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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009
Comedy, Fantasy
2h 3m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 46.72% from 3295 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

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Rated 23 May 2010
84
60th
A personal film about an aging conjurer whose imagination is filled with marvels, but who--although he believes that the power of narrative makes the existence of the world possible--is incapable of bringing his own story to a conclusion. So it is with Gilliam, whose imagination is as enchanting as ever, but who still cannot tell a story or develop a character. In spite of this, the film is charming, Plummer and Waits are fine, and what there is of Heath Ledger's performance is very good too.
Rated 06 Jan 2010
7
70th
So weird that you have to like it despite all its shortcomings. Any movie with Waits, Plummer and Gilliam directing is a movie worth watching despite severe pacing problems, weird shifts in tone and subpar acting from some of the involved (Jude Law, I'm looking at you). I'd like another movie with Waits as The Devil. Please? Somebody? Anybody?
Rated 08 Jan 2010
80
76th
I feel at home in most of Gilliam's bizarre works but this is one's up there pretty high on the strangeness-meter. The film feels heavily flawed in many ways, but it's utterly unique and fascinating in others.
Rated 07 Jan 2010
40
19th
A disappointment. The quality of the visuals inside the Imaginarium doesn't match the (considerable) breadth of Gilliam's imagination and the story was borderline uninteresting. What saves the movie were the superb turns we're treated to by Plummer and, especially, Mr. Tom "I'm cool even as the Devil" Waits.
Rated 15 Nov 2009
7
64th
Enjoyable and Gilliam did a good job of pulling the movie off despite losing Ledger. Visually it was very impressive. Main gripe was the story. It just needed to be more polished but with Ledger dieing, it seems to be altered a fair bit so they made do. At times it just seemed some things were happening to look pretty yet not coherent with the actual story.
Rated 01 Jul 2010
60
35th
It just happens to be the kind of movie I usually dislike - outlandish plot, crazy visuals and generally making you feel like you're experiencing a drug high while watching it. It just didn't give me the chance to like it and the characters felt oddly bland to me despite all the time that was given to them. Not bad, but not really for me, either.
Rated 15 Feb 2010
7
58th
The more I think about it, the more I love it. Heath Ledger was one talented actor and what a great film to leave us with. Admirable in its determination to tickle the imagination, Gilliam's latest film is indeed a breath of fresh air. It stalled during Jude Law's segment (but then again, I'm not a big fan) and opinions will differ about the film yet it's one I highly recommend. I'd never heard of Lily Cole before but the girl showcases some irresistible flair. Can't wait to see it again.
Rated 13 Feb 2010
83
68th
The movie really confused me. I've prepared myself to dive into the charming world of imagination but somewhere in the middle I started to realize that it was too much for my brains. Too much of imagination, very fertile and amazing, but which leads to nowhere, I would say, with the story so weirdly told that I didn't get who was bad and good. Ledger was as always good. It's a real pity we will not see him again. The whole cinematography lost a young, shining diamond.
Rated 26 Jan 2010
79
82nd
As the name of the film lets us know, this is a thriumph for old storytellers, immortal stories and imagination. After a loose start the plot finds soon it's path and gets better and creates deeper meaning towards the end. This is also a story of fear of death, disappearing into oblivion. And since Gilliam is fighting against modern dullness, Lily Cole is ingenious choise for lead. An icon of modernity. And she survives on her role nicely I must say.
Rated 04 Jan 2010
89
76th
Way more solid a film that I could have ever imagined it being, I was drawn into the world that Gilliam masterfully crafted. The actors were brilliant. This film as a finished product was an awesome tribute to Heath Ledgers brilliant career. This role was perfect for his talent, and for time he was in the film you could sense that he cared about his craft. Farell, Depp and Law did awesome stepping in for Ledger, as good as they were one couldnt help but wish that Ledger had completed the role.
Rated 30 Jan 2010
82
67th
Doesn't always work, with a bunch of pacing problems and underdeveloped characters, but that is more than made up by the wondrous visual creativity, and not just in the imaginarium scenes.
