Flight of the fantastic; the imaginarium of doctor parnassus (12a) HHH.

THIS will forever be known as the film that Heath Ledger was making when he died suddenly in January last year.

He had only completed half his scenes, but director Terry Gilliam decided to finish the movie by drafting in three other actors to fill in for the 28-year-old Australian.

This actually works surprisingly well.

Heath's friends, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, pitched in to make sure the film is a fitting tribute to him, though it's not his finest work. He'll still probably be remembered best for playing the Joker in Dark Knight.

The real star of this film is Christopher Plummer, who is everywhere at the moment - he lends his voice to Up and the forthcoming 9, plus stars with Helen Mirren in The Last Station. He suddenly seems to find himself in hot demand at the age of 79.

He plays Dr Parnassus, who's more Percy (Verne Troyer) stumble across Tony hanging from a London bridge.

When they cut him down and save his life, he says he can't remember who he is, but they keep him around as he has the gift of the gab for encouraging customers into the show.

Valentina is about to turn 16, at which point he has to hand her over to the Devil, Mr Nick (Tom Waits). He has to make good on a bet he made in return for his everlasting life.

We have come to expect amazing visuals from Gilliam, and he doesn't disappoint, though this film offers a strange mix of the fantastical and the pedestrian.

CAPTION(S):

daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) and his assistants Anton (Andrew Garfield) and