Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 22, 2022

Terry Gilliam's "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by the director and actor/writer Charles McKeown; documentary on the making of the film; archival cast and crew interviews; various promotional materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Retelling a popular story that has already been told brilliantly is always a very risky project. But over the years various writers have found good excuses to do precisely that, and some have done it quite well. When you are an ambitious director and you wish to do it on the big screen, however, you instantly place a huge target on your back. Bigger than the one that a writer would get? Yes, a lot bigger. Your motivation for instance would be scrutinized even by people that may not be intimately familiar with the story. It is just the way it is, so the risk you are taking as a director is huge. You can legitimately destroy your career if you do not do the retelling of the story right.

I had not viewed Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen in a very long time. If I had to guess, I would say that it has been two decades since the last time I revisited it, but it could be longer. Before I pressed the play button on my player to view the new 4K restoration of the film, the only segment of it that I could vividly recall was the one where Baron Munchausen and the other visitors climb the Moon. I always thought that this segment was done incredibly well, which is why it must have stayed in my mind.

I was approximately fifteen or so minutes into the film -- it was right around when Baron Munchausen and his crew emptied the sultan’s treasury -- when my mind unplugged itself from the present and plugged itself into Gilliam’s world. It was very late and believe me I was not prepared for this kind of viewing experience because I had had a long day. The visuals were so seductive that it felt great to be on the other side, believing and enjoying Baron Munchausen’s ridiculous adventures. (Or should I call them lies?) I remember feeling this way many, many years ago when I would stay up late to read the newest great novel my grandfather had recommended to me.

Gilliam takes a lot of liberties with the original material that inspired him to do his film, but I think that it is the only way he could have done it right -- and yes, this film is done right. What do I mean? He reveals an intimate connection to Baron Munchausen’s stories that allow him to be strikingly creative, effectively making them his stories. If you listen carefully while being overwhelmed by the spectacular visuals, you will notice that there are tiny remarks and references that make many developments in the film openly suggestive. What are they suggesting? That even when you have grown old it is fine to keep on believing in miracles. That there is never a wrong time to fall in love again. That there are always plenty of opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of people that need it.

In the second half of the film, Baron Munchausen is slowly reunited with the members of his old crew. All of them have grown old, become weaker, and started preparing for the inevitable encounter with the Grim Reaper. Two of them are even borderline senile. They have been stuck in the belly of a giant fish monster and thought that they had already entered Hell. Not pretty, eh? But when Baron Munchausen reappears and convinces them to help him defend the city from the forces of the mad sultan, they regain their passion for life. I thought that this was one of the film’s most powerful messages -- if you want to keep someone alive, make him feel wanted and appreciated.

The entire film is a visual stunner. It features breathtakingly beautiful decors, indescribably imaginative lighting, and top-notch camerawork. An appropriately brilliant soundtrack perfectly enhances its exotic atmosphere as well.

*Criterion’s upcoming 4K Bu-ray and Blu-ray releases introduce a brand new 4K restoration of The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen that has been supervised and approved by Gilliam.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. The Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this release:

"The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was restored in 4K resolution by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The 4K wet-gate scan of the 35mm original camera negative was done by Cineric, Inc., in New York. Digital image restoration was done by Prasad in Burbank, California. Color grading was done in HDR (high dynamic range) Sheri Eisenberg at Roundabout Entertainment in Santa Monica, California. Audio restoration and conform of the 5.1 surround soundtrack (which was upmixed in 2004) was done by Deluxe Audio in Hollywood. The restoration was supervised by Grover Crisp for Sony Pictures Entertainment, with color approval by director Terry Gilliam. On the 4K Blu-ray disc, the feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR. On the Blu-ray, it is presented in high-definition SDR (standard dynamic range)."

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including its actual color values.

Screencaptures #1-27 are from The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #30-35 are from The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray.

The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray present an exclusive new 4K restoration of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen that was finalized under the supervision of Terry Gilliam. In native 4K, I viewed the entire film with Dolby Vision.

