Rating: 
Summary: Unexpectedly hilarious ( read this after you've seen the....
Review: movie )OK I'm sure many people bought this expecting it to be a horror movie because it was made in the 70s and Christopher Lee starred in the movie. This couldn't be further from the truth. It was intelligently written and while it showed it's fair share of nudity - it was enjoyable and had a sense of pastoral quietness that I hadn't seen in movies before. It was funny hearing these pagans breaking into dirty little songs about sex or something related to it. The one problem with reviewing this film today is that people may presume that the policeman is the guy we should be booing. But I would disagree - I think at the time when this film was released people could relate to the policeman because he was a Christian and I think at the time ( although it's this I'm a little unsure of ) people had a lot more respect for people. To watch something like this was of course a little terrifying for them. It does bring up what happens when some people's minds are closed when it comes to different religions. It's something that still happens today so the film is far from dated. We see today in the news about Israel and Palestine and The divide in the North of Ireland with the Unionists and Nationalists. It's not something you'll actually get from watching the movie but you'll notice it after you watch the news As for the movie - enjoy it - have a laugh with the songs and well it's just....just something that seemed out of place in the horror genre Now a 1, and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 - Corn rigs and barley, corn rigs and barrrrlllleeeeeeeeeey
Rating: 
Summary: Humorous, erotic, quasi-horror film
Review: Summary:
Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a police officer with the force that has responsibility for Summerisle Island, is sent to investigate the alleged disappearance of a girl from the island. When he arrives, he immediately begins to find that things are a bit strange on the island. Despite the small number of people, no one claims to recognize the missing girl. As Sergeant Howie digs deeper into the case, he finds a number of contradictions and ultimately concludes that either the townspeople killed her as a sacrifice or are planning too. His suspicions are heightened when he meets the leader of the people living on the island, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), who confirms for him that the people of the island are no longer Christians. They have returned to their pagan roots, as they hold more meaning for the islanders and seem to be more effectual for the harvest. This also helps explain the numerous fertility rites Sergeant Howie has seen around the town, including: naked women jumping over a fire and young boys running around the May Pole. Eventually, Howie's investigation gets the better of him when he knocks out a member of the town in order to wear his costume in the May Day celebration where the townspeople are to present their 'ultimate sacrifice'. In so doing, Howie walks directly into the town's trap and sets himself up to meet 'The Wicker Man'. My Comments:
This is not a traditional horror movie in any sense. As a matter of fact, I thought it was just a fun commentary pointing out the problems with Christianity (it's not effectual and doesn't do a good job of explaining things for the lay person), until the last 10 minutes or so of the movie. It is only in the last 10 minutes that the underlying plot is revealed and you realize just what has happened. And when you do realize it, it's quite shocking. As far as the story goes, of course some liberties have been taken in order to create the horror aspect. However, the liberties aren't so extreme that the movie isn't convincing. Of course it is highly unlikely that something like this would happen today in the British Isles, but the idea is definitely a good one. I couldn't really see any problems with the story, though there are a few erotic scenes that made me wonder if they were essential to the story. In all likelihood, they probably were not essential, but they were adequately connected to the rest of the story to justify their inclusion. The acting is about what you would expect from the early 1970s. What does that mean? It's not superbly refined. I believe the 70s (and late 60s for that matter) are really when the old school of acting of the 40s and 50s was meeting the newer acting styles of the 80s and 90s. So you have something of a mixture between the two. Edward Woodward seems to be more representative of the dashing hero from the pre-1970s school, while Christopher Lee does a good job developing the bailiwick of the post-1970s school. Many of the more peripheral characters were actually townsfolk from the island, so to criticize their portrayal of themselves would be kind of silly. The main female actresses, Ingrid Pitt, Diane Cilento, and Irene Sunters, weren't superb, but neither were they so bad that it took away from the movie. Overall, I believe this is, sadly, a little known work of art. Even though the erotic elements will likely be too much for many people, the unique approach at telling a horror story (within the religious beliefs of pre-Christian pagans) without the cheap thrills and scares, is a must see for all horror fans. I highly recommend this movie for anyone interested in pagan religions (though it does take a certain amount of liberty here), anyone that enjoys horror films, or erotica - as this film combines them all into an engaging story.
Rating:
Summary: The Wicker Man Is Real....
Review: This is supposed to be a "horror" movie. The "horror" being what we are led to believe. This film depicts this in so many degrees. What is not seen is what is to be believed. Upon arriving in the Scottish Isles, a local Bobby, if you will, is sent to investigate a supposed dissapearance of a local girl. As the film unfolds, she turns out to be the missing harvest queen of such which is diminished the year before. Yeah, shades of Harvest Home abound, but, this film was ahead of that and too original. Not for the kiddies or those who appose Druid or Celtic practices...this is best watched with the light on...
