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This is not going to be a review of the film, as I'll assume anyone looking at this version already has a working familiarity with the story. Rather, I'll just briefly go over what I think of it as a product. The Criterion series is about as good as it gets for film fans in home viewing, and this set is not exception. This set includes both Gilliam's final version of the film (somehow the only version I've ever seen!) and the controversial Sid Sheinberg (sp?) version seen on television in the US. Both include commentary, the former from Gilliam and the latter from 'Gilliam expert David Morgan'; I'm listening to the Gilliam right now, and haven't even watched the other version yet. The second disc is all bonus features, with two insightful films about Brazil, one actually contemporary to the production of the film. Unfortunately, a majority of the Production Notebook is textual, so is more of a read than a view. Still very informative, but interviews and film would've been better in my book. The package design is fairly lovely, although it's turned a little around from the usual in order to facilitate a little trick they wanted of the front cover of the first disc showing through the face of the box, while still keeping the spines facing out of the hole. Does that make sense? Nice box, anyway, and the design on the disc menus, etc., is also very nice and appropriate to the film. The only real drawback to this set is that the first disc (the Gilliam version) was not programmed for today's players & TVs. I watched the film on a great home cinema system, but there wasn't any way I could get the black bars on the sides to go away without brutally stretching the image! This is clearly no fault of Criterion's, but it is a major flaw in watching the film on a proper system today. Absolutely worth the price of admission, but hopefully they'll reprogram the discs at some point to bring them up to date with modern equipment.Read full review
Granted this is an older version of an older film, but, it is a great version on ALL counts. This 3 disc set has Gilliam's "full" version, as he wanted released, the alt "studio" version is included for the viewer's comparison; I much prefer the Director's Cut, but to each their own. The third disc is a treasure trove of info and talking points for this wildly inventive and beautiful film................ An absolute must have for fans of fantasy films, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Terry Gilliam 1985 Brazil motion picture is shown in its full 2 hr and 22min Criterion release and it is a work of great camera shots and great acting and brilliant film directing and editing. It’s hard to believe this movie was made 34 years ago. It’s Gilliam’s masterpiece.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
A brilliant film from one of the great Monty Python writers, Terry Gilliam; it explores in sometimes very funny scenes a dystopia like no other we've ever seen--yet there is a love story.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
When I saw Brazil at the theater back in the mid 80's I had no idea that the movie was a battle ground between director Terry Gilliam & U.S. distributor Universal. Long released (by another company) in Europe, Universal thought the movie was too long & too grim. The director's cut on disc one of this DVD box set is 142 minutes long and it is GREAT! The closest thing to it I ever saw was a 131 minute VHS tape I bought in the 90's. Disc two is contains a multi-chapter production notebook, a 30 minute promo film from 1985 titled: "What is Brazil", and a 1996 Criterion produced 56 feature titled: "The Battle of Brazil". The third disc presents the 94 minute "Love Conquers All" version of Brazil released by the studio, so in this set you get to see the director's version; the Studio's version; & a documentary about the struggle between the two sides. Universal saw "Brazil" as an Art-House movie which would not be popular enough to make lots of money. They wanted to take "Brazil" more into the main stream. If you know anything about Terry Gilliam's movies you should know that they are dark, creative, funny & Not main stream. "Brazil" IS an art-house movie (which is what I like about it). If you don't like to think about movies - that is if you are just looking for light intertainment - stay away from Brazil (and all of Terry Gilliam's movies). For viewers who like dark and funny - Brazil is a great movie !Read full review