This is the long version, and the shorter version is better
Added 2/13/2010
Brazil was originally released in two versions: the 142 minute European theatrical cut, and the 131 minute American theatrical cut. Terry Gilliam approved both. Then there was the 94 minute "Love Conquers All" version shown on American television, which everyone agrees is dreadful. Brazil is one of my favorite films. I've seen the 131 minute cut about ten times, and the Criterion "director's cut", which is closely based on the European theatrical cut, two or three times, and I think the shorter version is better. We should learn from George Lucas that it is not necessarily good for the director to get everything he wants. The stuff added to the long cut is not that good, not necessary for the plot, and drags down the pacing. Another difference is that in the shorter cut, in the final shot, Sam is surrounded by clouds. It doesn't change the story but I think it's a better presentation of the ending. And there's one bit that's only in the shorter version: when Jim Broadbent slaps the plastic over Katherine Helmond's face, Sam says (ironically) "My God, it works."
The item description says that the 1998 DVD is 131 minutes (or 132). This is incorrect. All DVD's are the long version, although the 1998 stand-alone DVD might be slightly different from the one in the Criterion collection. The 131 minute version was released only on VHS and videodisc.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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'Brazil', beyond fantasy or satire...
Added 1/1/2010
Seems to me that you enter the world of 'Brazil' or you don't, and that's not a critique of the viewer or an elitist snub. But if you do check-in, if you buy the fantasy, some aspect of it might take up residence in a corner of your mind: a word, a mental image, or a quote you love but can't apply to anything. If you're one of the legion who don't connect with it, you're likely to walk away irritated.
Brazil, like a well cut gemstone, has facets that reflect differently in the eye of each viewer. The story isn't oriented toward past, present or future, because it belongs to all three. Brazil is Orwellian, albeit heavily laced with absurdity and inky dark humor. The world depicted has aspects of our own, but with an odd cross-breeding of technologies and fashions that keep it in some parallel universe where all our worst fears and anxieties about society have come true. In it we observe the life of Sam Lowrey (Jonathan Pryce), an awkward everyman who instinctively craves more than his impersonal and bureaucratic world has to offer. He bristles at the often suggested path of personal ambition, because it brings little more than a deeper trip into the cold labyrinth. Instead of maintaining his designated place in the machinery of society, he strikes out in his own timid way, in search of personal meaning and passion. In doing so, he enters into another kind of labyrinth altogether.
Brazil is another venture into the sub-genre of absurdist-fantasy by its master, Terry Gilliam. Catchy as the label of absurdist-fantasy might be, there are many more flavors in the mix. Gilliam seems to enjoy amazing and entertaining us with one hand, while delivering commentary with the other...in this instance, commentary about our species that's anything but light or humorous. Don't be distracted by the occasional visual effect fashioned from craft paper or a trinket found in the trash; the budget was practically nonexistent. Brazil is a grand toast to story telling, interpretation, and the brassy bravado of imagination.
So far as the quality of the disc is concerned: it's hands down, the best currently available. This is the single disc edition from Criterion's 3-disc opus, and doesn't contain any of the extra features that are on the other 2 discs. But all in all, if it's the originally intended director's cut you're after, without bells and whistles, this is the way to go. Hopefully we'll see a Blu-ray edition some day; until then, this is as good as she gets.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Soft totalitarianism
Added 12/23/2009
Filled with startling and grotesque visuals and dark, surreal humour, 'Brazil' (made in 1985) is highly prophetic in its portrayal of soft totalitarianism and the way it would develop in Western countries like England; more so even than '1984', which portrays an overtly Communist society. 'Brazil' is of greater relevance now than when it was made, given that the nanny state is growing stronger day by day. Could even Gilliam have envisioned the pornographic body scanners recently installed at Heathrow Airport?
It is relevant, too, in its depiction of highly sophisticated technology which nonetheless keeps breaking down (the machines often appear alive in a demented way), with one technological glitch leading to the arrest of an innocent man for terrorism.
'Brazil' is brilliant satire, but offers no answers. In the end, the central character escapes only through his dreams, while in reality the State remains triumphant. This begs the question - are dreams more real than 'reality'?
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Dark Future
Added 9/24/2009
Nice futuristic work of the future where egocentrism and personal greed had taken absurd heights.
A low profile top official has his life turned upside down with emotions experienced from a different epoch.
