Chaotic, dark, philosophical and very, very funny its Terry Gillliams Time Bandits.
Jim Broadbent plays a macabre game show host, who Kevins parents watch while sitting in shrinkwrapped armchairs.
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As withJabberwocky, Gilliam is clearly trying things that are nigh-on-impossible to great effect.
When six dwarves stumble out of his cupboard the next night, they arent very friendly.
Like the horse, they seem very real and dangerous, as does the supreme being who appears.
Gilliams fairy tales are dangerous, dreamlike places with an underlying brutality to them.
Its very funny, but also incredibly bleak and twisted.
Again, this is in a PG film aimed at children, and thats utterly wonderful.
The fighting isnt the tip-tap of fine swords, its brutally bludgeoning and won by luck.
The film manages to be macabre, silly, and ferociously intelligent at the same time.
The Robin Hood scene, for example, is hilarious.
While Cleese is excellent in his scene, the film is stolen by David Warner, who plays Evil.
The disdain he puts into the line, Nipples for men is amazing.
As well as making several intriguing theological and philosophical points, Evils introductory scene is both scary and funny.
IncludingTitanic, it later turns out.
Hes infinitely cooler than Bond.
Kevin, meanwhile, when confronted with bloodshed in reality, finds it somewhat impressive.
Who hasnt wanted to cut a bull in half only for Skittles to spill out?
Here we are back inJabberwockyterritory, where fairy tale trappings are twisted into something weirder.
So, here we have a ferocious giant who wants to eat people.
Then it turns out that the ship hes on is actually a hat.
This is the kind of thing that youd expect from a grim fairy tale.
Gilliam never shies away from showing these events.
His technology drives people apart, kills them, or makes them fight.
Banality, thoughtlessness, and idleness are the work of Evil.
Then he kills a dog.
Then a tank turns up.
I am the nice one.
And thats a shame.
Even without the final scene, itd be uncertain as to whether it was a happy ending or not.
Thats a thing of warped brilliance indeed.
To paraphraseDoctor Whowriter Robert Holmes, Lets terrify the little buggers.