# Best Terry Gilliam movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338 "2002-07-11T00:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/1 "2002-07-11T00:48:21Z")
Personally, my vote is for **The Adventures of Baron Munchausen**. Y tu? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/2 "2002-07-11T00:53:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/3 "2002-07-11T00:58:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/4 "2002-07-11T01:25:54Z")
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**. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/5 "2002-07-11T01:57:19Z")
I loved **Munchausen** except for the noxious behavior of Sarah Polley. Darn her to heck. ---
**Author:** ![BigBob1216](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BigBob1216](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBob1216)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/6 "2002-07-11T02:16:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/7 "2002-07-11T03:20:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/8 "2002-07-11T03:40:53Z")
Another vote for “Brazil” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/9 "2002-07-11T03:42:58Z")
I can’t decide between Time Bandits and Brazil. Both are favorites of mine. Haj ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/10 "2002-07-11T04:16:08Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![joshmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@joshmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joshmaker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/11 "2002-07-11T05:13:04Z")
The director’s cut of Brazil may very well be my favorite movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![taggert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@taggert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taggert)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/12 "2002-07-11T06:40:44Z")
But not nearly as good as Terry Jone’s Life of Brian ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/13 "2002-07-11T12:23:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/14 "2002-07-11T14:11:35Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/15 "2002-07-11T14:50:51Z")
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_. [hijack] 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] ---
**Author:** ![Tit\_Whistle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Tit\_Whistle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tit_Whistle)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/16 "2002-07-11T14:57:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/17 "2002-07-11T17:15:23Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/18 "2002-07-11T18:21:40Z")
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…). ---
**Author:** ![knarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@knarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knarf)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/19 "2002-07-11T19:00:32Z")
\*\*The Adventures of Baron Munchausen \*\*ranks just barely over **Time Bandits** for me, which in turn is just a bit better than **12 Monkeys**. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338/20 "2002-07-11T19:44:01Z")
**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? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-terry-gilliam-movie/118338.md?page=2)