I loved several parts of this film. I thought that some of the scenes were really beautiful, with a dream-like quality to them that pulled me into the "imagination" aspect. I thought that the acting was solid however, and I don't consider myself to be uneducated, I had a hard time keeping up with some of it. I am hoping that, should I watch it again, I will be able to pick up on the parts of the story that I lost in translation. I hope I will. It was visually fascinating that I really want it to win me over a bit more.I am not really a fan of Heath Ledger and its not because I've problems with the way he acted. I just haven't watched many of his films. I've only seen this, The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain and A Knight's Tale. I do think that he played his roles in these movies outstandingly well. He really seemed to commit to his characters. Everyone always mentions his portrayal of the Joker from The Dark Knight as being some of his best work and I agree he did an amazing job of giving the cartoonish Joker a much more sinister persona. I think it was awesome of the other actors stepped in to help complete his last movie and they are to be commended for doing so. My final take on this is that this is a movie that I will have to watch more than once to understand it better but it was well made and the visuals were worth the watch.

a film who seems be the question of Sphinx. because it is not only a magnificent show. or a story with deep roots in myths and fairy tales. it is a dialog with the viewer. CGI is only a tool, not very significant in that case because the purpose is the self definition of public. the manner to assume as another side of reality for beautiful images and labyrinth - story. a film who could be just charming. but it is one of rare challenges who defines options and ideas and manner to assume the life. and each of elements who build it are parts of a personal answer. imagination is the basic ingredient. but, in many moments, it is only a mask. not very comfortable but useful for rediscover the flavor of old Oriental small stories about importance of small details who defines the heart of each existence and make it real valuable.

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" tells the story about a theatrical carnival wagon passing through the city of London luring the curious and the obdurate to be a part of their world. Christopher Plummer is the titular character as dispirited, whiskered old sage claiming to be a thousand years old. He has young daughter named Valentina (Lily Cole) who's a young sprite at 16 and like a flower she's blossoming out. He is also joined by a young assistant named Anton (Andrew Garfield) who happens to be smitten by his daughter. Joining the traveling theatre is the feisty, diminutive multi- talented Percy (Verne Troyer). Hidden esoterically in the wagon is a colourful world filled with vibrant landscapes and for each guest, a nasty moral decision.Like you would expect from all Terry Gilliam films, the imagery is magical, the pacing is enthralling and the outcome is entertaining. And granted this movie is a convoluted mess, but a mess with a meaning encrypted behind the fantasy images, which might disturb some, but not me. If anyone who can give send-offs better it has be Gilliam. Though ironic at the time the deceased character depicted here dies as a way to metaphorically say goodbye to one of Hollywood's great that left us too young and too soon. Haunting image of sheer irony hangs on as we see the late Heath Ledger dead from choking on a noose located at the Thames Bridge. If that won't get a lump into your throats I don't know what will. His character Tony may look dead, but that might be an illusion, he may have had a generous side to him, but even that might even be superficial. We do know that he's been brain-washed. Ledger plays his role with charm and inventiveness and looked like a man who's heart was clearly not leaving this Earth too soon. I'm sure if was here with us today Ledger would look back and laugh all the theme- park ironies this movie makes up. But whether you liked or hated him, no one can deny that Mr. Ledger had a sly sense of humour and was never afraid to take risks. When Tony decides to be a part of Parnassus' theatrical gang, things start to heat up a bit which has been dormant for the last few centuries. When the Devil himself who know goes by the name Mr. Nick (Tom Waits, the only man who's played both God and the Devil in cinematic history "Wristcutters: A Love Story" from 2006), arrives on the scenes chaos is not too far behind. Let's just say that the good Doctor has made a deal with the Devil in that whoever can conjure five human souls to the the side of the Imaginarium will get the soul of the Doctor's pride and joy, Valentina. Tony seems to have the talent for gathering people into his dimension, and this is where Gilliam's magic stats to run amok. Though the atmosphere looks high-budgeted, but that's a misnomer. Even though Gilliam's surreal visuals are overwhelming, they do kind of remind you of the animation that was used prominently during the Monty Python days. When it came time for the Imaginarium sequences to start filming, Ledger sadly passed away and it left Gilliam to contemplate on some revisions to the script. Every time Tony steps the Doctor's Imaginarium, he changes through each appearance. An early scenario indicates that through every passage, Tony becomes a physically different person and the three Tonys played by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law showed their enthusiasm for playing such a role very poignantly. If Gilliam had his way he would have turned this awesome trio into pallbearers, but through each sequence they respectfully picked up what Ledger left off. If that's not a proper burial, I don't know what is. Although Ledger left us, but the film lives on and it kind of reminds me of the more recent films that Gilliam has been making; clunky, half-baked ideas, and over-saturated with visual eye-candy to give your pupils diabetes. I will say this though at least Verne Troyer is not utilized as an Austin Powers prop and here he's actually showcasing great acting to actually be taken seriously (no Mini Me here). The intention of this movie is that Gilliam is trying to prove that even in our modern life where reality is top priority, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" proves that we can still embody imagination like our ancestors did more frequently in the past. Gilliam truly directed this film with heart and rightfully so. This movie truly states that it's all right to shut down our reality and let our imaginations take over even if it's just for two hours. (In memory of Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

Very Much like His Peers Tim Burton and Wes Anderson, Terry Gilliam is an Artist's Artist. He is that First and Foremost and the Imagination Gilliam puts on the Screen in the Form of Surreal Imagery is Always Unique and Interesting. This One is No Different. Inside the Mind of Dr. Parnassus is where Gilliam Shines with a Landscape of the Unreal and the Viewer is Certainly Taken to a Place that Never Existed Before. That is what the Art of the Best Cinema does Best.But this is a Tedious Pleasure and is also Quite Unpleasant at Times. Terry Gilliam is a Filthy Fellow. Not Profane, just Dirty, in that the People, Places, Props, Sets, and Costumes Outside the Mind of Parannus are in Need of some Serious Scrubbing. Watching it makes You want to take a Shower. Everything is Ragged and Unhealthy Looking.The Film is a Jumble of Juxtapositions and Clutter Standing In for Complexity. By the End of the Movie the Excessive Exhilaration is Exhausting. As Stunning as it may be to Look At, there is a Feeling that You Want it All to be Over With. When it is, there Might be a Sense of Disappointment along with Relief because it Doesn't Add Up to Much.The All Star Cast, with Stand-Ins for the Early Departed Heath Ledger by His Friends as Homage, Manage to Bring the Thing Home. That Works as a Nice Eulogy but the Film doesn't Quite Work as a Whole.