The Fisher King [Blu-ray]

This is a very good DVD with a story that remains fresh. The story is built on the armature of the ancient story of the Fisher King. The Fisher King is played here by Robin Williams, a former college professor at Hunter College, who's wife is murdered. From this point on he is mentally wounded and appears to much of the world as a homeless mentally ill man.But we know from the ancient myth that only a Knight who has been cleansed of sin can retreive the Holy Grail and cure the wounded Fisher King. Jeff Bridges plays this part. He is an extremely successful radio personality who is filled with arrogance, contempt for his fellow man, and self absorption. Yet he provokes a listener to commit a violent crime, a mass killing in a dinner club, and this links Jack to to Parry, who lost his wife in the massacre.Jack is hard-headed however, and he has to sink very low before he can become honest with himself. He loses his job, his sophisticated girl-friend, his wealth, and becomes an alcoholic. At the depths of his fall, he meets Parry, who rescues him from young punks. Jack soon learns that Parry is mentally ill since the death of his wife and Jack decides to move out of his own self pity and attempt to give Parry back his life. Jack is living with a woman, played by Mercedes Ruehl, but he will not open himself to love her since despite her big heart, she is far from the sophisticated women he once courted.This leads to the most humorous part of the film where Jack tries to fix Parry up with a strange young woman, played by Amanda Plummer, whom Parry has grown to love from a distance. Jack does finally move out of himself and help someone else and sure enough he gets a job opportunity.The strength of the film is that Jack regresses to his old arrogant self and denies the homeless folks he has befriended and even denies, Mercedes Ruehl, the woman who is devoted to him and helped him arrange the date between Parry and Amanda Plummer's character.However as sneering Jack rises, Parry falls. He fears rejection and loss (symbolized in the film by the Red Knight)and after being beaten by punks, he goes into a catatonic state. Jack knows that only by obtaining the Holy Grail will the Fisher King be cured.Much more action occurs and eventually Jack realizes the mistakes he made and the loss of Mercedes Ruehl. He returns to her after obtaining the Grail and we realize he is the Knight that has sought redemption and thus can obtain the Grail to cure the Fisher King.The drag show performed by Michael Jeter in Amanda Plummer's quite office is worth the price of the video. It is the most over the top scene in this over the top film.The strength of this really excellent film is that it brings to life an ancient myth that through redemption we become better people and as better people, we can move out of our own self interest and move toward the heroic act of helping another and as we heal, the kingdom becomes a better place for us all.

Two great actors in a fabulous movie

Great Robin Williams movie loved it.

THE FILM: While not the absolute best I've seen from Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges or Terry Gilliam, THE FISHER KING is still wonderful tale of friendship, love, and loss. Jeff Bridges plays Jack Lucas, a rather callous shock jock who makes an offhand remark that influences a listener to commit a murder-suicide. Robin Williams is Parry, a homeless man whose life was severely affected by that act. As the film progresses, the two of them come together and help each other deal with loss in their own ways. While the theme of loss, and accepting it in order to move on, is a subject that's been shown many times in film, Terry Gilliam finds a way to make it seem fresh with his wit and unmistakable cinematic style, even though it's toned down here considerably. Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams also give outstanding performances that are properly nuanced and full of emotional depth. There is also several really funny scenes which showcase Robin Williams gift for humor, despite not being as manic as he can be. Here, his "insanity" is a cover for some deeply held emotion regarding his past (not unlike many comics in real life whose gift for humor masks very real pain). Jeff Bridges also has pain of his own, in the form of guilt over that incident which resulted from his on-air comment. The journey on which these two go, represented in Parry's mind by a quest for a holy grail (Monty Python?) was fascinating and gripping. Gilliam also gets to indulge in some fantastical imagery, as Parry imagines himself a knight with an evil, fiery Red Knight in pursuit of him. However, despite whatever trappings the story might come in, the performances are what make the film. Also of note is Mercedes Ruehl, who also turns in an outstanding showing as Jack's live-in girlfriend (technically, he's her live-in boyfriend). I read online that she won a Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance, and from what I witnessed she definitely deserved it. If there's one issue I take with the story, it's that it perpetuates the movie stereotype of the wise and wacky homeless man, even though Robin Williams plays it so well. There were also a few scenes that could have been trimmed. But overall, it was a pleasantly satisfying experience that spoke to me on a personal level, and that I enjoyed watching.THE DISC: This Blu-ray release from Image Entertainment has superb image and audio quality, but no extra material outside of a theatrical trailer. Could be better, but I'm not complaining too much.OVERALL: This is yet another excellent film with a wonderfully moving performance by Robin Williams and the auteur sensibility of visionary director Terry Gilliam. While sorely lacking in bonus features, the film is still good enough to stand on its own. Recommended purchase.

Makes you laugh! Makes you cry!Beautiful story! Love Jeff Bridges!He’s is awesome in this role.Love Robin Williams! Breaks my heart he was such an actor! The kind of movie that inspires wonderful feelings. Stays with you for a long time.

Just an all around great film. Full excellent characters, Terry's signature quirkiness with deep heartfelt moments. Excellent acting from everyone involved and a fun yet sad tale for a story. The Criterion Collection's Blu-Ray treatment of this film is astounding. This is my first purchase from them and they seem to really treat great films the way every great film should be treated. Excellent supplemental's and art work. The picture quality is the stand out point as it is amazing. You should like if you're a fan of Terry Gilliam's work, and it would be hard not to even if you had never seen any of his films before.

Arrived on time 👍, Terry Gilliam Film Blu-ray Restored 2K digital transfer ,DTS-HD 5-1 surround , This is a brilliant upgrade from DVD to Blu-ray , interviews , good solid Story of Love and Redemption ,if you are a fan it's definitely worth the upgrade , these Criterion Collection are worth the price 😀👍

I love this film it is one of my favourite films of all time very good story excellent blu Ray plenty of extras on it well worth the money top class acting from Jeff bridges and the late great robin Williams and the rest of the cast

Robin Williams at what he does best. His personal tragedy is the basis of the film's plot, along with hallucinations of the Grail knights and Grail itself, hence the title. All turns out well as he finds true love again, after losing his first wife to tragic circumstances, in part due and incited by a frivolous DJ, who proceeds to redeem himself by helping Robin Williams attain to better health, and a new woman.

I have to say I have never seen such a ........ dreadful film in my whole life! I sat through it as I could not believe it could carry on being so bad. What utter rubbish. Bad acting and dreadful content. It is all down to opinion I suppose so I hope someone at the charity shop does not feel the same as me!