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Curiosity
Review: This is always described as a classic horror movie. But really that's a misclassification, albeit one made natural by the presence in the cast of horror specialists Christopher Lee and Ingrid Pitt. In fact it's not really a horror movie at all, more like an erotic mystery thriller. The ending certainly is horrific but you won't spend any time hiding behind the sofa waiting for something horrible to jump out of the shadows and nothing horrible ever does. Edward Woodward is Sergeant Howie, a policeman in the Scottish Highlands who is sent to investigate the reported disappearance of a child on the fictitious Summer Isle. (In a nice wind-up, the opening credits thank the locals.) This leads to some trouble as Woodward is a stern, conservative and virginal presbyterian while the island, it turns out is an enclave of a rather improbable form of oversexed paganism. And the trouble is not lessened by the almost complete lack of cooperation of the islanders in the in vestigation. At first they deny that the missing girl ever existed and when this is exposed as deception they continue to appear nonchalantly unconcerned. the most interesting thing about the film is perhaps the way our attitude to Sergeant Howie changes as the film proceeds. At the start the Summer Isle seems rather a fun place, all singing and shagging, while Howie is just a dreadful stuffed shirt. However as the film unfolds and the darker aspects of the local religion become apparent and the hunter becomes the hunted, we grow far more disposed to sympathize and identify with him. It's possible to hear quite absurdly inflated claims made about how good this film is. It is hardly a great masterpiece. In fact at many levels it is a pretty silly piece of nonsense. But it's fun well-crafted nonsense, highly idiosyncratic and intriguing with a unique atmosphere much enhanced by the clever and effective use of bawdy folksongs like "Gently Jonny" in a number of the most memorable scenes. And the notorious final scenes are genuinely sinister and disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: A total cult!
Review: Firstly, I knocked off a star for the annoying way we change from old to newer film throughout the movie. I realise this was the best they could do with the magnetic tape that was available but it does annoy me. Edward 'Enforcer' Woodward inspects shady goings on in Christopher Lee's unhinged community off the West coast of Scotland and ends up helping a chicken with its enquiries. Britt Ekland (and boobs), Ingrid Pitt, sketch show musician Peter Brewis and John 'Mallens' Hallam appear.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate... until the end
Review: This movie shows an accurate protrayal of the ancient celtic religion set in modern times, until the very last scene. Of course in the ancient times sacrifice was seen as a holy thing and was practiced (among almost all religions... including Christianity and Paganism), so it would have been acceptable to have a sacrifice if the movie was set in ancient times... but it was not, it is set in the modern times (by modern I mean the 60's). Pagan traditions (like all religious traditions) have changed over the centuries. There are no longer sacrifices (be it human or animal) in the modern day (in civilized society that is) and the movie portrayed it as being something normal and everyday in these times.
Other than the very last scene, the practices and beliefs of the Pagans today were very accurate. I did enjoy this movie very much and would recommend it to anyone interested in Paganism or for those who dont know what Pagans believe (but take the ending with a grain of salt).
Rating:
Summary: Creepy, Scary, Suspenseful and a Classic
Review: Many of the reviews have detailed the plot, so I won't. I haven't even received the DVD yet, however, I often rented this film, until the tape broke and no other rental store had a copy. If you are used to the blood and gore, slice and dice 'em movies, you won't see that here. It is pure suspense, clever twists, subtly erotic, psychologically compelling, and great story-telling. Wicker Man is cagey as it pulls you in, haunting your memory for years to come. Truly a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Much Ado About Nothing
Review: Wow - the "greatest movie ever made?" That is an enormous exaggeration, to say the least. Finally checked out the Wicker Man to see what all the hype was all about. I have an open mind and wasn't even expecting a lot, much less the greatest movie of all time. But I wasn't particularly impressed. Let me first say, the movie isn't a stinker. Its got an original, interesting premise, great performance by Edward Woodward, and there's a great twist in the end. The movie is actually quite creepy. With that said, this movie is also quite hokey. For starters, it comes across as very dated and allowed itself to be way too influenced by the times. Too much tripped-out, wierd camera angle, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, late Sixties "flower power," if you know what I mean. The song sequences are total cornball. Its like Rosemary's Baby - the musical. I was laughing so hard during the scene with the male teacher doing the song and dance number around the Maypole with his students, I had to stop the movie to wipe the tears from my eyes. Heck, it was so funny I had to rewind and watch the scene over again. The other thing is, it seems to have a major hang-up with Christianity. Throughout the movie there's this overwhelming message that the pagans on the island are "with it" and wavy gravy, while the Christian - who's really just concerned about finding out what happened to this missing child - is a repressed, uptight twirp, because he doesn't want to have sex with every person he meets. The message isn't subtle. In fact, they beat you over the head with it. I think the climax would've been more powerful, if they hadn't spent so much of the movie trying to MAKE you DISLIKE the protaganist, while at the same time make you sympathetic to the heathen, child-kidnapping, human-sacrificing cult freaks who live on Swinger's - I mean, SummerIsle - Island. In conclusion, its worth a look. Its worth checking out just to see Christopher Lee's early Seventies Greg Brady hairstyle. And Britt Eckland is HOT! Its also worth checking out to see that hilarious song and dance scene in the movie I was describing. Heck, its worth seeing just to say you saw it. But "stunning?" A "powerhouse?" An "absolute must?" Now THAT'S funny!
