THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN

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STARRING: John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Charles McKeown, Winston Dennis, Jack Purvis, Valentina Cortese, Jonathan Pryce, Bill Paterson, Peter Jeffrey, Uma Thurman, Alison Steadman, Sting, Robin Williams

1989, 126 Minutes, Directed by Terry Gilliam

Description: Monty Python's Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) directs this wild, wild version of the stories of Baron Munchausen, pushing the limits of 1989 special effects technology to bring us such sights as a horse divided in half and running around in two parts, and a giant Robin Williams with his head flying off his shoulders. — Amazon.com

This film version of the classic children's story about the aristocratic chronic liar and his far-fetched tales is visually lush and doesn't really translate well to the small confines of a TV screen. There are some great almost Monty Python-like comic moments, but halfway through the movie one becomes used to all the special effects and stunning production designs and the film loses some of its energy.

The film also feels overlong at times, but while it's not as great as it could have been (especially considering that Gilliam directed classics such as Brazil and Twelve Monkeys), it's still definitely worth seeing.

By the way, reports had it that The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was one of the biggest box office flops of all times due to its inflated budget. Don't let this put you off. After all, lesser films - such as Independence Day and Rambo - were box office hits . . .