Review of Zardoz (1974) by Todd S — 15 Oct 2005

[font=Times][color=#000000]So now I know what an acid trip looks like on film. Seriously though, I enjoyed the basic plot. Immortals, grown tired of their endless (literally) life with no changes or deviations. The rest of the outside world is full of ?brutals,? humans who have regressed to primitive Stone Age levels and enforcers, humans who (through Zardoz) have gained a little knowledge and some power through guns. Zardoz is implementing through his enforcers a vicious population control program.[/color][/font].

[font=Times][color=#000000] Zed is lead to an ancient library through Zardoz?s trickery and there he learns to read and eventually learns through his knowledge that Zardoz is no god. This leads him to seek out the truth and also to seek out revenge for a perceived betrayal.[/color][/font].

[font=Times][color=#000000][size=2] So, that?s a pretty nice, and original post apocalyptic story. The problem is the plot gets drowned in various psychedelic scenes, gratuitous nudity, and a weak soundtrack. The plot gets wedged between these wild scenes becomes muddled. Sean Connery does well enough with the part he?s given (Zed) but he too gets (literally at times) drowned out and covered over by the psychedelic trip out elements of the film.[/size][/color][/font].