Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Jabberwocky Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 9, 2018

Terry Gilliam's "Jabberwocky" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; exclusive new program with special effects artist Valerie Charlton; new documentary featuring interviews with director Terry Gilliam, producer Sandy Lieberson, and actors Michael Palin and Annette Badland; making of featurette; audio commentary by Terry Gilliam and actor Michael Palin; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring a new essay by critic Scott Tobias' and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The simpleton

Be aware that Jabberwocky begins with a lie. There is a short message that pops up immediately after its opening credits which will inform you that the film is about to transport you to the Dark Ages. Ignore it, as this is not where you will be heading. You will enter Terry Gilliam’s universe, a rather odd but utterly fascinating place whose rules and boundaries are defined only by the director’s spectacular imagination.

Here you will soon learn about a vicious monster that has been terrorizing a crumbling kingdom governed by a senile king, and you will spend plenty of time following the local simpleton Dennis Cooper (Michael Palin) who has become an embarrassment to his ailing father. When the failed son is eventually banished, you will follow him to the king’s castle and stay with him as he nearly dies of hunger and tries to keep his head on his shoulders while dodging a pack of brainwashed cultists. And after the king announces that he is going to give half of his kingdom and marry his silly daughter to the knight that survives the bloodiest jousting tournament ever staged and then slays the vicious monster, you will question the simpleton’s many awkward missteps that will unexpectedly send him on a collision course with the ungodly creature.

The journey through this unusual place should remind you of the few other times when you explored Gilliam’s universe. You will recall that extraordinary feeling of temporarily being detached from the world of gravity and reason, as well as that accompanying sensation of temporarily being able to rid your mind of the nagging cynicism that demands you question all that you do not instantly comprehend. So you will recognize the rush, but not the journey and its final destination.

Near the end of your journey your mind will probably begin insisting that you find the right spot for Jabberwocky on that long list of critically acclaimed Gilliam films, and you will do it while speculating what parts of it could and should have been polished better. You will likely even invent a few small but effective subplots that would have made its story more exciting and attractive. You may even convince yourself that lf Gilliam had thought of what you did, he would have directed quite the masterpiece.

When your journey eventually ends you will also be eager to see how others that have traveled to the same destination describe it. You will be thrilled to see that there are many that would echo your feelings, and slightly annoyed that some will also outright dismiss your reservations as silly. You may even accidentally discover that while visiting the same places you did and spending time with the same characters you met you missed colorful bits that other travelers deem essential for the journey’s appeal. You may not be willing to openly admit it, but a part of you will secretly concede that this is precisely why you should not have brushed aside all those pesky little words that you heard but did not want to bother with. Then just to prove to yourself that it wasn't them but you that had it right, you will make plans to see Jabberwocky again.

Jabberwocky Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Terry Gilliam's Jabberwocky arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this Blu-ray release:

Jabberwocky was restored by the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation in 2017, with funding provided by yje George Lucas Family Foundation and with the participation of director Terry Gilliam. The film was scanned in 4K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner and restored in 4K resolution from the 35mm original camera negative and other original film elements. All image repair for the new 4K master was carried out so as to best present the film's original photography and texture, and was completed at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy. The original surround soundtrack was remixed in 2001 from the original monaural magnetic multi-tracks by Andre Jacquemin at Redwood Studios, London, using iZotope RX software to give the dialogue, music, and effects new vibrancy.

Restoration supervisors: Ben Thompson, Keron Webb/BFI National Archive, Berkhamsted, England.
Film inspection and comparison: Claire West/BFI Naitonal Arhcive.
Audio transfer and QC: Mike Kohler. Charles Fairall/BFI National Archive.
Restoration production: Davide Pozzi, Elena Tammaccaro/L'Immagine Ritrovata.
Colorist: Giandomenico Zeppa/L'Immagine Ritrovata; Stephen Bearman/Silver Salt Restoration, London."

