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- What the Time Bandits Show and Movie Are About
- How the Movie of Time Bandits Ends
- The Time Bandits TV Series Changes The Film’s Ending
As a film enthusiast with a particular fondness for Terry Gilliam’s whimsical and thought-provoking works, I must say I find the changes made to the ending of “Time Bandits” in the TV series rather intriguing. Having grown up watching the original film, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia tinged with curiosity about how this beloved story is being reimagined.
The 2024 iteration of “Time Bandits” serves as a contemporary adaptation of the 1981 movie, sharing many similarities with its cinematic predecessor. Both the show and the film revolve around an 11-year-old boy named Kevin (originally portrayed by Craig Warnock in the movie, and Kal-El Tuck in the series). They also share a cast of six rather ordinary bandits, and both stories involve Kevin and the bandits traveling through time via portals. However, one significant difference between the series and the film lies in the outcome for Kevin’s parents.
In this piece, we’ll discuss the parallel narratives found in both the TV series and film titled “Time Bandits,” provide a summary of the climax from the “Time Bandits” movie, and explain how the TV series alters the movie’s conclusion.
What the Time Bandits Show and Movie Are About
Terry Gilliam’s movie “Time Bandits,” co-written with fellow Monty Python member Michael Palin, shares many similarities with the TV series “Time Bandits,” produced by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Iain Morris. Despite Terry Gilliam expressing displeasure that the show didn’t feature little people as the six bandits like his film did, their narratives are remarkably alike.
1. Young Kevin has a strong interest in history that borders on obsession, leaving him without friends and puzzling his parents. One night, while he’s trying to fall asleep, six individuals appear from his closet. They claim to be outlaws, although they seem more aspiring than experienced. They are running from someone they call the Supreme Being.
In disguise as a colossal head, the Almighty emerges from the wardrobe, prompting them to discover an exit on the opposite side of Kevin’s room by forcing open a wall. They then escape through another time gateway. Initially terrified by the sight of the giant head, Kevin follows suit. This marks the start of both Kevin’s and the bandits’ thrilling journeys through various historical eras, seeking excitement and riches. However, there is one notable distinction:
How the Movie of Time Bandits Ends
In the film adaptation of “Time Bandits”, young Kevin experiences exhilarating and dangerous journeys through time. Upon awakening, he finds smoke filling his bedroom, prompting firefighters to break down the door and save him from a house fire. Meanwhile, his parents are bickering outside about salvaging kitchen appliances from the rubble. To Kevin’s surprise, one of the firefighters transforms into Sean Connery – the character Agamemnon from the movie’s ancient Greece segment, whom he had expressed reluctance to return to.
As a fan, I’d rephrase that as follows:
The firefighters, including the one played by Connery, who winks at Kevin, ride away in their truck as Kevin tries to reconcile what he just saw. The camera pulls back away from Kevin’s neighborhood, above the Earth, and through the stars until it becomes the map that the time bandits used. The map is rolled up, presumably, by the hands of the Supreme Being, and the story comes to a bleak conclusion. Though Kevin’s parents weren’t the best, the ending leaves Kevin orphaned, a fact that some have cheered and others have been less enthusiastic about.
The Time Bandits TV Series Changes The Film’s Ending
In the TV adaptation of “Time Bandits,” the ending is altered significantly. In episode 2, titled “Mayan,” a malevolent entity named Wrongness (portrayed by Jemaine Clement), dispatched by the series’ antagonist, transforms Kevin’s parents, James Dryden and Felicity Ward, from enthusiasts of the latest trends into blocks of coal. When Kevin inquires whether they can be rescued if he travels back in time, Lisa Kudrow’s character Penelope agrees to help him, albeit reluctantly.
After four episodes, it doesn’t appear that a cure for Kevin’s parents is imminent or even a top priority, but the fact that the bandits are considering it at all is quite different from the movie. In the film, there was no hope for Kevin’s parents; in the series, however, there might still be some chance, given that they didn’t tamper with anything they shouldn’t have.
Regardless of how Kevin’s parents’ story unfolds in the series, there’s a significant distinction between the show and the movie adaptation of “Time Bandits,” a difference that Terry Gilliam likely wouldn’t endorse. In reference to the movie’s ending, Gilliam expressed his views to The Playlist:
After completing the movie, the producers had concerns about some parts being inappropriate for children, especially the violent ending involving the parents exploding. Both the boys and girls seemed troubled by this, expressing worry over the fate of the character Kevin now that his parents are gone.
In a different phrasing, Gilliam stated, “I don’t aim to comfort or reassure people. I believe life is far more intriguing when its mysteries remain unsolved.” Despite some viewers preferring the revised version of Kevin’s parents’ fate, as it offers a more optimistic outlook, Gilliam’s disinclination towards providing comfort will likely keep him from approving this change.
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2024-08-05 02:01