Customer Reviews

Wizards [VHS]

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Wizards (1977) aka War Wizards (the name was changed at the behest of George Lucas as he thought two movies released at the same time by the same studio with war in the title, his being Star Wars, would have been off-putting to movie goers) written and directed by Ralph Bakshi, was certainly a departure from some of his previous adult animation works, Fritz the Cat (1972) and Heavy Traffic (1973), but provided Bakshi the opportunity to show he could create a animated feature for all viewers, young and old, that spoke to the viewer on intelligent terms. Were all viewers ready to hear what he had to say? No, and given the subsequent release of Star Wars (like two weeks later) Wizards, which had been enjoying a great amount of success, got pushed out of theaters to allow for space for George Lucas' epic space opera. With this release of Wizards on DVD, maybe now his film will garner the recognition it deserved so long ago.

The story goes that the Earth gets consumed in apocalyptic fire as man unleashes his most terrible achievement upon himself, and many years after his destruction, various forms of life begin to come forth, including fairies, elves, pixies along with mutants, beings once humans but changed over thousands of years of exposure to radiation. Almost all technology is gone, wiped from the face of the Earth, and, in its' place, magic has prospered. Born of the same mother are two brothers who become powerful wizards, one good, Avatar, and the other evil, Blackwolf. After a tremendous battle, Avatar vanquishes Blackwolf, but not before Blackwolf issues a statement that indicates he will not go quietly into that good night.

Blackwolf, now residing in the poisoned lands with the mutants and nasty things, puts together a massive army, but one lacking proper motivation, and, subsequently, they are easily defeated any time they are sent forth into battle. Tired of his inability to advance proper on his enemies and gain ground, Blackwolf commands that his followers dig up once forgotten technology, hoping to find aid within the scattered remnants of the powerful technology of old. His salvation comes in the form of propaganda films created by the Germans during WWII. Likening himself to the leader of the German forces during this past conflict, Blackwolf uses the films to not only motivate his troops, but to instill fear and dread among his enemies, showing the films in the sky during the battles.

This prompts Avatar, his female fairy charge Elinore, the leader of the Elves named Weehawk, and Blackwolf's captured/converted assassin robot re-named peace, to embark on an adventure to discover the source of Blackwolf's new power, and destroy it. Can this heroic group effectively end Blackwolf's reign of terror and end his powerful war machine before all is lost? There's a nice bit of irony at the end, one that really suited the feature.

So, is the film any good? I have read many opinions that will tell you it's not, and I can understand why this film would put some off, but I really enjoyed the movie. Bakshi's goal, as I understood it, was to create an animated feature with heart, one that didn't talk down to its' audience, as do other animated features released by other companies, i.e. Disney, do at times. His animation style definitely unconventional, is certainly distinctive, and swims with realism, despite the surface superficialities. I really loved how he incorporated live action footage into the film, enveloping it with animation, creating an eerie superimposed background to various scenes within the movie. The film was rated PG at the time of it's release, so I would be wary of showing it to younger viewers, but I think it's a really wonderful alternative full of heart to the shiny, happy, uber-clean, product tie-in animation put out by the larger profit-driven studios. There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a profit, certainly, but sometimes it seems like these films tend to cater to the lowest common denominator, and be more contrived to make money rather than entertain. The animation may seem crude, disturbing, and misogynistic at times, but this is animation with the sugar coating peeled away, mirroring elements within our society. Do people want to see this in an animated feature? Maybe not, but I enjoyed it, but may find myself hard presses to recommend it to all but the more discriminating viewer.

The picture looks really good here in wide screen anamorphic, and there are some wonderful special features including a commentary track by writer/director Ralph Bakshi, theatrical trailers and TV spots for the film, a still gallery with conceptual drawings, and a featurette titled `Ralph Bakshi: The Wizard of Animation'. This provides a wonderful look into the making of Wizards, and Bakshi also provides tons of background on himself, how he got started, his difficulties and successes within the animation business, his motivations for his films, his contempt for animation that talks down to audiences, and his experiences with various individuals during his career. This is the only featuette he's doing for any of his releases, mainly due to his affinity for the project. Some of his comments, especially the ones hinting towards various conspiracies leveled at him, make him sound a little nutty, but make for entertaining viewing. All in all, an excellent release of a great little animated film that went against the conventional grain. Also, keep an ear out for a voice appearance by Mark Hamill as Sean, king of the fairies.

