Gilliams Best Movie?? - The Fisher King (1991) Discussion

[–] seraapheem 18 years ago

BRAZIL
TIDELAND
12 MONKEYS
THE FISHER KING
FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN
MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL
TIME BANDITS
JABBERWOCKY

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[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

Wasn't Terry Gilliams a hired hand for this project? I mean he was asked and he liked the script and he did it, as a director working his trade. Whereas all the others were really his personal projects? That he thought of and put together? He not only directed, but also produced and wrote the others?
I think I heard him say this on one of the audio-commentaries (I got all his films) but don't know which film.

It stands out a little from the other titles what do you think? I think it is similar to Spike Lee and him directing "25th Hour" (2002) which I thought was really great, and which was also not recognizable as a personal Spike Lee-film. His other projects are very personal, and he was asked to do this one too.

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[–] sduross1 18 years ago

Like the proverbial "picking the favorite child." All his films are brilliant in one way or another. One un-Gilliamesque turn in this one though is the happy ending - I think that was something of a concession on his part to the Hollywood studio execs to buy back some good graces after the Munchausen debacle. I think the fireworks at the end was sort of a sarcastic commentary on the (sell-out?) happy ending on Terry's part. Having said that the movie is still incredible - for most directors this would be their masterpiece, but IMHO Gilliam has yet to top "Brazil."

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[–] terry_hurley 18 years ago

The funny thing is,I think that Brazil(the directors cut obviously) is a hoppy ending of sorts. Sam has definatley got a look of bliss on his face. He is lost in his own little world and I dont think he could be happier. Ignorence is bliss!

Here is a deal. I won't hate you for your choice of films,and you try not to hate me.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] victoryismineblast 18 years ago

No movie affected me anywhere as close as Time Bandits when I was a child. The movie pretty much DEFINES fantasy, and nothing else, even Pan's Labyrinth, has come close since then.

Twelve Monkeys combines science fiction with a very intense love story in a VERY special way, and adds the exact amount of humour at percisely the right times to be, in my opinion, the best written of all his ventures. The story is paced very well and though some parts run a tad overlong, it builds the right amount of suspense and keeps you involved in the story almost to perfection.

I should also add that besides The Fisher King, it contains some of the best performances I have seen in a Gilliam flick, especially Brad Pitt.

Time paradoxes are handled wonderfully and everything is believable, all plot points seem to make sense.

I must add that movie borrows heavily from Brazil at points, Brazil being a masterwork yes, as mentioned above, but I find the script to be the tightest and most well written. The condom suit that Willis wears is freakin hilarious!

I love it when a movie evokes emotion in me, and Twelve Monkeys preformed admirably.

Brazil was one of the most groundbreaking and original mainstream movies of it's time, 12 monkeys is just a great story, wonderfully acted and directed

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lowrises 15 years ago

12 Monkeys, Brazil, the Fisher King, Fear and Loathing, Tideland and Quest for the Holy Grail, though very different, are all masterpieces of a true visionary.
I could not say wich one I like best for it mainly depends onf the mood I am in.
Münchhausen disappointed me, being a story I know since childhood, its one of them storys you grow up with where I come from, and though visually stunning for its time the plot fell rather flat.
The Brothers Grimm, on the other hand, annoyed the beep outa me, most of all the unbearable performance of Peter Stormare.

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[–] aboutagirly 15 years ago

Fear and Loathing? Brazil?

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[–] bazman666 13 years ago

1. Brazil. 2. Fear and loathing in las Vegas, 3. 12 monkeys, 4. The imaginarium of doctor parnassus, 5. The fisher king. There is my top 5, take it or leave it!

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[–] zappalover 13 years ago

This and 12 Monkeys his best, Monkeys arguably better by a hair. I don't think we can lump Holy Grail (also a masterpiece) in with the others because it is a full Monty Python film and co-directed by Terry Jones. Brazil is a notch below -- doesn't have the heart of the other two -- though still a great film. Gilliam is that good!

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[–] It-movie-fan16 13 years ago

12 monkeys, brazil, the fisher king, and fear and loathing in las vegas are my favorites of his.

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[–] marousha_n 11 years ago

I adore his movies, but nothing beats Tideland for me. This would be on the third place, after Tideland and 12 monkeys.

All time favorites
http://www.imdb.com/list/uXvt09u3fO4/

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[–] travisgarden 10 years ago

I think Terry Gilliam is both an artist and one of our best directors, so as an artist he is capable of making more than one magnus opus or perfect movie in different ways. For me, to date it's a four-way tie between Fear And Loathing for style, Brazil for artistry, Holy Grail for it's instant classic quality, and this movie as his best film.

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