Heavy Metal
Amazon.co.uk Review
As long as there is a need for adolescent male sexual fantasy, there will be an audience for Heavy Metal. Released in 1981 and based on stories from the graphic magazine of the same name, this silly and senseless the movie is an aimless, juvenile amalgam of disjointed stories and clashing visual styles. Hundreds of animators from around the world were employed, resulting in a near-total absence of creative cohesion in the finished product. It remains, for better and worse, a midnight-movie favourite for the stoner crowd–a movie best enjoyed by randy adolescents or near-adults in an altered state of consciousness.
With a framing story about a glowing green orb claiming to be the embodiment of all evil, the film shuttles through eight episodic tales of sci-fi adventure, each fuelled by some of the most wretched rock music to emerge from the late 1970s-early 80s period. The most consistent trademark is an abundance of blood-splattering violence and wet-dream sex, the latter involving a succession of huge-breasted babes who shed their clothes at the drop of a G-string. It’s rampantly brainless desire to fuel the young male libido becomes rather fun, and for all its incoherence Heavy Metal impresses for the ambitious artistry of its individual segments. Produced by Ivan Reitman (who went on to direct Ghostbusters), the voice talents include several Canadian veterans of the Second City improvisation comedy troupe–including John Candy, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty–many of whom went on to greater fame on the US TV series Saturday Night Live. –Jeff Shannon
DVD Special Features Feature-length Rough Cut with Optional Commentary by Carl MacEk, Production notes Theatrical trailer Documentary: Imagining Heavy Metal Art Galleries Deleted Scenes, Carl MacEk reading his book “Heavy Metal: The Movie” 1:85:1 widescreen anamorphic Dolby Digital 5.1
Well, where to start? I was introduced to this film about 5 years ago, and it is still the one film I can watch again and again.
The obvious male-fantasy aspects will probably put off women from watching this title. That said, it is ALWAYS worth hiding in the cupboard.
The short stories, tacked together with a very shallow segment involving a green orb that is ‘the root of all evil’, are glorious in their own right. Each and every one of these bizarre little tales is worth watching again and again, you’ll notice things you didn’t before on subsequent viewings.
DVD extras are superb, with a rough-cut, which isn’t even fully animated, but shows some aspects that didn’t appear in the final picture. There is even a massive selection of Heavy Metal Magazine covers in a photo gallery, bonus! Add to this a ‘making of & staff interview’ featurette, and we’re onto one fantastic DVD package, wonderful.
This is a film which you will either love or hate. Some people would never even submit to watching animated films in the first place (it’s their loss). If, like me, you like to watch things that are unusual, and not ‘by-numbers’, then you should give this a try.
100% recommended to the open minded male (and his understanding partner).
Rating: 5 / 5
Heavy Metal remains one of my all time favourite animated films. It blows a loud raspberry at political correctness and takes the viewer on a completely uninhibited, devil may care ride. Sure it surfs adolescent fantasies but has a truly great sense of humour which is at its best in three particular episodes – Harry Canyon, Captain Stern and So Beautiful, So Dangerous.
Due to wrangles over the rights to the soundtrack, the film did not make an official appearance on dvd and video for many years. The only copies available were crass quality illegal ones. Its arrival on dvd is therefore, belated but the wait has been worthwhile.
The 5.1 soundtrack is good on the dvd and is actually at a lower level than that of the vhs which was very loud but tended to obscure the dialogue. The dvd restores the dialogue to its correct place with the soundtrack playing second fiddle. The soundtrack is still great in 5.1 though and gives the viewer a great experience when played on a full home cinema set up.
The plot revolves around a mysterious green jewel called the Loc Nar which corners a terrified young girl at the film’s beginning. We learn that this Loc Nar is the sum of all evil as it recounts six tales to this girl.
The first tale is ‘Harry Canyon’ which is set in a futuristic but run down New York. A Chandleresque taxi driver by the name of Harry Canyon plies his trade amidst this decrepit city. There he encounters a girl and the Loc Nar. Sassy and full of humour, this is one of the best episodes.
The next tale is ‘Den’ which sees a geeky young lad transported by the Loc Nar to an alternate universe. There he is given a super hero’s body and sets out to save the world (and the girl, naturally).
Following this is the ‘Captain Stern’ tale which is full of humour and wry morality. All about the trial and subsequent escape of an intergalactic rascal – Captain Stern.
After this tale we see the 4th segmment which is titled ‘B17.’ This is a grim tale of horror from Dan O’Bannon who was one of the writers of ‘Alien.’ Here the crew of a B17 on a bombing mission in WW2 have survive when the Loc Nar pays them a visit in mid air….
Leaving behind the grim horror of ‘B17′ we then move on to the fast moving and fast humoured segment called ‘So Beautiful, So Dangerous.’ Featuring drug snorting aliens, a randy robot and bags of humour which tends to hit the viewer thick and fast. This is one of the funniest segments in the film.
Lastly we come to ‘Taarna’ which sees an attack on a peaceful city by a mutated army of warriors and the Loc Nar reveals its true purpose to the young girl that it has been recounting these tales to.
The extras on the dvd include some documentaries re the making of the film. There is also a deleted sequence called Neverland which originally would have been between the ‘Captain Stern’ and ‘B17′ segments.
You also get to know that the makers ran out of money and time in completing the film and this explains the variations in the quality of the animation. These tend to be most noticeable in ‘Taarna.’ If you compare the flying sequences to the rich and detailed animation on scenes like the dinosaur skeleton then you will see what I mean. However, this is negligible and does not detract from the enjoyment factor in any real way.
The music really makes the film tick though and the soundtrack is simply stunning, with contributions from the likes of Don Fender, Donald Fagen, Blue oyster Cult, Black Sabbath, Stevie Nicks, Devo, Nazareth and others. I bought the LP in 1981 after seeing the film and soon added the cd to that.
It has been a long wait for the official dvd release of this film but oh so worth it. Get a group of friends around, bung it on the home cinema, put your feet up and enjoy. Simple.
Rating: 5 / 5
Ahhh, I was so excited to relive the nostalgia, and watch some cool deleted scenes and a ‘making of’, but alas, what a let down.
Yes, this was a great film when I was 15, and maybe even in my ‘partying’ 20s, but Im afraid the animation feels so dated, the stories are just adolescent and plain now. Its nice to see Mobeius and Corbin again, and some funny huge breasted women but the wobbly animation looks drawn by artists not animators. Worse so, theres really only one deleted scene, which turned out to be what would of been one of the coolest stories/animations (what were they thinking!?)
The making of was hardly that, more like old farts trying to sell this movie again and reliving their stoner days…. where was any of the art design and actual ‘making of’?!?
The cool points were hearing some good old music again, and checking out some old magazine covers….
Well for 5 quid, what can you expect… I suppose its worth it just to see again, but with todays manga/anime and cg, I doubt someone seeing this for the first time will enjoy it…
Rating: 3 / 5
Excellent Short Films, based around an evil green orb. Such a legend in itself
Being highly interested in animation and manga i was pleased that each film has a slighty different drawing style and so theres a favourite film for everyone.
Great music, and great charectors. And i was amazed at the high quality. Only downfall (in my opinion), in the last short film its really quite a slow story line. But it still rocks.
Highly recommend
Rating: 4 / 5
The summary provides an accurate description. The movie gives five short stories all about the evil that is caused by a green glowing sphere. The stories themselves are interesting in a quirky sort of way. You’ll probably like this video if you like 80s and 90s sci/fi & fantasy comics; the animation is taken almost directly from that genre.
Rating: 4 / 5