Wizards

Rating:
Summary: An Old Favorite
Review: As a teenage kid devoted to wargames and D&D when it came out, I loved it. It had it's rough spots with repetitive animation and rotoscoping, and some general plot weirdness, but the dark and weird take on fantasy was great fun. Some bits stuck around in my circle nearly as much as Monty Python and the Holy Grail moments. "Fritz! Fritz! They killed Fritz!" etc.

If it comes out on DVD I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

The official reviewer is an idiot. Bakshi's Lord of the Rings was a great disappointment after Wizards. It did neither his own Wizards or the LOTR books justice.

Rating:
Summary: Great sci-fi, don't fear Bakishi.
Review: I've never been a fan of Ralph Bakshi but here he presents an original idea so silly it works.

Every once and a while a truly bizarre film is made, so bizarre it works. 'Ghostbusters' 'Donnie Darko' 'Blue Velvet.' These films are proof that silly ideas can workout.

Here we are in a fantasyland with dragons knights and yes wizards. A great war erupts when an evil wizard Blackwolf discovers National Socialism and with his armies of SS troops and Panzer tanks is set to be the next furer.

This film would certainly not appeal to the masses. Only the most hardened sci-fi fan could appreciate it. But it's worth your time because it's true sci-fi, not the garbage Hollywood jams down our throats and tells us is sci-fi.

Those sci-fi fans worried about Bakishi, have no fear, enjoy yourself.

Rating:
Summary: One of the finest animation films ever
Review: I remember seeing this film when it first came out at a theater in Chicago. When the movie ended, everyone (and I do mean everyone) stood up and applauded. This should give you an idea of what I think of this film. If there were 10 stars I would give them all to this film. This film should be required viewing for all political candidates who believe war is necessary and there is no harm done with a nuclear war. There is great harm done even with traditional weapons, much less nukes. The art is original, creative, catchy. The story was, and still is, brutally honest. People I have leant this to, have all come away with a better sense of responsibility to humanity and our planet because of it. Hopefully, more will see it and finally realize, nuclear war is not a harmless past time.

Rating:
Summary: Adult animation in the spirit of Heavy Metal
Review: The plot of Wizards is your basic Star Wars or Lord of the Rings fare (no accident that Bakshi was hired to animate that film as well) where a ragtag band of heroes marches straight into the heart of the evil empire to somehow topple the bad guy, though they aren't really sure how they will do that until they get there.

Far more entertaining than its cookie cutter plot is the animated film's style. Mix the violence and psychological probing of 90's Japanese anime (for example, Evangelion) with the rock, sex and attitude of 80's Heavy Metal (the magazine and film, not the musical genre) and push it backwards into the experimental hippy 1970's and you have the cult classic that is Wizards. If you enjoy any of those genres, or if you like cult films like Tetsuo II: Body Hammer, Bakshi's previous Fritz the Cat or even Rocky Horror, you will be entertained by Wizards.

The characters are fun, the narration is haunting, the Bakshi animation -- while annoying at times -- is interesting in an acid-trip kind of way, and the climactic moment where the two enemy brothers representing technology (evil) and magic (good) square off is great.

C'mon, if Leonard Maltin calls it "turgid and unappealing" (above) it has to be worth a look, right?

Rating:
Summary: Bakshi's masterpiece finally on DVD!!!!
Review: This 1977 Ralph Bakshi made animated sci-fi fantasy is set in the post-apocalyptic future where mutants, monsters, fairies, elves, dwarves, and magical creatures roam. An evil wizard named "Blackwolf" plans on taking over the world with his mutant army using old Nazi propaganda films while a kind and powerful wizard named "Avatar" with a hot fairy chick named " Ellinor" and a brave elf named "Weehawk" including a robot named "Peace" join forces together to go to a place called "Scorch" then stop Blackwolf, the war and prevent the end of the world.

A unique, kadeldoscopic and entertaining animated fantasy from the director of "Fritz The Cat", " Animated Lord of the Rings" and "American Pop". The animation is quite good, it does have Mark Hamil's voice debut before he was in "Star Wars" of the same year this movie was released, a superhot fairy chick guaranteed to make guys smile and it's a good fun flick for the whole family even though it's rated PG due to some graphic animated violence, battle scenes, some language and some mild nudity.

The DVD is excellent, the extras include TV Spot, Trailers, a documentary on how Ralph Bakshi created this movie, still gallery and a audio commentary by Ralph Bakshi. So if you love fun fantasy, sci-fi and animated flicks then pick this up for your animation DVD collection.

Also recommended: " Terminator 2: Judgment Day", " Fist of the North Star" ( Anime version), " Braveheart", " Gladiator", " Mad Max", " The Last Unicorn", " The Secret of NIMH", " Rock & Rule", " The Dark Crystal", " The Princess Bride", " Star Wars", " Gettysburg", " Starship Troopers", " Total Recall", " Heavy Metal", " The Fifth Element", " Mulan", "Antz".

Rating:
Summary: classic you will either hate or love
Review: This is one of those rare movies that doesn't try to hide its flaws, and actually benefits from them giving the entire movie a campy feel to it. The accents are mixed up, the animation crude and often using recycled sequences, the movement is jerky, scenes are often using war footage that was animated over, and the jokes are often crude and dark natured. But the film in a whole works.

Though it is a bit preachy in its ways, this movie makes you interested in the characters. It also brings up some intersting and satirical ideas.

the world was destroyed in war, humans are few and most have mutated and live in badlands. Elves, faeries and dwarves, have returned and taken over the good lands, but nothing seems different. The factions are divided and uncooperative with each other. When the badlands mutants gets a powerful leader, they ignore it until it is too late. When the push is made for the mutants to take over the goodlands the enemy seemingly has too much up his sleeve.

The cartoon has a definite seventies feel to it. The humor is dark, twisted, and often times has a distinct feel of juxtoposition. It is a fantasy futuristic world that has the attitude and feeling of New York. There are fairy hookers, dirty streets with bums lying around, and bitter old men with brooklyn accents. The evil army has a strong Nazi theme to it, as well as their secret weapons.

It is also very violent, showing elves and fairies being killed by the hundreds, pow's being executed, and prisoners being forced to entertain soldiers any way they want.

This is a very warped movie that shouldn't work, but does. A classic from the 70's that had enough of a cult following to bring it to dvd today. watch it for the spectacle and you will either love it or hate it.

Rating:
Summary: A Lost Masterpiece!
Review: I remember seeing this film as young kid though I really wasn't supposed too. I saw it with the film LIGHT YEARS another film that I hope will come to dvd in the very near future. This film is basically about a centuries old battle between two brothers. One on the side of magic, the other on the side of Technology. It's basic good versus evil with a bit of social commentary in between. The animation may not be what people are used to now, but it serves it's purpose. I personally like the rendition of the elves. They look more like elves from say ELF QUEST and not the overly tall elves of D&D fame. Pretty good film. Check it out for nostalgia if anything else.

Rating:
Summary: american "anime" if you will
Review: When I was younger, I remember viewing the animated Lord of the Rings trilogy. I always wanted to find them again, and thankfully I did. What I was unaware of was that director Bakshi had also made a previous movie, and thanks to my local library, I viewed it.

This one actually has a similar tone to it, although this is not nearly as lengthy and, as I'm pretty sure, does not have specific literary ties either.

The story is a post-apocalyptic film, where most people have turned into mutants. Now, in the area not infected by radiation, or subsequently mutants, live fairies, elves, and possibly other humans although their existence is murky at best. Each group is led by one of two brothers, an elf and a mutant. They fought previously and the good one, the elf, defeated his brother. However, some five thousand years have passed and the mutant brother has amassed knowledge, an army, and the ultimate fighting weapon.

