{"id":1506,"date":"2006-09-29T11:29:03","date_gmt":"2006-09-29T18:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1506"},"modified":"2021-01-25T23:48:42","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T06:48:42","slug":"zardoz-1974","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1506","title":{"rendered":"Zardoz (1974)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The gun is good, the penis is evil!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Poster.jpg 497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the year 2293, Zed (Sean Connery), an Exterminator in the class of Primitive Brutals, sneaks past the mouth of the stone god Zardoz into the Vortex, where Eternals live forever but cannot reproduce.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Charlotte Rampling Films<\/li>\n<li>Class Relations<\/li>\n<li>Dystopia<\/li>\n<li>John Boorman Films<\/li>\n<li>Revolutionaries<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<li>Sean Connery Films<\/li>\n<li>Slavery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIt&#8217;s hard not to laugh out loud when reading Peary&#8217;s review of this notoriously &#8220;dizzy, big-budget sci-fi film, poorly conceived and directed by John Boorman&#8221;, given that he begins by likening Sean Connery&#8217;s Zed to &#8220;Pancho Villa in a red diaper&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-1024x426.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"266\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-1024x426.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-1536x639.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2-604x251.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Connery2.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He refers to director Boorman&#8217;s presentation as &#8220;laughable&#8221;, deplores the &#8220;embarrassingly pretentious and trite scenes and dialogue&#8221;, and notes that audience members will become &#8220;hopelessly bewildered&#8221; by the muddled themes. (See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scifilm.org\/reviews2\/zardoz.html\">SciFilm&#8217;s review<\/a> for a detailed outline of various &#8220;messages&#8221; found in the film). With all that said, I can see its cult appeal: any film brave enough to state &#8220;The gun is good, the penis is evil!&#8221; <em>must<\/em> be viewed as pure camp all the way. My advice is to enjoy the special effects, laugh at the outrageous costumes, and forget that Boorman ever meant this film as a serious cautionary tale.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine special effects &#8212; especially the floating head of Zardoz<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-1024x443.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"277\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-1024x443.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-768x332.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-1536x664.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3-604x261.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Stone3.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Colorful and unusual sets and costumes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-1024x443.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"277\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-1024x443.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-768x332.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-1536x664.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3-604x261.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Still3.png 1807w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Creative cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-1024x454.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"284\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-1024x454.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-128x57.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-768x341.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-1536x681.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography-604x268.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/Zardoz-Cinematography.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Some genuinely intriguing (if unsatisfactorily explored) sci-fi themes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, simply for its status as a cult hit. Discussed at length in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=5986\">Peary&#8217;s <em>Cult Movies 2<\/em> (1983)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0070948\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.badmovies.org\/movies\/zardoz\/index.html\">Bad Movies Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.scifilm.org\/reviews2\/zardoz.html\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/zardoz-1974\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=363\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The gun is good, the penis is evil!&#8221; Synopsis: In the year 2293, Zed (Sean Connery), an Exterminator in the class of Primitive Brutals, sneaks past the mouth of the stone god Zardoz into the Vortex, where Eternals live forever but cannot reproduce. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Charlotte Rampling Films Class Relations Dystopia John Boorman Films Revolutionaries Science Fiction Sean Connery Films Slavery Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: It&#8217;s hard not to laugh out loud when reading Peary&#8217;s review of&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1506\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1506"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66042,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1506\/revisions\/66042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}