Rated 23 May 2019
2
7th
A mistaken attempt to recoup losses. Depp, Ferrell, Law, Garfield, EVERYONE except Lily Cole has a terrible performance in an awkwardly uneven set due to cgi budget differences between scenes/effects. Confusing, unrelatable story too sexual for children and too childish for adults.
Rated 31 Dec 2018
27
15th
A mind bogglingly incongruous CG-spectacle with long, dull bouts of character melodrama interspersed. Nobody seems very likeable, and you spend the whole film with the odd impression that we have absolutely no reason to be here, or to care.
Rated 29 Jul 2018
75
59th
Terry Gilliam, the world's unluckiest filmmaker, once again manages to overcome incredible adversity and makes something well-acted and fun that's easy to fall into. Unfortunately, whether due to production troubles or writing troubles, things get a bit disjointed and unemotional near the end. But hey. it's got Tom Waits as Satan, so there's still plenty to enjoy here.
Rated 06 Nov 2017
70
43rd
Great film, loved Tom Waits version of the devil.
Rated 03 Aug 2017
57
37th
I liked the visuals more than the plot. Nevertheless, it's a good trip... Into Gilliam's mind.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
28
19th
It's just a random collection of mindless nonsense! I do worry for Gilliam, most everything he has touched since "12 Monkeys" has been shit. Additionally, it simply cannot be expressed in words how terrible Andrew Garfield is in this movie!
Rated 25 Dec 2011
67
21st
a movie seemingly assembled on the spot with nothing tying it together emotionally or narratively
Rated 24 Sep 2010
68
30th
I don't know, it felt too messy for me. I know it's the point of the movie to be unexplained and imaginary, and to a certain extent I agree - the plot is really good and the setting, environment is top knotch. But it just somehow didn't really impress me. On the plus side this must be one of the coolest representations of the devil in a movie.
Rated 10 Jul 2010
65
64th
I feel this movie had far more potential than what was muxed together for our viewing. The tragedy of loosing Ledger affected this movie greatly. Even though I had high hopes despite everything that happened behind the scenes, I still have to say the story left me empty and befuddled.
Rated 03 Jul 2010
75
54th
The performances save a movie where the scripting leaves a lot to be desired. It's an original story, but doesn't flow at all.
Rated 15 Jun 2010
30
30th
Good. A theater company offers a literal journey into the mind of its proprietor. The main lead played alternately by 3 major actors with an excellent performance by Christopher Plummer. The problem is the story is too simplistic, never goes far, just sits there dazzled by its own superficial beauty. Not recommended.
Rated 28 May 2010
60
38th
It's always nice to have a movie that tries to create something unique, but the main problem with Parnassus is how the individual elements never really gel together. It feels disjointed and rushed, with characters you won't care about in the least and at times very spotty CGI sabotaging what would have been charming scenes.
Rated 17 May 2010
68
44th
Terry Gilliam peaked as a storyteller a while ago, and that's unfortunate because his aesthetics are still impressive.
Rated 02 May 2010
70
47th
This might make a good overview of Gilliam's work, if you could only watch one of his films. But it's a melange of his interests, lacking the specificity and honed weirdness that bring his greatest movies to life. Too much plotting, too much wrapping up, generally too tidy to be counted amongst him most affecting material. Thankfully he's still too homespun to be Burton-esque, but the whole character of Valentina takes us uncomfortably close at times.
Rated 20 Apr 2010
94
97th
Du grand Gilliam, poétique, visuellement très riche et pythonien. Grands acteurs, belle histoire, même pas glauque. Bravo !
Rated 19 Apr 2010
40
25th
A clumsy film that goes from one place to another like a maniac without really getting anywhere.
Rated 12 Apr 2010
76
52nd
Interesting and pretty. Although it doesn't get the friction to drag you along, you'll probably end up blaming yourself for not being imaginitive enough. Also the disjoint between fantasy and reality almost smells like miyasaki!
Rated 10 Apr 2010
80
67th
plot is a little messy but good
Rated 03 Feb 2010
85
87th
A film I saw alone and was glad because I knew my friends wouldn't like it. As with most GIlliam it truly is an acquired taste but I found it to be a visually stunning movie with more originality than I have seen in most movies in the past few years. The acting was wonderful by the main cast with only Troyer feeling a bit off. I thought Law, Farrell and Depp did as good of a job as could be asked playing Ledger in the Imaginarium. It's great to see his final role get pulled off into a full film.
