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Title: Wizards Post by: Andrew on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Avatar, a good wizard who looks like a beard and a pair of feet wearing a magician's hat, must stop his evil brother from resurrecting the Nazis and conquering the elves. Review updated on 13 December 2008.
Click here to go to the Review (http://www.badmovies.org/movies/wizards/) Title: Wizards Post by: kx9x@uiuc.edu on July 08, 1999, 09:32:22 PM I cannot believe the review of this movie. This guy totally misses the point of the whole film, not to mention the fact that he performed the absolutely UNCONSCIONABLE act of giving away the ending in his review. SHAME ON YOU!
"Wizards" is a product of the 70's. It's groovy, it's anti-war, and it is a work of genius. Comapred to today's computer animation, it will fall flat. However, it is still VERY visually appealling, the story is not all that far-fetched as the reviewer makes it out to be (Hey, we've got archaeologists now, don't we?), and it's simply a hell of a lot of fun. There's a lot going on in this movie; some slapstick, some social commentary, and even sex and violence, all packaged nicely in a science fiction/fantasy wrapper. The movie is absurd because WAR is absurd. It also reminds us that history will repeat itself if we don't remember it; some crazy SOB will come along and dredge up crud from the past. I'm truly sorry this movie went over the reviewer's head. Check it out..it is worth your time. Title: Wizards Post by: Nattalie Query???? on July 23, 1999, 11:19:09 PM Well I'm a young teen-ager from the 1990's but I loved this movie. And as for mister anonymous, did you just read the box or did you actually watch the movie? The movie I believe is far from gay!!!!! But there were still a few problems that I found with it.
If I were to put the end of the movie into food terms, I would call the end not filling. And I really have a problem with the fact that when Peace dies no one seems to acnowledge his death. In fact they don't seem to acnowledge him at all after that point. The lack of acnowledgement of death by any of the other characters gives the misguided impressiion that he'll come back later in the movie. And I really think he should have had someone to mourn over his death since he was really good at heart. Also I would like to know more about the other three lights the "pet" was talking about in the begining? But besides any of that I am in complete agreement with the first two people who loved this movie. I seems to be totally over this web pages critics head. This movie is greatly worthwile, and the critic completly misses the point, plot, and doesn't say squat about the story line Title: Wizards Post by: Andrew on July 24, 1999, 12:09:36 AM Okay, I've officially gotten tired of half-wits saying the movie went over my head. First off - anything which throws multiple scenes of inept Nazi-powered demons slaying settlements of good and kind elves is obviously making some war statements. Let's get down to nitty gritty with that, it's directly addressing the evils of Nazi Germany in World War II - which was quite honestly a country lashing back at the injustices they endured after losing World War I. (Which they started in the first place, but I'm not commenting on Hitler here. I'm commenting on the generic working class German, they felt unfairly burdened by the reparations and other limits imposed by France and Britain.) Now, do you really want to debate World War II with me? What did strike me about this film was the "feel" of it, the dark and brooding, sometimes helpless theme - and yet there is comedy. Not entirely black humor either, just cartoon slapstick. Four slimes means I liked the movie... ...and, "They killed Fritz!" still leaves me chuckling.
Title: Wizards Post by: J.C. on September 01, 1999, 05:27:21 AM This movies GREAT!!! I'm a fan of bakshi and this is one of his best in my opinion. Peace and avatar
are my favorites in this movie and the "THEY KILLED FRITZ!!!" part is priceless. To the anonymous person who had asked if there was a part 2, no there isn't but this movie was a "practice" movie that bakshi made before he did a animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkiens "The Lord Of The Rings" which came out a year after Wizards and is wery similar to wizards. Perhaps your brother saw "lord of the rings" and thought it was wizards 2? The company that made lord of the rings doesnt make the tape anymore but alot of blockbusters(at least where i live) have copys for rent in the "animation" section if your interested in checking it out. Title: Wizards Post by: Warren H. on September 01, 1999, 01:51:48 PM This movie was good, and had some very powerful moments in it. Such as when a fairy women trained as an opera singer is forced to perform as a stripper instead. The look of shame and humiliation on her face as she prepares to disrobe disturbed me to no end. The movie does a very good job of making you think about how the common people suffer most in a war. I'd like to congratulate Ralph Bakshi for making this.
Title: Wizards Post by: The Jackal on January 25, 2000, 10:43:30 PM Unfortunatly this movie is not what everyone says it is , the roto - scoping animation is just an excuse for laziness on behalf of R. Bashki. He has made several animated films that all have one underlying theme...BORING!!!! I love all sorts of animated films from disney to Transformers, but his films are lame at best and downright badly animated. Maybe this is why you have never heard of anything made by this man past the seventies ...all the weed wore off and everyone realized his stuff was s**t. Other than that a fine example of a bad movie.
Title: Wizards Post by: Sam Skjei on June 16, 2000, 01:06:33 AM I loved this movie, I could'nt figure out the plot (it jumps around alot and seems to skip parts) but all together I liked it. Except for the 5 minute sections where the armies appeared and bogged down the movie. I also got the feeling that avatar was a old drunk and his brother (from his one speach) was only trying to help the mutants? Oh well it still was a great flick.
"They killed Fritz" Title: Wizards Post by: WDK_Dave on September 12, 2000, 01:43:59 PM I think Wizards is probably one of my all-time fav movies.
