It is a lovely thought, that the film which inspired Gilliam in his THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHASEN creation, is available so broadly for all and sundry to consume. That said, it is a wonderful thing to have director Terry Gilliams, fantasy, fable on offer again from the CRITERION COLLECTION. This film has been around before, on DVD, on a 20th anniversary extras set (well it had a commentary also here and a trivia track that was full of interesting stuff not here). This was in 1080p and looked quite nice in truth. The film had always been a little hard done by due to its directors other works, its relative high notes in terms of storytelling and its production. This sadly is often more famous than the dramas onscreen, as all that issues and blame in its production teams made the film a press powderkeg (which are featured and flown through on the second extras blu ray to the set).

Inspired by the extravagant exploits of the fabled Baron Munchausen, the man so famous and ludicrous he spawned a syndrome. An eighteenth-century nobleman (John Neville) wishes to right the wrongs of his own actions and embarks on an outlandish quest that takes him from faraway lands to the moon. Where he meets the headless royals (Robin Williams in a star turn). Then on to the belly of a sea monster and the solution of powdered snuff. From waging battle against a vengeful sultan, after pinching his riches, to the nightmare of logic. Its a journey to the most outer limits of belief!

4K or not, this was bound to look delicious and it truly does. A fierce critic would find hard, any place to complain about just how well Criterion have pulled of this transfer restoration. With this in mind, I cant fault any part of this release. All extras, covering the production and Gilliams genius at creation, the idea of the Baron, how he came to the public and Michael Koresky essay that illustrates how a film is imagined and then seen via a lense. One comment, The blu ray has to house this on its very own because it is so very good. I can only really add that this is the complete release of this film. Nothing will ever match it.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, approved by writer-director Terry Gilliam, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
Audio commentary featuring Gilliam and his coscreenwriter, Charles McKeown
Documentary on the making of the film
New video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns about the history of the Baron Munchausen character
Behind-the-scenes footage of the film’s special effects, narrated by Gilliam
Deleted scenes with commentary by Gilliam
Storyboards for unfilmed scenes, narrated by Gilliam and McKeown
Original marketing materials including a trailer and electronic-press-kit featurettes, as well as preview cards and advertising proposals read by Gilliam
Miracle of Flight (1974), an animated short film by Gilliam
Episode of The South Bank Show from 1991 on Gilliam
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic and author Michael Koresky

New cover by Abigail Giuseppe