Zardoz"I have seen the future and it doesn't work." |
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Rating: ***** |
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Age restriction?It starts "The Gun is Good, the Penis is Bad!" What do you think? |
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SFTV.info Doctor SciFi has picked those films that are absolutely essential viewing for SF&F fans. |
Zardoz (1974) |
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John Boorman had just made "Deliverance" and would shortly go on to "Exorcist II" and "Excalibur". In Zardoz, he has enormous fun creating a strange dystopian world of the future which no doubt has some inspiration from H. G. Wells and Aldous Huxley. The people in this film are divided into two distinct groups - barbaric and intellectual. Viewers of the film are also divided into two groups. Some hate it - particularly those who are SFX-heads and can't see beyond the moderate acting and what they see as "pretentious" themes. Others think its wonderful - those who focus on the story, the dialogue and the lyrical look at classic themes. If you don't take it seriously, allow yourself a laugh at times and let the beauty and philosophy pervade your consciousness, then you should be able to appreciate this film! And whichever "camp" you end up in, Doctor SciFi says any SF fan must see this film at least once! It is, after all, one of those rare films that is proper Science Fiction. Zed {Sean Connery} is one of the "Brutals" that worship the big stone head called Zardoz. [What? James Bond in a loincloth? - Oh yes!] He is one of the Exterminators, chosen to keep numbers of Brutals in check. He finds his way into the Vortex - the preserve of the "Eternals". They live forever, are intellectually elitist and have a very easy life. But they are bored and have some very serious problems, (of course). Zed meets the delectable Consuella {Charlotte Rampling}, May {Sara Kestelman} and Friend {John Alderton} (the last of these having some cracking lines!) Trouble is already in Paradise, but the presence of the sexual Zed really stirs things up. Their philosophical views are expounded, then exploded by Boorman. We even meet Zardoz himself, and Death. The biq questions underlying the movie are, "What is the price of living forever?" and the flipside, "What is the price of enjoying a full and rich life?" Are the two mutually exclusive? Yes thats right, a movie addressing big questions and not particularly bothered about flashy special effects. The budget for the costumes also seems to have been limited as most characters wear very little - if you're a Brutal, a big nappy (diaper) will do you - if you're an eternal, the odd bit of silk is enough! You might love it or loathe it, but you shouldn't ignore it. |
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