My only problem with Bakshi, Is how he rips-off other artists for his artwork. Fritz the Cat was in-total taken from Robert Crumb's work and Wizards was taken from Vaughn Bode' (Check out Cheech Wizard & Cobalt 60). Other than that, I think his work is almost a genre unto itself. 'Nuff said. Title: Wizards Post by: crazed mage on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Who cares what the movie looked like. I watched it, i don't
Think about how it was made was the point at all. The story was more important to me. I learned that if we forget we are doomed to repeat. I learned that true evil comes from a idea not the person who created it. If we don't watch what we are doing in life we destroy ourselves. Perhaps even it's not the Idea of peace but keeping peace. If what we do does not serve us we should not let us master us. Why not let them make another i would watch it. Look at half the crap they put on the video shelves. Adults would rent part 2 (if they make it) just because it's a adult cartoon movie. As for a bad movie well, they could have done better with the stock footage, but you have to admit it's diffrent and thats what makes it fun. I would rent wizards again it's a great drinking movie. Title: Wizards Post by: Vishnu on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM This is one of my all time favorite animated movies! Bakshi's work, the character personalities, and the depth and meaning of the story make it a "must have" for your personal video library. The wit, humor, and wisdom folded in the story still make my arm-hairs stand on end. Great story, great characters, and great animation!!
Title: Wizards Post by: Roni on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM I have loved Wizards since it hit the theatre. I think that many people see this movie as a bad movie because of some of the heavy-handedness in the plot, animation and dialog. Nobody seems to disagree that the plot (The mutants at the brothel) and dialog ("Fritz! They've killed Fritz!")are a less-than-subtle anti-war diatribe. But the animation -- or to listen to others, the lack of animation -- works at the same level because it too is a heavy-handed juxtaposition of "actual" filmed events in an animated format and incorporated directly into the story.
But while we are all overwhelmed by the heavy-handed techniques used by Herr Bashki, we dismiss some of the subtleties as just idle attempts at humor. There is indeed a very strong anti-war message, but still Bashki doesn't seem to say that the fairies' struggle against the mutants is wrong, but only unfortunate and unavoidable. And good's use of evil's means and back-stabbing methods is vindicated by the very humor that seems to trivialize the message at the climax of the movie. This movie is a gem. I have enjoyed this movie since it hit the theatres and I still enjoy it today. Title: Wizards Post by: Loszhor on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM The first time I saw this movie was on the Sci-Fi channel and it was from the part where Peace was spying or something on that blackhaired elf while he was at some shrine or altar in the woods and he he turned all of a sudden and he and Peace went over the cliff.I still need to see it from the begining.It's quality of animation reminds me abit of how Warner Bros. did some of their cartoons around that time.I liked this movie because it doesn't sugarcoat the violence that typically comes with war and how you can tell it got some inspiration from battles in both world wars(ie when Blackwolf first used that projector with the propoganda on the entrenchment,some dialouge the elves used kinda explains it.).
Title: Wizards Post by: Reverend.Judge on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM First time I saw the movie was when I was in the fifth grade.Dad rented it.Said he saw it when it came ot in the theaters.This movie is pure genius.Any body know about the sequel?I read years ago in some magazine that there was a "highly praised sequel".Does it exist or what?I have been searching for years!!!Bakshi is truly the dark Walt disny!!!
Title: Wizards Post by: Matt Porter on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM Yes, my two cents.
Wizards is a thought-provoking movie, especially the second time around. And doubly especially if you have the RPG made from the movie so you can read some more of the background. :) Title: Wizards Post by: Flux Capacitor on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM This movie is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Because I saw it when I was six years old. It scared the p**s out of me and made me cry and have nightmares for a week. But it was the FIRST thing of it's kind. And I bet that any cartoon put out now that isn't 'kosher', can be attributed to Bashki's influence.
I don't know why it's on this site, though. Is there a Goodmovies.org? Title: Wizards Post by: Jill Berlin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM If you ask me, I have to declare "Wizards" as hands down the worst animated movie of all time and Ralph Bakshi the bad boy of the animation world. Everyone should know that Bakshi's cartoons are not only not for children, but also not for adults with a sense of decency. I like animated movies that play for adults as well as children, but who was "Wizards" really made for?
When there is a cartoon involving nuclear war, Nazis, fairies in see-through outfits selling their bodies, a bloodied horse, a monster ingesting a hanged human, barbaric warfare, and then the scene where cute li'l Avatar shoot his villainous Nazi brother Blackwolf near the end of the film, I really wonder how any parent can allow their young ones to see such trash. Then there is Bakshi's dizzying combination of animated styles - one cartoonish animation, then his annoying rotoscoping of war footage, and then the live action Nazi propaganda newsreels all in the battle scenes of the film. Oh, yes, I have to add that just because Avatar looks and actslike he should be in a Disney movie, that doesn't mean that Avatar is a children's cartoon character. He is mixed with Elinore, a crudely drawn version of Tinkerbell, and other fairies and elves also drawn so suggestively. All in all, go ahead, you can disagree with me, but I think "Wizards" is the pits. If you want to see better animated features about wizards, rent "The Hobbit," "The Return of the King," and "The Sword in the Stone." For more lighthearted animated fantasy fare for both kids and adults, see the recent "Shrek," where the crude humor is more underlying there than in "Wizards." Title: Wizards Post by: Necron99 on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM This movie and Captain planet alerted me to the harsh realitys of life early on, so i was prepared and smarter towards the ideals later on in life. At the time i obviously with my immuture ideas i took the information wrongly, but now i remember i saw nukem blasting radiation out of his hands to kill the planeters was fun and i always hoped that he would hit them, i also hoped he would disory the o-zone this time. But later on i remember this and i can tell that it has affected me into becoming
anti-war and pro-enviromental. Not only that i didn't have to go though the shock that many little kids have to go through when they realise that everyone else dosent live like the brady bunch and people kill each other all the time. I already knew this at a young age. Wizards did affect my future devolpment, for the good not the bad! it helped me get rid of childish ideas early and muture and devolp early! though i dont care about the dolfins dieing in pain or anything, im not a tree hugger! Title: Wizards Post by: on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM I'll take it back. Call me a traitor, but it is not the worst animated film of all time. The worst animated film of all time is Bakshi's subsequent feature, his version of "Lord of the Rings. Maybe I was in a bad mood at the time. As I think about it now, you can love or hate "Wizards." I am not a movie prude of any means, like some of my relatives or friends. "Wizards," next to "LOTR," has edge and bite. Yes, there is that rotoscoping gimmick of Bakshi, but it is done much more hilariously than "LOTR." The 1978 verision of LOTR was dismal, depressing, and humorless. Oh, yes, I do admit to liking some bad taste. But I think the bad taste is "Wizards" is more intentionally funny, and was definitely played for laughs, as many cult hits of the 1970's did. Bakshi may be the bad boy of animation, but here in "Wizards," he is like Mel Brooks, the guy who combines bad and good taste, and that's a compliment. Is Bakshi really the worst animator of all time? Maybe after "Wizards" and scored big with "Fritz the Cat" and "Heavy Traffic." "Wizards" is worth a laugh, but keep this one far from the little ones.