Cookieman108

While it is certainly not for young children, older teens and adults will get a real kick out of "Wizards". Set in a post-apocalyptic world wrought by radiation due to a nuclear holocaust, most humans have died, and the population consists mainly of elves, fairies, dwarves, and then the mutants. The world is in danger from the threat of technology, brought upon by the evil wizard, Blackwolf. It is up to his brother, the comical, yet good hearted wizard, Avatar, to stop him. Joining Avatar in his quest are Weehawk, chief of a tribe of warrior elves, Elenor, fairy princess of the land of Montagar, and Peace, a former assassin of Blackwolf's (formerly known as Necron 99) who changes his ways and fights against the threat of technology. The WWII references abound, and there are many more adult-oriented references throughout. It dares to go where cartoons usually do not, making allusions to sex, prostitution, religion, and there's even a rather racist Vietnam reference if you can catch it. However, I still highly recommend "Wizards", because in all it's brashness, it deserves to be seen. What the animation lacks in quality, it more than makes up for in imagination. It's quite funny, and it also delivers some unexpected twists. I personally really like the way it was done. The music really seems to fit the overall style of it, and the wonderful character designs and voice acting really pulls it all together. I definetely recommend it to anyone searching for something creative and different, and I'm sure any fan of cult classics will definetely want to check it out. However, I stress the importance of having an open mind. I think those who are more open to controversial subject matter will be able to better enjoy it, with all it's dark humor and it's alternative-type feel. I think it is something that everyone should see at least once. It deserves more credit than it has been given, and I think that it will really make people stop and think about our world, and about themselves.

Unless my memory has failed me utterly this film came out just as I was finishing up graduate school. Bakshi was already something of a god to the revolutionarily inclined of my generation, and there was no question but that a group of us were going to see it. We were wowed, enthralled, and heartened by Bakshi's brilliant combination of a strong story and inventive animation back then. And today, years later, I found myself thinking feeling the same way while watching it again.

For three weeks the film was a smash hit, when one of those weird accidents of fate happen and Wizards was pushed of the stage by the arrival of Star Wars. Suddenly Bakshi's fable was relegated to fond memorys, only to reappear in retrospectives and campus theaters. As you will find out when you listen to the excellent Bakshi interview (more of a monologue), Wizards was the film dearest to the artists heart, the one he felt was his best accomplishment.

Despite its rough language, partial nudity, and high level of violence, Bakshi though of this as a children's tale, albeit one that hewed closer to the true than the sugar coated fantasies that were coming out of Disney's studios. Set in far post apocalyptic times, two brothers are born to a queen of the fairies. One at distorted mutant (Blackwolf) and the other normal (Avatar), both potent wizards. The inevitable clash between then happened, and this is the story of the end of a 3,000 year struggle between the two over the fate of the world.

The story shifts between the two wizards. First the machinations and plots of Blackwolf, as he unearths archaic Nazi technology and turns it into an weapon designed to erase the magical from the world. Then the journey of Avatar and two elvish friends, Elinore and the warrior Weehawk, who are seeking the source of Blackwolf's power.

The story is told with a deft hand as both the narrator and the characters use humor more than dramatic horror to bring the lessons of the film home. The horror, especially that of the battlefield and the aftermath of war is never far behind. In fact it is the these grim scenes that Bakshi displays some of his greatest genius in illustration, using stock footage, illustration, and collage to build an unnerving context.

Even years later, jaded by many hours watching anime, this film still works artistically, and works well. In addition, its messages about the risks of over-dependence on technology and the inevitable losses of war ae just as fresh now, if not fresher. Bakshi was right, Wizards is his best work.

The plot of Wizards is your basic Star Wars or Lord of the Rings fare (no accident that Bakshi was hired to animate that film as well) where a ragtag band of heroes marches straight into the heart of the evil empire to somehow topple the bad guy, though they aren't really sure how they will do that until they get there.

Far more entertaining than its cookie cutter plot is the animated film's style. Mix the violence and psychological probing of 90's Japanese anime (for example, Evangelion) with the rock, sex and attitude of 80's Heavy Metal (the magazine and film, not the musical genre) and push it backwards into the experimental hippy 1970's and you have the cult classic that is Wizards. If you enjoy any of those genres, or if you like cult films like Tetsuo II: Body Hammer, Bakshi's previous Fritz the Cat or even Rocky Horror, you will be entertained by Wizards.

The characters are fun, the narration is haunting, the Bakshi animation -- while annoying at times -- is interesting in an acid-trip kind of way, and the climactic moment where the two enemy brothers representing technology (evil) and magic (good) square off is great.

