StrictlyConfidential Back in 1989 "The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen" was a $46 million production that totally bombed at the box office, making back only $8 million of its initial costs.Well - Watching this elaborately staged comedy/adventure/fantasy film today (30 years later) - I really can't understand why it was such a dismal failure back then.Directed by Terry Gilliam (in the Monty Python's style) - I found that this story about an 18th century German nobleman and adventurer (who was the greatest liar in the world) to be quite a visual treat with its many surreal, weird, and bizarre images and characters.Yes. At times its story was clearly teetering on the ridiculous - But - Considering that this is a pre-CGI presentation - I, personally, recommend it to anyone who likes to watch some over-the-top cinematic eccentricity once in a while.

jllewell I loved this film so much - Dawn Steel (CEO at Columbia) was busy trying to bury it - in a deadly cocktail of politics and an imminent sale of Columbia.Gilliam got trashed for going over budget, when the project had initially begun for the amount he spent.Hollywood is a jackass, as is proved by so many of these projects. This film has lasted for years because it's brilliant - anything intelligent is seen as not commercially viable at Hollywood, though they're slightly better than they used to be. Small minds in charge of great ones. History repeats itself.Hollywood chase the dollar, but end up losing more money than they think they've gained. Try to dumb it down for the lowest common denominator, and lose money spending audiences. History repeats itself.This film is excellent. It invaded my life, like Time Bandits and Brazil (Go Terry!). I have a teddy bear who I sent to my then fiancé, on the other side of the world, and he brought the teddy back with him. My husband and I call that teddy 'Berthold'. And we always make jokes about 'Beautiful Ladies!' when we see twiglet starlets.I don't know why anyone would say this film was weird - have you had no flights of fancy? No imagination at all? It's a great little fairy tale, in every sense; truth, lies, and everything in between. Remember your philosophy! What is real? Does it matter? I have often wished to separate my head from my body - I enjoyed that sequence, sooo much.Beautifully made, wonderfully madcap - I adored everything about it. So did my family. But then, we're all liars...

bkoganbing Although The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen went spectacularly over budget and drowned miserably at the box office the film in its after life of syndication and video distribution hasn't done all that bad for director Terry Gilliam. It's a different kind of Munchausen than the one that Dr. Goebbels produced for Nazi Germany during the height of World War II. That one was pure fantasy, this one has a lot of belly laughs which one would expect from a pair of Monty Python troupe graduates like Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam.Cast as the fabulous German aristocrat and teller of tall tales is John Neville who I first encountered and best remember as the Duke Of Marlborough in The First Churchills. He's as aristocratic as Marlborough as Munchausen, but plays it tongue in cheek with the ever present twinkle in the eye.You won't see my parent's Munchausen here. I refer of course to the famous radio show done by vaudeville dialect comedian Jack Pearl who told those tall tales to the listening audience and when getting a bit too outrageous and questioned by the announcer would give the ever ready answer, "vas you dere Charlie".Kids of all ages might like Neville's version. As for the adults what's not to like about Uma Thurman as the goddess of love Venus. The adults will definitely rent this DVD for her.

gavin6942 An account of Baron Munchausen (John Neville)'s supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.Terry Gilliam is one of the strangest, yet most brilliant, directors working out there today. In this film, he completes what many call a trilogy, pointing to "Brazil" and "Time Bandits". In many ways, it suggests the later Gilliam film of "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus".Although the film was critically well-received, it was not successful commercial, due at least in part to the studio trying to kill the production. The cast also had generally bad experiences. Said Eric Idle, "Up until Munchausen, I'd always been very smart about Terry Gilliam films. You don't ever be in them. Go and see them by all means - but to be in them, madness!!!" Sarah Polley was not happy, either, and it is any wonder she continued acting.