TIME BANDITS Was...The Rare Quirky 1980s Movie That Was A Box Office Hot When It Was Released

[@fleatronic4062]

You had me from “this movie holds up like a frickin Roman aqueduct”

[@The_Burning_Sensation]

"How long have you been a robber?" "Four foot one." "Good lord. Jolly good!" I love how disturbing and dark this movie is, though it seems like it's aimed at kids. Feels like one of those old fairy tales.

[@yaboipele34]

Rich in the 80’s meant both your parents had full-time jobs lol Zack, if you’re going to watch a Hayao Miyazaki movie, I suggest “Princess Mononoke”. It’s an absolutely breathtaking film

[@robj2558]

Wait... Zack liked a movie that I like?? Does this mean I like bad movies?! 😱

[@VespoLiveGaming]

If you like Terry Gilliam, review "Brazil" the movie is completely insane, you'll either love it or hate it.

[@Arassar]

Brazil is fantastic. Some of the best production design in the history of movies.

[@Dke721]

In the age of 1984 like dystopia's, Brazil was the best. Public enemy number one was a repairman who made unauthorized repairs. Brilliant.

[@lcdrfish8633]

Both these movies are part of a trilogy focusing on the power of "imagination" - part 3 is "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen". "Time Bandits" is about being a kid, "Brazil" is about an adult, and Adv of BM is about old age. All of them have some excellent points to make even if some bits are sloppier than others. Some of the visuals in Adv of BM are absolutely stunning - either Robin Williams on the moon, or the Baron dancing in midair with Venus (Uma Thurman's first role). Can't wait to see Brazil for the first time on the big screen at Alamo tomorrow. Terry Gilliam is definitely one of my favorite directors even if some of his flicks are a bit more of an acquired taste.

[@davidwatts3048]

Time Bandits was way better imo

[@ravissary79]

Or like me you'll love and hate it equal amounts.

[@surfohio1173]

Red Dawn was the reason for PG 13 Time Bandits was a great 80's movie, it's also the reason I have never purchased a toaster oven because pure evil is in every single toaster oven.

[@maxfish4270]

Nope. Temple of Doom was the reason PG-13 was created. Then Red Dawn was the first to actually get it.

[@jppotts31]

I thought it was gremlins that started the whole pg13. I do remember red dawn to be the first that actually got the rating.

[@ksss1638]

@@jppotts31 It was in fact BOTH Temple of Doom and Gremlins that brought on the PG-13 rating.

[@davidwatts3048]

Temple of Doom; confirmed

[@jppotts31]

@@davidwatts3048 damn, i guess 30 years can fuzz up your memory.

[@cumberbatchpepperpot]

Time bandits came out the same year as Under the Rainbow and it made my childhood brain think that dwarves were the coolest people in the world.

[@adventureindustries]

"Mom! Dad! Don't touch that! It's Evil!" *Mom and Dad immediately touch Evil* BAM!

[@jculver1674]

That ending was freaking traumatizing. I know the parents were dicks and all, but...damn.

[@cyanidejunkie]

Evil: Slugs! He created slugs. They can't hear! They can't speak! They can't operate machinery! I mean, are we not in the hands of a lunatic?... If I were creating a world, I wouldn't mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight o'clock, day one!

[@maxfish4270]

We can turn beans... into peas!

[@rodolfotonelli3689]

Then a big flash lightening goes off and one of his workers yells with pain. Evil with no expression turns: Sorry.

[@warzardtheboredtimelord2865]

Love this movie. Fun fact: Some of the"awesome dudes" in the movie were in the Star Wars trilogy.

[@code-chimp]

I know that the one smiling by the corner of the map (wearing a colander) is Kenny Baker - the guy to operated R2D2. The leader David Rappaport used to have a television series called "The Wizard" I enjoyed as a kid.

[@xenofett7008]

Yep most of the "awesome dudes" were indeed in the original Star Wars trilogy.

[@code-chimp]

"An invisible force field - so that's what one looks like"

[@MrCarlosj0]

When i was a kid i was jumping up and down in happiness when my parents bought Time Bandits on VHS. I fucking love this movie as much as i love Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

[@SamJawBone]

Terry Gilliam is my favorite director, and Time Bandits is right up there for me.

[@marvalice3455]

Evil's horse headed minions were terrifying

[@licmir3663]

Please, review Red Dawn (the 80s version). My older brother always told me about the film, but I ignored thinking it would be a B movie. It actually takes itself very seriously and it’s quite good, despite some flaws. And Predator (the original)!!

[@Llamagigante]

The best part of a Zack video are the parts between the topic.

[@davidwatts3048]

I do love the mental wondering lol

[@FutureDeadpool]

We had HBO and I saw this 100.times plus other movies. And Fraggle rock lol

[@larryphilby4918]

Linen was commonly used for technical drawings and maps, as it was durable.

