Personally, my vote is for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Y tu?
Agreed! With Time Bandits coming to heel at a close, close (so close you can just hear it shout out, “Not touching you, not touching you!”) second.
Alone among mankind I liked 12 Monkeys & I’d say that was my favorite of “his” movies. But almost any Director could have done the job he did there.
As far as really showing off his special talents, I liked Brazil best.
For sentimental reasons, I’d have to say Time Bandits. It’s got dwarfs, it’s got David Warner chewing up the scenery, it’s got John Cleese’s befuddled Robin Hood, and it’s got bald, tattooed giants. What else do you need?
Close second would be a tie between 12 Monkeys and Brazil.
I loved Munchausen except for the noxious behavior of Sarah Polley. Darn her to heck.
Brazil. Brazil all the way. It is the most beautiful looking movie I have ever seen. Of course the studio’s cut of the movie is terrible. They completely ruined it. The only way to watch it is to see the directors cut.
Like pldennison, I’d have to go with Time Bandits as the sentimental favorite. I’ve even got the Criterion Collection DVD.
The runner-up would be 12 Monkey or The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, depending on my mood.
Another vote for “Brazil”
I can’t decide between Time Bandits and Brazil. Both are favorites of mine.
Haj
I’ll probably be the only one, but while I love all of his movies, my favorite is The Fisher King. Then again, that is my favorite movie of all time, sooooo…of course I had to click the link, as soon as I saw the thread title. 
~V
The director’s cut of Brazil may very well be my favorite movie of all time.
But not nearly as good as Terry Jone’s Life of Brian
I’d go with 12 Monkeys, with Brazil a close second.
As for his worst, I’d pick Jabberwocky. Not a bad film, but not much to it.
Also, I see by the IMDB that he’s directing a version of Good Omens. That’s something I’d love to see – three of my favorites (Gilliam, Gaiman, and Pratchett) in one.
I’ve seen most of Gilliam’s work, and, honestly, most of the time, if I’m not asleep, I’m terribly confused. I didn’t understand 12 Monkeys, Brazil and Muchausen both put me to sleep. I’ve given both of those multiple viewings, and I still get bored. I vote for Time Bandits, mostly 'cause I laughed, I got it, and I didn’t fall alseep.
And I’m giving 12 Monkeys another chance one of these days. I’m sure there’s a great film there somewhere, I just need to understand it!
Well, I gotta pipe in. My username ought to give it away, but Time Bandits is tops. Worst is Munchausen. A tie for second place would be Brazil (beautifully shot and a black comedy about terrorism) and 12 Monkeys (deals with a favorite subject of mine, time travel and paradoxes).
Atreyu, I agree that the Criterion DVD release is well worth the extra cost. And it finally explains why my namesake doesn’t appear in the movie (though it’s a credited role).
Are we not including his Python movies? For sheer hilarity Holy Grail beats out even Time Bandits.
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Did anyone else notice the shot in Time Bandits of the Greek city (Mycene?) that King Agamemnon ruled is nearly matched (both distance and angle) by a shot in Gladiator shortly after Maximus becomes a slave? Check it out. (Yeah, I’ve seen TB too many times. Sue me.)
[/hijack]
Easily, Brazil, my favorite movie of all time.
12 Monkeys is a close second. Outstanding in so many ways.
And, of course, a vote for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas because so many people despise his most misunderstood film.
I’ve never heard of anybody actually despising Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but I know a few people who did not enjoy it, because they could not follow, or understand, it.
While not my favorite, I truly enjoyed it, and look forward to watching it again, with my boyfriend, who has never seen it. It’s a cheap, and safe, “high”. The only film I can think of, that when it’s over, you feel like you’re completely fucked up on some controlled substance, even if all you’ve had is some water, and a couple of aspirin.
This is bat country!
~V
This is fairly straightforward for me (a phrase you don’t normally here when discussing Terry Gilliam films…) but I would have to vote for 12 Monkeys narrowly ahead of Brazil, but the ductwork scene in Brazil almost puts it over the top…(a phrase you often hear about Terry Gilliam films…).
**The Adventures of Baron Munchausen **ranks just barely over Time Bandits for me, which in turn is just a bit better than 12 Monkeys.
Brazil his finest work by a mile. Next Time Bandits and then Twelve Monkeys.
I wonder how long until someone ultra-waggish and ‘cool’ nominates The Adventures of Don Quixote?