Rated 23 Jan 2010
65
57th
Quite silly. But 'enjoyful-silly' more than 'ridiculous-silly'. For the most part. .... and damn that Lily Cole is one tasty doll!
Rated 18 Jan 2010
75
65th
I really liked it. While Ledger's death probably and bizarrely improved the film (as I think the sollution makes it only better) it sure seems to have lost it's way slightly and lacks focus. It can't seem to decide on a main protagonist, and subsequently loses a great deal of narrative force. Still, Gilliam is clearly back on form here and considering circumstances it's quite impressive that this movie has been pulled together this well.
Rated 18 Jan 2010
71
43rd
Has a lot of charm and great moments, but its shortcomings are far too numerous. The story is disjointed and you're never given a real firm grasp of any of the characters or their motivations. Its unclear who or what is truly driving the story forward and it lacks momentum. Tom Waits was fantastic however.
Rated 14 Jan 2010
55
52nd
the movie wasnt bad, it was well made with almost too much creativity, problem i had with it was that its boring and i didnt like the soundtrack
Rated 14 Jan 2010
60
28th
It seems there is also a thing like "too much" creativity when you make a movie.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
70
54th
While it certainly lives up to the "Imaginarium" in the title with an interesting and at times spectacular visual journey, thinking back on it, it seems to be more of a jumble than a truly coherent story. It descends into slapstick at times, but the ending was satisfying, and Lily Cole is one of the best pieces of eye candy to come along in a good while, displaying a mercurial talent that slipped into the role of Valentina with a skin tight fit.
Rated 26 Dec 2009
88
70th
Fantasy is boundless. A movie about the magic and power of telling tales, just beautiful, and a worthy end for Heath Ledger
Rated 06 Nov 2009
90
70th
Make of it what you will but TIODP is a grossly engaging film with some fine performances and a plot which oozzs originality. One of 2009's best films for me. ...not too sure on Lily Cole though..
Rated 28 Oct 2009
65
51st
A bit disjointed plotwise and runs the risk of dullness here and there, but I felt pulled into the fantasy enough to be able to gloss over these short comings. Waits is great.
Rated 13 Nov 2022
60
23rd
The visual style of this film is not at all dissimilar to Gilliam films I dearly love, but as the film progressed and a plot had really not solidified and I had to sort through the fragments that had been revealed to figure out what the stakes might be, I found myself really annoyed that so much time and effort had been put into designing costumes and that elaborate creaky stage. Perhaps someone could have spared the time to write something like a narrative.
Rated 14 Apr 2022
27
18th
Continues the post-2000 decline in Gilliam's work, just a confused kaleidoscope of a movie where every image that is formed is of a man taking a shit.
Rated 17 Nov 2021
60
52nd
So much talent involved. It's a shame it was so disjointed. Beautiful period, visuals, acting, directing. It was just the script being a mess, I think, that held it back from greatness.
Rated 09 Feb 2021
5
32nd
Watched in memory of the glorious Plummer, one of my favourite actors. He coasts enjoyably through this messy but, obviously, visually arresting Gilliam concoction. Ledger's death during production hobbled the film and kudos for finding a reasonably acceptable means of completing the movie, but sad to say Heath's performance is rather poor. The charming Cole and Garfield are easy to root for.
Rated 23 Jun 2020
50
29th
I don't think it worked. The Tony character ends up with a giant on-screen role given his place in the story and the more interesting characters get sidelined. Cole does the best job.
Rated 09 Jun 2020
5
3rd
You can tell that they had to patch this together after Heath Ledger died which on one hand made it a relic for that historical moment, on the other hand it's just unwatchable nonsense. Lots of hotties tho
Rated 07 Mar 2020
45
16th
gilliam çok iyisin, çok hoşsun da bazen çok yoruyorsun.
