Rating: 
Summary: Priceless time capsule of music and animation
Review: "Heavy Metal" is a loose (very loose) anthology of sci-fi and fantasy animation linked by a strange and malignant green orb. Sometimes called "Loc-Nar", often in different sizes, sometimes having little connection at all in the stories, the orb speaks with a voice obviously meant to suggest James Earl Jones's Vader-shtick. The stories have little to do with each other or make much sense either. Most of the stories are hit and miss - obviously showing different influences. Some are funny, though some were obviously intended to be funnier than they actually were. Some of the episodes seem meaningless but the strongest ones outweigh the weaker, and a fair amount of skin dominates them all. Besides a steady stream of (then) contemporary metal, the sound of the film is punctuated by the voices of many alumni of "Second City", including Harold Ramis (most memorably as an alien who can fly spaceships while he's stoned) and Eugene Levy (finding new fame as a character actor in the "American Pie" movies) as a square-jawed space pirate and criminal with "an angle", but most notably the late, great John Candy who excels as D.E.N. (SCTV fans who may remember Candy's alter-ego, the vile Johnny LaRue should catch this flick. This is his "Crane Shot"). While the abundance of female flesh is meant to be arouse, much of it looks forced, and the female characters themselves look like art-school mannequins (though belonging to a school owned by Russ Meyer).
The first story, "Harry Canyon" sets the pace for the rest of the film - with sex and violence surrounding the pursuit of the Loc-Nar. An obvious influence to "The Fifth Element", "Harry Canyon" has mobsters menacing a scientist's (obviously beautiful) daughter in a futuristic NYC in their hunt for the mystical orb. Only Canyon, a seedy cab driver can save her, but will somebody get too close to Canyon himself? The flick hits another high-point with D.E.N., but unfortunately doesn't sustain it. "Captain Sternn" is fun, but perhaps a bit too-much so for its own good - it's fun, but Loc-Nar's influence isn't quite clear. The story has Sternn on trial for his multitude of crimes, but none of them involve Loc-Nar (instead, the orb is found by Sternn's henchman - a dim-witted loser with a few surprises). There's a short bit involving zombies on a stricken WWII bomber - the sort of story that was old hat for EC comics like "Tales from the Crypt" or "House of Secrets". I have yet to get the point of "So beautiful, so dangerous" which involves flying spaceships (and writing scripts, I guess) while high on "nyborg". That leaves only "Tarna" - but what a story that is, with the emotional and narrative coherence missing from just about every other story. (Even "D.E.N." seems rushed).
It's easy to dismiss this flick as an excuse for sophomoric humor, animated nudity and loud music. Because this is an Ivan Reitman project, and many of the voices are easily recognized as SCTV alumni, it's easy to dismiss it as some bad joke. Instead, it's a priceless time capsule of loud '70's music and animation that had yet to succumb to the influence of anime. Like the Loc-Nar, the music is also a bit of relic - though none of the songs will jump out at you, they stem from a time before "Heavy Metal" came to espouse its present worship of nihilism, its past adulation of the occult, and the mounds of big hair that came between.
Rating:
Summary: Priceless time capsule of music and animation
Review: "Heavy Metal" is a loose (very loose) anthology of sci-fi and fantasy stories linked by a strange and malignant green orb. Sometimes called "Loc-Nar", often in different sizes, sometimes having little connection at all in the stories, the orb speaks with a voice obviously meant to suggest James Earl Jones's Vader-shtick. The stories have little to do with each other or make much sense either. In "Soft Landing" the "wrap around" tale in which the orb is introduced, Loc-Nar is presented by a returning astronaut to his daughter. The astronaut lands after being jettisoned from an orbiting spaceship in a Corvette Convertible. Dispatching the astronaut, the orb clues his young and virginal daughter into her fate. Because her body holds a nascent form of the power that will destroy it, the orb must destroy the girl...but not before showing her some stories which testify to its power and corrupting influences. Most of the stories are hit and miss - obviously showing different influences. Some are funny, though some were obviously intended to be funnier than they actually were (like the coke-sniffing aliens that accidentally kidnap a beautiful woman while rounding up malfunctioning androids from earth). Some of the episodes seem meaningless (like the WWII pilot who finds his crew turned into zombies), but the strongest ones outweigh the weaker, especially the killer ("Tarna, the Terrakian") that ends the flick. (I can't recognize a single SCTV voice in "Tarna", an ommission I think was deliberate to add weight to it).It's easy to dismiss this flick as an excuse for sophomoric humor, animated nudity (as opposed to the more inert kind you see on MTV) and loud music. Because this is an Ivan Reitman project, and many of the voices are easily recognized as SCTV alumni (especially the late, great John Candy in several roles, most prominently as Harlan Ellison's epic D.E.N.) it's easy to dismiss it as some bad joke. Instead, it's a priceless time capsule of loud '70's music (it was actually released at the end of the "me decade") and animation that had yet to succumb to the influence of anime (so bereft of such influences, that the flick looks like it was made on another planet). The music is also a bit of relic - though none of the songs will jump out at you, they stem from a time before "Heavy Metal" came to espouse its present worship of nihilism, its past adulation of the occult, and the mounds of big hair that came between.
