Time Bandits

Time Bandits (1981)
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Sean Connery, Ian Holm, Shelley Duvall, David Warner
Extras: Featurette, Interviews, Trailer, Screenplay and more
Rating:

Terry Gilliam’s ’Time Bandits’ is making a return to DVD in a Special Edition from Anchor Bay. The quirky film about a kid getting lost in time with a bunch of wee thieves on a crime spree through the ages. Visiting Napoleon, Agamemnon, Robin Hood and other well-known figures of the past, the question quickly becomes if he can stay alive long enough to finally find his way back into his own time.

Featuring Monty Python regulars, such as John Cleese and Michael Palin, as well as stars such as Sean Connery, Ian Holm, Shelley Duvall, David Warner and others, ’Time Bandits’ is seriously unserious and carries Gilliam’s black-humor signature all over.

Anchor Bay has given the film a new transfer that is wonderful to behold. Absolutely clean and with an incredible level of detail, the presentation absolutely belies the movie’s age. With its strong colors the transfer is rich in every aspect and renders even the most demanding scenes without problems. Skin tones are absolutely faithful. The level of detail is remarkable and is further enhanced by the good contrast. Black levels are rock solid, giving the image visual depth while making sure shadows never break up. No edge-enhancement is evident and the compression is without any flaws.

The DVD also contains a remixed Dolby Digital EX audio track that is balanced and makes good use of the surround channels. The frequency response of the track is very good with good bass response and clean high ends.

As extras, Anchor Bay has included a featurette about the films of Terry Gilliam. Filled with snippets form the films as well as interviews with many stars, this is a wonderful reminder of just how creative and imaginative a filmmaker Terry Gilliam is. Also included are interviews with Gilliam and Michael Palin as well as the movie’s trailer, Gilliam’s biography, and the screenplay.

’Time Bandits’ is a wonderful movie that deserves to be seen and with this new version, Anchor Bay makes sure you will see it with new eyes as details in the production suddenly leap to life like never before. Even if you own a previous release of the film, this Special Edition is the version to behold!