[@smithryansmith]

im glad you mentioned the cage escape. i was just thinking about what a brilliant scene that was. its rare that a film can be both humourous and action packed. this is one. (Big trouble in little china is the other)

[@ainternet239]

smithryansmith The cage scene is one of my favorites, too

[@AllyStevenSeveri]

Does anybody remember the horror movie "Return To Oz"?

[@larryphilby4918]

Did you notice that Evil's palace is made of gigantic Lego bricks?

[@xenofett7008]

Which begs the question. Is the whole movie just in the kids imagination?

[@nicospatti1934]

Terry Gilliam is an extremely underrated director. Time Bandits is as fun to watch today as it was when I first saw it in the nineties.

[@grimjim666]

Love me some Terry Gilliam Baron Munchausen is also a great fantasy one. My fav by him though has to be The Fisher King with Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams theres something about that film that draws me in and uplifts me.

[@kevkus]

Awesome creative genius that should be timeless

[@code-chimp]

I like New York in June!

[@deliusmyth5063]

code-chimp How about you?

[@Echo4Bravo]

Before they rob Napoleon, they go back stage. Then the dude hands sheet music to "Me and my Shadow" to the 2 guys in the orchestra. That song was written in 1929. What midget back stage wrote out the sheet music in a couple seconds so they could perform it in front of Napoleon. Terry was a genius👍

[@Gotz_the_iron_hand]

Hey! Those starving orphans in Ethiopia can get their own HBO!!!

[@frankmiller4550]

Anyone remember "The Rescue" from '88. Its about miltary brats who rescue their fathers from a North Korean military prison. It's impossible to find a copy because its Disney and has children using guns.

[@adamhofman5469]

One of my favorite movies of all time. I remember watching it as a kid, and loving it. Hasn't aged a day in my mind. My only qualm is the final battle. They bring back all these soldiers from different time periods, all of which fail to do anything to Evil. Only for him to get zapped by the supreme being and just instantly die. A bit of an anticlimactic ending, but still a favorite.

[@deestttone791]

I despise most non-MontyPython movies by Terry Gilliam. And I also first saw this film on HBO. That said, it's my favorite film by Gilliam, and I falsely assumed that it didn't make any money - it seemed so damned quirky! Favorite moment is Evil's skeleton horse demons.

[@andino1977]

Punching the poor in the face was the funniest part of the movie.

[@dantedorran7715]

The best thing about movies from this time period is that they were so packed with details. The sets, characters, environments, plots...they were all loaded down to breaking point with fun extras that wouldn't hurt you if you missed them but felt glorious if you did pick up on them. The way Kevin's parents spend their entire time in the movie sitting useless and bored in front of the TV whining about commercials for appliances that will save time- "this one can do blankety-blank in 8 seconds but ours takes 12 seconds! And the Smiths down the street just got one that can do it in 6 seconds!" -is a perfect example. Time Bandits is a movie filled with non-referential Easter eggs, little callbacks to reality set in a silly fantasy premise. I think the movie is loaded with nostalgia- it makes me really miss a time when people that make movies actually TRIED.

[@cultfilmvideo6936]

One of my earliest movie memories & one of Terry Gilliam's only hits.

[@kerry7932]

Nodding earnestly, brushing aside a tear.

[@Matt6Bahr]

Remember seeing this on early HBO and fell in love with it. My uncle had it on the 12’ laserdiscs. Seen it a few dozen times. The whole Napoleon scene with them dancing is the best. Really good movie. “Stinking Kevin!”

[@BjornKuma]

You're on a heck of run rolling thru all my favorites! This film is incredible. And then you end by mentioning Spirited Away... thanks for all the awesome content, like a one man entertainment industry!

[@darthvaderginsburg4694]

Ab-so-lute-ly LOVE this flick! Watched it in theaters, owned it in VHS, yes, VHS, and own it on DVD now!

[@israelgarcia1437]

Love this movie. Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Howls Moving Castle are probably Miyazaki's best movies.

[@johnbranson3298]

This is still a brilliant movie that I still watch today. David Warner is so much fun.

[@nardopolo7407]

Sean Connery being in it was terry Giliams desire but he had no expectation of it until some where Conery got the script and contacted him.

[@DavidBrooke99]

I've been saying, 'visual noise' for a long time. Especially when it comes to modern Star Wars!

[@DarthMerlin]

Don't touch it, it's evil!

[@totenkray]

"Lasers, 8 o'clock, day one.

[@builditonce]

Saw it in the theater...loved the hell out of it. Now, keep off of my lawn, Zack.

[@thepayne7862]

You mentioned my favorite Peter Weller movie and the movie I wish got a sequel Buckaroo Banzai.

