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Michael Palin, Max Wall, Deborah Fallender, John Le Mesurier, Annette Badland ... see more see more... , Warren Mitchell , Brenda Cowling , Harry H. Corbett , Rodney Bewes , Bernard Bresslaw , Alexandra Dane , Derek Francis , Peter Cellier , Frank Williams , John Bird , Paul Curran , Gordon Rollings , Glenn Williams , Bryan Pringle , Terry Jones , John Gorman , Julian Hough , Harold Goodwin , Tony Sympson , Simon Williams , Jerold Wells , Erik Chitty , Graham Crowden , Brian Glover , Derrick O'Connor , David Prowse , Terry Gilliam , Eric Idle , Neil Innes , Antony Carrick , Gorden Kaye

An innocent country farmer experiences a number of improbable misadventures that culminate in a battle against the titular beast in this broadly comic fantasy. The first solo outing of director Terry ... read more read more...Gilliam, who served as animator and co-director on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, returns to the medieval setting that had previously served him so well, and brings along fellow Pythonite Michael Palin for the ride as reluctant hero Dennis Cooper. Cooper's journey to defeat the fearsome Jabberwock is filled with a similar combination of traditional fairy-tale narrative and irreverent humor, which at times aims to be even raunchier than classic Python fare. But while the film is too awkward and repetitive to succeed, it does boast impressively grungy medieval sets and costumes, and flashes of the visual brilliance that would characterize Gilliam's more mature works. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Flixster Users

50% want to see it

8,443 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

12 critics

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

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DVD Release Date: October 23, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (321)

  • phubbs1
    March 8, 2011
    phubbs1
    One of Gilliams best for me with a stunning British cast of all stars, the look and feel of the film is so obviously Gilliam mixed with Monty Python which is very familiar and reassuring when you watch...you know just what your gonna get and you know its gonna be dark, grim, dirt... read morey, gory, unique and very creative. Gilliam is so good at visualising the medieval/dark ages look with his sets, costumes, use of light, use of locations, imagination and without huge amounts of money, yes it does look very much like 'Time Bandits' and 'Holy Grail' which does feel alittle overused BUT there are some many nice touches with that bleak eerie look that you just can't help but enjoy.

    The characters do feel slightly cliched and again abit too 'Python-est' but they are all fleshed out so well by the classic cast helped along with brilliantly cheap yet effective costumes and sets. The story is basic and to be honest the film does feel rather dull and strung out through the middle as we look forward to the monster slaying bit hehe allot of 'not much' going on during the middle but again...it looks cool.
    Some glorious gooey moments throughout are the highlight for me with some really nice makeup and effects using good old fashioned methods, the Jabberwocky looking cheesy yet nicely 'Burton-esq' :) Its hard to think this is 34yrs old now!! it still looks great and hasn't aged too badly, love the films name too.
  • ajv2688
    January 4, 2011
    ajv2688
    A goofy spoof of fantasy movies, from Gilliam of Monty Python, but this movie is horrible next to Holy Grail. It's got some funny jokes, but overall, it's just okay.
  • FilmFanatik
    January 1, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    It does hold that Gilliam style and is funny at times, but like all of his work, it's uneven. I enjoy having it on in the background to occupy my time, but not into it enough to call it a masterpiece.
  • pier007
    April 7, 2009
    pier007
    Uneven, but atmospheric and funny portrait of the dark ages.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 4, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    I was expecting the grandness of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"! But this is a bore.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    Has some of the moments of magic you'd expect from Gilliam, but it's patchy and nowhere near as good as The Holy Grail.
  • michaelneumann
    February 1, 2010
    michaelneumann
    Surprisingly hilarious and not at all dated humor, this Python-esque medieval farce with token Gilliam dark humor (emphasized with some nice splattery blood) is very effective at showing the Dark Ages squalor of the peasant life, achieving something very immersive that I didn't e... read morexpect from what seemed like a silly movie. There isn't much connection with any of the characters, but that doesn't make what happens any less fun.
  • Lyndaofwirral
    January 10, 2011
    Lyndaofwirral
    Sub-Python fare from Terry Gilliam featuring a couple of his fellow Pythons. Certainly of interest for completist Python fans but it's a pale shadow of Holy Grail, for example, which is its closest comparison.
  • DrLappos
    May 22, 2007
    DrLappos
    I am so into this weird sort of film and Palin is great.
  • kenscheck
    May 22, 2012
    kenscheck
    "Jabberwocky" is the first live action film directed by Terry Gilliam, without Python. Granted, some Pythons are in the film (including Michael Palin in the lead), but they aren't the writers, the stars, and in charge of the overall production. The movie is similar to Python's ... read morework at the time, specifically "Holy Grail", as it was made in between that film and "Life of Brian" and is set in the same medieval times (and it looks like at a lot of the same locations. This film is okay, but not nearly as good as what Python had already put out. I know that many of the Pythons weren't terribly happy with Gilliam as a director on "Holy Grail", as he was more focused on the visuals and not the jokes...and all the subsequent Python films were solely directed by Terry Jones. This is sort of like what "Holy Grail" might've been like had Gilliam had complete control over the Pythons...and the results pretty much showcase that the Pythons were right. Gilliam's best work was ahead of him, and when he moved slightly away from the Python style (in terms of humor) he became a much better filmmaker.

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
February 13, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Medieval pigsty-jamboree Full Review

Cole Smithey
September 30, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Terry Gilliam's visionary humor and style is on full display here.

Shane Burridge
July 2, 2007
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

The cast looks like it was recruited from a Pasolini movie, the budget-concious framing is claustrophobic, and there's way too much smoke

Rob Gonsalves
April 9, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Gilliam wins major points for so thoroughly debunking the Dark Ages. Full Review

Gerry Shamray
April 13, 2003
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

One of the Python's weakest.

Scott Weinberg
November 27, 2001
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide

Infuse the "dark ages adventure" with some mildly amusing Python-style comedy bits and you have a strong sense of what Jabberwocky is all about. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Thomas Delapa
October 21, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

Carol Cling
August 22, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • Which Monty Python actor starred in the movie Jabberwocky?  Answer »
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