Time Bandits [DVD]

I remember my wife buying me the first release of Time Bandits on Blu-Ray may years ago and being very giddy about the whole affair. It was around the time when I first took the plunge to go HD and as much as I appreciated the gift the end result was nothing more than baffling.Firstly the DVD looked better than what I was seeing. After inserting the disc there are scenes playing in the background on the main menu and they were nothing more than breathtaking bearing in mind these were just 2 second clips gearing you up for what you were about to see and it was just stunning, seeing the film like it was the first time. Then pressing play takes you into a whole different experience. It was just awful, black lines appearing and jumpy screen shots popping up from nowhere. Whoever viewed the Blu-Ray at head office and signed it off as a worthy release is clearly not working in the industry today and if he or she is then maybe any poor release on Blu-Ray is because of this person.So after a couple of years of never forgetting this rough start into trying a new format Arrow Video announced they were releasing a remastered version of the film with Director approved extra's. It has to be the best release there will ever be on the film. It has a lot of what we have never seen. It is lacking a full throttle all you can eat documentary but has many interviews with Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, David Warner etc to keep you satisfied. My actual favourite addition to the extras was a restoration demonstration which to me fees like an apology for the first release but it wasn't made by Arrow then but still a great way to look at it. Seeing how they restored the film is an exciting insight into how remastering is done.Never be in doubt Arrow's release of Time Bandits is the best there is and possibly will ever be so do not hesitate and buy this as soon as you can.

All these dvds`s ordered in the past year, many via tv screening.. often full screen. I`M STILL a home cinema enthusiast and expect..if the case says its wide letterbox...good. Over the past few years i`ve beem so disappointed i gave up at one stage. HOW can it be me..does anyone return them. Time Bandits rewstored but..full screen..why. Highlander my last order the sa,e. Its not amazons faukt but after removing shrink wrap.. bfi man told me my mulberry bush must be wide. Its not.

I blame myself for not having yet to talk about this nice blu-ray Steelbook edition.Indeed, Time Bandits is one of my favorite Terry Gilliam films with Brazil and 12 Monkeys.If there is darkness in this film, as in most of Gilliam's works, this Time Bandits is (almost) the happiest story of his filmography. A funny tale in which a young boy gets lost, along with other time travelers. But beware! We are not in a Dr Who style story.

Young 'Kevin' (Craig Warnock) reads of times gone by, one night, his bedroom seems to have become a portal, assix dwarfs led by 'Randall' (David Rappaport) enter his bedroom through the wardrobe, they are running from the'Evil One' (David Warner) they'd stolen an enchanted map.'Kevin' gets swept away through a Time-Window along with his new found friends, this triggers a new and wonderousadventure as with the Dwarfs he begin a journey to steal whatever they can.The Dwarfs by using the map can travel through portals to accumulate and escape...........their fist encounter is with'Napoleon' (Ian Holm) who has a complex about his 5' 1" stature, stealing from the legendary conqueror far too easy,the portal lands them into 'Sherwood Forest' where 'Robin Hood' (John Cleese)is more than happy to relieve the wouldbe thieves of their ill-gotton gains.They are unaware that the 'Evil - One' is tracking their every move, he wants the stolen map back to further his evil plansto rule the World with his brand of justice.'Kevin' escapes through the portal alone on this occasion finding himself in Ancient-Greece where his entry into that timesaves the King of Mycenae Agamemnon (Sean Connery) who decides to make 'Kevin' his 'heir' in gratitude.However the loveable thieving 'Dwarfs' are not far behind 'Kevin' as his adventure continues.....Will 'Kevin' find his way back home and return to reality.........(What of the Photo's he takes with his Polaroid Camera ??)A superb family friendly fantasy adventure that can be enjoyed by all.........the 1981 movie's upgrade to the Blu-ray formatactually most acceptable.Features -* Chasing Time Bandits a new interview with Terry Gillian - Writing the film that daes not to say his name - A new interviewin which Michael Palin discusses co-writing and acting in Time Bandits - The effects of Time Bandits a new interview withKent Houstan, founder of the peerless camera company, discusses Time Bandits special-effects - Playing Evil a new interviewin which David Warner remembers producer George Harrison and playing Evil in Time Bandits - The costumes of Time Banditsa interview with costume designer James Acheson - The look of Time Bandits a new interview with production designer MillyBurns - From script to screen - A new animation featurette in which Milly Burns takes us through her production note-books,location photographs and storyboards revealing how Twentieth Century Morocco was transformed into Ancient Greece -Original trailer - Reconstruction demonstrations - Collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic James Oliver.