Title: Wizards Post by: Peter on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM I remember being 8 years old and living in germany, I would always go to the video store and look at the front cover of the vhs, that's what intriqued me, except the covers that I have seen since, whilst scouring the internet, seem different from the one I saw in the shop. There was a large trail of those cow like creatures with riders atop carrying heads, travelling into the distance.
After pestering my mother for what seems like an eternity she rented it for me and this film has stuck in my mind for ages, I don't remember much of the plot content. I only remember that it was the first "cartoon" that I saw that contained violence and adult themes, I was especially moved in the opening scenes when the young dwarf is found cowering after the attack with dismembered limbs around him. The look of terror on his face was something I had never experienced with growing up with Thundercats. Anyways, it has been years since I watched it, I am now 20 and I have been looking for this film for ages, not knowing the title or the director, only remembering the vague part about the brothers, the still art and the battles. Well now I know that this film is called "Wizards" and I will be sure to track it down and relive a bit of childhood nostalgia. I think this film turned me into an Anime Manga freak. Good on ya Ralph. Title: Wizards Post by: selish70 on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Ha! Some funny memories from this film...
I was 6 or 7 and my parents took me with them to see some murder mystery/comedy that my dad wanted to see. That flick ended up be more violent than they thought - and therefore inappropriate for me - so what did we do? Well, it was a four-in-one cineplex and Wizards was right next door, so let's take the kid to see the cartoon! Bad Idea. I think we lasted like ten minutes before splitting. I remembered that day, however, and when I happened to see Wizards in a video store 10 years later, I took it home. I agree with my parents call. This isn't for 7 year olds. It was entertaining enough, strange, dark, acid-influenced, and even amusing in parts, but don't try to tell me this is some work of genius. There's no subtlety to any of the messages here. WAR BAD. NAZIS BAD. EVIL BAD. And, of course, the typical swipes at capitalism, technology, etc. It's pretty impossible for any of this stuff to be over anyone's head. The animation is servicable more effective for it's style than any technical acheivement. Rotoscoping is a distinct look, but not in a good way in my opinion. All that being said, I'll probably watch it again at some point in my life when I have more time on my hands. Title: Wizards Post by: eeyore on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Its been a while since I saw this film, but I'll never forget the seneseles, pathetic laughs I shared with a friend the night we rented it. It is a great movie if you don't try to interpret it. It was just funny to see all that insanity in cartoon form. No, this is definately not for children, but it is good for sometime when you absolutely have nothing better to do. Who cares about what some cartoon-draw-guy thinks about war. Just thank God men with true stones are out there defending us today!
Title: Wizards Post by: Who wants to know? on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM I first saw Wizards when I was about five years old, and even though I'm eighteen now, it's still one of my favorites. I agree with some of the above that the movie could have been a little better, but I didn't see much room for improvement. This move combines the best of the world we all love, violence, sex, bad language, and comedy. not to mention the fight scenes (specifically the final battle between the armies) kicked ass! I don't understand how anyone can think this is bad but everyone's entitled to their own opinions. I'm just wondering where people get off with saying that the movie had no plot. It was pretty obvious to me, stop the bad guy from taking over the world.
Title: Wizards Post by: Nick P. on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM What makes a quality movie? Not one that has great cinamatic quality, nor awesome production value. It's the story. Futhermore, the director can use any means, visual or implied (rotoscoped, pooly done Zulu ripoffs) to get the story across. Successful directors always relate a great story well (The Matrix). Unsuccessful directors relate any story (great or not) poorly (The Matrix Reloaded).
So, I am gauging that by the volume of responses to this movie, that it is a great story in a mediocre vehicle. The movie is not great because it particularily stylish (it is, all the good characters smack of Rankin/Bass-esqness. That's a real term.), or because it is well animated (it is not, the only shining bits are some of the pencil sketches and a few of the backgrounds), but because you guys are still talking about a story told in 1977, and that makes a great movie. One that people remember. So, I would suggest that you go pop some popcorn, grab a friend, and give this movie a whirl. You might say "What they hell???" about 20 times, but when you are done you will have probably liked the characters, enjoyed the story, and best of all you might just turn to your pal and TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAW! And not just talk about how cool any of the effects were. That makes a good movie. When my wife and I walked out of Reloaded, we talked about what we were going to have for dinner. That makes a bad movie. If you watch this movie I can just about guarantee that you will love it or hate it. But you won't forget about it. Title: Wizards Post by: Dave on November 11, 2003, 11:23:43 PM I First saw this film when i was 7 years old and finaly realized what it really going on in it when i re watched it at 16. This movie is one of my all time favorites,One part always cracks me up when necron99 disturbs the elf guy when he saying bye 2 his dead horse how he lets out a f**king huge roar i almost s**t myself when i hear it lol.
Title: Wizards Post by: Jimmy on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM It's a trippy kind of movie, after all it was made in the 70s. Sometimes it makes me laugh and sometimes it makes me cry. My favorite character would have to be Necron 99. I like when he blows away the mayor dude right in the middle of his b***hing to avatar, funny as hell. All of you complaining about this movie need to smoke more bud. Damn!!! these comments have been going on for 5 years!
Title: Wizards Post by: VenusDeMpls on January 22, 2004, 03:14:00 AM I have hated this movie since I first saw it in 1980. The allegories are lazy, the animation only so-so and the ham handedness of the storytelling is beyond the pale. Fritz the Cat is a masterpiece by comparison.
Title: Wizards Post by: Sam on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Holy s**t. This was the scariest movie I've ever seen. I watched it one night after smoking some pot with a friend... I was hiding my head for part of it because i didn't understand what was going on, the nazis came out of nowhere and I couldn't figure any of it out, I know thats all because of the pot but still... a scarring event. Overall I dont know what I'd rate the movie because I cant really remember what it was all about. The roto-scoping was terrifying.
Title: Wizards Post by: pHILLIP bONI on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM I've read a lot of comments about this movie and watched it more than once I like the animation on a whole but it was the intro that really sold me the womans voice the passion in her let me know that RALPH had feelings for the movie and not for his wallet.
Title: Wizards Post by: BoyScoutKevin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM marco beat me to the release date on dvd, but, let me continue . . .
Avatar and Blackwolf. If they are twins, they must be fraternal and not identical. And watch their climatic confrontation. After "They Killed Fritz," my favorite scene in the film. It always leaves me ROTFL! "They Killed Fritz!" Accidental or deliberate? I wonder if it was not deliberate, as Fritz was stepping on Max's lines. Anyway . . . An underrated film from an underrated filmmaker. Title: Wizards Post by: BoyScoutKevin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM Some more information on the release of the dvd. Unlike the dvd for "The Lord of the Rings," which was a barebones dvd, this dvd comes with some added features. There are production stills, trailers, a tv spot, and a commentary track by Bakshi. But, what may be the main reason to buy this dvd is the half hour interview with Bakshi. The last one which he swears he'll ever do. And remember "They killed Fritz."
Title: Wizards Post by: Rick on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM This movie totally rocked. It is one of the best crafted movies from the 70's and it certainly is one of the great animated films ever. It's message is strong -- anti-war, and it tells it in a style that is not preachy.
Title: Wizards Post by: WitchKing on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM My mom would let me watch as a very young kid. Still a favorite of mine to this day. I think "Wizards", "Lord of the Rings", and "Fire and Ice" are all underrated animated fantasies. I even think the roto-scoping adds a great visual nightmarish quality to the proceedings. Susan Tyrell's narration is absolutely priceless (if anyone should narrate the apocalypse, it should be her). I love Peace and WeeHawk, especially when he goes rabid and just dives on top of his enemies swinging madly. You have to remember that Bakshi was never really given enough money to fund these projects. Often-- as is the case with "Wizards"-- he had to sink his own cash to get the movies made. I personally despise the new 3-D animation (the Japanese are right-- the art has lost all its painterly qualities) and find stuff like "Shrek" and "Finding Nemo" completely unmoving.
Title: Wizards Post by: RyRyRy on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM This movie is great. As a fan of comics and fantasy growing up, I think, it fills your head with entertainment. It's impact today is hardly as great as it was when it was released. Since most of the political undertones were based around events in the 70s. Hell, this film is older than I am, but still makes me chuckle. It was very different for it's time. Wasn't it the first real fantasy D&D-type of animated movie to be released?? I did not see this until I was in college, which I am glad. I dont think children would really get alot out of it. Today the plot would move a little too slow for kids now since everything is sped up more. As for the hard nipples and sexual layout. I think that was a bit much, but if it causes controversy then maybe Ralph hit the nail on the head. I think he was trying to accomplish that in many aspects. None-the-less, it was very diverse and still a large cult classic with many others today. Only thing I would want out of this is maybe a 2nd movie or some better way of wrapping up the story. It didn't fill me up and left me wondering. I still give it 2 thumbs up!
Title: Wizards Post by: rick on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM I saw this movie in the theatre when it first came out. I was fourteen years old and stoned off my ass. We went back and saw it again almost every night until it stopped running. (you could see a movie for a buck fifty back then). This film left an impression on me that lingers to this day. Not because it was such a great movie I think, but because it was the first of its kind. At least the first thing like it that I had ever seen. I would imagine that the heavy moodiness and dark quality of the film might be lost on a small screen played in your living room with s**tty little TV speakers, bright lights on and phones ringing etc… In the theater with a big screen, big sound system, and some recreational chemicals to help with the immersion process, this was a truly awesome experience. I had completely forgotten about the film until recently when I heard someone say the name Fritz and the whole “They killed Fritz” scene came flooding back along with all the other emotions the film had stirred in me at the time. That sparked me to look for it again. I found a copy on DVD on amazon.com and immediately ordered it. I can’t wait to see it again, this time with my own teenage sons. I hope they love it as much as I did although I sure hope they don’t have the same pre-movie ritual as I did back in the seventies. I wonder if the film will have the same power for me thirty years later. Damn, I hope so. I'll post again after I see it again.
Title: Wizards Post by: Steffy on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM I think one of the best things about this movie is the way you either LOVE it, or HATE it.
It's either 'stupid, ripped-off, and crude' or 'beautiful, breathtaking, hilarious.' And yes, folks, we HAVE established that Fritz is dead. It has, like any other movie, its pros and cons. The comedy being a pro, the overdone Nazi stuff a con. The metaphors and the meanings that hold true a pro, the scientific innacuracy a con. The occasionally charming animation a pro, the blatant use of improbable cleavage to attract attention a con (for most of us [snerk.]) Like it or hate it, My bet is the director did exactly what he set out to do with this: PROVOKE. Title: Wizards Post by: Isaac Baranoff on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM One of the best animated films ever made, from one of the best American filmmakers of all time: Ralph Bakshi, master of animation.
If you like this, I'd also suggest the Bakshi masterpieces "The Lord of the Rings," "Heavy Traffic," and "Fritz the Cat." Title: Wizards Post by: bobby on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM Wizards is one of my favourite movies thatI have watched many times and never got tired watching it. Avatar and Ellenore are the classic couple of just having fun. Necron99 is my favourite character of this movie. This movie is a classic for anyone that is willing to leave the anime that Japan has to offer and see what animination is before cgi and cell animation.
It is sad to see that it is hard to find rented copies of Wizards is the rental places. It is a movie that I would place in my VHS collection. I managed to get a copy after watching it on the Sci-Fi Channel one late night. So if you get a chance see this movie, root for Avatar, Ellinore and Weehawk. Laugh with Fritz and the Jewish rabbis and remember that we can laugh at history and learn the lessons also. Title: Wizards Post by: rick on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM Just a few more comments. After watching the interview with Ralph Bakshi and then wathcing the movie again with the commentary turned on I have an even better appreciation for this movie. One thing I thought was odd is that Bakshi repeatedly calls this his "family film". I don't ever remember thinking of this as a family film. Anyway, I'm finding this film to be addictive. I think it gets better the more you watch it. I've watched it over at least three times since I got the DVD and I'm not ready to put it away yet. I'm definitely glad I picked it up. This is going to be one of those movies that I keep comming back to every couple of years.
Title: Wizards Post by: zorro on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM As i understand it, the film started out as an authorised adaptation of Vaughn Bode's comiics, but Bakshi lost the rights when Bode died, so he made a few changes.(If you know Bode's stuff, you can tell). I've always been fascinated by Bakshi, whose stuff is always way too ambitous for it's own good; i can always see the hints of something truly great just out of reach...(of course, growing up in Canada, those twisted SPIDERMAN and ROCKET ROBIN HOOD cartoons he did are burned into my memory!) On the whole, i think WIZARDS is his masterpiece, and i'm glad there's now a possibility of a sequel (Bakshi says it's been written, and they're waiting to see how the DVD does...)
Title: Wizards Post by: mabon on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Almost 30 years since the movie came out and almost 7 years of reviews on this site, Love it or Hate it with a track record like that it must be greatest movie of the last 30 years. First saw when I was about 6 yrs old, and I've seen it many times since. Still have it on VHS also on DVD. If you hated the rotoscope watch Ralph's interview on the DVD and check out his official website http://www.ralphbakshi.com/. Slightly off subject but Fritz the Cat was based on Crumbs comic books he also has writing credits in the movie.
Peace Title: Wizards Post by: Miza on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM Hi.
Sorry for my English first of all. I'm a Russian and I have not talent in foreign languages. I've seen this film very very long time ago when I was 8 or so. Some time later I forgot about it, but it stuck somewhere inside my mind. Yesterday, surfing, I've got in one of online fantasy galleries and saw there some sketch (www.andrewhawk.com). This picture seemd familiar to me and "hazy" memories occured. I wrote a letter to the artist: ... "It seems, I saw the character from the "Nec99" picture in a cartoon film. If I am right, tell please how this film is named." And today I've got an answer: ... "It's a Ralph Bakshi(the director)film called "Wizards". The character is "Necron 99". I did this pen and ink as a gift for Ralph, but ended up selling the original to Dan Frazier(another artist for MTG). Ralph has a copy of it, and it hangs in his personal studio." All the day I'm scouring Internet, searching for Wizards on DVD or VHS or something in Russian (unsuccessfull yet. there are many of Bakshi's movies, except wizards, grrr). Also I'm reading all stuff about it I can find and can't get enough. I NEED this movie!!!! Title: Wizards Post by: Colonel Camo on February 14, 2006, 08:23:15 AM I think I may have seen this twenty years ago on late night television. Any one remember Night Flight on the USA network? My nephew let me borrow the DVD recently and the movie does leave an impression. It is the good verses evil in a different content. The characters were unique, there was a few surprise twists and the end was unexpected. Definitely a cult classic.
Title: Wizards Post by: llob> I saw this movie once on tv and it left me scarred and rather confused. Why did the fairies look like hookers! Why is everyone in the future ugly! and I know Hitler was evil but there have been many other evil people who have done more unspeakable things than he! I'm guessing its because people know more about the nazi's because they were more large scale but DUDES! look into British history and all the tortures that went on! AND THE RUSSIANS! I just really didn't like this, it aint no masterpiece, and you want an AMAZING no war, stop killing each other movie? Two words: MONONOKE HINE! You can keep your Ralph but Hayao Miyazaki is the true Animation Guru of all time!
Title: Wizards Post by: oddly on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM This movie is very good. Better than the s**tty animations on television nowadays. Usually animation is done on computers now, where they use as many "loops" as possible because they're extremely lazy and don't understand that animation was a lot better BEFORE they used computers.
Watch this movie regardless of what the review said. If you enjoy animated movies, you'll love this. Title: Wizards Post by: rick on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM Ok, so I finally got to watch this again. It was just about as freaky as I remember it but I must say it was a bit less immersive on a small screen. I'd forgotten how much 70's style funk was in this flick. That was a bit of a nostalgia trip all on its own. The movie was definitely all that I remembered it to be though. The kind of Saturday-morning-cartoon style of animation used on the elves and fairies takes a bit of getting used to but when you see those whimsically drawn characters subjected to the horrors of war, and superimposed on the background of Nazi Germany, the effect is pretty impressive. There are scenes where you have to be able to loose yourself in the trippy psychedelics or else those scenes might come across as kind of slow and repetitive. This is where being stoned would really come in handy. Also I found some of the voice over acting to be a bit flat in some spots. All that considered I still enjoyed it immensely. My teenage sons may have enjoyed it a bit less that I did but they definitely got a kick out of it, especially the ending. They both went nuts over the final conflict between Avatar and Black Wolf. All in all I would say this is very much worth a look. If you really wanted to take a critical look, there are parts you could tear apart but also parts that you could read some deepness into. I say just watch it and enjoy it for what it is.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Moviewierd on January 04, 2008, 01:47:15 PM I actually enjoyed the movie a lot, but I agree it really works better on a large scale screen to get the full impact of the movie. I won't say that it was a great movie but I did find it enjoyable.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: HarlotBug3 on February 12, 2008, 03:39:36 PM I was hoping "Fire and Ice" had been reviewed here but was direceted to this film, which has been on the list for more than a decade. I guess I finally have the Fire under me :tongueout: Something about the Bakshi movies is so distinct and engaging, though not necessarily in a way that makes me want to say 'I like it'...which invariably makes me more interested.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: razz on March 16, 2008, 03:11:13 PM this was one of the greatest movies of the 70's.you really had to be there.and in the right state of mind
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Andrew on December 13, 2008, 03:09:25 PM Review updated on 13 December 2008. I still love this weird animated film, and think that it is probably Bakshi's master work.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: GoHawks on December 14, 2008, 03:37:16 AM I love this film and own it on DVD. Just a few thoughts...
I always thought that Groening (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004981/) based much of Bender (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0013041/) on Peace. According to the IMDB Bio (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000835/bio) page on Ralph Bakshi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000835/), he said "Sweetheart, I'm the biggest ripped-off cartoonist in the history of the world, and that's all I'm going to say." I haven't watched the film in a few years, but I thought Blackwolf wasn't projecting the films onto the clouds, he was magically bringing them to life. In other words, the troops and tanks and such in films physically appeared while the projector was running. This gives me a good reason (as if any was necessary) to watch the film again. In that picture of Blackwolf and the projector, he reminds me very much of Christopher Lee (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000489/) as Saruman (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1031313664/tt0167261) (except with hair). A few times, you wrote 'Blackhawk' instead of 'Blackwolf'. I hope you were just confusing 'Blackwolf' with 'Weehawk', and not badmouthing my team (http://blackhawks.nhl.com/)! :teddyr: :tongueout: According to the IMDB Trivia (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/trivia) page for Wizards (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/), the whole "They killed Fritz" thing was a reference to Fritz the Cat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068612/). Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Psycho Circus on December 14, 2008, 07:44:18 AM I think everyone's pretty much covered everything I was going to say about this masterpiece of animation. So I'll just add again that, this is a great, great, great film. :thumbup:
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Andrew on December 14, 2008, 08:01:49 AM I haven't watched the film in a few years, but I thought Blackwolf wasn't projecting the films onto the clouds, he was magically bringing them to life. In other words, the troops and tanks and such in films physically appeared while the projector was running. This gives me a good reason (as if any was necessary) to watch the film again. I definitely thought that the films were being used to inspire Blackwolf's troops. It does appear that Blackwolf may have been using magic to cause the Nazi propaganda films to cover the clouds over the entire battlefield. The troops, including Nazi ghosts, were already there - summoned from Hell separately. A few times, you wrote 'Blackhawk' instead of 'Blackwolf'. I hope you were just confusing 'Blackwolf' with 'Weehawk', and not badmouthing my team ([url]http://blackhawks.nhl.com/[/url])! Twice in paragraph 4 for some reason. That's just my brain misfiring. Thank you for catching it. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: J.D. on December 17, 2008, 04:19:29 AM Just thought I'd point out. Germany was not alone in the origin of WWI. If anyone is to blame. Blame the Serbs. Also history is written by the victors. Keep in mind Lenin and Trotsky killed 20 million people in the Gulags long before WWII even started. Communism killed around 300 million people world wide and counting. North Korea anyone? If Germany had concerns about the Soviet Union. They were justified. There are Democractic Capitalist countries that still have slavery like India and most of Africa. It's all a matter of perspective. Germany may have invaded Poland. But Poland refused to give back territory that was historic German territory with German speaking populations. That Germans had familiy members in. For it was lost in WWI. Also those German communities were being attacked before Germany invaded. With homes robbed, Churches burnt to the ground and a whole host of other things that Allied Propaganda felt the American public didn't need to know. How about that lie that the Nazis thought the Slavs were subhuman? It's not true. Himmler was married to a Slavic woman. Their decendents are alive and well to this day. :lookingup: Subhuman was a term used for fellow germans at first. Like heavy drinkers, low I.Q, rapists and crazy people. The Germans even raised an army of Russian soldiers. The Russian Army of Liberation. The ROA. But it was too little too late for them. Now why go on about this? I'm a stickler for facts. Not Propaganda. The Germans during the 1970s were easy to attack as evil. Even though the Communists killed more people before, during and long after the war. And continue to kill people to this day. The flaws of one person are magnified by those that follow him. Governments like people don't operate in a void. Now as far as this movie goes. It has it's moments. I don't think it went over Andrew's head at all. I think his review and perspective
of it is witty and insightful as all of his reviews are. It's not a movie to take seriously as most of the movies on here are not. That's their charm. Whether it's what the makers of them intended or not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_World_War_I Title: Re: Wizards Post by: peter johnson on December 19, 2008, 06:56:12 PM Uh, no . . .
Hitler invaded Poland on a made-up pretext that had SS members disguised as Poles attack a German radio station manned by inmates from Dachau concentration camp, who were killed to a man. This is not US propaganda, but very carefully documented records from the SS's own archives. There is plenty of truth in the reparations after WW1 driving the initial joy with which Germany embraced Hitler, but the whole concept of Liebensraum did, in fact, presuppose a sub-human Serbian and Ukranian popluace that was to be either extirpated or expatriated -- Himmler wasn't fussy about which. I've read quite a bit of SS history, and it is quite true that there were Russians, Poles, French -- thousands of French! -- Danes, Belgians, etc., who joined up with the Waffen SS to ostensibly fight Bolshevism, but can we say with a straight face that their lives would have been better off had they won? * * * As to the film itself, it has its moments, but I don't like this one anywhere near as much as I like Bakshi's "Heavy Traffic", which, rather than a predictable sword & sorcery fantasy film, enters more of a Charles Bukowski-like world of gritty surrealism and up-close familial violence. I know lots of folk who hate "Heavy Traffic", and it is apparently impossible to find an uncensored version of it these days, but I was utterly blown away by it in London in 1973 & it still has power. "Wizards" has some cool monsters, but I find Bode's Cobalt 60 comic strips more satisfying. peter johnson/denny crane Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Eric Seiden on December 22, 2008, 08:04:54 PM This is a great film. Nothing about it is bad. Sure it's a bit cheesy but it's a true classic. I cannot believe people dislike this film. And there's no reason it should be on a "bad" list.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Andrew on December 22, 2008, 08:35:43 PM This is a great film. Nothing about it is bad. Sure it's a bit cheesy but it's a true classic. I cannot believe people dislike this film. And there's no reason it should be on a "bad" list. Did you read the review? I ask, because I have this strange feeling that you didn't. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: John Dashwood on December 24, 2008, 01:44:57 AM Uh no no no.... I'd sure like to know what SS archives these suppose documents come from. I recall an American movie with such a scene. But no other source. (no hollywood movie is a good source of information) Well correction. No reliable source. I can say with a straight face that Europe would be different than it is today. I know one thing is for sure. Europe wouldn't be falling to the walls of Mecca like it is if Germany won WWII. Is the rampant crime, drug abuse and social decay truly better than what the Germans and Italians had in mind? It's all a matter of perspective. Judging from the way elections have been going in Europe lately. Opinions on History are changing on who were the good guys and bad guys. Seeing as how the Right Wing Parties of Germany and Italy to name just a few have been on a winning streak. If the Germans thought the Poles were subhuman. Himmler would not have married one. They would not have made a stink about the Katyn Forest Massacre http://www.katyn.org.au/ . Another event the Allied Governments
thought the American public didn't need to know. That being what our gallant ally was up to. http://www.katyn.org.au/naziphotos.html I can also say with a straight face Eastern Europe would not have been turned over the Communist butchers that killed millions more after the war was over. Another thing our Government knew quite well but was silent on. Or how about our Government leaving 30,000 allied troops in the hands of the Communists than run the risk of letting Stalin have leverage? By the way. Every method of eugenics the Germans used came from the United States. Something else lost to the history books. The United States stopped doing it in the 1960s. Uh, no . . . Hitler invaded Poland on a made-up pretext that had SS members disguised as Poles attack a German radio station manned by inmates from Dachau concentration camp, who were killed to a man. This is not US propaganda, but very carefully documented records from the SS's own archives. There is plenty of truth in the reparations after WW1 driving the initial joy with which Germany embraced Hitler, but the whole concept of Liebensraum did, in fact, presuppose a sub-human Serbian and Ukranian popluace that was to be either extirpated or expatriated -- Himmler wasn't fussy about which. I've read quite a bit of SS history, and it is quite true that there were Russians, Poles, French -- thousands of French! -- Danes, Belgians, etc., who joined up with the Waffen SS to ostensibly fight Bolshevism, but can we say with a straight face that their lives would have been better off had they won? Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Psycho Circus on December 24, 2008, 03:38:50 AM ^ It's a only a movie dude, no need for a history lesson :smile:
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: WingedSerpent on December 24, 2008, 11:43:29 AM There's a movie spoiler site called www.moviepooper.com that gives a different view of the characters.
Here's what it says The gooood, nature-protecting, pixie-loving wizard Avatar (voice of Bob Holt) finally catches up with his eeeevil, technology-loving, machine-obsessed brother Blackwolf (voice of Steve Gravers), and shoots him dead with a pistol. (Aside: a decade after seeing "Wizards," your editor still can't tell if this irony was the result of intent or ignorance on the part of director Ralph Bakshi. If it was intentional, then this is a brilliant bit of cinema that uses the tools of physical appearance and point-of-view characterization to trick us, the audience, into empathy with the cruel yet beautiful oppressors. He presents an Eloi-vs-Morlocks style conflict in which the "Eloi" are the actual cause of the "Morlocks'" suffering. If Mr. Bakshi wasn't fully aware of the statement he was making, then this is a rather pathetic movie, in which a particularly American style of imperialism is so prevalent and subtle that an example can be invisible to even its creator. Think about it, won't you?) Just to make sure I'm giving the site its credit it diserves here's the link to to it http://www.moviepooper.com/ Then just search the categories by alphabetical order. On a side note, I love movie spoilers sites for films I've already seen. Often they catch something I missed first time round. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Flangepart on December 24, 2008, 01:01:09 PM There's a movie spoiler site called www.moviepooper.com that gives a different view of the characters. Here's what it says The gooood, nature-protecting, pixie-loving wizard Avatar (voice of Bob Holt) finally catches up with his eeeevil, technology-loving, machine-obsessed brother Blackwolf (voice of Steve Gravers), and shoots him dead with a pistol. (Aside: a decade after seeing "Wizards," your editor still can't tell if this irony was the result of intent or ignorance on the part of director Ralph Bakshi. If it was intentional, then this is a brilliant bit of cinema that uses the tools of physical appearance and point-of-view characterization to trick us, the audience, into empathy with the cruel yet beautiful oppressors. He presents an Eloi-vs-Morlocks style conflict in which the "Eloi" are the actual cause of the "Morlocks'" suffering. If Mr. Bakshi wasn't fully aware of the statement he was making, then this is a rather pathetic movie, in which a particularly American style of imperialism is so prevalent and subtle that an example can be invisible to even its creator. Think about it, won't you?) My...what an impressivelly big load of pretentious dingo's kidneys he has. Is there a quote from Bakshi on this point? Just wondering... Title: Re: Wizards Post by: BoyScoutKevin on December 28, 2008, 03:52:11 PM One of the things I look forward to in a film, is hearing a great insult or putdown, and there is a great one in this film.
Blackwolf: "Brother, there is no need for me to destroy you. Surrender! Surrender your world!" Avatar: [clapping] "You always did need an audience you sap." It plays better than it reads, but ROTFL! As for Fritz being accidentally shot, I looked at that scene again, and I can't help but think it was not so much accidental, but deliberate. Anyway, as I said previously, a movie that is much underrated. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: Luriko-Ysabeth on January 26, 2009, 05:15:06 AM I really wanted to like this movie, and certainly several scenes (such as the justly mentioned young elf's first experience of the horrors of war, or the final battle, rotoscoping and all) were both impressive and emotionally stirring, and Weehawk was great...
...but overall, I didn't like it very much. I think some of it is the humor. The concept of an evil wizard using Nazi propaganda films to inspire an army largely made up of the nonhuman and otherwise non-German-speakers has enough inherent crack (even while also being an anti-war movie) that very little should need to be added in order for the movie to be funny as well as dramatic and action-filled; instead, much of the comedy feels forced, and many scenes that were initially funny just play out too long. Granted, humor is a personal thing, but unfunny-to-you humor is never less than painful to sit through. And while I don't mind that the character designs shifted in response to the mood of the scene, many of the characters had main designs that were far too goofy for the moods of the scenes they were in, which kept breaking my immersion into the movie. Also, I really didn't like Elinore. It should be refreshing to have a romantic heroine who's as ugly as she is, but given that she had just as many in-the-script episodes of poorly supported bad judgment as prettier token females, I reserve the right to dislike her as much as them. (Honestly, I thought Blackwolf's queen was the most interesting AND best-looking female in the show, and she kind of got forgotten as soon as her turn as romantic dea ex machina was done.) And, while Susan Tyrell has a lovely and expressive narrative voice, and the line drawings were certainly pretty, far too much of the beginning of the movie was told rather than shown. I mean, I'm not someone who requires high quality out of every movie I watch. (I love both The Lion in Winter and Red Sonja, for what it's worth. And the adventures of moose and squirrel, so it's not as if I need my animation to look good.) But I do like to be entertained, and for what it's worth, large chunks of Wizards didn't entertain me. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: kaz drofla on August 25, 2009, 04:16:35 AM I love Wizards. It, like most movies has it's strengths and it's weaknesses. But for people who think RB is lazy, well they don't understand the real world. The reason he rotoscoped so much (aside from artistic montage) is simple: it's called "no budget". Yes, that's right. If he had his way he'd have 20 animators working day and night like Disney, but he don't. Also, I find it incredibly short sighted to say the film lacks originality. If you saw the film in 1977 you knew there was NOTHING like it out there. Art exists in a context and needs to be viewed accordingly, just like Da Vinci or Picasso. And as for the war, this film is much more a commentary on Viet Nam than it is about WWII. Yes, I love Vaughn Bode, but I don't consider the film a ripoff. It's inspired by him. There are so many films that are made today that suck so much more in terms of their predictability and their paper thin acting that I can't believe the same guy who dissed Wizards could like Transformers. I mean really? If special effects are your thing, then consider how revolutionary Wizards was in it's day. And BTW, the other three lights are just assassins. They're not important.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: BoxCar on July 13, 2010, 10:00:24 PM Elinore is hot :hot:
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: judge death on August 01, 2010, 05:35:16 AM Rumor has it that Bakshi made this just to practice for making his animated "Lord of the RIngs", which was better than a lot of people give it credit for.
The movie was going to be called "Wizard's War" but George Lucas wanted it changed to avoid confusion with star wars which was coming out about the same time. (Then Lucas asked that "Revenge of Khan" be changed to "Wrath of Khan" because he was going to call the last star wars movie "Revenge of the jedi", then made it "return of the jedi. I hope someday lucas asks someone to chance the title of their movie and they say "XXXX you, XXXhole. Change the title of your movie!") Now Bakshi is making a sequel, which will be one of the longest times between a movie and a sequel made by the same director. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: ralphyralph on March 29, 2011, 05:07:59 PM I really hated this movie and couldn't finish it. Like Barbarella it was a little too "groovy" for me.
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: RD on April 01, 2011, 07:35:30 AM Rumor has it that Bakshi made this just to practice for making his animated "Lord of the RIngs", which was better than a lot of people give it credit for. The movie was going to be called "Wizard's War" but George Lucas wanted it changed to avoid confusion with star wars which was coming out about the same time. (Then Lucas asked that "Revenge of Khan" be changed to "Wrath of Khan" because he was going to call the last star wars movie "Revenge of the jedi", then made it "return of the jedi. I hope someday lucas asks someone to chance the title of their movie and they say "XXXX you, XXXhole. Change the title of your movie!") Now Bakshi is making a sequel, which will be one of the longest times between a movie and a sequel made by the same director. Well it's a jerk move, you have to admit Wrath of Khan has certain ring to it and is a better title. Also I'd honestly prefer to watch Star Trek 2 over any of the orignal SW movies. Title: Re: Wizards Post by: zelmo73 on October 11, 2013, 12:41:05 AM I am a child of the '70s, didn't turn 10 years old until 1983, so I vaguely remember this movie from my early childhood. I remember Fritz, the Avatar guy though I didn't know his name until now, and the fairy girl with the big ta-tas. Plus my mommy and daddy quickly turning off the movie when the final battle scene got a little too bloody and gory for little old me and my fragile little mind. I don't remember if it was actually any good, but I do remember enjoying it as a wee lad. Thanks for jarring up the old nostalgia!
Title: Re: Wizards Post by: FatFreddysCat on October 11, 2013, 07:52:24 AM I hadn't seen this movie in years till it turned up on Fox Movie Channel recently. I grooved on the visuals but I probably would've enjoyed it more if I were watching it in a drive-in in 1977 after smoking a couple of phatties....
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