All but one of the basic characteristics of the new restoration are outstanding. While I don't have another home video release of this film to perform any direct comparisons, the type of organic density and fluidity on display are so strong and so convincing that such comparisons actually would have been completely pointless. It is true that there are areas with some density fluctuations, but virtually all of them reflect the native qualities of the original photography; there are only a couple of examples where it appears that there are additional limitations introduced by a different type of element (screencapture #3 comes from one such segment). Grain is very nicely exposed and is free of compromising digital tinkering. There are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments either. Image stability is excellent. My one minor concern pertains to the color grading as it has some of the typical colder primaries and greenish hues that restoration projects graded at L'Immagine Ritrovata have become famous for. The end result is not distracting and it actually seems rather appropriate for the film's period atmosphere, but there is no doubt that if the film was graded by the folks at Criterion the final color scheme would have been more convincing. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Jabberwocky Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The 5.1 mix is so aggressive at times that it almost feels a bit awkward for a period project like Jabberwocky. There are a couple of segments where the monster attacks his targets and a few others where the knights are seen galloping or fighting that were clearly enhanced for optimal effect(s). I think that this is why plenty of folks will like the 5.1 mix, but the ideal scenario would have been to have a restored monaural track as well. The dialog is clean and stable, but there are a couple of sequences where the optional subtitles are definitely helpful because the accents are quite thick and there is some movement that makes it a bit difficult to hear all lines. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report.

Jabberwocky Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Jabberwocky. In English, not subtitled. (2 min. 1080p).

• "Jabberwocky": Good Nonsense - this new documentary takes a closer look at the production history of Jabberwocky. Included in it are interviews with director Terry Gilliam, producer Sandy Lieberson, and actors Michael Palin and Annette Badland. The documentary was produced by Criterion in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (41 min. 1080p).

• Valerie Charlton: The Making of a Monster - in this brand new featuertte, special effects artist Valerie Charlton (Time Bandits, Brazil) discusses the conception of the scary monster from Jabberwocky. The featurette was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Terry Bedford - presented here are audio excerpts from an archival audio interview in which, cinematographer Terry Bedford discusses his work on Jabberwocky and Monty Python and the Holy Grail with writer David Morgan. The interview was conducted in 1988. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

• Original Opening - director Terry Gilliam trimmed Jabberwocky slightly for its initial release in the United States in 1977. The U.S. version featured a new titles treatment and the addition of some painted images with voice-over narration. Terry Gilliam's preferred version of the film, restored for this release, combines the longer original UK with the American title sequence. Presented here for comparison is the UK opening sequences featuring the director's original title treatment. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• Sketch-to-Screen Comparison - presented here is an archival program that highlights some of Terry Gilliam's sketches with the corresponding scenes from Jabberwocky. The program was produced in 2001.In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080i).

• Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky" - Michael Palin and Annette Badland recite some of the more colorful lines from Jabberwocky. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary by cowriter and director Terry Gilliam and actor Michael Palin was recorded in 2001, and initially appeared on the R1 DVD release of Jabberwocky that Sony Pictures produced.
  
  1. Narrative format
  2. Scatology
  3. "Too many gags"
  4. "Early morning"
  5. Mad princess
  6. "Man and nature"
  7. "The jerk-off"
  8. Taking direction
  9. Economics
  10. "Sexual guidance"
  11. Grand Guignol
  12. Python millstone
  13. Booger scenes
  14. "Not Bad"

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Scott Tobias' essay "Through the Looking Glass and What Terry Found There" and technical credits.

Jabberwocky Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are some films that emerge as such unsolvable odd enigmas that they just have to be seen. Terry Gilliam's Jabberwocky is not exactly that kind of a brilliant head-scratcher, but once it pulls you into its bizarre universe it becomes awfully difficult to remain indifferent to it. It is a pretty funny film, too. Criterion's recent release of Jabberwocky is sourced from a good 4K restoration and as usual there is a wide range of exclusive new and archival bonus features. RECOMMENDED.