Review: Time Bandits Limited Edition UHD
4K UHD Blu-ray: Time Bandits (1981)
Terry Gilliam, the master storyteller gave us all the gift of a fantastical trilogy: Brazil, Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and although all 3 films are highly thought of, I don’t know if they are widely accepted as the absolute genius that they are. So yes, I love Time Bandits.
To regurgitate the story seems a bit pointless, as if you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it, I don’t want to spoil it for you. It centres around 11 year old Kevin (Craig Warnock), who is largely ignored by his gadget obsessed parents and fantasises about another life, which comes true with the aid of a gang of ‘little people’ led by Randall (David Rappaport) who are the titular “time bandits”.
It’s a star filled film – I think Gilliam called in a lot of favours – or perhaps (and more likely) they were just happy to appear in wonderful film, including Sean Connery, Ian Holm, Shelley Duvall, David Warner and Ralph Richardson.
This new 4K Arrow release really is a revelation. I’m a fan of the film and know it really well, but again with 4K it has given me a new insight into background stuff. Normally hidden, the shadows and ‘blackness’ are now illuminated making this a completely different film. Tiny details such as ALL the drawings in Kevin’s bedroom which were blurred and largely unseen now give you a story board to the whole film!
This is just one of those perfect films, a joyous, funny, poignant fantasy, with a typical ‘not a happy ending’ Python finish, and on 4K it’s a must buy.
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-rayTM presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original uncompressed Stereo 2.0 PCM and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio options
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Chasing Time Bandits – an interview with Terry Gilliam
• Writing the Film that Dares Not Speak Its Name – an interview in which Michael Palin discusses co-writing and acting in Time Bandits
• The Effects of Time Bandits – an interview in which Kent Houston, founder of the Peerless Camera Company, discusses Time Bandits’ optical effects
• Playing Evil – an interview in which actor David Warner remembers producer George Harrison and playing Evil in Time Bandits
• The Costumes of Time Bandits – an interview with costume designer James Acheson
• The Look of Time Bandits – an interview with production designer Milly Burns
• From Script to Screen – an animated featurette in which Milly Burns takes us through her production notebooks, location photographs and storyboards revealing how twentieth century Morocco was transformed into ancient Greece
• Original Trailer
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original theatrical artwork and a recreation of the map seen in the film
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by critic James Oliver
Released 28th August.
Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films via Fetch Publicity.