Crazy Childhood: Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal movie review
On
August 20, 2009


Heavy Metal (1981)


Directed by: Gerald Potterton

Starring: John Candy, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, Harvey Atkin, Richard Romanus, Marilyn Lightstone, Jackie Burroughs



BOOBIES!!! And strange birds!


While Ralph Bakshi conquered adult animation, there was one who conquered adult comics, and still does: a magazine known as "Heavy Metal", an erotic sci-fi/fantasy comic magazine filled with sex, strong language, and incredibly bloody violence. When it first premiered in 1977, it was a huge hit, grabbing every comic book geek's attention. It still runs today, under the management of the co-creator of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlles" comic (!).

The magazine was so popular at the time, that it got itself a feature-length animated cartoon produced by Ivan Reitman, who was part of the kick-ass classic film "Ghostbusters 1 and 2" and childhood favorite of mine "Space Jam", and it starred a majority of the cast from the hilarious Canadian skit show "SCTV".



That spaceship looks like a deranged happy face, doesn't it?

I barely read the magazine, and this film really doesn't encourage me. It's loud, bloody, and totally weird. And that's what I love about it. It's so naughty, and yet by your halfway, you'll forget all about your worries and'll be sucked in for a wild, cheesy, and rock-out-loud adventure. It's like "Fire and Ice", only with more boobies.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

Several short stories that have one connection: The Loc-Nar, a power-hungry orb with a mind of it's own.

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT?

The animation is surprisingly cool to look at, considering it's an animated cartoon for adults, while other adult-animated films are pretty crude-looking, but I guess that's the point.

Anyways, back to the animation quality of the film. All the segments in the film have their own unique style, which makes the film stand out. While most of the segments resemble a Marvel comic, it's colorful and well-done. My personal favorite segment is the "Captain Sternn" segment. It's funny and sort of reminds me of those underground comics crossed with a cartoon made by DIC Entertainment.



BOOOOOOBIES!

I also liked that most of the voice cast consisted of cast members from Canadian skit show "SCTV". People like Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Eugene Levy, it's a really funny show.

But quite possibly the best thing about "Heavy Metal" would have to be the music. How could you go wrong with bands like Cheap Trick, Riggs, Don Felder, or Nazareth? MAJOR KICK-ASS!!!!
I think my favorite song would have to be "The Mob Rules" by Black Sabbath. While I'm not a huge fan of metal of the past or the present, this song unleashes the inner head-banger in me or anyone who listens to it.


"Geez, how did I end up carrying this broad back to her apartment?"

WHAT'S BAD ABOUT IT?

The violence and sex is a bit on the heavy side, although it's understandable, because it's based off of a magazine with those two things in common, so I might as well buck up and grow some balls.

That, and the ending was a bit farfetched. When you see it, you'll see what I mean.


BOOBI---Ah, you know what I mean.


Ah, the wonders of New York!


"Ummm...wait a minute. I just forgot why we came here! Did we rob a bank or somethin'?"

Oh, and don't get me started on that ass-fest "Heavy Metal 2000" that came out years later. It certainly has more gore and loud music than the first one, but none of the fun. It was loud, bloody, and surprisingly boring and confusing. It looked cool, but that was about it.


BOTTOM LINE:

If you plan on watching this, be sure that you're not entering kiddie county. But also be sure to have some fun, because that's what the film is.

OVERALL SCORE:

4/5

Oh, and if you're curious about what I'd give the sequel, that's another review....

OK, fine.

2/5

Rock out loud!
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