For those of us not really ones to keep up with the latest mega-money Hollywood blockbusters, it's easy to lose trace of how good CGI is becoming these days. Sure, all too often it's allied to pitiful scripts and big bucks merchandising / sponsorship tie-in's, but over the last couple of weeks we have seen two stunning (actually breath-taking) trailers that have showed us what CGI can be in the hands of true genius directors.

A couple of weeks ago we watched in awe at the HD trailer of Tim Burton's forthcoming adaptation of 'Alice In Wonderland', which is has to be said visually looks as impressive as anything we've ever seen in any film before. So much so that upon it's release we'll definitely be hunting down a cinema that will be showing it in 3D. It's being released on 5th March 2010, and yes, it does feel like we are wishing our lives away waiting to watch it on the big screen.

A film that we have been waiting to see for quite some time, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, (Terry Gilliam's latest film) has also just released its official trailer. This is another trailer that we were amazed by, we of course expected nothing less the legendary lavishly immaculate Gilliam visuals, but this time the CGI seems to actually to have matched (and captured) his imagination. Check out the trailer below.



It looks to our eyes a wonderful mix of Brazil and Munchausen with some Time Bandits thrown in for good measure, which to us seems like an ideal blend.

Given the circumstances that the film was made under (that of the very sad passing of that fine actor Heath Ledger), it seems the film may receive wider audience than it might otherwise have expected. So rather than with previous Gilliam films, this may actually hit the mainstream box office rather than skirting around the arthouse circuit. This hopefully will give the money men more faith in Gilliam as the genius director that he undoubtedly is, and just perhaps, he won't have to struggle so hard and for so long to get his next features made.

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus opens in UK cinemas on 16th October. We'll be there.

Labels: Heath Ledger, Terry GIlliam, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Our cyber friends, the wonderful people at The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Fan Site (which has received much praise and assistance from Terry Gilliam himself), are running a superb competition at the moment.

In conjunction with The BFI Southbank, London, there are 5 pairs of tickets for films showing throughout August at the Terry Gilliam season at The BFI Southbank, London up for grabs in their Terry Gilliam trivia competition. So if you would like tickets for films showing during the season, enter the competition and you might just be lucky enough to scoop the prizes. Check it out soon at The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Fan Site as the competition closes on Saturday 1st August.

I would heartily recommend any fans of Terry Gilliam and Heath Ledger to check out The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Fan Site. It has a wealth of information about the forthcoming The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus film, including HD trailers and other exclusive content, it also has the seal of approval and support of Terry Gilliam himself, along with a series of competitions with some very special prizes indeed. So keep tuning in to The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Fan Site to keep up to date with all the very special things happening in support of the film's release.

Labels: Heath Ledger, Terry GIlliam, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus