Zardoz

Rating:
Summary: Must see -- at least to have an opinion...
Review: You can't call yourself a true film geek unless you've seen Zardoz. Hate it or love it or whatever, this is one of those ink blots that reveals. Me, I give it credit. At worst, I'd say it's a spectacularly, interesting failure. I feel for it, because it's the kind of movie I would have wanted to make if you'd given me a film camera and a million bucks at age 14. It's full of big ideas, grand scope, science fiction ambitions, action, and sex, and kind of the smarty pants ideas, but Zardoz has absolutely no maturity, taste, or sense of propotion whatsover. Most movies these days take no chances, and won't try anything that won't be perfect, whereas this thing is one of those films that's just all over the map, and has a lot of it flubs, but occasionally it gets a few things right. It's got a ton of that screwball 70's new-agey 'ooh we've just discovered LSD and we're sooo open-minded' kind of lunacy that's interesting from a historical perspective. The action and violence is a little clumsy, which considering Deliverance, doesn't make much sense. I assume it was rushed a little bit. The DVD is beautiful. Amazing print. Probably didn't look as good in the theater.

If you're new to the 70's new-agey, big profound over-the-top ideas sci-fi, the film to start with is probably not Zardoz, but rather Logan's Run, which covers approximately similar territory, but which, to me at least, ends better, among other things.

Rating:
Summary: Fun Flick!!
Review: Some may find this movie a little weird and outdated, but I've loved it for years! Different strokes for different folks... Guess I tend to enjoy the 'offbeat' more than most, but as far as I'm concerned, this is a truly wonderful movie! In fact, being outdated, is one of the things that makes it so much fun to watch...

Rating:
Summary: Zardoz...Zardozn't
Review: After watching this movie from start to finish, all I can say is, that was the best 103 minutes of sleep I have ever gotten. Better than the Golf channel. Sean Connery didn't want to be type-cast as James Bond, so he did this film as a change of pace. Now he'll be type-cast as a brutal savage running around in go-go boots, with a paper-mache' helmet with the face of Zardoz on it, shooting everybody he sees. This film reminded me of an episode of the Prisoner, with Zed being taken into the "Village" and interrogated like a rogue agent that has gone awry. By the end of the movie, I felt like one of the Eternals, just praying for death. My girlfriend bought me this movie and agreed with me that it was worse than Wing Commander. Yes, she admits to seeing Wing Commander. Anyway, when the trailer is better than the movie itself, and the back of the DVD case is better than the trailer, this movie is best left on the shelf. And remember boys and girls, "The penis is evil, and the gun is good."

Rating:
Summary: Cerebral Science Fiction Indeed
Review: This movie is an interesting extrapolation of what might have happened a couple hundred of years in the future if a bizarre conjunction of events occurred.

The vast majority of the world has been destroyed. How the world was destroyed was never explained, but we see that most of the world is barren and smoking. Most buildings are ruined. People run like cattle from a selected few called exterminators, whose sole mission is to kill anyone they find.

All has not been lost, however. There are enclaves of people living in sanctuaries, each called a Vortex. These sanctuaries are protected from the outside world by force fields. Inside the sanctuary the people study and are well fed. They have developed mental abilities, including telepathy and some telekinesis. Most importantly, they are apparently immortal. There are only two downsides to this utopia. First, these people have lost all interest in physical love. Second, a number of these people are so apathetic that they have become like walking dead, devoid of energy and purpose, nearly comatose.

Our story focuses on Zed, played by Sean Connery. Zed is an exterminator who manages to penetrate a Vortex by boarding the giant floating head known as Zardoz. Once Zed penetrates the Vortex, he finds that he was actually bred to be the savior of the residents of the Vortex (you'll have to watch and find out what he is supposed to do, and whether he does it). We learn the origin of the Vortex and follow Zed as he reaches his destiny, as well as that of the people of the Vortex.

The Vortex itself is a socialistic, apparently matriarchal, society. The general appearance and behavior of the residents is as though they were transported from the 1960s into the future. The touching and feeling techniques, the psychedelic special effects, and the generally communal nature of the Vortex all bespeak of the utopia that the flower children of the 60s were hoping to achieve. However, as the advertisements for the movie state, I have seen the future and it does not work. Truer words were never spoken. The citizens of utopia have accomplished nothing, and in general appear to be regressing and petty rather than advancing. Thus, the movie satirizes the society that was held as the ideal of the 60s.

In general the movie is somewhat dated by the now-crude special effects. However, as a vision of the future, the movie accomplishes much. While there are a few plot holes, most of them can be ignored as you follow Zed in his quest for knowledge. I've seen the term "cerebral science fiction" used for this movie, and find it appropriate. This movie falls into the narrow class of movie occupied by a few others such as "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Dark City," and "The Game." You are intended to look for the meanings and satire in this movie, of which there is much.

This movie was one of the best movies I had seen prior to "Star Wars," and continues to be one of my favorites. I recommend this movie to those who like quirky, bizarre and unusual films. It's quite good if you can get into it, but incomprehensible and confused if you can not. Borrow it from a friend before you buy it.

Rating:
Summary: "I have seen the future and it doesn't work"
Review: The original ad says it all -- I have seen the future and it doesn't work (perhaps it's unemployed). I have an original 1/2 sheet movie poster of Zardoz hanging in my study. Boorman's first film after the successful Deliverance is an odd mixture of satire and science fiction. While visually stunning, the muddled narrative can be a blessing in disguise; it allows you to look past the poorly thought out plot and appreciate it for what it is; the first and only Monty Python sci-fi film.

The very elements that make this film at times absurd also make it a classic; the literary allusion to The Wizard of Oz; the great stone head of the god Zardoz floating around the Irish countryside; Zed's attempt to destroy the "heart" of the peaceful community he invades. There's a campy quality that runs throughout the film and, no doubt, that was intentional. Boorman's films both great (Deliverance) and bad (The Exorcist 2)are focused on the conflict between the outsider or individual and society or culture surrounding him. Zardoz is a bit more explicit and, yes, pretentious than some of his other work. Nevertheless, Boorman succeeds for the most part. '

Zardoz isn't for everyone and that's no slam. It takes a certain sense of humor and appreciation for well groomed satires to like this film. I'd suggest rening Zardoz and discovering if its you're cup of tea (after all the image of guns spewing forth of the mouth of a "god" isn't something we see everyday). It's a savage satire of religion, social norms and the counterculture all nicely rolled into a compact, murky narrative.

The transfer is very good although there are quite a few analog artifacts. The commentary from director John Boorman is quite enlightening and both illuminates as much as it frustrates. Boorman is articulate and informed. It's clear that even he wasn't quite clear what his ultimate message was. Although Zardoz isn't likely to be remembered as being as groundbreaking as 2001 or Star Wars, it is in the same league in many respects. Just as Kubrick used satire in Strangelove and 2001 (the visual narrative of the film is packed with his satrical spirit), so too Boorman packs his narrative with just as much satire and observation.

It's not a perfect film but for some folks it's perfectly fine despite all it's imperfections.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most bizzare cult movies of all time
Review: Written, produced and directed by John Boorman, ZARDOZ was a commmercial failure which nevertheless deserves a special place in the hearts of fans of Boorman and Sean Connery. It's not often a talented and respected film maker and actor team up to make one of the strangest and most unintentionally hilarious movies of all time.
The year is 2293. Connery plays Zed; an exterminator for Zardoz which is basically a huge flying stone head which is worshipped as a god. Those who dare to defy or question the 'Dozzman are cast into a "vortex" where they prematurely age and never die. Of course Zed has a rebellious streak in him and dares to revolt against Zardoz's view that "The gun is good, the penis is evil" and live his life on his own terms in order to retain his precious mortality; a rebellion which could destroy civilisation itself.
While ZARDOZ's elaborate production design is funny today, the ladiesh will no doubt find Connery devashtatingly shexy with hish ponytail and nappiesh; which will aroushe even the mosht dormant of maternal instinctsh. For men there is no shortage of beautiful women in this movie; led by Charlotte Rampling, plus ample female nudity. On the other hand, if you're an intellectual or just have a penchant for the bizzare; then ZARDOZ ought to appeal to the big hard organ located between your ears. This movie was actually much more fun than I expected.
DVD extras include a commentary by Boorman, the movie's trailer, and a stills gallery, plus subtitles in no fewer than a dozen languages!

Rating:
Summary: Advanced for its time and a "trick" finish
Review: This movie was made some time ago (1974) but it became an underground cult classic because of its themes and ideas as well as for some of the performances that were delivered. The movie presents us with Earth far into the future. The world is inhabited by two types of humans: very advanced folk who are immortal and have very powerful technology and world-control, and lesser mortals who are basically horse-riding savages. But one of the savages (Sean Connery) is not so stupid, and he is going to surprise the "gods". But not even he is prepared for the truth of his origins and capabilities. Very cool stuff even if the special effects are a bit hokey by today's standards.

Rating:
Summary: Wabi Sabi
Review: I'm not sure if Boorman intended it, but he created a film that describes the eastern concept of Wabi Sabi. Wabi Sabi defines SHIBUI, the non-mechanistic and timeless beauty unrelated to style and so basic that neither time nor change in social values can affect it. It helps us to see through and beyond the dehumanizing climate of technological society and assists in achieving a state of mental equilibrium (a form of enlightenment) in the intensely technological, highly urbanized society of the our times. These concepts are eternal and universal as opposed to the endlessly accelerating change and complications confronting us today. We realize that we are being drained and deprived of something that is not replaceable. Wabi Sabi, therefore, is elegant because of its philosophy of understatement - less is better.
Perhaps, this is what Boorman was attempting - or maybe he was just high.

Rating:
Summary: Sean connery IS Orange Nappy Man
Review: It wasn't the worst Sci-Fri film. I've seen worse - that flying Pirahna film for example or any of the Star Trek movies (well Wrath of Khan was alright).

It got into philosophical stuff and then lost steam with random sexual references and that room with the magnified plankton in the background (it was supposed to be dna...being a biologist...I couldn't stop giggling).There was enough transparent plastic in this movie to supply a small european country and enough filmy, lushly patterned fabric to supply the entire hippy population of thw world.

I did watch it all the way through. I was moved by the desire of the immortals to die. As noted by one of the reviewers, the person who acted Friend did an amazing job.

No review of Zardoz could be complete without noting the red underwear that Sean spent most of the movie either running, leaping or riding horse back in. Sean spent several segments riding hard and hacking down dead-eyed middle management types in suits that seemed to inhabit this world in astonishing numbers(though where they kept their suits pressed and cleaned is somewhat of a mystery considering that civilization is supposed to be on a downward slide). I digress. I guarantee you'll probably find it amusing and a bit titallating..but it's not a masterpeice.

Rating:
Summary: "It was all a joke"
Review: "Zardoz" is one of those movies that everyone has good reasons to love or hate. I happen to love it; I understand why other people might hate it, but I love it for several reasons...

It's dislocating in the way it portrays a future society-- it's the kind of thing we might suspect, but only after thinking about it for a while. I mean it's not a hackneyed future.

It has a sense of humor-- not contrived humor, but the type of humor generated by the characters themselves.

The photography is beautiful and creates a world of its own.

Overall, "Zardoz" makes me think of "Fantastic Planet"; we're plunked into this society and have to get our bearings, but at least in "Zardoz" Arthur Frayn gives us an introduction. By the way, Niall Buggy is very good in this role-- he has also appeared in several recent films like "Alien 3" and "Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man".

In any case, once you get into the world of "Zardoz", you'll appreciate it quite a bit and you'll laugh out loud at the in-jokes. But you'll also appreciate the serious points being made. The film is like a medieval mystery play, only it's set several hundred years in the future. And it's MOST SATIRICAL. Zardoz has spoken.