#362 - Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - WatchThis W/RickRamos

Hot Air & Fantasy: Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Here's a movie that makes it exciting to be a movie lover . . . in the mid-1980's, filmmaker Terry Gilliam - after having won an unbeatable media and artistic war with Universal Pictures over the release of his bleak and dystopian picture, Brazil (1985) - would tackle a film that would nearly prove the end of him and almost everyone involved with it. Based on an 19th Century German storyteller, Terry Gilliam's film had been filmed a number of times before, but never with the vision, excitement, budget, and production problems that would plague this film. Through problems with language (English-speaking director and cast, Italian-speaking crew, shooting in Spain), production overruns, cast changes, a line producer seemingly more interested in the bravado of his role, shutdowns, and - finally - being dumped by ColumbiaPictures without any kind of advertising, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen continues to amaze, intrigue, and baffle audiences. It is truly one of the most visionary and daring productions ever committed to film; from a director that was vilified (continuing to suffer from the films reputation some thirty plus years later) and, only much later, recognized as one of the great fantasy films. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a beautiful film gifted to anyone who wants to believe in, "sausage trees, oceans of wine," and the insanity of traveling to the moon on "hot air and fantasy". Featuring an incredible cast including: Eric Idle, Sarah Polley (all of nine years old), Valentina Cortese, Uma Thurman, Oliver Reed, Winston Dennis, Jack Purvis, Johnathan Pryce, Allison Steadman, co-screenwriter Charles McKeowen, Bill Paterson, Peter Jeffrey, Robin Williams (in a cameo as Ray D. Tutto - The King of the Moon), and a lead - an incredible lead - in John Neville as The Baron. This is a beautiful and inspiring film that we are thrilled to be talking about. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and that the conversation makes you seek out the movie. Thanks for the continued love and support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to [email protected]. Many Thanks.