ADDITION: (November 2014) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray: The Criterion is advertised as a 'new 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Terry Gilliam'. For the most part it looks very similar to the Arrow 1080P - but showing slightly more information in the frame edges and I found a deviation in one scene (the 7th large capture below) but I am investigating whether it is an error on our part. Essentially colors match up well with the Arrow - and the Criterion is a shade less robust but still has a strong bitrate. It looks excellent in-motion. The Criterion video is as good as you might expect.

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Audio is in the form of a linear PCM 2.0 channel stereo (original) or the option for a DTS-HD Master 5.1 bump at a healthy 4269 kbps. Both function very well with the surround bump surprising with its intensity. The original score is by Mike Moran - who has done mostly TV work but you can hear the subtleties and separations which seem very dynamic. There are optional English subtitles (sample below) on the Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Once again Arrow shine in the supplements department with plenty of new extras although, unfortunately, there is no commentary. We do get a new 20-minute interview with Terry Gilliam entitled Chasing Time Bandits. Also new is a 16-minute interview in which Michael Palin discussing co-writing and acting in Time Bandits. This piece is called "Writing the Film that Dares Not Speak its Name" and is quite interesting. More new is The Effects of Time Bandits: 15-minutes with Kent Houston, founder of the Peerless Camera Company, talking about Time Bandits' optical effects. Playing Evil is an 8-minute featurette, also new, in which actor David Warner remembers producer George Harrison and playing 'Evil'. The Costumes of Time Bandits: A new interview with costume designer James Acheson. The Look of Time Bandits is a 10-minute interview with production designer Milly Burns and From Script to Screen is a new 8.5 minute animated featurette in which Milly Burns takes us through her production notebooks, locations photographs and storyboards revealing how twentieth century Morocco was transformed into Ancient Greece. There is an original trailer, a brief Restoration Demonstration and the package contains a Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic James Oliver as well as a second disc DVD of the Feature.

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ADDITION: (December 2009) Optimum Region 'B' - Blu-ray: This is a competent transfer from Optimum and it looks significantly superior to any of the existing DVDs. There is visible, textured, grain, detail improves, as does contrast and colors seem to finally be 'correct'. There is even some depth. There are a few speckles here and there but mostly frame specific. No lossless surround but the linear PCM 2.0 channel (original) is clean and tight.

We lose the commentary but gain an insightful, 18-minute, 2009 interview with Gilliam who talks about the film production stemming from the frustrations of Brazil - and a lot more information as well. There is a 'scrapbook' and a trailer. There are no subtitles - which seems a mistake with the multiple accents possibly problematic for some.

The A/V is a demonstrative jump forward and makes the Blu-ray a viable option for those wishing the best available transfer of Time Bandits. It gave me a very satisfying viewing.

ON THE DVDs

ADDITION: (January 2004) Anchor Bay Region 2- PAL: The image of the Anchor Bay Region 2- PAL edition is not as sharp as the Region 1 - but other than looks quite the same - similar colors with a shade more red in the PAL release - same picture area (no cropping). The Region 2 version does have some great Extras with a commentary from director Gilliam and a host of other small details including an interview with Gilliam and Palin. Extras seem best for the Region 2 - picture for the Region 1- and perhaps sound for the Criterion.

Well, its not often we get to criticize the greatest DVD production company in the world, but... The Criterion release is cropped, has too much red in the image, is hazy and non-anamorphic. I suppose its saving grace is the commentary track which I'll put on equal billing with Anchor Bay's fine Extras... The Directors: Terry Gilliam (59 mins), Interview with Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin (27 mins). But also the Criterion audio track was quite strong. The Anchor Bay SE DVD is really quite wonderful in the image department - the EX 5.1 sound seems to have some issues with its separations, but I found it strong regardless - just different.  Great contrast and very truest skin tones in the Anchor Bay.