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Two societies, one intellectual (the Eternals) and the other physical (the Brutals) live side by side but never meet. Sean Connery is a Brutal out to shake things up.

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Format

Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Number of Discs: 1

Running Time: 105 minutes

Languages

English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)

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« Somewhat overwhelming » Considering a title like "Zardoz" and a cover featuring Sean Connery in what looks like a red diaper, this movie has a lot more seriousness and quality going for it. It is 70s science fiction: glitzy, ridiculous special effects providing a medium for real social commentary. The thing is, though, Boorman plays up the surreal and Carnivalesque in this movie, resulting in something closer to a fever dream than escapist fantasy. Re-introducing the social commentary results in a movie that is compelling and maddening all at once. If a viewer gets past the opening and the following introduction of Zardoz the giant gun-giving clay head without thinking that something is amiss, they probably aren't actually taking the movie seriously enough on its own terms, and from there it's pretty easy to get lost. What we have here is an abject reversal of the Adam and Eve/Fall from Eden story. A futuristic society that has achieved immortality through the Tree of Knowledge, and thus created their own god, now obsesses over reclaiming death before apathy or senility overtakes their entire culture. Thus they set Zardoz the false god into the barbarian lands to both control the population and genetically direct the birth of a Savior or Son to come and reteach them the means to eventual death. This One is Zed, played by Sean Connery. It's also a commentary on classism. There's some aspects of male sex wish fulfillment. And old people running around in Halloween costumes while aristocrats destroy works of art. Personally, I found it more overwhelming than campy, which is not exactly the way many people approach this movie. I do agree that in many ways it's very silly, but some of those arguments -- poor acting, dry delivery, random shoutouts of philosophy -- could easily be attributed to The Matrix if you think about it. Remember that this is the director that made Deliverance and Point Blank. These movies are genre thrillers with a special and idiosyncratic form of anxiety setting them over the edge from simple entertainment. --PolarisDiB .:. Rating: 4 / 5

« Zardoz DVD » Sean Connery is excellent in all of his movies. This vision of the future was well done, very imaginative. .:. Rating: 5 / 5

« What in tarnation?!? » A complicated plot to say the least, flying stone head, hippy overtones, goofy special effects, freckle faced actors,and.... SEAN CONNERY? By George this is just about the kookiest movie there is! Having said that it is one of my favorites, perhaps because I saw it in the theater when it came out and it reminds me of those days. Very enjoyable movie but you may have to watch it a few times to figure the whole thing out. Not much in the way of special features but a fun movie at a great price! Recommended! .:. Rating: 5 / 5