THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS Film Review - 28/3/10

What starts off as an enchanting, breezy fantasy suddenly changes tone halfway through and turns into something very nasty indeed. I would rather fire a nailgun through my foot than watch this unmitigated pile of bollox again! Streaming through a selection of imaginary worlds with bargains with the devil - Is it real? A dream? Someones imagination running riot? Filmed in various derelict London locales the imagery is amazing - If not a touch too much CGI - But the story boringly rambles with no real sense of purpose and no explanation as to what really is happening/maybe happening? Totally frustrated I recall the mess of 'The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen' all over again - When Gilliam gets it right it's fantastic - When he doesn't it's a turgid mess like this! Let us remember Heath Ledger as The Joker and not as Tony from this dreary debacle. Dr. Parnassus gains immortality from The Devil (A great performance from Tom Waits) but as the centuries pass the Devil & Parnassus carry on their gambling game possibly changing reality through the ages.

POPCORN RATING: