betsybirsh 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.

Helio Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) is the Obie One Kenobi character. Anton (Andrew Garfield) matches up with Luke Skywalker with Valentina (Lily Cole) fitting in as Princess Leia. Tony (Heath Ledger) takes on the Hans Solo role with the Devil sitting in for Darth Vader and Percy (Vern Troyer) becomes R2D2. Chewbacca and C-3PO sat this one out. The imaginary sets were Monty Python's Terry Gilliam's imagination and Montreal filled in for Europe.

Screen_Blitz 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.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Terry Gilliam films almost always feel a bit slapdash and chaotic, it's just the guy's calling card to have a modicum of organized mayhem filling the fringes of whatever project he delivers. With The Imaginarum Of Dr. Parnassus, that is probably the case more so than any other film he's made, and despite letting the clutter run away with itself a bit too much, it's still a dazzling piece. Of course, your movie will always have a disjointed undercurrent when your lead actor passes away halfway through production, but that's just the way it goes, and Gilliam finds a fascinating solution to that issue here. Imaginarium is in many ways a companion piece, in spirit, to The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen, a film he made decades earlier, both containing a sort of baroque, Da Vinci-esque splendour and sense of fantastical wonder. Christopher Plummer hides behind a gigantic Dumbledore beard as Parnassus, a magician extraordinaire who travels the land with his daughter (Lily Cole, that bodacious Botticelli bimbo) and circus troupe, including Verne 'Mini Me' Troyer. Years earlier he made a pact with the devil (Tom Waits, an inspired choice) using his daughter as collateral, and now Old Nick has come to reap the debt, causing quite the situation. The story is a hot mess of phantasmagoria and kaleidoscope surrealism thanks to the Imaginarium itself, a multi layered dimension-in-a-box that accompanies them on their travels. Things get complicated when they rescue dying lad Tony (Heath Ledger) who somehow ties into the tale as well. Now, this was Ledger's very last film, its future left uncertain after his passing, but help arrived in the form of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, swooping in to play doppelgänger versions of Tony as he bounced from one plane of the imaginarium to another with Cole in tow, always one step ahead of Waits, who is a rockin' choice to play the devil, smarming and charming in equal doses. It's kind of a huge melting pot of images and ideas hurled into creation, but it's a lovable one, the fun you'll have watching it reasonably eclipses lapses in logic, plotting and pacing.