Review of Heavy Metal (1981) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012
Based on the extremely popular comic book series, producer Ivan Reitman brought some of the stories to the big screen, it's an anthology of stories, revolving around a mysterious glowing orb known as Loc-Nar, which brings evil to those who come into contact with it.
The stories include Harry Canyon, a noirish tale of a taxi driver who encounters the orb, as does a nerdy teenager in Den, Captain Sternn has the Orb coming into the hands of a witness in a trial, B-17 has the orb encountering a plane on a bomb-run, So Beautiful, So Dangerous, has two Pentagon consultants being abducted, and the tale of Taarna has a beautiful warrior maiden fighting mutated barbarians.
Although the animation does look a tad ropey in places, (where's Ralph Bakshi when you need him??) In the long term, it makes for visually entertaining viewing, it features the voices of Reitman's friends John Candy, Harold Ramis and Eugene Levy.
It's a dark film, with stunning imagery and a biting black satire. As well as an epic eerie, haunting score by Elmer Bernstein, it also features a rock soundtrack with songs by Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad, Devo, Journey, Sammy Hagar, Nazareth, Cheap Trick and Stevie Nicks.
Definitely a product of the 1980's then.
This review of Heavy Metal (1981) was written by Stuart K on 23 Apr 2012.
Heavy Metal has generally received positive reviews.
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