks; traveling to meet the King of the Moon; falling into the center of the earth to meet Vulcan and Aphrodite; and playing cards with the Grim reaper, after being swallowed by an enormous monster-fish the size of an island.Along the way Gilliam's wit skewers rationalism, science, realism, practicality and pragmatics. As much an explication of faith as a depiction of what makes life truly worth living, and what is worth dying for, I rent this again and again. It is only my own foolishness that has prevented me from purchasing a copy. Literally wonderful.Watch for fabulous cameos from a whole host of unexpected people, including Robin Williams and Sting.
Brilliant if overlong
posted on 01 Apr 2008Wonderful, one of the few that truly marries special effects with content. Always interesting is that Gilliam's heroes are reluctant ones, basically Everyman, with a social conscience that jabs them every once in a while. The climactic battle for the city is a bit overlong, otherwise 3 thumbs up (I grew an extra thumb for the movie). Detractors of the film must not have any sense of imagination, sense of humor, or sense.
Spellbinding. Mesmerizing. And True.
posted on 05 Jan 2008This movie, directed by the indomitable Terry Gilliam, is a feast for the eyes, ears, and mind. The stories of Baron Von Munchausen are not very well known to us on "this side of the pond", but they have been told countless times in Europe. The story starts out in a European town where a small but determined bunch of actors, the Henry Salt and Son Theatre Company are performing a rag-tag version of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, a fictional piece of work. Or so they would think. During this "command performance" for the minister of war and his cabinet, played with outrageous zest by Jonathan Pryce, the door busts open loudly by a grizzled, ancient, booming figure that claims to be the very Baron that they are portraying. He tells them that the story they are telling is fraudulent, that is not the way it happened at all, and begins to tell them the TRUE tale as apposed to the fabrication they have been watching. Before long, the lines between fact and fiction, true-life and story-life are completely and utterly blurred. Up is down, in is out, nonsense makes as much sense as sense. Superb direction, fantastic scenery, costumes, special effects, acting, and storytelling above all else make for a wonderfully visual treat for the whole family. None, or at least very little, dirty language ever shows up. The only bit of "Nudity" is Uma Thurman portraying Botticelli's "Birth of Venus". Perhaps it's a bit much for the younger tykes, for those between the ages of 6 and 12, no problem whatsoever. This is a movie not to be missed by any one of any age. Be on the lookout for an uncredited performance by Robin Williams as the King of the Moon. Inspired casting, I must say. The Credit for the performance was billed as "Ray D. Tutto" which is an inside joke. "Rey Di Tutto" means "King of Everything" in Italian.
Simply amazing movie
posted on 24 Dec 2007Anyone who does not enjoy this movie needs to lighten up. Its originality and genius is amazing and its delightful superiority still stands up today. The movie is like most Gilliam works of art. This one being a masterpiece. It is a stellar mix of stunning visuals, wonderful music, and excellent acting. The visuals may seem outdated in 2005, but they were excellent for 1988, and I feel still mesh well with the movie adding to its staying power. John Neville's performance is unmatched. The writing is phenomenal. The movie is so very unique and takes you to a place long missed in modern day cinema. Fantasy and fun. I highly suggest you purchase/rent/view this amazing picture when it is released on DVD in March 2005. It is a must have family film.
Under rated, magnificent sets, great cast....Gilliam Genius
posted on 24 Dec 2007This film is so under appreciated when it really is a work of genius. Alot of classics do badly at the box office; check out Scorsese, Kubrick, Cimino, Welles etc etc. Hate to say it but they don't make films like this any more. You could take the Lord of the Rings Trilogy way and fill it with special effects or have the sets built and use miniatures etc, the Gilliam Way! (Same art director/set designer as on Gangs of New York) The latest mainstream crap at the box office (excluding Gangs, including LOTR)does not have such imagination. "Lets pilfer another novel!" When you cast your vote for this film, you should watch it again and take into account this filmmaker is an auteur genius and is now suffering for his expressions because the studio won't fund him, doesn't get it or care because their minds are on the dollar of the punters. Bums in seats!
One of my favorite films
posted on 19 Oct 2007While I can agree that it's not one of Gilliam's best, I still love it and own it. It seems that this is a love/hate film.I'm amazed at how many reviewers hated the King of the Moon scene. I thought that the trip to the moon was one of the most important fantasy sequences of the film, and that especially includes heads that detatch! (And when they arrive and the sand ripples start showing up--brilliant!)I could go on, but it looks like it's mostly been all said. I just wanted to add my vote for weight.
One of my biggest disappointments
posted on 07 Oct 2007When I started watching this film, I was very excited. It was directed by Terry Gilliam and it was a fantasy film, and this combination should work perfectly. When the movie ended however, I found it to be a failure in most of its aspects.The acting was not over the top (except for Robin Williams as The Moon King) but it worked. Directing is disciplined and imaginative. Absolute Terry Gilliam style and I like it. The visuals were good, though the SFX showed their age a little bit. So what was missing? I would have to say "atmosphere". Scenario is so burdened with fantasy elements that even the final scene, where reality meets fiction, loses its purpose.Also, the portrayal of the Turks were completely inaccurate, aside from being ordinary stereotypical prejudiced western point of view. If you were to get that fictional, why not create an imaginary name for the enemy(as that was the only true thing about Turks in that film)? I didn't like this film. Maybe because I expected too much of it. I'm giving it 5/10, only on behalf of the effort spent to create it.By the way, elephants in the Turkish army? Arabian architecture in Istanbul? Don't make me laugh. I'm surprised Turks spoke Turkish in the movie.
magnificence
posted on 04 Oct 2007The name Terry Gilliam would have vanished from the Earth, if not for this film, and if generations to come do not rediscover this film it will be a great shame. With 45 million dollars and just as many dreams in his pocket, Terry Gilliam made this film and destroyed his career. His penance now is too slander the magnificent Bruders-Grimm from Kassel, Germany, the fathers of every fairy tale in the Western world.but well worth it ! I am in agreeance with Mark Severin, and Boris the Russian. I'd say this is the best film since 'Blade Runner' in scope and realization. If only Terry Gilliam had Ridley Scott's sense of craft, or Scott had Gilliam's imagination and daring. This movie aligns itself with any Sindbad film and far out-distances other Harryhausen films; which presses me now to see the earlier versions. Terry was introduced to the stories by George Harrison, and it encapsulates European culture in a nutshell with a big bow on top. However perfect Gilliam's presentation of the Baroque i had wished he had included some religious elements in the film, which all of Hollywood is opposed to outside of Mel Gibson, and which all imagination is based off of. The quality of this film comes around once a lifetime, so buy it!
A stunning masterpiece.
posted on 22 Jul 2009Not to overload the reader, this movie is:Visually stunningExtraordinarily funnyFilled with wondrous characters (and creatures)Profoundly brilliantPure entertainmentOne to add to your "Must see" list.