Zardoz an Under Appreciated Science Fiction Classic

[BAYLOR]

A dystopian apocalyptic A 1974 science Fiction film produced by John Boorman and staring Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling which didn't do well at the box office and did score well with the critics . Connery plays Zed who, is a member of group called the Exterminators , they are few , but stronger ,faster and smarter than n the main group of human known as the Brutal's . They who are regular human being who have reverted to savagery. Zed and brethren's purpose as prescribed to them by their God Zardoz which a flying head that periodically shows up, gives them weapons, ammunition and encourage them in their drive to keep the Brutals in check. On day while he was exploring a ruined library chaining after shadowy mysterious figure after finding the book The Wizard of OZ (which he was intended to find ) , through this book , he deduces and leans that Zardoz isn't a god at all. L Frank Baum's book book tipped him off to this . So, he decides to stow away abroad the flying head and, ultimately finds himself in the enclave of the Eternals who , are humans from the time before civilization collapsed, they are of the same stock as the brutal but, have achieved immortality thanks an all powerful computer known as the Tabernacle which, contains the sum of all human knowledge. It also guides their existence and won't let them die. The problem for theses Eternals is that they they've grown weary of of their eternal life and want it end. Their enclave is not accessible because of the Tabernacles defenses , so Zed and his people and the Brutals cannot get at them . Zed now a slave learns that he and his kind were created by members of the Eternals for the expressed purpose of bringing about the the destruction of the Tabernacle and the end of them . Zed finds a way to destroy the tabernacle which frees the Eternals but, he's changed by his time among them and , he no longer has the desire to kill them or anyone else for that matter The head Zardoz crashes down and Zed's people come in and finish off no longer immortal eternals save one, played by Rampling who Zed fell in love with , saves and takes with him . The two of them go off and hid from the other Exterminators and , take up residence in the crashed head of Zardoz. They have a son live a life and die of old age,


What are your thoughts on this movie good or bad , classic or no ?

 

[dask]

Don‘t remember too much about it other than not liking it too much.

 

[BAYLOR]

Don‘t remember too much about it other than not liking it too much.

The first time I saw , I didn't like it . But having seen it several times. Yes its loopy and crazy but. it's also a very interesting film.

 

[dask]

Library doesn't have it but I'm sure the video store does. May give it a second look in the near future.

 

[BAYLOR]

Library doesn't have it but I'm sure the video store does. May give it a second look in the near future.

I liked the Tabernacle computer and how operated . For a 1974 science fiction film , this computer was way ahead of the curb.

 

[Robert Zwilling]

I have watched it on cable many times. Just do streaming and outdoor antenna now. Never shows up on the outdoor antenna, Amazon is renting it out, probably is free from time to time. I found the movie to be strangely realistic, maybe cause Connery was driving it. It was like it was done up in a highly artistic, stylized Hollywood gladiator fashion, except the swords were real. The acting and scenery was good. For me, there was an underlying edginess to the scenes and props, which made the looks and events all fit together in a strange sort of way. If we ever get to the point of flying cars, where we can order car bodies of our own design, the flying head would probably make a popular pickup truck.

 

[Pyan]

I always thought that there were very good reasons for it being underappreciated - the plot, dialogue, acting and production design being among them. And shouldn't it be called Zardofoz?

 

[BAYLOR]

The 1970's to mid seventies produced a a number strange dystopian type science fiction films , like THX1138 , Soylent Green and Logans Run . Quintet

 

[Rodders]

I saw it a very long time ago. I didn’t enjoy it at the time and thought it was an oddity of a movie. To be fair, I think I didn’t understand it. I have no desire to watch it again, though.

 

[hitmouse]

Odd film. Sean wears one of the silliest costumes in the history of cinema.

 

[BAYLOR]

Odd film. Sean wears one of the silliest costumes in the history of cinema.

But its sheer oddness is part of its charm .

 

[BAYLOR]

I saw it a very long time ago. I didn’t enjoy it at the time and thought it was an oddity of a movie. To be fair, I think I didn’t understand it. I have no desire to watch it again, though.

Its very easily Sean Connerys strangest film and his unforgettable role.

 

[Vladd67]

The 1970's to mid seventies produced a a number strange dystopian type science fiction films , like THX1138 , Soylent Green and Logans Run . Quintet

Don't forget Phase IV now there is a 70's sci-fi film.

 

[Robert Zwilling]

I never did get into Logans Run. Probably for the same reasons there are for Zardoz. There were plenty of weird films from the 70s. Even big office successes courted weirdness. 2001 could probably fit into a 1 hour package with commercials. There is as much empty space in it as there is in an atom. Silent Running with Bruce Dern has the empty space packed with plants. Zardoz didn't have empty space.

 

[BAYLOR]

Don't forget Phase IV now there is a 70's sci-fi film.

Phase IV now that was a strong film . Barry Malzberg did the novelization of this film

Oh and there is also Novelization of Zardoz by John Boorman and Bill Stair.

 

[BAYLOR]

I never did get into Logans Run. Probably for the same reasons there are for Zardoz. There were plenty of weird films from the 70s. Even big office successes courted weirdness. 2001 could probably fit into a 1 hour package with commercials. There is as much empty space in it as there is in an atom. Silent Running with Bruce Dern has the empty space packed with plants. Zardoz didn't have empty space.

Ive seen Silent Running . A Douglass Trumble film , Grey special effects and model world for the ships Robts Huey , Deuy and Luey and the theme song by Joan Baiz . Theses ships also showed up as the agro ships in Battlestar Galactica.

 

[BAYLOR]

Don't forget Phase IV now there is a 70's sci-fi film.

The ending was difficult to fathom

 

[Danny McG]

I fail to understand why you all feel the costume in Zardoz was unusual

 

[BAYLOR]

I fail to understand why you all feel the costume in Zardoz was unusual
View attachment 78307

That's the suite his chatter wore to the office every day.


Seriously , when Zed started out, he was zealot , fanatic and believer in the creed of his god Zardoz . Zed didn't question anything , he did what he though was expected of him . He and fellow exterminators wore Zardoz masques symbolizing their belief and purpose which , was to cull the Brutals when commanded to do so by Zardoz. For Zed , that all changes when he finds book The Wizard of Oz in the old ruined library. This discovery , which turned out to be not at all accidental , caused his whole world to crumble because, he learned that everything that he was taught to believe was false. That was the beginning of his journey and his enlightenment.

 

[Alex The G and T]

The rifle cartridges in his "bandolier" and "belt" would not fit into that handgun.

Nice boots, though.