Time Bandits

Monty Python's Paradise Lost - It is now clear that what makes this a Handmade Film is its disdain of computer animation. As a matter of fact, its subject is the revolt of the Evil One by means of the "technological dawn" or the "Silicon Revolution," which proceeds by degrees from digital watches to microwave ovens through cellphones to computers, ultimately allowing the Supreme Being to be universally supplanted.

These stages are mirrored in the film, which introduces into the Monty Python arena actors like Ralph Richardson as the Supreme Being, Ian Holm as Napoleon, and Sean Connery as Agamemnon. The title characters are wonderful performers, and a key turn is provided by John Cleese as Robin Hood ("I'm Hood," he says, cheerfully).

The opening is a startling English version of the American suburban-life parody, and set the tone for E.T. and Poltergeist the following year. Reference is made to The Wizard Of Oz and La Belle Et La Bête in the course of a film which may be said to be Monty Python given cinematic resources and room in which to work.

I love this film. Also note the fine work of Shelley Duval and Katherine Helmond (of Soap). Ian Holm was later to reprise his role as Napoleon in the film The Emperor's New Clothes. -- AndyPierce

Time Bandits is the first of director Terry Gilliam's trilogy representing the ages of man. It represents Youth. The next, BrazilTheMovie, concerns Adulthood. The last, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, is Old Age. (Or so I've heard.)

Y'know, of all the movies involving time-travelling midgets, I'd have to say TimeBandits is at least my fourth or fifth favorite.

CategoryMovie