Wizards
by Ralph Bakshi
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bob Holt, David Proval, Jesse Welles, Jim Connell, Richard RomanusDirector: Ralph Bakshi
Brand: Fox
Writer: Ralph Bakshi
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
Published: 2004-05-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-05-25
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Wizards
Movie Review: A Timeless Animated Tale Concerning Mankind's Ever-Rejuvenating Blight of Fascism
Summary: 5 Stars
"An illiumanating history bearing on the everlasting struggle for world supremacy fought between the powers of technology and magic."
This intriguing premise lured me in, and by the end, I realized that I was witness to one of the all-time great anti-war anime's, which succeeded in being quite entertaining as well. Films like this seem to be relics of the past, as our culture continues to strive towards ever-increasing levels of sterility and mediocrity concerning all art produced for the masses, especially mass-marketed films and music.
I have had no known previous exposure to Ralph Bakshi, so I cannot comment on how this film stacks up against his other works like "Fritz the Cat", "Heavy Traffic", "Coonskin", "Lord of the Rings", "American Pop", "Hey Good Lookin'" or "Fire and Ice". But I did find his style to be a one-of-a-kind visual feast, with a brilliantly conceived plot, and plenty of tripped-out atmospherics (check out that hippy-dippy score!) sure to delight the aurae stimulated herb smokers among us.
The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by nuclear holocaust, where radiation in the "badlands" has turned man into hideously deformed mutants. In the goodlands there lives Delia, "Queen of the Fairies" who one night, under grave premonitions, gives birth to a set of twins who are the epitomy of polar opposites. Avatar, an elvish looking wizard, is kind and good, who spends his time growing up entertaining his benevolent mother. Blackwolf, a treacherous mutant, spends his youth torturing small animals.
The film moves ahead 3000 years where Blackwolf has taken control of the mutants in a wasteland called "Scortch", and sends the monsters he controls out to obliterate the believers of magic.
My favorite lines of the movie come from an old elf who is teaching the village children the wisdom of the ages.
"My children, the only true form of technology is nature. All other forms of man-made technology are perversions. The ancient dictators used technology to enslave the masses." He is immediately slain with a sophisticated lazer-gun by one of Blackwolf's assassin's, a red-suited robot named Necron 99.
During some of the frequent scenes utilizing the rotoscoping technique, (tracing a live-action film, and then animating the drawings) we are shown sequences of how Blackwolf's previous attempts at world domination are thwarted until he uncovers the secrets of ancient warfare and channels the spirit of Hitler.
Now, The world once again faces imminent destruction and domination from the tyrannical forces of fascism.
Blackwolf's diametrical brother Avatar lives peacefully in a phallus-shaped castle in the goodlands with an excitable, mask-faced wacko, "The President", and his daughter, the buxom fairie princess, Elinore.
After a sneak-attack in which Necron 99 succeeds in assassinating the President, Avatar uses his magic to subdue the killer, and seemingly re-programs him as the aptly named "Peace". "...for this is what he hopefully will bring to pass."
The remainder of the movie is a hypnotizing, psychedelic journey following the exploits of Avatar, Elinore, Peace, and the leader of the elves, "Weehawk", as they set off to destroy Blackwolf, and save the good creatures from the sure doom his rule represents.
Although in no ways representative of my spiritual views, I found myself quite empathetic to the message espoused in the under-riding, parabolic themes of this film.
I would pay no heed to the obviously narrow-minded hacks who have given this one or two stars for a variety of unenlightened reasons, and check this fine work out for yourself. Esp. if you are a fan of anime which seeks to do more than the shallow aims of modern Disney and Pixar.
One of the corporate reviews goes on and on about how this film is filled to the gills with ill-advised attempts at humor and how uninspired it is. Well, I guess that's all in how your mind works. Some will no doubt take it that way, but I found the "jokesy" parts to be a skillful form of overt satire, skewering the evil desires found in the dark, desperate hearts of treacherous beasts.
I would also recommend Rene Laloux's 1973 epic, "Fantastic Planet", and the short film "Cat Soup", as brilliant pieces of psychedelic, entertaining and intelligent anime with subtle anti-war undertones.
As for me, I will now try to get my filthy rookers on the rest of Bakshi's catalogue.
P.S. Anyone know when Laloux's "Time Masters" will be back in print?
Summary of Wizards
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