Rated 27 Jun 2019
78
77th
Terry Gilliam has no time to spare for your concerns. He has too many ideas, whether visual or intellectual, to be able to explore them fully. He instead crams everything together in 2 hours for a mindboggling experience with pseudo and real loose ends everywhere. Unfortunately suffers from poor editing and so many mismatches between cuts...
Rated 27 May 2017
63
54th
(Viewed on 09/07/14): Gilliam has terrible luck. Ledger's untimely death forced him to make decisions that came at the expense of quality and cohesion. Having three different actors play his role in the imaginarium sequences might have been a fitting tribute, ensuring its completion, but it is awfully distracting and lends a disjointed feeling to the project. The CGI is also too artificial, but Gilliam is a trooper with creativity to spare. It's no triumph over adversity, but it's respectable.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
3
41st
Kalle och chokladfabriken. Visuellt är detta underfundigt och snyggt gjort, miljöerna i The Imaginarium är fantastiska. Skådisarna gör goda insatser även om flickan nog är svagare än övriga. Men manus? Mitt problem med Gilliam är att han sällan verkar veta vad han vill säga... och som actionfilm är filmen helt enkelt för seg. Tim Burton kan ha samma problem ibland, t.ex. i Kalle och Chokladfarbriken.
Rated 31 Oct 2016
70
83rd
ger; [Das Kabinett des Dr. Parnassus]; ein reisendes wandertheater gibt seinem publikum fantastische einblicke in ihre eigenen träume, nachdem sie einen spiegel durchgehen - doch das theater kämpft gegen den teufel selbst und um das überleben.; (komplexe handlung die sich kaum beim ersten ansehen erschließt);
Rated 13 May 2016
80
55th
Terry Gilliam hat einen Film gemacht, der im Grunde sein eigenes Leben zeigt. Ein Marktschreier, der uns mit seinen Fantasievorstellungen ködert. Selbstredend extravagant und abgehoben, mit Zauberspiegeln, Schall und Rauch. Doch genau das ist seine Natur. Doch diesmal gibt es sogar einen Grund dafür, dass Gilliams Film so überdreht ist: Sein Hauptdarsteller Heath Ledger starb mitten im Dreh. Willkommen also im bizarren Zauberwagen des sehr, sehr, sehr alten Parnassus (Christopher Plummer)(...
Rated 29 May 2015
80
79th
As usually, Gilliam's fertile mind ran wild and took me on one weird ass trip. Imaginarium is incredibly imaginative and whimsical, although the plot's pretty muddy. Tom Waits, hands down, has got to be the most suave devil ever, he makes evil look cool and stylish. Ledger (RIP) just oozes charisma and while his substitutes work nicely enough, unfortunately they don't reach his magic.
Rated 26 Mar 2015
75
89th
Enchanting.
Rated 01 Feb 2015
50
22nd
The Contrabulous Fabtraption of Professor Horatio Hufnagel
Rated 21 Sep 2014
80
59th
boa história, ator principal incrível; Heath Ledger atuação decente; conta com a presença do Tom Waits e só por isso já seria incrível
Rated 19 Aug 2014
72
35th
Terry Gilliam's imaginarium was in full swing for this film. I can't say I loved this, but I can't discount the fact that it intrigued me. The set designs at times beat out Tim Burton films and it out-wierds David Lynch at times too. Lily Cole was the biggest surprise for the film, as she is as beautious as she is interesting to watch...
Rated 12 Aug 2014
70
16th
Gilliam has never been guilty of the crime of being on auto-pilot. But some of his movies are an acquired taste. This is one of those.
Rated 02 Mar 2014
57
37th
This one tries for a lot of different themes - free will, sins passed down from generation to generation, the power of stories - but doesn't really make any of them work. I have to wonder how much coherence was lost when Heath Ledger died, and how much actually existed in the original script. Nevertheless, Ledger and the rest of the cast are fabulous, but the story just won't come together.
Rated 03 Jan 2014
64
37th
Terry Gilliam remains as indulgent as ever, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus represents a return to the intoxicatingly imaginative, darkly beautiful power of his earlier work, with fine performances to match all the visual spectacle.