In my initial analysis I would first like to state that this is not a kids movie. Like my title points out, this film is American anime, which never really caught on like Japanese anime has. Either way, swearing and violence, especially violence, can be found in this film.

So upon reaching the conclusion that this is for adults I approached the film from a much different perspective. For example there is a lot of historical context, which can be clearly seen in the mutants connection with the "third Reich". These images are presented to us as evidence of man's downfall, although the characters (well maybe the non-mutants) are not aware of the historical significance. That with a storyteller narration every now and then helps present this film, as many post-apocalyptic films are shown, with a warning.

My only warnings to you are to remember 70's animation, especially this type, is not that great. Moreover, this film could have been more developed; 80-minute run-time for this level of complexity is just not enough. However, if you want a decent short animation then this is it.

Rating:
Summary: Awful, in a good sort of way
Review: Wizards is by no means a brilliant masterpiece. But it's fun to watch, in a weird B-movie sort of way. The animation itself is interesting because of the variety of different techniques Bakshi uses. However, some of it's not so great, and was obviously done to cut costs and corners. So the movie's visuals range from elegant and creative to cheap and lame. The overall art style has a very late 60's-early 70's feel to it.

The script is pretty weak and flounders all over the place, so don't expect the plot to make anything resembling sense. There's some rough language and sexual suggestiveness, and quite a lot of violence and stupid humor. It's just very strange and amusing to watch. A low-budget cartoon about hippies and Elves fighting Nazi mutants really shouldn't be this entertaining, but it is.

This movie's definitely not for everyone, but it is a nice break from the relentless wholesomeness of most feature-length cartoons. I think it's worth a look for anyone who likes strange movies or is interested in animation beyond the typical Disney stuff.

Rating:
Summary: My opinion is all over the place with this movie
Review: Another reviewer described it accurately when he said it was "a weird, horrible, funny, enthralling cartoon movie". That is dead on. The animation is both bad and wonderful. The plot is epic, wonderful and poorly thought out and petty.

So, here are some random thoughts:

The animation -

I LOVE the fact that Bakshi used a variety of animation styles and techniques. It made the movie visually interesting and some of it is great enough to rival Disney at his best.

Sometimes, however, the animation is of such poor quality that it distracts from the action. At times, the animation is worse than "SeaLab 2021" on "Adult Swim" - and they intentionally make the animation bad!

The characters and plot:

Well, you clearly have good guys and bad guys. However, you have muddled motivation for the mutant bad guys (led by the evil wizard Blackwolf) to attack the good guys. At first, it seems like they're attacking because they are envious of the prosperity of the good humans and their allies, the elves and fairies. Then, about halfway through, we find out the mutants are forced to live in irradiated territories that the good wizard (Avatar) never quite got around to cleaning up with his good magic (even though he comments that he could easily do it). Why didn't he? Well, apparantly, he's too concerned with drinking scotch and lusting over his young, lusty, busty apprentice.

This throws the whole plot into a twist - are the bad guys really evil mutants? Or, are they victims of repression on the part of the non-mutants. If that is the case, than what is Bakshi trying to say by having the mutants being whipped up by Nazi propoganda movies? Is he trying to excuse the Nazis by making a parrallel with the Peace of Versailles and the terrible terms imposed on the Germans that led to the rise of the Nazis?

No, I think he's just got a really, really sloppy script, as evidenced by the fact that half of the lines of his lead elf character (soon to be king) are incoherent battle screams - even when they're not appropriate. He must be a hoot at the dinner table!

And I wonder, why do Nazi propoganda movies turn on non-German-speaking mutants and inspire them to fight? They can't understand Hitler - they just get excited by the pictures, I guess. Was Bakshi trying to say that cinematic violennce inspires more violence? That is an interesting seniment, considering the amount of blood spilled in the movie.

Once again, I don't think he was trying to say anything, I think he was just sloppy.

One more thought: was it just me - or were some of the battle scenes from this movie spliced into Bakshi's version of "the Lord of the Rings?"