[@aningankenojuak6689]

"I think it has something to do with free will." David Lloyd penciled the Marvel Comics adaptation of Time Bandits. I'll be the lone oddball to recommend Gilliam's "Jabberwocky." And you can't go wrong with Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, or The Castle of Cagliostro.

[@rokkkrinn2793]

Great review, Zach. I loved this film as a child. Always wanted to be Kevin. Glad to see it hold up. You ever see the Adventures of Baron Munchausen? That movie rocked!

[@vonVile]

Zack, I was going to suggest Time Bandits the other day. When it came out I watched it at least a dozen times in the theaters. Everytime my family went to the drive-in and stay all night I would leave the car to where Time Bandits was playing.

[@math_7911]

One of my favorite movie as a kid.

[@eljayess]

Not everything from the past is better , just comics , movies , cars , guns , books ,chairs , tables , houses , tools , ect, ect ,.....

[@oisinoc]

This was the first film on video that I saw, my uncle had rented a VCR and all the kids in our extended family assembled in his living room to watch an actual... video, it was a big deal back then.

[@segapig]

If you want to review a Miyazaki movie I highly recommend Porco Rosso. It is presented as a fairy tale about a WWI pilot that was cursed and turned in to a pig, but it is really about him dealing with his survivor's guilt after the rest of his squadron was shot down. There is a character that is the granddaughter or niece of a an airplane engineer/mechanic and she follows in his footsteps and writers for characters like The Unsellable Wasp could learn a thing or two from.

[@zedhiro6131]

I remember the Time Bandits marvel comic. Maybe you should look it up.

[@maxfish4270]

FYI Princess Mononoke is the action Miyazaki film you can watch now and Spirited Away you should watch with Diana.

[@ColorsOfOrion]

All Ghibli movies are worth a watch, even the bad ones like Tales of Earthsea. Still better that 90% of today's productiond

[@foxyshabazz]

Gilliam co-directed Holy Grail with fellow Python Terry Jones (who directed Life of Brian on his own). They took it in turns.

[@bezzlebedeviled4756]

Miyazaki movie list, view in this order: "Castle in the Sky" (AKA "Laputa"), "My Neighbor Totoro", "Kiki's Delivery Service", "Porco Rosso", "Whisper of the Heart.", "Princess Mononoke", "Spirited Away", and "Howl's Moving Castle". There are many others from Studio Ghibli, but these are "the great ones" that put everything else in the shade. I would recommend the Miyazaki-directed anime series "Future Boy Conan" before other films. How to marry a girl: Watch Ringo Starr's "Caveman" (also in 1981, one of the many reasons that 1981 is the best year for movies in history) with her. If she does laugh her ass off, do not marry her (this is an iron-clad Litmus-test). If she passes that test, then watch "Whisper of the Heart" together, and you'll know what to do at the end of the movie.

[@rodolfotonelli3689]

Great movie has a 80s kid. Loved it.

[@allenking1355]

So, with all of the 'remakes' happening these days,... Interesting that the REAL classics never, and shouldn't be remade! But i would absolutely pay BIG money for a remaster in HD for this movie!

[@LifeIsForEmos8D]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've got some free time for a fun movie like this so great you uploaded this when you did. I'm excited for your next review. I'm not big on Hayao (/hi-yoh/) Miyazaki films but I think you'd be interested in Princess Mononoke. Its one of the best animated films I've watched.

[@henrymach]

I have to rewatch this movie ASAP

[@FutureDeadpool]

I loved this movie when I was a kid!

[@walloweem4196]

Awesome villain, awesome people, awesome movie.

[@hunnicuttp]

Warwick Davis liked the term short actors or little people in the Willow anniversary edition. His commentary his worth the buy.

[@lemmys.kelton8183]

BASED ZACK POINTS OUT HOW FUCKING GOOD THIS MOVIE IS

[@romegavadquez6310]

Things are better because their better. So true so true

[@GartheKnightReturns]

Box Office Hot? I think you stuck the landing there Zachary. And this movie awesome. Its a ridiculous ride but entertaining.

[@wigsvisaggio7741]

I think he meant Hat. 🎩🐒

[@tetraquark2402]

"Return, return what you have stolen from mee!"

[@CraZY.pRIME.]

Sweet. I was thinking of this and I'm gonna do it myself

[@wastedanguish9927]

I saw this movie in Washington Pa the day after Thanksgiving in 81 with my cousins. Still don’t know what “ I must have fruit!” means. Haha. God what I would give to go back.

[@dawall3732]

Weather the next movie you watch is Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle "read the book first"! They are Japanese movies but they are based on English books.

[@Reidbynature]

David Warner is a great, underrated actor. He easily makes s grest villain. Fun fact. He was almost Freddy Krueger and there's a make-up test shot of him online.