Rating:
Summary: Nice pagan drama --- and that 6-point star isn't Jewish!
Review: I first heard of this movie when I was speaking at a multi-cultural conference and some heckler made a nasty remark about "barbaric Jews who burn people alive in wicker baskets." WHAT??? Where did THAT come from? The heckler said he saw it in a movie called "The Wicker Man." So, that evening, I rented the film, brought it back to my hotel room, and viewed it with a couple of the other Jewish speakers. Nope, it's not about Jews, even though, at one point, six pagans cross their swords to form a six-pointed star. That must have been what made the heckler think it was "Jewish" -- but the hexagram has been used by many other cultures as well. Jews do not -- I repeat, do NOT -- practice human sacrifice. However, many European pagans did -- and therein lies the tale here. The "Wicker Man" is about is a village of 20th-century British neo-pagans whose crops fail. They believe they need a human sacrifice for their fertility ceremony, and yes, it does involve placing the sacrificial victim inside a wicker statue. But where are they going to get a virgin in an age of "free love?" (This was filmed in 1974, before the AIDS epidemic.) I won't give away the plot, but I thought the movie was interesting and well done. It's not a horror film, but, rather, a serious drama that portrays the pre-Christian paganism of the British Isles in a non-sensationalist way. No, human sacrifice doesn't make the crops grow. But, after viewing this film, I understand how some pagans came to think that way. I also found myself wondering if the British custom of burning Guy Fox in effigy at bonfires might not be a carryover from pre-Christian times.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant cinematic gem unlike any other
Review: The Wicker Man is a film that seems to elicit either great reverence or dismissive contempt -- few people have a neutral opinion about this truly remarkable film. I unapologetically count myself among the die-hard fans, although it does not surprise me that there are so many detractors. The Wicker Man is not easily appreciated by those who feel that a movie is only as good as its box-office popularity and appeal to mainstream sensitivities. Robin Hardy and Anthony Shaffer's creation is what film SHOULD be but no longer is - daring, original and well-researched, full of powerful cultural imagery, but not pretentious or overwrought to the point of cinematic torture. The canned, mindless garbage put out by Hollywood year after year is a reminder that all the money in the world cannot produce a great film if it isn't backed up by vision and talent. But then Hollywood's primary goal is simply to mass-produce easily digestible junk-culture cinema and generate enormous profits, regardless of the dubious quality of its end (commercial) product. The Wicker Man was made on a miniscule budget with little fanfare, but Hardy and his team took a brilliant screenplay and did a fantastic job of making the most of what they had. The result is a riveting tale of mystery and suspense made all the more astonishing by the Celtic music, the beautiful setting of coastal Scotland and the lurid costumes and set-pieces. From erotic dance sequences and ancient Celtic rites to drama, mystery, humor, horror and shock, there is something here for everybody. The film seamlessly unites these varied elements to create a masterpiece of "film fantastique" (as Hardy refers to it). On the surface, the film may seem overly simple, but it soon becomes apparent that there are many complex undercurrents to the narrative. The interaction between the promiscuous Celtic paganism of the Summerisle natives and the strident beliefs of the devoutly Christian policeman creates wonderful tension and conflict. Edward Woodward as police Sergeant Neil Howie, who is investigating the disappearance of a young girl, delivers a priceless performance that reaches new heights of excellence. Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle is also terrific, as are the rest of the supporting cast and extras. The justly famous ending is probably the most unforgettable of any film you are likely to see. It has to be seen to be appreciated. Even if you were able to predict it, the film's conclusion is very shocking and unsettling. There is an uncompromising, almost mystical starkness to the unfolding drama that is difficult to describe in words. Perhaps the most unconvincing criticism of The Wicker Man is that the ending is both depressing and dark. Well, yes, this is true to some extent, but it is hardly a basis for making negative claims or dismissing the film outright. Without giving it away, the ending exhibits a hypnotic quality that explodes with religious fury and heartfelt piety, thoughtless barbarism, haunting imagery and thundering music. In a very real sense, The Wicker Man teaches us the importance of fidelity to Christian beliefs in the midst of impending doom. The film does a tremendous job of depicting a conflict between two belief systems -- Celtic Paganism on the one hand and Christianity on the other -- in a contemporary, yet exotic setting. When taken together, these factors account for the enduring appeal of The Wicker Man and make it a unique cinematic experience that you will not soon forget.
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