tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post8361027064673431500..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR GILLIAMTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-75717627770992591692010-01-24T18:59:13.058-06:002010-01-24T18:59:13.058-06:00Let me make a brief comment about our unlikely her...Let me make a brief comment about our unlikely hero/wiseman:<br /><br />Gilliam, I think, had imagined the dwarf as being his unlikely hero; words of wisdom coming from an unexpected or minimized symbol in society -- though, upon shooting the various speech acts given by Percy, Gilliam should have had the wherewithal/self-reflex to recognize that, well, it just didn't work; we really gotta shoot this again! <br /><br />-- Gilliam's "Idea" of Percy didn't quite match up with the reality of Verne Troyer and his ability to deliver a dramatic and serious line [cue the unintended laughter at such a unlikely 'unlikely hero']. It seems that Gilliam's ideal of imagination got in the way of stark reality. I think this particular dynamic was at play in the larger aspects of the film, like plot [no comment]<br /><br />Furthermore, the dialogue and acting was absolutely horrible - a plateau of glib side-comments that do nothing for that ever elusive,um, "plot". Though I will say Anton, played by Andrew Garfield, is an exception, pulling off a somewhat decent character [a real talent].<br /><br />A 5 out of 10 is quite generous! --But then again, it was Ledger's last film... (Gotta show some mercy.)Poehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03918208831089244045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-29392936839294177982010-01-13T21:46:50.424-06:002010-01-13T21:46:50.424-06:00The first thing I thought while watching Johnny De...The first thing I thought while watching Johnny Depp was this is what happens when Captain Jack Sparrow meets Hunter S. Thompson. Maybe that's just me...<br /><br />However the elderly couple behind me (did I mention I keep seeing movies with theater talkers?) was positive that Colin Farrell was Johnny Depp.<br /><br />As for the movie in general, at one point I was all set to call it my favorite of Gilliam's films. But then that last 20 minutes happened, and I really didn't know what to think after that. And not that I've been thinking about this for days on end, but over a month later, I still don't know what I think of it. And the fact that the end bugged me so much is sticking with me more than the stuff I actually liked, so I guess that means it's not my favorite.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316541604903436175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-30702416694800067812010-01-13T15:34:46.207-06:002010-01-13T15:34:46.207-06:00But congratulations on making some sense out of th...But congratulations on making some sense out of the narrative. It's a very difficult story, and it's not helped by the fact that Tony ends up being a subplot turned into the plot.Mr. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489439585866708542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-83688873917727058252010-01-13T15:33:25.065-06:002010-01-13T15:33:25.065-06:00I think Gilliam is suggesting we take a harsher vi...I think Gilliam is suggesting we take a harsher view of our "prophet of wonder" than you feel. Parnassus is a drunk and a failure, as much by his own hand as any one else's. I think the clue is that bit in the monastery in the beginning, when he talks about how his work is unnecessary because someone else is telling his story. Ultimately, he seems to forget this, to his cost, and privileges himself as the storyteller instead of the story.<br /><br />Of course, I think Gilliam doesn't execute that part very well. But I think it's there.Mr. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489439585866708542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-60116733627805651792010-01-13T14:54:20.490-06:002010-01-13T14:54:20.490-06:00"Then, he bundles you up in a pillowcase larg..."Then, he bundles you up in a pillowcase large enough to accommodate a person of your size, hangs it from a tree, and starts to throw paving bricks at you while you twist about helplessly."<br /><br />That seems a bit extreme for a 5/10 review.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353384030134127816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-39015397580041382252010-01-12T17:04:31.460-06:002010-01-12T17:04:31.460-06:00Just letting you know I love your blog and have no...Just letting you know I love your blog and have nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger Award<br /><br />http://screenspeak.blogspot.com/2010/01/kreativ-blogger-awards.htmlfilmgeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04608736874666418357noreply@blogger.com