Well, let's face it. Crap nowadays isn't getting any better, and we wacks from the past can only turn back to the past to entertain us. But, when we look back at our childhood, we think to ourselves....was it worth it? Well, that's what were gonna find out with the article I like to call....well, you know.


Rock and Rule (1983)

Starring Paul LeMat, Susan Roman, Don Francks

Directed by Clive A. Smith







You ever watched those shows "Care Bears" , "Beetlejuice" or "Babar"? All 3 of these shows have one thing in common. They were made by Canadian animation studio Nelvana.





Nelvana was (and is) probably one of the finer animation studios all time. But, even when I was a kid, something was missing. While I watched their shows, I felt all they ever made was just made for little kids. LITTLE kids. Years later, I looked up on Wikipedia (thank the Lord for Wikipedia) to see what Nelvana and what their deal was with making children's entertainment. That reason can be summed up in one movie title (see movie title above).







"Rock and Rule" was Nelvana's biggest accomplishment that ultimately failed at the box office, and was eventually forgotten ever since then. After an independent DVD company Unearthed Films brought up the film, people started to re-recognize the first animated film ever made in Canada.


Does it hold up after all these years? Well, maybe these pictures can sum it up for ya:



























Damn.



THE PLOT:

In the far future, when all humans have mutated into rat-like creatures, An aging superstar named Mok (Francks) kidnaps a singer named Angel (Roman) because he needs her voice to summon up a demon. It's up to Angel's friends Omar (LeMat), Dizzy, and Stretch to save her and the world.


WHAT'S BAD ABOUT IT?

If there was something bad about this movie, it would be the plot. While the premise has promise, there's not much juice in the finished result. Maybe some action-y parts could've been good, but I guess we can't get what we want.






Another thing about the film is the PG rating. The PG rating was a tad different back then (Ralph Bakshi's Wizards was proof of that). "Rock and Rule" contains mild sexuality, mild nudity , drug abuse, mild language, and references to the "sign of the beast" 666.

You know, for kids!!!!





WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT?

Everything else. The animation, the characters, the style, it's all intriguing. Not to mention the songs, performed by Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Iggy Pop, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Kick-ASS!!!!!

I would like to mention about the villian Mok and all his greatness, but I already mentioned him in my "Top 10 Animated Non-Disney Villians" list, so you can read about that.






The best part in the whole movie is the finale. I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say that it has that chessiness from the 80's and let's us learn the lesson that music will save your life. Anybody agree? No? Meh.


OVERALL:

Despite a not-so-saucy plot, everything else is pure gold. Probably one of the greatest underrated animated films of all time. I highly recommend it.



OVERALL SCORE: 4.5/5



If you have any suggestions for any movies/TV shows for me to look at, please reply at the bottom, hopefully I look at it. No harsh comments please.

See ya!