It's Just Movies

— by ROBERT DeFEIS —

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) and his extraordinary Imaginarium, a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom.

Throughout the featurette, you get an amazing feel for what Terry Gilliam (the writer/director) was going for with his art. It reminds me of a mix between “The Wizard of Oz” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” It is really amazing what he has come up with for this film. There is even a giant jellyfish that has a hand at the bottom of its tentacle.

Heath Ledger played a main role in this film as Tony. Sadly, his death was halfway through the production and Terry thought that would be the end of the film. Eventually, actors Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law were cast to replace Ledger in certain scenes, portraying their new ideas of transformed versions of Ledger’s character traveling through magical realms, thus the footage shot with Ledger would remain in the film as his character’s “real-world” appearance.

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” will get a limited release on Dec. 25, 2009.

Source: Trailer Addict

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