Zardoz

source: Zardoz

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Zardoz

In 2223, Zed (Sean Connery) is a kind of priest of a new religion: he terminates with the brutals. This 'new religion' of admirers of Zardoz controls the society simply killing the so-called 'brutals'. The confused plot is presented in flashbacks, so any comment may be a spoiler. Therefore, it is better off not make additional comments. Watching Zardoz in 2003 sounds strange. This low budget B-movie was made 1974, when the world has the 'Peace and Love' generation, the remake of 'Lost Horizon' one year before, 'Logan's Run' two years later and 'Hair' some five years later. In 2003, Zardoz is aged, but twenty-nine years ago it was a cult movie in close touch with the pop culture of that moment. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Zardoz" Note: On 15 February 2021, I saw this film again.

I can't think of another movie that raises so many issues and gets you thinking about them, yet is still entertaining and has interesting visuals. Perhaps it doesn't fit into the easy categories. Those looking for mindless action find it incomprehensible. Others nitpick at the fantasy when anything appears that is different (such as red undies) or doesn't make sense to them in their narrow reality. Or they find it pretentious for daring to raise issues. It has similarities to some great science fiction stories which are anthropological and futuristic. I think of Gulliver's Travels, and the WiZARD of OZ, which can be criticized in the same ways. Also against popular opinion, I say Sara Kestelman is the actress who is hot, sexy and unforgettable in this movie. There is a great ending sequence - under a tree - that I saw in the theater but is not on the video.

Without question, the most brilliant bad movie EVER made: Red man-panties, gun-vomiting hot air balloon stone heads, flying books on fishing line, neat-o dance numbers (or at least ballroom catharsis), magic marker facial hair, elitist-hippie government, inexplicable backward-masking (check out Friend in the kitchen), the ugliest bride in the history of cinema, cool jewelry, the Internet before the Internet was the Internet (or even computerized), Big Brother, HAL, and David Niven merged into one, lots of flowy sheer curtains, EXCELLENT decorating ideas, nifty forms of mass transit, a profound sense of anatomy, and, perhaps most chillingly, an apocalyptic warning that, if we do not change our ways, we face a future COMPLETELY DEVOID OF UNDERGARMENTS. Genius. Simply genius.

"Zardoz" is either a brilliant visionary masterpiece, or the biggest blunder Sean Connery ever appeared in. I still haven't decided which (must watch it again first!). It has beautiful visuals and a surprisingly multi-layered script (the revelation of the title's meaning is a stunning moment), yet it also has parts so embarrassing (the "scientific examination of the male erection" scene comes to mind) that make you wonder how the participants managed to keep a straight face through them (the filming of this movie must have been great fun!). Ultimately, it's a film that defies ratings, but I'll try my best......*** out of 4.

Zardoz is a quirky science fiction film, and one of Sean Connery's first attempts to break out of the James Bond mold. This is a truly bizarre and out of the box feature, and today may seem dated, but is also unique. In a time in the future when an experiment gone wrong leaves the earth mostly destroyed except for the handful of immortals and the others who grow their food for them and are routinely exterminated to keep their numbers in check. Sean Connery plays Zed, one of the executioners commanded by the floating Head of Zardoz. Zed's curiosity gets the better of him and he finds his way to the immortals. They ask of him one thing. Finding immortality boring they actually are seeking death. With the music of Beethoven (2nd Movement 7th Symphony) as counterpoint to the story The conclusion of the film is not what you might expect. If you like far out fiction, this is the one for you.