Good work is a bit old-fashioned as too much similar was later created with an advanced audio/visual technology.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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The first time I watched this video was during a tour in Afghanistan and I saw the cover and my intrest was peaked. I enjoy watching a wide range of movies. After watching for the first time Brazil instantly jumped to one of my top 10 all time favorites. If you are the type of person who only watches blockbusters then don't watch this movie and comlain about it. This movie is for someone that knows a great movie when they see it. But for everyone else watch this movie and enjoy it. watch the Love Conquers All edition first so you can see how bad movie studios butcher films when you sit down and watch the Directer's cut.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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This is the long version, and the shorter version is better
Added 2/13/2010
Brazil was originally released in two versions: the 142 minute European theatrical cut, and the 131 minute American theatrical cut. Terry Gilliam approved both. Then there was the 94 minute "Love Conquers All" version shown on American television, which everyone agrees is dreadful. Brazil is one of my favorite films. I've seen the 131 minute cut about ten times, and the Criterion "director's cut", which is closely based on the European theatrical cut, two or three times, and I think the shorter version is better. We should learn from George Lucas that it is not necessarily good for the director to get everything he wants. The stuff added to the long cut is not that good, not necessary for the plot, and drags down the pacing. Another difference is that in the shorter cut, in the final shot, Sam is surrounded by clouds. It doesn't change the story but I think it's a better presentation of the ending. And there's one bit that's only in the shorter version: when Jim Broadbent slaps the plastic over Katherine Helmond's face, Sam says (ironically) "My God, it works."
The item description says that the 1998 DVD is 131 minutes (or 132). This is incorrect. All DVD's are the long version, although the 1998 stand-alone DVD might be slightly different from the one in the Criterion collection. The 131 minute version was released only on VHS and videodisc.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
'Brazil', beyond fantasy or satire...
Added 1/1/2010
Seems to me that you enter the world of 'Brazil' or you don't, and that's not a critique of the viewer or an elitist snub. But if you do check-in, if you buy the fantasy, some aspect of it might take up residence in a corner of your mind: a word, a mental image, or a quote you love but can't apply to anything. If you're one of the legion who don't connect with it, you're likely to walk away irritated.
Brazil, like a well cut gemstone, has facets that reflect differently in the eye of each viewer. The story isn't oriented toward past, present or future, because it belongs to all three. Brazil is Orwellian, albeit heavily laced with absurdity and inky dark humor. The world depicted has aspects of our own, but with an odd cross-breeding of technologies and fashions that keep it in some parallel universe where all our worst fears and anxieties about society have come true. In it we observe the life of Sam Lowrey (Jonathan Pryce), an awkward everyman who instinctively craves more than his impersonal and bureaucratic world has to offer. He bristles at the often suggested path of personal ambition, because it brings little more than a deeper trip into the cold labyrinth. Instead of maintaining his designated place in the machinery of society, he strikes out in his own timid way, in search of personal meaning and passion. In doing so, he enters into another kind of labyrinth altogether.
Brazil is another venture into the sub-genre of absurdist-fantasy by its master, Terry Gilliam. Catchy as the label of absurdist-fantasy might be, there are many more flavors in the mix. Gilliam seems to enjoy amazing and entertaining us with one hand, while delivering commentary with the other...in this instance, commentary about our species that's anything but light or humorous. Don't be distracted by the occasional visual effect fashioned from craft paper or a trinket found in the trash; the budget was practically nonexistent. Brazil is a grand toast to story telling, interpretation, and the brassy bravado of imagination.
So far as the quality of the disc is concerned: it's hands down, the best currently available. This is the single disc edition from Criterion's 3-disc opus, and doesn't contain any of the extra features that are on the other 2 discs. But all in all, if it's the originally intended director's cut you're after, without bells and whistles, this is the way to go. Hopefully we'll see a Blu-ray edition some day; until then, this is as good as she gets.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Soft totalitarianism
Added 12/23/2009
Filled with startling and grotesque visuals and dark, surreal humour, 'Brazil' (made in 1985) is highly prophetic in its portrayal of soft totalitarianism and the way it would develop in Western countries like England; more so even than '1984', which portrays an overtly Communist society. 'Brazil' is of greater relevance now than when it was made, given that the nanny state is growing stronger day by day. Could even Gilliam have envisioned the pornographic body scanners recently installed at Heathrow Airport?
It is relevant, too, in its depiction of highly sophisticated technology which nonetheless keeps breaking down (the machines often appear alive in a demented way), with one technological glitch leading to the arrest of an innocent man for terrorism.
'Brazil' is brilliant satire, but offers no answers. In the end, the central character escapes only through his dreams, while in reality the State remains triumphant. This begs the question - are dreams more real than 'reality'?
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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