Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Time Bandits 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 7, 2023

Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" (1981) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include an original trailer; audio commentary with the American director, coscreenwriter and actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock; filmed conversation between Terry Gilliam and film scholar Peter von Bagh; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

What makes Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits a special film is the fact that it is completely unpredictable. You feel right from the get-go that it could end up anywhere, that anything could happen in it. It is the type of film that really does take you on a journey and you allow it to convince you that everything that happens in it is possible -- at least until the final credits roll. Gilliam has directed several such films, but Time Bandits is one of his best.

The journey begins in 11-year-old Kevin’s (Craig Warnock) bedroom when a horseman from another dimension gallops through his wardrobe and then disappears without a trace. On the following night, Kevin is joined by six dwarfs (led by the terrific David Rappaport) with a very special map that shows them how to time travel. From his room, they open up a giant hole and head to a different dimension, with Kevin right behind them. While moving through time, the dwarfs steal whatever they like and try to have a good time.

Eventually, however, the owner of the map, the Supreme Being, appears and warns the dwarfs to return it. They ignore him and continue their cosmic journey until the powerful Evil (David Warner, The Omen) also becomes interested in their precious possession. Not realizing that they are closely watched from above, the dwarfs foolishly enter Evil’s dark castle.

The film is shot in a manner that makes it easy to enjoy by children and adults. On one hand, Gilliam arranges for Kevin and the dwarfs to meet the likes of Robin Hood (truly fantastic John Cleese), Napoleon (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and King Agamemnon of ancient Greece (Sean Connery) in a series of hilarious episodes in which he effectively brushes aside all sorts of popular beliefs. On the other hand, the film also successfully introduces some surprisingly serious observations about technology and the role it could play in the future. (Considering the fact that Time Bandits was completed in 1981, it is surprising to see how appropriate many of these observations were).

The cast is fantastic, but it is the emphasis on detail and the outstanding designs that truly leave a lasting impression. As is the case with Brazil, Gilliam’s imagination runs wild, and many of the film’s most dramatic sequences have to be seen to believed. The final third in particular, where Kevin and the dwarfs enter Evil’s castle, is quite spectacular. The use of light, shadow, and a variety of different colors to create a unique futuristic Gothic environment is very effective.

Time Bandits was lensed by cinematographer Peter Biziou (Alan Parker’s Pink Floyd The Wall, Jim Sheridan’s In the Name of the Father).

The film’s wonderful soundtrack was created by Mike Moran, who co-wrote the legendary duet Barcelona. Freddie Mercury and the great Spanish opera diva Montserrat Caballe recorded the song for the 1992 Olympics opening ceremony.

In 1982, Time Bandits earned five Saturn Awards nominations, including Best International Film, Best Director, and Best Special Effects (Jon Bunker).

Time Bandits 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of Time Bandits is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".

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

Nearly a decade ago, Criterion produced this Blu-ray release of Time Bandits, which was sourced from a 2K master struck from the film's original camera negative in 2013. (In the United Kingdom, Arrow Video used the 2K master to produce this release as well). The upcoming 4K Blu-ray release/Blu-ray combo pack is sourced from a brand new 4K master that was struck from the film's original camera negative and supervised by Terry Gilliam. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be seen with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision.

I did some extensive comparisons with the previous Blu-ray release, which offered an outstanding presentation of the film. I think that the 4K makeover offers a superior presentation of the film, but primarily because the move to native 4K expands the color gamut and dynamic range of the visuals. If I had to focus strictly on delineation, clarity, depth, and even contrast and evaluate them individually, I would have to say that in many areas they are practically identical to those observed in 1080p. In native 4K, in some darker areas, delineation and depth certainly can appear superior, but the previous Blu-ray release can perform exceptionally well if upscaled to 4K. So, the point I wish to make very clear is this: in direct comparison, the superiority of the 4K presentation is revealed through a combination of small improvements that vary according to the material, and in one way or another they have something to do with the wider color gamut and dynamic range of the visuals. (I suspect that in 1080p the most noticeable improvements will be in the saturation levels of the new color grade). I think that folks with very large screens will spots improvements in two other areas as well. The 4K makeover has superior density levels and several areas with notable grain fluctuations look 'tighter' now. (The darker footage in the final segment has a few good examples). The Dolby Vision grade balances all kinds of different darker nuances beautifully and gives the visuals a very attractive cinematic quality. I do not think that this particular quality is reproduced in 1080p, but the ability of Blu-ray to do so is extremely limited. The entire film looks immaculate.

Time Bandits 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

If there is something new that was done on the LPCM 2.0 track, I could not tell. On the previous Blu-ray release, there is an excellent LPCM 2.0 track that was remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm magnetic track, and I think that this release uses it again. While viewing the film in native 4K, I could not hear anything that was different to report here.

Time Bandits 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam, coscreenwriter and actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock also appeared on Criterion's first DVD release of Time Bandits. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1997.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam, coscreenwriter and actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock also appeared on Criterion's first DVD release of Time Bandits. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1997.

• Trailer - original trailer for Time Bandits. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• Creating the Worlds of Time Bandits - in this video piece, production designer Milly Burns and costume designer James Acheson explain how the different period costumes for the time bandits were created. (Some of the content also appears in interviews on the Arrow Video release). Original drawings and sketches are included and compared to the actual clothes seen in the film. The new piece is narrated by film writer David Morgan. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Terry Gilliam and Peter von Bagh - presented here is a filmed conversation between Terry Gilliam and film scholar Peter von Bagh. The American director explains what inspired him to shoot the film, what it was like growing up in Minnesota (and why he does not remember the local cinema), how the work of different directors and actors influenced him (there is an excellent observation about the films of Federico Fellini), and discusses his work as a cartoonist, his frustration with the socio-political environment in America during the '60s, the casting of Time Bandits, the shooting process, etc. The conversation was filmed at the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankyla, Finland, in 1998. In English, not subtitled. (80 min).

• Shelley Duvall - presented here is an excerpt from a 1981 episode of NBC's Tomorrow show in which Shelley Duvall discusses her contribution to Time Bandits. The American actress also quickly addresses her work in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining as well as some of her roles in Robert Altman's films (Brewster McCloud, Nashville). In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Stills Gallery - a gallery of rare behind-the-scenes still from the shooting of Time Bandits (1080p).

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam, coscreenwriter and actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock also appeared on Criterion's first DVD release of Time Bandits. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1997.

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic David Sterritt.

Time Bandits 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you are a fan of Terry Gilliam's work, you have to admit that you are being spoiled. It feels like every couple of months you are getting a stunning 4K Blu-ray release of a beloved Gilliam film. Where is the 4K Blu-ray release of Brazil? I am convinced it is coming, so start looking for the perfect spot for it on your shelf. What about Time Bandits, how does it look after it was redone in 4K? While I still think that the previous Blu-ray release offers an outstanding presentation of the film, the 4K Blu-ray performs even better. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.