Revitalizing “Time Bandits” with Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi
LONDON: If there’s anyone who can inject new life into Terry Gilliam’s 1981 surrealist comedy film “Time Bandits,” it’s Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi (the masterminds behind “What We Do in the Shadows”) and Iain Morris (co-creator of “The Inbetweeners”). These filmmakers know how to balance between playful fun and sheer silliness, and with Apple TV+ backing them, expect none of the low-tech effects or plywood sets from the original movie. However, some argue that the Eighties aesthetic is what makes Gilliam’s film so endearing.
With 10 episodes to enjoy instead of a 90-minute movie, Clement, Waititi, and Morris have the freedom to let their creative imaginations run wild in this remake series. They capture the essence of post-Monty Python, Gilliam-esque humor as they poke fun at historical figures throughout the ages.