C'mon, if Leonard Maltin calls it "turgid and unappealing" (above) it has to be worth a look, right?

This is one of the most original and creative films of the fantasy genre. It takes place after a global nuclear war. Two brothers, each a wizard in his own right, go toe to toe in their final confrontation. The film uses a lot of slapstick for comic relief mainly because some of the subject matter is so serious. Bakshi juxtaposes magic against technology and sixties style love against Nazi style hate. The overlying message is that somtimes when it comes down to it, the ends may very well justify the means, and that those who hate cause their own destruction.

Bakshi's use of stock footage is masterful, and his animation is top notch. The characters are very archetypal, but each has a quirk or flaw that makes them unique. Also the voice acting is quite good.

This is probably one of the most misunderstood fantasy films ever made. But once you get past the presentation and look at it on a deeper level, you realise that it is a stroke of genius.

When I was a kid, there was this seedy neighborhood theater that allowed us kids to see rated R movies... double-features for a buck. Featured one week was "The Lord Of Rings" and "Wizards".. I loved this movie when I first saw it. I sat there... slack-jawed and shocked at all the sex, swearing, and drug scenes I saw in this cartoon...It was the coolest thing a 12year old kid like me ever saw...that was then... back when the movie had an "R" (or "X") rating... I recently saw the butchered "PG" version of this flick... what happened?.. I dunno what these other reviewers saw... Am I the only guy who remembers Avatar the wizard smoking from a bong? The rampant cursing when .."they killed Fritz?" I hope someday they release the "Theatrical Version" of this movie... cuz this cotton candy version cut up for the 80's is pathetic

A movie lost between others, this feature used to be a staple "Midnight Show" along with Clockwork Orange & Rocky Horror. Its a simple tale that is easy to follow and exemplifies one of the oldest lessons learnable. Those who choose to forget the past are doomed to repeat it. As the evil wizard comes across ancient film of the 3rd Reich, he sees the discipline & motivation as a way to train his own (formerly inept) army. But the world (post apocolypse) has become a better, quieter, more beautiful place & most folks don't want to change. Enter the younger, seemingly simple wizard brother to "fix" the problem once and for all.
Simple to follow, an easy movie to enjoy with friends/family or even alone. There are scores of KeyNotes throughout the movie to base a college level thesis on... but as a linear story, the less you attempt to "make something mean something else" the more you'll enjoy the ride. PEACE BABY!!

For me, at least, I think the rotoscoping looks really cool. There's a really nice mixed-media quality about the look of the whole feature that's really pretty revolutionary, and Scorch, the evil mutant kingdom, looks super cool. Clearly Bakshi and company didn't have a lot of money to make this film, but they made an awful lot of bold choices with the money they did have. Mixing cell animation with still drawings with live action and rotoscoped images is very powerful and quite beautiful. It would have been nice if the cell animation had the character design details that you see in the stills (which have a very Pini-like character), but, alas, there wasn't much enough money for that (much like his LOTR that came out the next year after Wizards).
Are there some cheesy moments? Sure, I think the line about "They have technology and we only have love" was a little over the top, but the ending, with the trick learned from mother, has stayed with me my whole life. I watched this movie as a kid, and the ending was so powerful an impression that it made me seek out this film as an adult. I admit that I like Scorch and the mutants more than the elves and fairies, but, much like in his LOTR, the rotoscoping techniques and detailed backgrounds tend to work better with evil.
This is an experimental, revolutionary film, much like most of Bakshi's work, and ought to be appreciated on that level. If you're looking for something a little blander, or more homogeneous visually, this isn't for you. But if you're looking for something a little different, a little deeper, I highly recommend this film.

When I show this film, generally people are really into it.

Ralph Bakshi's Tolkien-esque animated film WIZARDS (1977) is a surreal depiction of life on Earth hundreds of thousands of years following a devastating nuclear holocaust. Humanoids are now divided into two groups, one a vast race of multifarious mutants who embrace the remnants of science and technology, the other a loose society of peaceable elves, dwarfs, and fairies who abhor pre-holocaust technology and instead practice a lifestyle based on magic and wizardry. The mutants are governed by the depraved, warmongering mutant Blackwolf; the elves and fairies look to the wizard Avatar, Blackwolf's dwarfish fraternal twin brother, for leadership. Hatred and resentment towards his happy-go-lucky brother spurs Blackwolf to amass his mutant subjects into a great army, and he invades Avatar's kingdom with a Nazi-like fury. The fate of the Earth and its inhabitants, then, will ultimately be decided in a violent bout of sibling rivalry.