Rated 31 Dec 2013
8
80th
Dilapidated and incoherent but very lovable, so naturally I had a hard time forming a solid opinion. The rating here doesn't mean much, since if someone were to ever ask me "Should I see it or should I not see it?" I would definitely say "Yes, see it!", but I'll admit its glimpses of greatness rarely gain any footing and the more marvelous qualities are dulled by a broken narrative. Still, it's far more entertaining than it has any right to be. Gilliam is a lot of fun.
Rated 21 Oct 2013
66
32nd
66.000
Rated 17 Aug 2013
98
88th
HELL BROKE LUCE...HELL BROKE LUCE!
Rated 13 May 2013
83
41st
/out of 20... Casting/Acting: 15 Writing/Story/Plot: 16 Directing: 16 Cinematography/Sound: 18 Originality/Bonus: 18
Rated 08 Mar 2013
62
37th
This movie, with all it's top-billed actors made me realize how few actresses are in Terry Gilliam films.
Rated 07 Mar 2013
71
61st
gilliam nearly goes over the edge on this one. visuals are very strong. i know its deliberately incoherent...but i still won't forgive incoherence. did love the workaround fixing the problem of heath ledger dying during filming.
Rated 17 Jan 2013
70
18th
probably not that bad owing to some kind of nostalgic mercy. Still Terry? In a positive way. If you're a stiff fan this film will probably be sickeningly disappointing
Rated 14 Jan 2013
58
64th
Clever, but a bit long.
Rated 19 Oct 2012
51
16th
Slightly confusing.
Rated 05 Sep 2012
85
79th
It has its flaws but should be lauded at least for this: it reminds us successfully of the first and foremost role of cinema - being a theater of imagination. Tom Waits's performance is uncanny.
Rated 15 Jul 2012
70
26th
good for watching on the big screen
Rated 03 Jul 2012
50
28th
Disjointed and slow. Damn you Terryyyyyy!!!!
Rated 16 Jun 2012
89
67th
Classic Gilliam, but Ledger's death derailed it a little bit
Rated 15 Jun 2012
67
25th
There is so much going on in this movie it's not even fair to try to name all the elements at work! My hat is off to Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell for coming in to finish the job that Heath Ledger (R.I.P.) began, but it's a cluster of madness with occasional good elements to it. Tom Waits steals the show of course, but ultimately this one's not all that great.
Rated 21 May 2012
75
52nd
It's an alright movie that would have been good if Ledger hadn't died, or if Gilliam had started over when he did, but when he just pumps in other people in place of ledger it actually just becomes confusing, even for a Gilliam movie.
Rated 05 Apr 2012
55
33rd
Beautiful, but hard to relate to.
Rated 16 Mar 2012
90
61st
This film feels under represented. It has a great story, imagination galore and great visuals.
Rated 24 Feb 2012
78
49th
Yes, it's all very pretty, but the substance is lacking and the few glimpses of character depth are forced and inserted where they don't belong.
Rated 15 Feb 2012
60
55th
The Imaginarium clearly falls apart after Heath Ledger's untimely death, leading to a ridiculously pieced together finale featuring Colin Farrell as the hands-down-worst of the four Heath Ledger fill ins.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
77
64th
This is a nice, weird fantasy film from Terry Gilliam. The casting of 3 actors to replace the departed Heath Ledger actually works. This film has a great ensemble cast and the look of the film is stunning.
Rated 12 Dec 2011
100
51st
good movie 10 out of 10
Rated 18 Nov 2011
64
48th
It's really ridiculous that Terry Gilliam still gets to make movies. Not because he's necessarily bad at it, though he certainly stumbles occasionally, but because it seems God has decided he shouldn't. Having your lead actor die halfway through should stop most directors. Gilliam not only finishes the movie, but manages to make it work. It's not his greatest work, but given the circumstances... He snatches adequacy from the jaws of certain defeat, and does it with respect and panache.
Rated 02 Nov 2011
75
57th
This movie is quite good. Tom Waits was possibly the best devil I've ever seen on film, rivaling Tim Curry in Legend. While they did the best they could with Ledger's death, I was particularly disappointed with Johnny Depp. That said, I really did like Colin Farrell and thought that using him for the last bit was a good choice. Also Lily Cole is insanely hot. Definitely worth your time if you are into a Gilliam type experience.
