The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
- Review Date: February 21, 2008
- Rated: PG
- Genre: Fantasy
- Release Year: 1989
- Running Time: 127 minutes
Common Sense Media says
Visual treat is too bawdy for young fantasy fans.
- Review Date: February 21, 2008
- Rated: PG
- Genre: Fantasy
- Release Year: 1989
- Running Time: 127 minutes
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen gallery
What parents need to know
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
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, should have been PG-13. 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.
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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?
QUALITY
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.
Families can talk 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
| Theatrical release date: | March 10, 1989 |
| DVD release date: | April 7, 2008 |
| Cast: | Eric Idle, John Neville, Uma Thurman |
| Director: | Terry Gilliam |
| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy, Adventures, Misfits and underdogs |
| Run time: | 127 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
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QUALITY
Fun for kids and adults
This movie is great, one of my favorites from child hood. The violence depicted here us unrealistic, close to what a person would expect from a cartoon. This story takes from the moon and down too the botom of a volcano. Enjoy this movie with you children today
What other families should know
Great role models
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QUALITY
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much sex
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QUALITY
This movie should not be PG. It should be R. at the very least PG13
I just watched this today for my film class and must say that the only things that irked me about this film was the sexual undertones in one scene and the naked woman. I'll start with how it goes chronologically:
-------During the "moon kingdom" scene, there are references to sex quite frequently. Munchausen says that "the heads pursue intellectual things while the bodies have bodily....functions". One of the heads, as he's being carried off by his body says "I don't want to have flatulence or orgasms!", and the disembodied head of the wife of the aforementioned man makes faces and sounds that imply she's "having a good time". Munchausen tells the puzzled little girl with him that "Well, she's in bed with the king.....and.....he's.....uh....tickling her feet." This is a huge innuendo reference, but then it switches to a scene with the king actually tickling his wife's feet (although she is under a sheet as he does it). Next:--------------------In the volcano scene with Vulcan, his wife appears mid-scene. A huge clam comes up and as it unfolds, a ***totally naked woman*** appears. Not surprisingly, it's Venus, the god of love and all things horrendously sensual. Her hands cover her nipples and her hair covers her groin, but her breasts are clearly visible. After the cupids flew down about 3 seconds later, I looked away. About a minute later she's dressed in an "appealing" gown as Munchausen looks flabbergasted. During this, Venus says "hello" in a semi-seductive manner. That scene alone should have made this R or something. Stupid filmmakers. Now that's burned into my mind >:O Anything else? There is the harem scene in the beginning, but almost nothing is visible. Venus also tells Vulcan after Munchausen leaves "Did that excite you?" or something like that.
----------------As for violence, there are quite a few decapitations (but they aren't bloody and are actually supposed to be comical). Other than that stuff, the movie was fine. Oh, and by the way, the movie was actually pretty dumb. It had lots of funny scenes, but wow. Even one of my Monty Python loving friends who watched it with me said "What is this?!?!?" DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN WATCH THIS! Dirty-minded teens will get a kick out of it though, especially Venus. I didn't. That says something about me, jtlyk. Honestly, I regret watching this movie. I don't say that often, either.
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much sex
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