I have nothing but great things to say about the new 4K makeover of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. I think that the film desperate needed to be revisited and I am happy to report that it looks simply stunning in native 4K. I already left some comments in our review of the Blu-ray, so I would like to focus on the specific differences between the native 4K and 1080p presentations. The most obvious discrepancy between the two which you will immediately notice regardless of the size of your TV screen is in the dynamic range of the visuals. In native 4K, everything looks better. Even the footage where some of the effects that were used reveal their age I think look better because the higher resolution and superior color spectrum quite simply work in favor of Gilliam's style. For example, I really like how the footage from the moon looks with Dolby Vision because everything looks more even there than in 1080p. In some parts, there is just more to see. Another area of the film that benefits quite a lot is the underground footage with the mad Vulcan. It is bright red with plenty of spectacular nuances and looks stunning because of the expanded dynamic range of the visuals. The same footage looks excellent in 1080p as well, but it is easy to tell that 1080p has its limitations. Despite the native density fluctuations in certain areas, the fluidity of the visuals in native 4K is superior, too. A few times, when the density levels shift, you could notice small bumps in 1080p, but in native 4K everything looks solid and smooth. Depth, clarity, and sharpness are very much in the reference-level territory. As mentioned elsewhere, the entire film looks immaculate as well. So, I was very impressed with the quality of the work that was done during the 4K makeover and its transition to 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. In my opinion, this 4K Blu-ray release is as striking as the 4K Blu-ray release of The Red Shoes.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio sounds incredible, too. As you know well, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen has a terrific music score that does plenty to produce various contrasts, so I was very glad to hear how solid the lossless track is. During the siege footage in the beginning and at the end of the film, dynamic intensity is pretty impressive, too. I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by Terry Gilliam and actor/writer Charles McKeown in 2008. It has appeared on previous home video releases of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, so any fan of the film is already familiar with it. The bulk of the information that is shared in the commentary addressed the production of the film as well as some obstacles that had to be overcome along the way.

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by Terry Gilliam and actor/writer Charles McKeown in 2008. It has appeared on previous home video releases of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, so any fan of the film is already familiar with it. The bulk of the information that is shared in the commentary addressed the production of the film as well as some obstacles that had to be overcome along the way.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• The Madness and Misadventures of "Munchausen" - this archival documentary examines the rich production history of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Directed by Constantine Nasr in 2008, it is presented here in three parts. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. "Flights of Fancy". (30 min).
  2. "Caught in the Act". (17 min).
  3. "The Final Curtain". (26 min).

• Special Effects - narrated by Terry Gilliam in 2022, the footage that is presented here consists of precomposite effects, model shots, and computer imagery and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the elaborate special effects used by the Peerless Camera Company to assemble the exotic world of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Deleted Scenes - presented here are four deleted scenes with optional commentary by Terry Gilliam. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Gull and Turkey Leg/Alternate Opening. (2 min).
  2. Mutiny on Stage. (1 min).
  3. The Rules of Warfare. (1 min).
  4. Extended Fish Sequence. (1 min).

• Storyboards for Unfilmed Scenes - presented here are several storyboards for unfilmed scenes created by Terry Gilliam. With introductions by Terry Gilliam and actor/writer Charles McKeown. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Introduction: "As We Once Dreamed it". (1 min).
  2. The Baron Saves Sally. (3 min).
  3. A Voyage to the Moon. (22 min).
  4. The Baron and Bucephalus Charge the Turkish Gates. (5 min).

• Marketing "Munchausen" - Terry Gilliam reads and comments. In English, not subtitled. (
  
  1. Preview Cards. (12 min).
  2. Taglines. (4 min).
  3. Meet Baron Munchausen. (5 min).
  4. Production Featurette. (8 min).
  5. Trailer. (2 min).

• The Astonishing (and Really True) History of Baron Munchausen - this exclusive new video essay was created by critic David Cairns in 2022. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• The South Bank Show: Terry Gilliam - this archival episode of The South Bank Show from 1991 takes a closer look at the life and career of Terry Gilliam. It features Gilliam, actor and comedian Michael Palin, and Baron Munchausen's dog. It is hosted by Melvyn Bragg. In English, not subtitled. (48 min).

• Miracle of Flight - this animated short film was directed by Terry Gilliam in 1974. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic and author Michael Koresky as well as technical credits.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Some of Terry Gilliam's films are not my cup of tea. They try too hard to be exotic and even oddly controversial, so I find it impossible to connect with them as they demand in order to be properly appreciated. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is not one of these films. Virtually all of the messages that emerge from it easily resonate with me, plus it is a stunningly beautiful tour de force that at times takes my breath away. I have nothing but great things to say about the new 4K makeover of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. It sparkles on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray and I think that fans of the film will be ecstatic when they finish viewing it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.