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TIME BANDITS (1981) (**1/2)

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Terry Gilliam’s TIME BANDITS is a strange film to put your finger on. One is often dazzled by the production design and imagination on display, yet frustrated with a lack of story.

Kevin (Craig Warnock, TV’s TO THE LIGHTHOUSE) is awoken from his sleep one night when a medieval knight bursts forth from his closet. Apparently, a wormhole ends in his room and some renegade employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO) smuggle young Kevin along with them. Randall (TV’s THE WIZARD) is the leader of the Time Bandits, which includes Fidgit (Kenny Baker, STAR WARS), Strutter (Malcolm Dixon, WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY), Og (Mike Edmonds, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT), Wally (Jack Purvis, BRAZIL) and Vermin (Tiny Ross, FLASH GORDON). The dwarf thieves have a map that shows them all the wormholes in the universe and have decided to travel through time to steal vast riches because they are upset with the Supreme Being for relegating them to making trees for eternity.

In the meantime, Evil (David Warner, TITANIC) is plotting against them to steal the map and take over the world. Through their many escapades, Kevin and the Time Bandits meet Robin Hood (John Cleese, A FISH CALLED WANDA), Napoleon (Ian Holm, LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery, THE UNTOUCHABLES), who Kevin begins to look up to as a father figure. In addition, they end up on the Titanic, an ogre’s boat and on the head of a giant giant.

All of this is done with great flare and fervor, however you get a sneaky suspicion that you’re just going around in circles. Kevin doesn’t like the thieving ways of the bandits and when it comes down to it they do try to save the world from Evil. Yet, the final confrontation with Evil plays like just another fancy set piece. The film’s episodic plotting leaves the story without an engine to drive it forward powerfully enough. Still the wonder of it all sticks in your mind. I think children the age of the main character Kevin will find the film full of wonderfully silly adventures, yet adults might want something more substantial to sink their teeth into. It’s a fun journey at times, but some in the audience might wonder what the point of the trip ever was in the first place.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks