Zardoz Blu-ray Review
A true auteur work, John Boorman not only produced the film but also wrote and directed it. His richly philosophical notions about the nature of life and death, the double-sided coin of immortality, and man’s innate nature to survive against all odds might sometimes get jumbled in his non-linear storytelling and his occasional op-art visuals, but there is no denying that the movie has been made for thinking individuals, and it’s impossible to simply cast it aside without ruminating about its deeply considered (and somewhat controversial) notions about a diseased society and its ultimate cleansing. True, one can simply sit back and enjoy the wacky imagery (the floating god statue, a hall of mirrors which will bring back memories of The Lady from Shanghai), discreet nudity (apart from star Connery in a skimpy red diaper, a fair number of bare female chests), and imaginative production design by Anthony Pratt without trying to piece together what the film is truly trying to convey in its own roundabout way, but that would do a disservice to the movie. Boorman sets the disquieting tone of his 2293 society from almost the first moments of the movie, and it never lets up with several sequences (an orgiastic search for new life, Zed’s several chases through various futuristic sets, the climactic annihilation) remaining firmly ingrained in the psyche long after the film has concluded. It’s not perfect: there are scenes that don’t work (receiving the knowledge of the ages is just too tough a nut to crack) and some visual tricks that seem to be there just for the sake of being artsy, but it’s neither a complete failure nor Boorman’s best work, both of which it’s been called.
Sean Connery was as good a choice as any to be a primitive kind of superman who might end up being the world’s next Adam (Burt Reynolds was Boorman’s first choice, and he would have been equally as good), and he displays his physicality as well here as he did in all of those James Bond films which made him famous. Of the inhabitants of the Vortex, the best performance is given by Sara Kestelman as May, a resident who’s completely curious about this mortal’s inner workings. Charlotte Rampling is less impressive as May’s partner who opposes allowing Zed to continue living but who comes to figure importantly in his future. John Alderton has some ingratiating scenes as Friend who becomes just that to Connery’s Zed but who has tired of his immortality and seeks new experiences he know he’ll never have. Niall Buggy is rather subtly campy as Arthur Frayn who admits early on he’s a puppet master and then later proves himself to be just that long after we’ve forgotten he’s made that claim.
Isolated Score Track: presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono.
Radio Spot Ads: six spots available separately with four running one minute each and the other two running half a minute each.
Theatrical Trailer (2:29, SD)
Six-Page Booklet: contains a nice selection of black and white and color stills, original poster art on the back cover, and film historian Julie Kirgo’s sincere appreciation for the movie.
John Boorman’s Zardoz is in some ways like that little kid who used to live next door: he’s messy and can be irritating at times but he can also be a lot of fun to be with and might sometimes even guide you toward some valuable revelations about your own life. The movie has all of those attributes, but it’s also absorbing and after several revisits somewhat profound and yet never dull. And like the Planet of the Apes series, The Omega Man, and Soylent Green from that same era of filmmaking, the notions of an apocalyptic future for mankind are haunting and hard to forget once you’ve experienced them.
Studio: Fox
Distributed By: Twilight Time
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: English SDH
Rating: R
Run Time: 1 Hr. 45 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
clear keep caseDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: All
Release Date: 04/14/2015
MSRP: $29.95
The Production Rating: 3.5/5
A true auteur work, John Boorman not only produced the film but also wrote and directed it. His richly philosophical notions about the nature of life and death, the double-sided coin of immortality, and man’s innate nature to survive against all odds might sometimes get jumbled in his non-linear storytelling and his occasional op-art visuals, but there is no denying that the movie has been made for thinking individuals, and it’s impossible to simply cast it aside without ruminating about its deeply considered (and somewhat controversial) notions about a diseased society and its ultimate cleansing. True, one can simply sit back and enjoy the wacky imagery (the floating god statue, a hall of mirrors which will bring back memories of The Lady from Shanghai), discreet nudity (apart from star Connery in a skimpy red diaper, a fair number of bare female chests), and imaginative production design by Anthony Pratt without trying to piece together what the film is truly trying to convey in its own roundabout way, but that would do a disservice to the movie. Boorman sets the disquieting tone of his 2293 society from almost the first moments of the movie, and it never lets up with several sequences (an orgiastic search for new life, Zed’s several chases through various futuristic sets, the climactic annihilation) remaining firmly ingrained in the psyche long after the film has concluded. It’s not perfect: there are scenes that don’t work (receiving the knowledge of the ages is just too tough a nut to crack) and some visual tricks that seem to be there just for the sake of being artsy, but it’s neither a complete failure nor Boorman’s best work, both of which it’s been called.
Sean Connery was as good a choice as any to be a primitive kind of superman who might end up being the world’s next Adam (Burt Reynolds was Boorman’s first choice, and he would have been equally as good), and he displays his physicality as well here as he did in all of those James Bond films which made him famous. Of the inhabitants of the Vortex, the best performance is given by Sara Kestelman as May, a resident who’s completely curious about this mortal’s inner workings. Charlotte Rampling is less impressive as May’s partner who opposes allowing Zed to continue living but who comes to figure importantly in his future. John Alderton has some ingratiating scenes as Friend who becomes just that to Connery’s Zed but who has tired of his immortality and seeks new experiences he know he’ll never have. Niall Buggy is rather subtly campy as Arthur Frayn who admits early on he’s a puppet master and then later proves himself to be just that long after we’ve forgotten he’s made that claim.
Video Rating: 4/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 4/5
Special Features Rating: 3.5/5
Isolated Score Track: presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono.
Radio Spot Ads: six spots available separately with four running one minute each and the other two running half a minute each.
Theatrical Trailer (2:29, SD)
Six-Page Booklet: contains a nice selection of black and white and color stills, original poster art on the back cover, and film historian Julie Kirgo’s sincere appreciation for the movie.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed By: Matt Hough
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