The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

It's unmistakably Gilliam in its use of 2D environments on a 3D plane, and the physical sets and miniatures are spectacular, but the deplorable reliance on blue/green screen means the handmade quality and beautiful rough edges are eliminated. At those times it’s about as visually interesting as the next TV commercial trying to sell you insurance or a new car.
The story itself has a similar contrast, but it's used to better effect. The fantastical and the real exist side by side, with only one of the two states being oblivious to the other. Connecting them is the titular Doctor Parnassus, who does so for reasons that become clear as you watch.
Seeing the inside of Terry’s mind externalised and captured on film is hugely entertaining, but the CGI does an ugly job of presenting it to us.

3 sustaining stories out of 5

Austin Powers: Goldmember (2002)

The first half hour is eye-torture. The middle section, which stops all the asinine cameos and gets on with the 'story', is the most entertaining part.
What I like most about the Austin character is he’s a parody not just of the British, his antics highlight how America view the British, who are nothing like that in reality, so it secretly rips the ass out of both cultures; Myers is Canadian, so has a unique view of both.
The Dr Evil character lacks that duality and there's a lot of him in this one.
Too much flaffing around. Not enough Fat Bastard. It's a turd.

1½ gilded tallywhackers out of 5

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

A James Bond spoof that for me is a hell of a lot more entertaining than 90% of the real James Bond movies. Austin has to travel back to the swinging sixties to reclaim something that the baldy Dr Evil, the Blofeld-esque villain, has stolen from him. In typical Bond bullshit style he'll save the world and get the girl with the innuendo name.
Unfortunately, everything that takes place in Dr Evil’s lair is more miss than hit, except for the wonderful Frau Farbissina. However, the Austin Powers character is piss-inducing funny, so makes up for the failings of the other.
Comedy is one of the most subjective genres, so many will hate it.

3 pairs of machine gun jubblies out of 5