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- 1989
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 6 m
- 1989
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 6 m
Summary The enchanting adventures of Baron von Munchausen follow him on his journey to save a town from defeat. Being swallowed by a giant sea-monster, a trip to the moon, a dance with Venus and an escape from the Grim Reaper are only some of the improbable adventures. (Sony Pictures)
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
- 1989
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 6 m
- 1989
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 6 m
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
69
8.1
Where to Watch
Summary The enchanting adventures of Baron von Munchausen follow him on his journey to save a town from defeat. Being swallowed by a giant sea-monster, a trip to the moon, a dance with Venus and an escape from the Grim Reaper are only some of the improbable adventures. (Sony Pictures)
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
69
80% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
69
80% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Aided by the luscious cinematography of Giuseppe Rotunno (one of Fellini's favorites) and the illustrious production design of Dante Ferretti, Gilliam has clearly won this round to preserve magic and wonder on the screen. [8 Mar 1989, p.E1]
Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a wondrous feat of imagination. In terms of sheer inventiveness, it makes the other movies around these days look paltry and underfed. The worlds Gilliam has created here are like the ones he created in his animations for Monty Python -- they have a majestic peculiarity. And you're constantly amazed by the freshness and eccentricity of what is pushed in front of your eyes.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 48 User Ratings
8.1
88% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
10% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 48 User Ratings
8.1
88% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
10% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Gilliam's most colourful and spectacular picture to date. Great performances by all the actors, particularly by that of the Baron himself, accompanied by a mesmerising original score by Gilliam's long-time collaborator Michael Kamen, the end result is a movie that happily throws reality out the window and encourages you to do so as well, and lets your imagination take you to spectacular heights.
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Munchausen is indeed a beautiful, burgeoning, madly voluptuous movie from minute to minute and image to image; it's in the aggregate that the film fails to find the weight and the rhythm it needs to truly enthrall. [10 Mar 1989, p.A]
The narrative is highly episodic and only intermittently engaging, but Gilliam's wildly inventive mise en scene, ably assisted by production designer Dante Ferretti, is extraordinary.
I felt much the same way as I sat goggle-eyed through this endless extravaganza of visual abracadabra. It seemed entirely possible that I might die of the fidgets or old age while waiting for Baron Munchausen to kill the Turks. And yet I found myself wanting to see the end of the movie before I expired. [9 Mar 1989, p.1]
Weird to the Gilliamth degree, Munchausen just might making being an 'uneven' movie a compliment.
Despite an inspired central section involving Robin Williams as the King of the Moon and Valentina Cortese as his Queen, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a near-disaster of Ishtarish proportions. [11 Mar 1989, p.C3]
I never get tired of seeing it again and again. It's what the true art must be - rich, deep, creative, imaginative, sarcastic and wise! And even something else, always something else!
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I watched this when I was young and I loved the craziness of it. Gilliam can expertly tell a story like few can. The music is great, the actors are amazing taking their roles just seriously enough to be believable but know where to add in the ham when needed, and I just learned the little girl in this was also the woman from the Dawn of the Dead remake mind blown..
There are so many great moments and set pieces. They dont make movies like this anymore.
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I had the misfortune first of watching the German propaganda film before this. This is the way to tell the story. Perfect use of Gilliam's imagination and gifts as a visual filmmaker.
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It is one of the great movies that is forgotten as not many people watched it. The movie has an excellent cast, is well crafted and entertaining. The story is based on the stories of the German Baron Munchhausen a noble that had fantastic adventure that are outrageous and impossible. The truth behind is that Baron Munchhausen really existed and told stories of his adventures. Because those were too outrageous or overblown for some mockery stories were made up. Those were extremely popular and so successful that his name is a synonym for liar even after centuries. Back to the movie. Story: In a by Ottoman besieged city a theater stage play about Munchhausen takes place. After a few moments an elderly man interrupts the play claiming to be the real Munchhausen and tells the audience the real story. It is rated as adventure / fantasy movie but can be also seen as comedy / satire. It tells the feats of Munchhausen famous tales while telling another story of the besieged city and its inhabitants. It is entertaining but I say it has a few lengths. The ending is incredibly good but in a way that I can see others hate it. The cast is excellent and you should recognize Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle from Monty Python (It is not a Monty Python movie or even similar). John Neville as Baron Munchhausen is excellent. He delivers all facets of the character. Also Sarah Polley as Sally Salt, Jonathan Pryce as mayor and Robin Wiliams are excellent. We have a praiseworthy performance and the whole cast delivers. The practical effects are nice and a bit of a homage to the source but I have to say some look not that good. Overall this is a nice movie I liked (but not loved). Worth a try if you can even find it as like I said it is mostly forgotten.
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A surreal romp that only Terry Gilliam could envision, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is utterly delightful and enjoyable. It's unlike almost any other film I have ever seen, but it is inspiring, heartwarming, and unashamedly weird. A great cast with strong performances and a bizarrely charming script, this is a movie I do not regret watching at all!
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 4 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 5 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations
