Author Topic: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus  (Read 264293 times)

Offline underdown

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #230 on: January 07, 2010, 10:27:16 pm »

Only one way to find out  ;D

Offline Luvlylittlewing

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #231 on: January 08, 2010, 12:58:06 am »
I wish I could join you guys...  :(

I'm thinkin' on driving up to Oakland to the Grand Lake Theatre. They even play the Wurlitzer organ and all.  Maybe I'll ask Marie if she wants to go...



Yep, I'll be there with bells on.  Looking forward to it!

Offline southendmd

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #232 on: January 09, 2010, 01:25:49 am »
Just got back from seeing Imaginarium tonight with Lynne, Ron, Andrew, Pete and Sandy.

The Harvard Square Theatre showed it in the main theatre, but it was only about half full, on opening night.  Overly loud, overly cold and with sound system problems.  Ugh.

It's a big old mess of a movie.  Lovely to see Heath so full of life, if just for a little while. 

I'm afraid I disliked the film.  I said at dinner later that I usually fall asleep during Terry Gilliam films (including Brothers Grimm), but it was so cold in the theatre, it kept me awake.  While some of the visuals were, well, imaginative, it wasn't much of a story. 

Johnny Depp shone in a brief scene.  I didn't care for Jude Law (but, I usually don't).  Colin Farrel was pretty good. 

I think I'll prefer to remember Heath in his earlier roles.

Offline SFEnnisSF

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #233 on: January 09, 2010, 03:33:47 pm »

Lynne and all, did you get pictures of the Marquee?  I got them of the Grand Lake, but I'm waiting for my sister to email them to me.

I actually liked the movie, but it was not as good as Brothers Grimm.  ;) 




Huge Spoiler

I do wish his character had been redemed though, instead of ending up to be the "bad guy" in the end. 



Offline SFEnnisSF

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #234 on: January 09, 2010, 03:51:58 pm »

Marie and I also noticed in a few scenes how Heath had bags under his eyes, and well, just didn't look too good.  :-\  :'(

Offline Lynne

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #235 on: January 09, 2010, 09:19:17 pm »
I do have a marquis photo, Eric. I will try to post it when I get home tonight.
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline Lynne

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #236 on: January 09, 2010, 11:42:08 pm »
The Loews Theater at Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA:
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline Lynne

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #237 on: January 11, 2010, 12:23:36 am »
I've been musing on this for a couple of days and I'm mostly in agreement with Paul.  I didn't care for The Brothers Grimm and Parnassus was an even bigger disappointment, probably because I imagined Heath doing great things in his last role.

I'm glad they took the trouble to finish it, but the story was heavy on allegory and light on substance - some pretty good special effects, but not sufficiently exciting to salvage a predictable plot.

I think that besides Brokeback Mountain, of course, I'll choose A Knight's Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You as movies to remember Heath by - he's young and happy and full of life in those movies - you can tell he's having a great time.
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline MilAn

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
« Reply #238 on: January 11, 2010, 12:21:39 pm »
Quote
Better news came with Sony Pictures Classics’ rather aggressive expansion of Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”  After two weekends of fantastic numbers in very limited release, Heath Ledger’s final film went from 4 to 552 screens, and saw a good - but not fantastic - result.  “Parnassus” grossed $1,706,507 and nearly cracked the overall top ten, outgrossing a number of films (including “Nine”) that were on twice its screens.  However, its $3,091 per-theater-average, while respectable, was certainly not ideal.  Including its limited release, “Parnassus” has now grossed $2,105,637.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/2010/01/10/box_office_crazy_flops_weinstein_woes_continue_with_youth


Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, hopefully no spoilers
« Reply #239 on: January 11, 2010, 01:48:14 pm »
Saw this film when it opened in Denver last Friday. I tend to like most of Terry Gilliam's work, and definitely wanted to see Heath's last performance, but wasn't expecting the performance to be very extensive, being as how they called in three other performers to complete his work. My first main reaction is that I thought everybody did an excellent job of making this into a movie given the overwhelming challenges, and I think Terry, the editors, Johnny, Colin, Jude and, yes, Heath surmounted the problem of Heath's untimely demise very well, plotwise. It was a completely plausible plot line throughout, although the ending seemed a little weak as if an afterthought.

I also really liked how the Tony character was introduced, the shadow under the bridge. And I liked the way the characters were developed. All of the characters were interesting and appealing to me, even the Devil!! Of the four Tonys, my favorite was, of course, Heath. He was a wonderful combination of shabby classiness. In costume, he looked better than the stills I've seen from the movie. I wasn't concerned with looking for details about Heath's health or problems, as far as I was concerned he was just as invisible inside his character as he was in the Joker or Ennis. Then, I liked Jude and Colin. Johnny seemed like he was just being a stand-in. I kept thinking that Antoine was a hobbit, did anyone else get that feeling? Of course, the special effects and fantasy sequences were eye-popping (and they keep popping up in my dreams, especially that balloon!) The plot did not reach its full potential...I could see a sequel here! and sometimes the story did get lost in the shuffle between effects, scenery and props, characters clowning around, and Pythonesque over-the-top humor. But that's what we go to these type of movies for...something completely different!
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