From my favorite movies..

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Brilliant and touching

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

I re-watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus lately on my notebook (better watch on a wide big one - the bigger the better) and was again fascinated by this little movie full of poetry, fine imagination and visuals and a great cast (Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Heath Ledger - his last movie as far as I know).Well, this movie is maybe not made for the mainstream taste - if someone complains that this movie makes no sense he should just shut down logic and embrace the experience.Anyway, imo this one belongs to Terry Gilliam's finest moments like The Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , Brazil: a fairy tale told in fantastic pictures.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus will undoubtedly receive press because of the tragic circumstances- lead actor Heath Ledger died before the film could be completed and other stars finally ended up taking his role to complete it. The film itself is alright but it depends on the audience's sensibilities and preferences. It is definitely a delight to look at, but Terry Gilliam's films have always polarized the audiences. Johnny Depp, Colin Farell and Jude Law fill in for Ledger but ultimately this is a Gilliam show.

Terry Gilliam is a visionary, a genius, and an inspiration with a great work ethic and more imagination than any other filmmaker in cinematic history.That being said; this film is pretty rough.The early films made by the animator turned film director are classics, some of them even masterpieces. But unfortunately many of his more recent films have suffered for their harsh digital effects. Gilliam has achieved notoriety as a champion of practical effects. It's not surprising that a Gilliam picture relying mostly on CGI would fail to reach the same level of beauty as his previous films. This is a similar problem to that of the Star Wars prequel trilogy; the CG was less impressive and gave off a completely different tone.In the Imaginarium of doctor Parnassus, Gilliam tries to revert back to his previous style and aesthetics and dive back into similar themes that were explored in his classic trilogy of imagination (Time Bandits, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen). However, due to the switch from practical to digital effects, this wasn't fully successful.The film is also edited roughly. The pacing is inconsistent, starting off quite fast, everything happening at once, then turning slow and dull towards the middle. The film doesn't smooth out until the end but by that time, most people should be fully confused and bored.Like the rest of Gilliam's career, this film is not for everyone. If you are a fan of Terry Gilliam then you will probably enjoy it. The plot is fairly easy to follow if you have seen a few of his films and understand his work. If you're able to see past the bad effects, you will like it even more.If you're not into strange or artsy films, then don't bother watching.

In the adventurous world of fantasy and science-fiction, you can always count on director Terry Gilliam to push the buttons of visual imagination, even his unusual visual style isn't your cup of tea. This fantasy adventure starring Christopher Plummer in the eponymous role sees Gilliam continuing on his signature visual grandeur, taking audiences on a ride through an intoxicating realm of dream- like imagination. While the film sets out with noble intentions, some may argue that Gilliam's execution feels a bit overly indulgent, particularly for those who are new to his unique style. The movie however, is a big ride and one that feels almost entirely original, even when the director borrows elements from his previous works such as 'Brazil' and 'Twelve Monkeys'. It is a whimsical cinematic journey that boasts the talent of both Gilliam and the inspiring cast, one of whom happens to Heath Ledger who sadly met a tragic end not even halfway through the filming process. This film follows Doctor Parnassus (played by Christopher Plummer), a thousand-year-old owner of a traveling theater show where audiences are granted with a magical journey through a world of happiness and darkness of their dreams just by entering through a door that leads to another realm. However, the old man hiding a dark secret from his daughter Valentina (played by Lily Cole), and is that he made a bet with the Devil (played by Tom Waits) and placed a bet on her soul. So he, Valentina, his assistants Anton (played by Andrew Garfield) and Percy (played by Verne Troyer), and a lone drifter named Tony (played by Heath Ledger -- later replaced by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell) set out on a quest to collect five different souls to save Valentina from the Devil becoming one of his. Of course, the concept of this tale is strange as it sounds. But for those who have experience with Terry Gilliam's previous works, it shouldn't come to too much surprise. Not known for waddling on the box of normality, Gilliam returns to his trademark directorial channel, pulling audience through a roller coaster of loopy imagery and cartoonish-ly unconventional characters. From the crafty production design, to the nifty costume scheme, Gilliam's direction works like a charm. On the other hand, his pursuit on telling an effectively engaging story is slightly underwhelming by comparison. The story offers a pleasant exploration on the title character and his dark background dealing with his association with the so-called Devil. The development of the character transpires to a slew of thoughts and questions of who this guy is. However, it does quite some time for the tautly-paced plot fully takeoff as Gilliam spends a good quality time gallivanting with his wacky visual experiments. Need an example? One scene involves a river morphing into a carnivorous snake, another involves a guy kidnapped and taken hostage in outer space by a swarm of jellyfish. That is just a few examples of how this film endorses Gilliam's fetish for intoxicating imagination. Nonetheless, the plot does strike the pulse with some twists and turns, mostly during the final fifteen minutes, to keep things interesting. Christopher Plummer makes a fashionable impression as the title character Doctor Parnassus. The English actor energizes the role with humanity and grace. It is certainly not one of his most memorable roles, but it is an commendable one to say the least. Working at his side is Andrew Garfield, playing Parnassus's assistant Anton. Garfield proves capable of channeling the quirkiness his role requires. Lily Cole, stepping in the role of Valentina, does a commendable job as the daughter of the eponymous character. Her brightens with immense appeal to her damsel-in- distress role. Verne Troyer is given easiest role as the dwarf character, which requires him to only spit out quirky one-liners off and on each screen he appears on screen. Finally, the most complex role of the bunch is the eccentric drifter Tony who was partially portrayed by Heath Ledger who, unlike in Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight', passed away before he was to complete the role. Luckily, Gilliam manages to pull a trick in the story by having the character change faces each time he enters into a different world. This method permits substitute appearances by a trio of actors including Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell -- each of whom strive in their turns in the role, operating with appropriate quirk and versatility. While Ledger's face is seen more than a few time throughout the run, chances are half of it completed in CGI.The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is an elegant, if absurdly goofy fantasy adventure powered by a spectacularly loopy visual heft by Terry Gilliam's directorial trademark, and some delicate performances by some fine actors. For those put off by Gilliam's previous projects, this one is not likely to convert them to Gilliam fandom. But for a movie that strays outside of fantasy/sci-fi conventions, this entry makes for a solid work of art.