The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Movie review by Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

Visual treat is too bawdy for young fantasy fans.

PG 1989 127 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie, based on an 18th-century book of tall tales and directed by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, has some fairly edgy content. Though it's steeped heavily in fantasy, there are still graphic scenes of battle with many explosions, sporadic beheadings and near executions, scenes of a harem with some shots of naked women, and a creepy Angel of Death.

Community Reviews

FutileFiction
FutileFiction Adult
December 12, 2018
age 15+

The movie never ends

Honestly, the sex in this film is pretty tame compared to other movies that I’ve seen. People seem to complain about how this movie was rated PG, but originally that was the PG-13 back when it was released. Although the sex may seem harsh, the visual style is brilliant, giving off Gilliam’s signature look, and definitely works well with the style of characters portrayed in the film. I was more enlightened by the comedy and the characters than by how much the movie lacked censorship. In my final opinion, I truly believe that this film is underrated and that the components that took to make it are a little overlooked. Overall this movie is one of my favorites but isn’t something to show younger kids. Maybe older teens and adults. Final Rating: 9/10

This title has:

Too much sex
LyndaPoo
LyndaPoo Adult
June 10, 2014
age 7+

This is an imaginative classic!!

Addressing the nudity that so many people have been commenting on: There is ONE shot of a rather robust woman's hiney in the harem scene and there is a moment where Uma Thurman is reenacting the classic painting, "Venus on the Halfshell". That is the extent of the nudity. If you are okay with your child going to a Renaissance fair, you'd be perfectly okay with the mild sexual content of this movie. In regards to the violence: It is a cartoon sort of violence - very much akin to ALL of Monty Python's stuff - it is silly violence. Violent, yes, but with tongue firmly planted in one's cheek. This is an absolute classic and it is fun and entertaining for the whole family. My 7 year old wanted me to rate it with "Infinity stars" because she enjoyed it so much. The movie is all about the power of the imagination - something to be celebrated. Enjoy. (Death is a bit creepy, I will admit, so if you have a child who is afraid of skeletons and such, you may want to prep them, but the lovely thing is a child in the movie is brave enough to stand up to Death multiple times - which is a bravery enhancer.)
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN starts in a fictional war-torn town during "The Age of Reason," and the screenplay delivers on its promise to examine the sometimes conflicting roles of fact and fantasy. As shells fall around them, the townspeople are distracted by a comedy troupe acting out the adventures of the big-nosed Baron, only to have the real Baron (John Neville) walk on stage and take up the narrative. Accompanied by little Sally Salt (a very young Sarah Polley) Baron Munchausen must reunite with his retinue, which includes Berthold (Monty Python colleague Eric Idle) in order to save the desperate town. But distractions and obstacles make the challenge extraordinarily difficult.

Is It Any Good?

The movie drew headlines when it was released in 1989 at almost twice its original budget, but director Terry Gilliam deserves credit for creating a visually fantastic film. While a few special effects fall flat, most are far ahead of their time, and small roles by Robin Williams and Uma Thurman (not to mention Sting) add to the whimsical quality of the film. It works well as a grown-up allegory of the nature of war and fear, and was nominated for a number of Academy Awards for costumes, makeup, and visual effects.

However, the movie is saddled with very slow pacing and scenes that seem too long by half. After somewhat confusing efforts to rescue the first two of Baron's four friends, it comes as a great relief that the remaining two can be found together, signaling that the plot can move forward again. It's a conundrum; the special effects are enticing, but the movie plods under its detail.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the nature of war as it's depicted here. Vulcan treasures his nuclear weapon because it can cause destruction while he's comfortably far away; how has that attitude changed modern warfare? How powerful a weapon is fear, as you see Horatio Jackson warning his citizens not to open the town gates? In what other movies and books can you find the Angel of Death?

Movie Details

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