Terry Gilliam is the sort of person you admire, for his artistic vision, his brilliant comedic output, and his seemingly sheer nuttiness; but despite his dazzling career, his work has been marked by misfortune numerous times.
Floods, the deaths of lead actors, including the formidable Heath Ledger, injuries and budget wars have all led to drastic changes in Gilliam's works.
Some movies have never been fully completed.
However, those that have are indelible.
Gilliam's oeuvre is highly imaginative and fantastical; his films are brilliantly dark and tragicomic.
Many of his movies seem to stem from some sort of insanity.
Of course, Terry Gilliam's signature style can be attributed to his years in the comedy troupe Monty Python (which is definitely a must see show, catch it via satellite TV), and his work as an animator.
Here is a list of his top five films, which are impossible not to be missed, in high definition.
Brazil Brazil is set in a dystopic future where terrorists are as common as today's sports stars.
They rage all hell, bombing posh restaurants, shopping malls and cars.
Gilliam notes that he was inspired by George Orwell's 1984, a book about a totalitarian government with little sympathy for the common man.
In Brazil, Sam Lowry played by Jonathan Pryce tries to find a young woman who appears in his dreams while he is working at his insipid bureaucratic job.
The film is a satire of bureaucracy, the bourgeoisie and the modern industrial world.
Although, Brazil didn't fare well at the box office, it has become a cult hit and you can usually find the film on independent movie channels courtesy of your satellite TV subscription.
The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen This film takes place in an unspecified war torn European city in the late 18th century.
Amidst all the fighting, a stage production of Baron Von Munchausen's life is taking place when the real Baron interrupts.
From here things get wacky.
Baron, at the insistence of the theatre director's young daughter attempts to save the city.
In his effort, he goes to the moon, absconds into the Earth near a volcano, gets eaten by a sea creature and is shot.
The movie blends fiction with fiction and you can never really tell what's 'real' and what's merely part of the play.
A new HD version of this film is available.
The Fisher King This comedic-drama stars Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams and Mercedes Ruehl.
In the movie, Bridge's character, Jack Lucas, is an arrogant shock jock talk radio host who becomes depressed after learning that his comments prompted a murder spree.
Later he meets a homeless man played by Williams, who is obsessed with finding the Holy Grail.
This film has been called heartbreaking, ravishing and romantic.
Twelve Monkeys This sci-fi film takes place in another dystopic future, where scientists have sent back in time one James Cole to try to stop a deadly plague that kills nearly all life on the planet.
The film is wickedly inventive and densely plotted.
This film regularly airs on satellite TV and cable.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas This is an adaptation of Hunter S.
Thompson's novel.
It is definitely a psychedelic piece, with the two leads Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro taking a drug-fueled trip across Las Vegas.
Although the film was a box office flop, the release of the high definition Criterion DVD made the film a cult classic.
Floods, the deaths of lead actors, including the formidable Heath Ledger, injuries and budget wars have all led to drastic changes in Gilliam's works.
Some movies have never been fully completed.
However, those that have are indelible.
Gilliam's oeuvre is highly imaginative and fantastical; his films are brilliantly dark and tragicomic.
Many of his movies seem to stem from some sort of insanity.
Of course, Terry Gilliam's signature style can be attributed to his years in the comedy troupe Monty Python (which is definitely a must see show, catch it via satellite TV), and his work as an animator.
Here is a list of his top five films, which are impossible not to be missed, in high definition.
Brazil Brazil is set in a dystopic future where terrorists are as common as today's sports stars.
They rage all hell, bombing posh restaurants, shopping malls and cars.
Gilliam notes that he was inspired by George Orwell's 1984, a book about a totalitarian government with little sympathy for the common man.
In Brazil, Sam Lowry played by Jonathan Pryce tries to find a young woman who appears in his dreams while he is working at his insipid bureaucratic job.
The film is a satire of bureaucracy, the bourgeoisie and the modern industrial world.
Although, Brazil didn't fare well at the box office, it has become a cult hit and you can usually find the film on independent movie channels courtesy of your satellite TV subscription.
The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen This film takes place in an unspecified war torn European city in the late 18th century.
Amidst all the fighting, a stage production of Baron Von Munchausen's life is taking place when the real Baron interrupts.
From here things get wacky.
Baron, at the insistence of the theatre director's young daughter attempts to save the city.
In his effort, he goes to the moon, absconds into the Earth near a volcano, gets eaten by a sea creature and is shot.
The movie blends fiction with fiction and you can never really tell what's 'real' and what's merely part of the play.
A new HD version of this film is available.
The Fisher King This comedic-drama stars Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams and Mercedes Ruehl.
In the movie, Bridge's character, Jack Lucas, is an arrogant shock jock talk radio host who becomes depressed after learning that his comments prompted a murder spree.
Later he meets a homeless man played by Williams, who is obsessed with finding the Holy Grail.
This film has been called heartbreaking, ravishing and romantic.
Twelve Monkeys This sci-fi film takes place in another dystopic future, where scientists have sent back in time one James Cole to try to stop a deadly plague that kills nearly all life on the planet.
The film is wickedly inventive and densely plotted.
This film regularly airs on satellite TV and cable.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas This is an adaptation of Hunter S.
Thompson's novel.
It is definitely a psychedelic piece, with the two leads Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro taking a drug-fueled trip across Las Vegas.
Although the film was a box office flop, the release of the high definition Criterion DVD made the film a cult classic.
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