Heath Ledger

A man who is immortal tries to save the world through imagination.

This review comes with a few warnings, including spoiliers. 1. If you do not enjoy Terry Gilliam's flights of fantasy movies, you will not like it. 2. If you are going to see it to see a lot of Heath Ledger, you will not like it. 3. If you have the courage to open your mind widely as your imagination will take you, you will like it regardless of the two mentioned statements.

I must admit I love Terry Gilliam movies. He has the most incredible quality to morph the antiquated with the modern and this movie is not exception, in fact in the specific area it is his masterpiece. A wandering band of actors, accompanied by the main speciticle Dr. Parnassus, ride in a ramshackled, two-story, horse drawn cart throught the present day England. Gilliam is a master at juxtposition.

Dr. Parnassuss has a single, but world changing talent, he can lead you into the depths of you dreams and save your soul from the devil at the same time. The problem is that in this current jaded society no one believes in either, so they don't see the point; that and his show's presentation is lost in the middle ages. So, let's just say business isn't so good.

The other important, delicious detail to this very twisted tale, is that it is a tale of temptation (another thing society doesn't care about, because we pretty much give into all of ours). It is an old-fashioned "deal with the devil" story. I personally love these tales. They expose humanity at its best and worst and so does this film.

Let me just say this, Heath Ledger was a visionary. He saw this movie for all it's potential and fantasty and signed up. I applaude his choice, and so do Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrel who help complete the film. All of these actors payed a loving tribute to their friend and did a wonderful job. Most people, sadly, may not just "get it", but if you believe in the power of imagination you will.