popular thinking

FROM GILLIAM TO GRIMM AND BACK AGAIN: In promoting his new film, The Brothers Grimm, director Terry Gilliam said he owed quite a bit to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
"I grew up with Grimms' fairy tales,'' Gilliam wrote on www.grimmfilm.com. "I think they've informed everything I've done. I think all of my films are fairy tales in different ways.''
In fewer than six degrees of separation - before you can drop the "rim'' and replace it with "illia,'' here is how you can get from Grimm to Gilliam and back again. Suspension of belief is required. Or is that disbelief? Anyhow, just play along...

Time Bandits (1981): Six dwarfs pursued by Pure Evil run into the fairest little boy and have adventures through time and space. Add a dwarf, turn the boy into a girl - Presto change-o! - Snow White.

Brazil (1985): Satire about an oppressive totalitarian society and a regular guy trying to get by, all the while dreaming about a fantasy girl. Flip it and it becomes the story of a girl who's being oppressed and only can be saved by dreamy Prince Charming - Shazam! - Cinderella.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988): Another legendary tall-tale teller gets his day in court, but everyone only remembers this movie as the stunning coming-out party for young Uma Thurman as a Venus. OK, now try to focus on her enchanting hair for a moment, let it weave a tale for you and before you can say Uma, Uma, let down your hair - Nothing up my sleeves! - you've got Rapunzel.

The Fisher King (1991): Jeff Bridges searches for redemption, comes across a hairy homeless Robin Williams in the jungles of Manhattan. Turn Bridges into a little girl, make Williams even hairier (if that's possible), and think more about the Red Knight and less about the Holy Grail and - Abra-abra-cadabra! - Little Red Riding Hood.

Twelve Monkeys (1995): Bruce Willis is banished back in time to stop a plague, keeps trying to maintain contact with a fetching Madeleine Stowe and avoiding a crazy Brad Pitt. Make Willis and Stowe children, keep them in double trouble, but instead of a plague, center the plot around food and follow the breadcrumbs and - Don't look now! - Hansel and Gretel.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998): Johnny Depp puts on his best Hunter S. Thompson face and races through the desert with his drunken lawyer, played by Benicio del Toro. Replace their drugs with Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps! Drink enough to make straw look like gold! Make the audience wish they could trade their firstborns for an escape route and - Wham, bam, alakazam! - Rumpelstiltskin.