[@davidwatts3048]

I always get David Warner mixed up with Peter Coyote lol

[@FenrirFire18]

Now I might have to rent this badboy ltr...Splatto! 🍿😎👍

[@stephenlewis2429]

I saw this movie at the theater when it first came out. I've watched it many times over the years. It never gets old. Love the George Harrison end theme song sooo good! A really fun film. Just watched it again last night the Lego bricks excellent.DO NOT REMAKE THIS EVER it's GREAT AS IS!

[@GeorgiaCav]

Never saw this all the way through, but I had the Marvel adaptation when it came out and I loved it.

[@vinceross7795]

Ok might as well do Baron Von Manchousin (however that’s spelled). You’ll love the part when the war hero is executed for showing up the other soldiers with his extreme heroism.

[@MrRourk]

Who remembers Tales of the Golden Monkey tv show?

[@victorfatalys1076]

He did wrote and directed Life of Brian and Holy Grail, and also Jabberwocky and The Meaning of Life, four classic Monty Python movies that is 😉 PS : Not to mention documentaries, spectacle and TV show, like Monthy Python's Flying Circus...

[@deliusmyth5063]

Terry Jones, in fact. Credit where credit's due.

[@robyneaton413]

Great movie, good review. I think your taste is improving Zack

[@christianhamel2700]

You convince me I will check it out today! By the way the last time i see that movie was when it got out in theater and i saw it Dubbed in french so im going to see it in is original Versions for the first time.

[@SamGuthrie1977]

I agree that knee-jerk nostalgia can be stupid. That said, I think some things in culture were objectively better in previous decades.

[@originaldarkwater]

PG-13: Almost. PG-13 was created in response to Temple of Doom rather than for it. I guess a bunch of 5 year-olds got traumatized from seeing a guy's heart get ripped out when the parents had been expecting no more violence than Star Wars or Raiders and the MPAA decided they needed something in between PG and R. The noticeably softer tone of Last Crusade has always lead me to think of that movie as "Indiana Jones: The apology".

[@Redfield70]

The movie is still surprisingly funny. However, despite the absurd parts of this film it still has incredible tension and I care about the stakes. Also, it's an extremely well made film for what it is.

[@foxyshabazz]

The guy who played Randall (David Rappaport) was on British children's TV when I was a kid, a zany show called Tiswas. I loved him in that and Time Bandits. I hear he committed suicide in the 90s. :(

[@arcburn6340]

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

[@Mr.VonStoogle]

Id really like to hear your take on The Outer Wild.

[@rcehoppe]

Excellent film man - excellent ^___^ I just hope to the powers that maybe, that they never make a sequel from this movie.

[@ryanmcamis7419]

I'd recommend Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke.

[@eljayess]

Great movie !!!

[@byronlivingstone8320]

Great wee movie

[@NDTexan]

Reference at 4:20....Oxfam fundraisers and Sally Struthers feed the hungry infomercials in the 80s? For a guy who hates nostalgia, you sure do drop the references like hot potatoes, lol

[@gordonguano]

Does anyone else find it a little creepy the way every Miyazaki movie is about little girls coming of age?

[@Srfear]

Ok, now do “Krull” and “Grace of the Fireflies”. The first because it’s a terrible movie with an amazing cast, the second because if that movie hurt me, and it did, it’s going to hurt everyone else, too.

[@aningankenojuak6689]

"Grave of the Fireflies" is a devastatingly good animated film. It really helps to see that & "Porco Rosso" first before watching "The Wind Rises."

[@johndoe-hr6vp]

Have you seen the Adventures of Baron Munchausan?

[@nom_nom_nom_]

i remember it being fun but the end was weird AF

[@kevinstreetgaming]

I still don't have hbo!

[@jeremyridinger2753]

Hey Zack you should check out Princess Mononoke. Please.It’s fuckin pretty bad ass.I guarantee you’ll love it.Please!! EXCELSIOR!!!

[@dobbinmog]

Yes Terry Gilliam is a God, so to those not classified as Anglo-American, - "You're welcome!" 🐴😸🤣😎

[@andino1977]

Amazon Prime...Watch the slumber party massacre or sorority babes in the slimeball bowl-o-rama. 80s horror movies with babes are the best...nothing makes sense. Naked chicks, and the end just ends. All your friends are dead at the end but you just act like nothing happens and walk off into the sunset.

[@ColorsOfOrion]

If you enjoyed Time Bandits, watch The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Brazil, the 2nd one of the trilogy, was too much for me and didn't enjoy it. Time Bandits is good, but it was too quick at the beggining

[@juliovictormanuelschaeffer8370]

Looks like nostalgia is getting you, Zack. Don't feel bad about it, since it's getting truer nowadays.

[@asderathoslchaim7093]

It's stupid to vote str8 ticket, unless there's no better choices... If you're just voting how the party tells you yer not doing your duty to discern what ballot measures are & what candidates are like. DYOH.

[@adamcz3183]

Box office hot...😒