Rated 29 Oct 2011
74
50th
Messy and muddled, but in a loose, playful way. It's an enjoyable romp, especially considering the circumstances. Plummer's character is wildly uneven, but Waits is a delight, Cole is charming, Garfield is okay, and it's great to see someone use Troyer as more than a mere prop. Some of the spectacle on display is stunning, but also the most problematic area of the film. Gilliam's predilection for visual overload can be headache-inducing. But despite the flaws I had a fun time with this movie.
Rated 24 Oct 2011
30
78th
"Crammed with shifting CGI canvases and frenetic revues right out of Monty Python, Imaginarium is a galumphing bacchanal of illusionist clutter that's frequently unwieldy but rarely less than deeply felt." - Fernando F. Croce
Rated 14 Oct 2011
55
19th
The visuals are great, the story isn't. Even beyond the novelty of it being Heath Ledger's last film, it's an okay movie.
Rated 16 Sep 2011
90
73rd
Wow!
Rated 15 Jul 2011
70
75th
Was that the villain from Kindergarten Cop?
Rated 01 Jul 2011
85
78th
Complex, vivid and sad. Gilliam's best since BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
Rated 04 Jun 2011
65
57th
Lots of good stuff. For a real interesting viewing, read up on its occult reference before viewing, then watch.
Rated 04 Jun 2011
90
84th
I'm sort of baffled that people didn't enjoy this rich tapestry of a film. Gilliam, like Parnassus, has created a world full of childlike beauty and wonder, something few films even attempt to do anymore. And Tom Waits.
Rated 29 May 2011
40
13th
29 may 2011, pera muzesi, ferhat asniya ile- oncesinde yonetmenin kisa bir soyleyisisi &
Rated 29 May 2011
82
77th
With each new Gilliam movie I get more and more depressed. His films, usually whimsical, enlightened triumphs of imagination over adversity, are starting to acknowledge a sense of inescapable failure and an inability to truly change the world with the limitless power of his images. This film is rightly fantastic in its own way, resembling Munchausen at its best. In context though, its sense of reality hurts, and Parnassus is far too Gilliam for me to take its subtext lightly.
Rated 29 Mar 2011
80
29th
Happy to see that one finally and again so sad that Heath Ledger is gone. Somehow, with Deep, Farrell and Law, the fantasy theme felt more complete. Dark and enlightening at the same time.
Rated 20 Mar 2011
73
38th
Its heart was in the right place but its mind was elsewhere. Lily Cole was genuine, Tom Waits was understated and Depp blended right in but everyone else acted like deer in headlights. Overall it just feels like Gilliam was sick to his stomach and really need this enema to purge his system. Never pleasant to go through or look at afterward but it does make you feel better.
Rated 25 Feb 2011
60
32nd
I knew nothing about this film, and after 30 minutes thought that I would love it; its opening premise was excellent, with good characters, superb visuals and really interesting potential. By the end it remained a really good idea, but very poorly developed as a story. What could have been a fantastic tale never gets off the ground, because Gilliam allows visual and surreal spectacle to completely dominate at the expense of plot, story and purpose. Somewhat enjoyable but ultimately pointless
Rated 17 Jan 2011
50
28th
5- worth experiencing, alright
Rated 14 Jan 2011
91
97th
The casting is perfect, the direction is superb, but much of the brilliance of the film lies in the script. While prima facia it seems simplistic, it actually has far more depth than one would expect. Gilliam draws liberally on esoteric spiritualism and re-paints many more familiar religions to give them a new luster, but he does it with all the subtlety and skill of a master painter. Astounding.
Rated 30 Dec 2010
58
14th
This was really tough to get through, and though I appreciated the way Ledger's character was "replaced", it detracted from the film. Oh I see what they're doing there!
Rated 28 Dec 2010
65
35th
64.750
Rated 22 Dec 2010
90
51st
Not a normal film that can be understood without effort. But I enjoyed it. Works well on multiple levels. What is truth? What is reality? Is everything in our mind? This is like a crazier and wild version of Inception (2010). Takes you for a ride if you will let it.

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