Rating:
Summary: Animated Playboy
Review: This is an excellent blend of sex, humor and sex(and anyone who tells you that breasts have nothing to do with this movies appeal is lying though his teeth.) This a who's who of the eighties with voices provided by John Candy, John Blusie, Bill Muray and many others. My favorite segment in general is Harry Canon the New York City cab driver. Also notable is the very last sketch and the b-24 sketch. All of the sexual innuendo in this movie has a message and a point (you just have to look closely). Overall-Good flick, I just wish I had been in time to catch it in the theater
Rating: 
Summary: Good DVD -- lousy movie.
Review: Okay, for those who like Heavy Metal, this DVD has a ton of features. So, if you like the film, it's a good DVD to get. But ... I remember back before DVDs, for a long time, this movie was pretty much unavailable. It acheived a mythic status as a lost animation classic. And then, it would come into a town, play at a rep cinema, and at least a few people (like me) would realize that its "classic" status was merely hype. The film ties together a bunch of short stories. And there are several themes that run through the stories -- violence, blood, nudity, big breasts... true, it's not cerebral stuff. But hey, if you get off fantasizing about cartoon characters, maybe this is a classic. But for me, I see more intelligence and maturity, more humour, more risk-taking in one five-minute, old-fashioned (ie: pre-Michael Jordan) Bugs Bunny cartoon than I do in this entire movie. Rocky and Bullwinkle, the Flintstone, the Simpsons ... there are lots of cartoons that are smarter, wittier. But then, how many geeks have strange fantasies about Wilma Flintstone? This film is not good science fiction. All it does is push the boundaries of college-age immature male fantasies.
Rating: 
Summary: WORDS CANNOT DECRIBE
Review: No review is needed, one is not necessary, for this is a landmark film.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting -- In A Tasteless Way
Review: Ridiculously endowed women, a glowing green orb from the nether regions of space, and a soundtrack that comes from the core of the 70s (or so it sounds!) -- all these are the very embodiment of Heavy Metal. Granted, it isn't targeted at a female audience (in fact, I think you'd have to be an adolescent male to truly appreciate it in all its perversity). Still, it's a piece of classic animation from the generation that brought us E.T., The Smurfs, and Return of The Jedi. So go ahead, watch it and wince.
Rating: 
Summary: My theory is correct, most Anime [is bad].
Review: This is considered by amny to be one of the top Animes of the 80's, why? Granted Akira deserves it's rank as one of the best but this, this is sad. I was greatly unimpressed. It hits the average Anime level, pathetic.
This at least had a reasonable plot, multiple stories told by a floating orb that kills people in a flash. This story throws at us stories from Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy, Comedy, and Action. All are pathetic.
The voice acting is done primarily by John Candy, Harold Ramis, and other lesser actors. All the tales have at least on scene of Nudity. It doesn't matter if it's sex, flashing, or jsut getting naked.
The problem was that I had my expectations to high, and the let down was so tremendouse that it [is bad] and I will never watch it again.
Only watch if you like the music or are a hardcore Anime fan.
Rating:
Summary: The best sci-fi movie to be animated.
Review: If you think all the best "adult" cartoons come from Japan, you are wrong, this movie (from Canada with some scenes filmed in the U.S.A.) is cool. It has all the common themes of an anime: big breasts, guns, swords, badass aliens, and best of all lots of naked woman and gore. Get it as soon as you can.
With the voices of Richard Romanus, John Candy and many more. 1981. RCA. 94 MINS.
Rating:
Summary: Animated Trash
Review: In case you couldn't tell by the scantily clad, ridiculously endowed sex object on its cover, "Heavy Metal" is little more than Playboy dipped into a vat of poisoned ink. The story line is weak -- it had potential! Just imagine a growing green orb being the root of all evil! -- and is primarily based on carnal relations between the underdeveloped, 2 dimensional characters. It will certainly cater to anyone with a one track mind or an admiration for empty, shallow sexual scenes. Erotic? Hardly. If you're looking for an interesting animated fantasy tale that makes sense and actually has-- GASP! -- a plot, then check out Bakshi's "Wizards", and save yourself some time.
Rating:
Summary: "It's my Loc-Nar!" "No, it's MY Loc-Nar!"
Review: A true cult classic, and not only an awesome cartoon, but one of the greatest GUY movies EVER. The animation rules...the soundtrack rules...the story rules...the voices sound a tad dated, but so what? This movie is pretty much about nothing at all really, but it's so awesome that you want to come along for the ride. A late-at-night film- put the kids to bed before you see this. You won't be dissapointed.
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