【電影簡介】

幾世紀前，帕納索斯博士（Christopher Plummer 飾）還是一名德高望重的僧侶，他在與世隔絕的荒山野嶺中講述永恒的故事。某天，魔鬼尼克（Tom Waits 飾）不請自來。在他的引誘下，帕納索斯與魔鬼作賭注，最終如愿得到永恒的生命。

時間到了現在，博士帶著由女兒瓦蓮蒂娜（莉莉·科爾 Lily Cole 飾）、青年安東（Andrew Garfield 飾）、侏儒波西（Verne Troyer 飾）組成的奇幻馬戲團周游各地。就在女兒將滿16歲時，尼克再次出現。原來，博士曾愛上一個女子（Lily Cole 飾），但永恒的生命卻沒有永恒的青春，為了和愛人廝守，他又和魔鬼作了一次愚蠢的賭注，而他恢復青春的代價就是要將第一個孩子獻給魔鬼。踐約的日子越來越近，煩惱的博士再與魔鬼作賭，只要他最先收集到5個靈魂便可保住女兒。這時，落魄的東尼（希斯·萊杰 Heath Ledger 飾）適時出現……

【音頻文本】

Two years ago, director Terry Gilliam's production of the movie "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" nearly went up in smoke. The filming was disrupted by the death of lead actor Heath Ledger, until Johnny Depp,Colin Farrell and Jude Law came to the rescue and took up the recasting of Ledger's role. But even this powerful line-up falls short of saving the film from becoming a difficult one for viewers.

With a fondness for magic realism, Terry Gilliam is known for an overdose of imaginative fantasies in his films. If there is ever a way to make one of his films more illusive than what it already is, he will not hesitate to do so. Some critics say the director is represented in this film by Doctor Parnassus the magician, who appeals to his audience by channeling their imagination. But I would add that you might also finda hint of Gilliam in the treacherous devil Nick who laughs at and makes fun of the rigid and boring DoctorParnassus. The doctor, a duty-bound monk that has survived millenniums, has no clue about how to attract his audience, while the devil could easily seduce the mortals. Talk about Gilliam's confidence in his skills.

Another thing that spoils the film is the repeated reference to Heath Ledger. As the actor's final work, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is dedicated to him. You would think that Ledger's first appearance in the film as a hanging man pays enough tribute, but no, the director decides to hang him once again. A tolerant viewer may swallow this up, but to me, this looked like an attempt to profit on Ledger's death, anda failed one at that.

The last straw that breaks a careful viewer's back has to do with Ledger's death. In his absence, three ofhis friends come in to fill his place. Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law may be excellent actors in other films individually, but squeezed into one piece, they pose a challenge to the director. Unfortunately, Gilliam is not able to connect each of the segments played by the different actors, so the film practically staggers to the end.

A Terry Gilliam film like this could be a difficult one even if Ledger had lived long enough to finish it. Ledger's untimely death just made things worse. But worst of all was Gilliam's decision to go on with the movie. Let's just say he has too much confidence in his own skills but lacks the ability to save the sinking ship. On a scale from one to ten, I give this one a five.

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