{"id":10642,"date":"2010-02-05T14:06:43","date_gmt":"2010-02-05T21:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10642"},"modified":"2020-11-24T13:53:07","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T20:53:07","slug":"jabberwocky-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10642","title":{"rendered":"Jabberwocky (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It is the middle of the dark ages &#8212; ages darker than anyone had expected&#8230;&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster-200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-54463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster-684x1024.png 684w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster-180x270.png 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Poster.png 739w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring the Middle Ages, a cooper&#8217;s son (Michael Palin) sets forth into the city, where a monstrous Jabberwocky terrorizes the citizens, and the king (Max Wall) has offered the hand of his daughter (Deborah Fallender) in marriage to anyone who slays the beast.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nTerry Gilliam&#8217;s first post-Python directorial feature is a creatively conceived but ultimately enigmatic and muddled disappointment. Ostensibly based upon Lewis Carroll&#8217;s infamous <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jabberwocky.com\/carroll\/jabber\/jabberwocky.html\">nonsense poem &#8220;Jabberwocky&#8221;<\/a>, the titular creature of fantasy &#8212; with &#8220;jaws that bite&#8221; and &#8220;claws that catch&#8221; &#8212; only makes a few cameo appearances throughout the film: s\/he&#8217;s in partial view during the gruesome opening sequence and a later brief attack scene, and then shows up in disappointing full form during the climactic denouement: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-1536x861.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Jabberwocky.png 1821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The rest of the movie is an almost unbearably muck-filled journey into what Gilliam clearly posits as the *real* Middle Ages, when Britain&#8217;s citizens lived a miserable life of dung and filth:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-1536x857.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Mud.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Only those &#8220;lucky&#8221; enough to see the world through rose-colored glasses, like Michael Palin&#8217;s clueless young cooper:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-1536x862.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin-481x270.png 481w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Palin.png 1813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>who is desperately in love with the spoiled, sullen, obese daughter (Annette Badland) of a fishmonger (Warren Mitchell): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter-479x270.png 479w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Daughter.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>are able to make their way through the perils of daily life with enough nervy stupidity to survive, simply through dumb luck. Meanwhile, there&#8217;s precious little humor to be had throughout the movie, leaving one to wonder what the point of it all really is. Perhaps most frustrating is that Palin&#8217;s protagonist is an utterly hapless and accidental &#8220;hero&#8221;, never really demonstrating growth in either intelligence or bravery; his final fate is thus both undeserved and under-appreciated. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Impressively atmospheric cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-1024x560.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-1536x840.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography3.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"364\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-1024x582.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-1536x873.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2-475x270.png 475w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jabberwocky-Cinematography2.png 1813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; feel free to skip this one unless you&#8217;re a diehard Terry Gilliam fan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076221\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.nytimes.com\/movie\/review?_r=1&#038;res=9D03EFDE1E3BE334BC4E52DFB266838C669EDE\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2159&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/jabberwocky.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/jabberwocky-1977.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/77054\/jabberwocky.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It is the middle of the dark ages &#8212; ages darker than anyone had expected&#8230;&#8221; Synopsis: During the Middle Ages, a cooper&#8217;s son (Michael Palin) sets forth into the city, where a monstrous Jabberwocky terrorizes the citizens, and the king (Max Wall) has offered the hand of his daughter (Deborah Fallender) in marriage to anyone who slays the beast. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Fantasy Historical Drama Review: Terry Gilliam&#8217;s first post-Python directorial feature is a creatively conceived but ultimately&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10642\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10642"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54473,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10642\/revisions\/54473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}