Product Description Based on the fantastical illustrated magazine Heavy Metal, producer Ivan Reitman enlists the help of some of Hollywood's animation masters to create the otherworldly tale of a glowing green orb from outer space that spreads destruction throughout the galaxy. Only when encountered by its one true enemy, to whom it is inexplicably drawn, will goodness prevail throughout the universe. Richly and lavishly drawn, the vignettes of the orb's dark victories include the character voices of John Candy, Harold Ramis and a pounding soundtrack by Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Grand Funk Railroad, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Nazareth, Stevie Nicks, Riggs, and Trust. Highly imaginative and full of surprising special effects, Heavy Metal set the standard for the alternative contemporary animation. An intoxicating experience not to be missed! .com 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 (possibly the greatest publication to simultaneously provoke imagination and masturbation), the film has since become the most popular single title in Columbia/TriStar's entire film library. That's an amazing fact considering just how silly and senseless the movie really is--an aimless, juvenile amalgam of disjointed stories and clashing visual styles, employing hundreds of animators from around the world with a near-total absence of creative cohesion. It remains, for better and worse, a midnight-movie favorite 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 fueled by some of the most wretched rock music to emerge from the 1980s. 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 all quite fun in its rampantly brainless desire to fuel the young male libido, and for all its incoherence Heavy Metal remains impressive for the ambitious artistry of its individual segments. Courtesy of producer Ivan Reitman (who'd just scored a hit with Stripes), voice talents include several Canadian veterans of Second City comedy, including John Candy, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty. --Jeff Shannon P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Additional Features As with several of their other popular "tentpole" titles (most notably Ghostbusters), Columbia/TriStar has given the red-carpet treatment to this special-edition DVD, and it stands alone as a superb archive of Heavy Metal-mania. An impressive gallery of production artwork ranges from preliminary pencil sketches to finished cel composites. Deleted scenes (originally removed for length consideration) give overdue recognition to the impressive "Neverwhere" segment--a visual chronicle of the entire history of evil--and there's a generous gallery of Heavy Metal magazine covers that die-hard collectors will surely appreciate. A presentation of the film's feature-length rough cut (along with expert commentary by Carl Macek) offers deeper appreciation for the sheer scale of this international production. Topping it off is a 1999 documentary featuring interviews with many of the artists and technicians who created the film. While even they acknowledge that Heavy Metal makes hardly any sense, they convincingly argue for the film's uniqueness, and the pleasure that comes from having participated in the creation of a groundbreaking and phenomenally successful animated feature. --Jeff Shannon See more
A**R
"A Psychedelic Double Shot of Sex, Steel, and Soundtrack"
The Heavy Metal / Heavy Metal 2000 double pack is less a movie collection and more a hallucinatory plunge into the fever dreams of adolescent imagination—where swords glow, spaceships roar, and the laws of gravity are subject to mood.The original Heavy Metal (1981) is a glorious, unruly anthology—each segment a splash of ink from a different comic book artist’s subconscious. The animation is uneven, sometimes even crude, but that’s part of its charm. It doesn’t aim for polish; it aims for impact. The soundtrack—featuring Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, and Devo—feels like the soul of a teenage stereo system given cinematic form. It’s both juvenile and strangely poetic, like sci-fi pulp filtered through a lava lamp.Heavy Metal 2000, released nearly two decades later, lacks the anthology structure and wild diversity of the original. But it compensates with a sleek, darker narrative and a fiercer heroine. Julie Strain’s voice performance, coupled with a more modern metal soundtrack, gives the film a singular, relentless energy. It doesn't quite soar to the mythic weirdness of its predecessor, but it’s no cheap sequel—it’s a bruising, neon-hued war cry of its own.Together, they form a fascinating double feature—one anarchic and anarchistic, the other focused and ferocious. These aren’t films for everyone. But for those who grew up reading Heavy Metal magazine under the covers with a flashlight, this two-pack feels like coming home.Four stars. One for the soundtrack, one for the style, one for the guts, and one for the fact that something this bizarre exists at all.
D**Y
A one off
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.
J**L
Adult animated classic; product of its time
A loosely held together string of animated vignettes, set to hard rock and metal classics of the time, Heavy Metal is intended to be a fun showcase for different animation styles. This isn't high cinema, but it is a heck of a lot of fun to watch and reminisce with. Turn on, tune out, enjoy the insanity, and be transported to a different time - literally and stylistically.
J**S
Perfect!
Perfect condition! So happy with my purchase.
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