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I saw this one in 1988 on VHS at a friend's recommendation & I remember it being visually interesting with a stupid storyline.
Twenty three years later I'm giving it another shot & so far my initial impression stands. I started this movie at about 2:30 PM & so far am only 25 minutes into it.
The invasive aspect of government, the terrorists, & heightened security have more relevance today than when I 1st watched it but at this rate, it may take me a couple of days to get through this one again.
Terry Gilliam was a visionary in 1985.
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....Director's Cut (original European cut - 142 minutes)......???
....the modified American release (132 minutes).....??
....or the "Love Conquers All" version (94 minutes).....??
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I reject your reality and substitute my own!
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Hope you are watching the right version - there were about five of them... one was the definitive version imo...
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DaviDC. wrote:
The invasive aspect of government, the terrorists, & heightened security have more relevance today than when I 1st watched it but at this rate, it may take me a couple of days to get through this one again.
Terry Gilliam was a visionary in 1985.
That's the whole point.
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The original Terry Gilliam version is the only one worth watching. The sissified modified version ruins the entire point of the movie.
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This was the director's cut & I was beginning to doubt that it would EVER end. I can be content knowing that I'll never have to watch that movie ever again.
The only quote that stuck with me was "Don't fight it son; confess! If you hold out too long it can effect your credit rating."
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One of my favorite movies and a great director.
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Gilliam's signal theme as a director and screenwriter is the persistence (and horror) of authoritarianism. It's always struck me as amusing (and puzzling) that Gilliam himself doesn't seem to appreciate how universal that theme actually is.
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Saw it many years ago on the advice of a friend. Didn't care for it then, have no desire to see it now.
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It's important that you understand the very British approach to authoritarianism and bureaucracy. If you don't, you'll have a hard time 'getting it'. If you do, you'll need a firm grasp on an appreciation for the absurd and the asynchronous.
Or be stoned. Either way.
