Time Bandits (1981)

Stars	User	Rating
6	Paxton	69 _56th
A tale of two films as on rewatch the first half really is a bit of a slog. I was wondering if my kid would enjoy this as I plan a 40 year anniversary marathon that has little to do with the age of the movies themselves and everything to do with a horrific midlife crisis for the curator.
4	Magb	65 _30th
A mess, and not in a good enough way. The plot's inherently episodic nature does so they at any point could've let the story move in just about any completely arbitrary direction, and that's more or less what they do. As a result, the movie is far too disjointed to really work. It does have some nice moments, though, and I enjoyed how imaginative it was.
3	Tripwyre	75 _68th
A young history buff's fever dream, Time Bandits combines ancient history with fairy tales. Gilliam's visual flare is as imaginative as ever, and though it is a family film, it packs a fair amount of adult humour and adult morals, making it a worthwhile viewing experience for the young and old alike. Gilliam injects just enough darkness to insure the film haunts the dreams of any kid who watches it. While it could stand to be bit funnier in places, it's always very enjoyable.
3	JooJoo	5 _80th
If you're an adult and can still 'get' this movie, we could probably be friends. /review
2	doctor7	59 _37th
It certainly has it's moments but I feel the only way to describe those is by saying they feel like watered down Monty Python. The movie simply feels disjointed and, to be perfectly frank, rather random. While I appreciate this is certainly a factor of the plot it just seems to detract from the film. It wasn't bad or anything but I certainly wasn't inclined to watch it again.
2	terrymac	70 _58th
A bit clumsy and random, coming off like a series of discarded Python sketches at times. However, there is a lot to enjoy here, and the film is bursting with imagination and nice visual touches. Decent acting from the main cast, and some nice cameo-ish performances from the likes of Connery and Cleese help this along, and the ending has stuck with me since I was a nipper. Probably one for Gilliam/Python fans, but will appeal to anyone who likes a bit of silly, imaginative fun.
2	Grit	30 _22nd
A generally inoffensive, simplified version of Monty Python at times, a terrible mess at others. After the first five minutes it turns into what should have been expected, a madcap chase of crazy antics and surreal and spectacular humour based around a historical setting. However the feeling you are left with is of a half-finished job with very little in the way of consistency, short screentimes of Cleese, Connery and Palin and an overly random plotline. Imaginative, idiotic yet downright dull.
2	mattorama12	72 _68th
I really didn't enjoy the main story or characters at all, though there were some individual standout bits like Robinhood and the Michael Palin/Shelly Duvall scenes. But then ending was amazing and really made me feel like the rest of the movie was doing more than I gave it credit for.
2	Hawkins	63 _31st
Childhood favorite. It's unfocused and rambling but I love the dark turns at the end.
1	Moribunny	85 _95th
A time-travel movie inspired by "The Hobbit". I worshiped this as a kid, because Time Bandits doesn't kiss up to children. It is bittersweet, it is satirical, and a lot of things that are genuinely wrong happen in this fantasy adventure - unlike vomit-inducing saccharine fantasy adventures such as Neverending Story. And basically Time Bandits is fun and thought-provoking by any standard.
1	TheDenizen	65 _51st
Lasers. Eight o'clock, day one.
1	lachapelle	64 _24th
Ok, I really should have liked this movie more than I did. Maybe the little people freaked me out, maybe I saw when I was too young and just didn't understand it. Maybe I'm just an idiot (stop agreeing with me) for not giving this film another chance. I rewatched this film last year and found it mildly entertaining and very imaginative. It just isn't the film that everyone makes it out to be.
1	TheDiceman	65 _73rd
Monty Python for kids,a great film.
1	CloseFriend	65 _43rd
A very odd, unfocused film. Palin and Gilliam seemed very confused in what they wanted out of the end result. Although it has sharp dialog and the appearance of a children's adventure, there exists a lot of violence and the humor comes from a very dark place. The plot ties some threads together nicely, but it leaves a lot of elements thoroughly unexplained, followed by an ending consisting of two of the most worn-out clichés in existence and a downbeat. Overall, I still found it a novel satire.
1	martryn	75 _65th
I love Terry Gilliam films, and I love midgets. This movie really delivered for me.
1	Anomaly	80 _75th
Early Gilliam film with his imagination on full display, ripping up both the world of the film and at times even the plot. Definitely feels like it's been spun off from older Monty Python work, but that's not a detriment in any way, and it's really just a fun and funny adventure story. That ending sure is something.
1	paulofilmo	57 _12th
I was looking everywhere for something funny/clever/interesting, but was left hanging.
1	monclivie	85 _88th
One of the few movies that could also just be my dream.
1	tathiel	55 _12th
I think it's here the same as with all other Gilliam movies. Either you like them or you don't. I just don't get the sense of that movie, it's pretty weird.
1	Tds4a	2 _49th
Hahaha christ, what a harsh, harsh ending.
1	hellboy76	69 _73rd
Very much a Gilliam movie but this one's fantasy is slightly different. Strong cast helps wrangle in some of the sloppiness. A good time if you let it be.
1	CMonster	79 _64th
Never before have I been so happy that a scene in a movie went nowhere as when I saw Sean Connery do the cup and ball trick.
1	ribcage	63 _43rd
early gilliam film is just as strange and visually appealing as all his future efforts, but suffers from a lack of focus and wandering plot
1	htiman	79 _78th
This was a bizarre movie, but in a good way. It wastes no time getting to the cool stuff, and its a wild ride. It does drag a bit at times, and the child actor isn't very good, but overall its a memorable, fun movie.

Average Percentile 52.9% from 2543 Ratings