Writer/director Bakshi started his career in animated films at the age of 18, at which time he was hired by the Terrytoons Studio to paint or opaque animation cels. He quickly worked his way up through the ranks, ultimately helming episodes of made-for-TV kiddie cartoon series like DEPUTY DAWG (1959-1972) and SPIDER-MAN (1967-1970). But Bakshi longed to create films with more substance, films for a more mature audience. So in 1972, he and producer Steve Krantz put together the low-budget film FRITZ THE CAT, a semi-pornographic feature-length cartoon--the first to earn an "X" rating--based on Robert Crumb's popular "underground" comic. After another X-rated counter-culture feature, 1973's HEAVY TRAFFIC, Bakshi created a controversial racial satire called COONSKIN (1975) that Paramount immediately pulled from theaters after initial showings stirred up public outrage and protest. Bakshi then decided it was better to play it safe and try for something more mainstream, and the result was 1977's sci-fi/fantasy flick WIZARDS.

Bakshi was apparently not too familiar with the two genres that he grafted together for WIZARDS, as the storyline is often confusing and the characterizations uneven. But in spite of the weak narrative and such, the film has become a cult classic since its initial release because of its stunning and groundbreaking visuals. Bakshi and his crew intermix traditional animation with multiple styles of static comic-book art, tinted live-action backgrounds, augmented rotoscoped animation, and even Nazi propaganda footage from WWII. Stirred into this mix is a myriad of subtle and not-so-subtle anti-war and other socio-political symbols and visual cues, and the result is a breathtaking aesthetic tour de force that can best be described as a sort of kinetic collage.

The DVD edition of WIZARDS from FOX is simply wonderful. Though some minor wear and filmic artifacts are noticeable at times, the digital transfer is fairly clean and offers the rich colors and detail that the film deserves. The disc presents WIZARDS in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and has been enhanced for 16x9 televisions, and some great bonus material is offered, too. There is a feature commentary in which Ralph Bakshi himself offers many insights into his motivation for creating the film and also talks about some of the folks who assisted in its creation. Also included is an interesting featurette entitled RALPH BAKSHI: THE WIZARD OF ANIMATION--basically a 30-minute interview with Bakshi in which he discusses everything from his beginnings at Terrytoons Studious to his work on WIZARDS and beyond--two theatrical trailers, a TV spot, and a cool gallery of production art.

This DVD is well worth the cost of admission. A must-own for any lover of animation that many SF and Fantasy fans will want to add to their film collections, too.

One of my favorite Ralph Bakshi films which showcases his transition into the genre of Fantasy. Being released the same year as other blockbusters like Close Encounters, Star Wars, and Sat. Night Fever, this film found its niche with the college crowds which had already embraced Fritz and Heavy Traffic. Bakshi uses the holocaust of the earth and the emergence of elves, fairies, wizards, and dwarves to showcase his allegories on the formation of the state of Israel and the continuing threat of facism, as always Bakshi's films have deeper meanings.

In the film the good, cigar chomping, wizard Avatar and his companions make a perilous journey into the dark land of Scortch to destroy his evil twin, Black Wolf (a name used later by the hero in Fire & Ice). In the meantime, Blackwolf has been using his army of mutants to attack the outlying lands which has so far been unsuccessful. He comes up with a plan to have assassins take out the free world's leaders and use a "dream machine" to cause fear and chaos in the enemy by plunging them in the midst of WWII combat, thus firing up his armies and allowing them to march in unapposed.

This film was made prior to LOTR (Originally titled LOTR part 1)and many elements of the rotoscoping technique can be seen in early stages before perfecting them for LOTR. Bakshi utilized stock footage for his evil armies from a variety of sources - my favorite being footage from the classic film Zulu. The animation is rougher than in his later films but much smoother than that seen in Fritz, Heavy Traffic, and Coonskin. The backgrounds used are mindblowing - from simple watercolors to some really intricate and psychedelic technical drawings. The typical Bakshi humor is present and dark as usual - ie. the rabbai's, good ol' Larry, and the assassin, Peace (who originally had the Grateful Dead's "Steal your Face" logo on his saddle - only to have it later removed). All in all this film is a visual treat - a little violent and some risque (ala F. Frazetta) costumes for the female characters, but always full of surprises. What we need is fox to get on the ball and release a DVD w/commentary to for this one.