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Movies / On DVD / Wizards
Wizards

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Wizards (1977)

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53 %
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Reviews Counted:15

Fresh:8

Rotten:7

Average Rating:5.6/10

Runtime: 81 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: This uniquely 1970s blend of swords, sorcery, science fiction, kung-fu, fascism, and nuclear holocaust was director Ralph Bakshi's first venture into fantasy after his grim urban epics STREETFIGHT... This uniquely 1970s blend of swords, sorcery, science fiction, kung-fu, fascism, and nuclear holocaust was director Ralph Bakshi's first venture into fantasy after his grim urban epics STREETFIGHT and HEAVY TRAFFIC. In a postapocalyptic future that appears as a blend of World War II Europe and J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, a pint-size wizard named Avatar (Bob Holt, sounding like Peter Falk) must save the world from a band of fascist mutants controlled by his evil twin brother, Blackwolf (Steve Gravers), who likes to confuse enemy armies by projecting films of Adolf Hitler speeches during attacks. Painted live-action footage of advancing Nazi armies contrasts with Saturday-morning-cartoon-style animation of fairies and elves as Avatar travels through various magical and radioactive realms on his quest. Aiding him are a sexually promiscuous fairy queen (Jesse Wells), a hot-blooded warrior elf (Mark Hamill, fresh from his role in STAR WARS) and Peace (David Proval), a misunderstood robot rebelling against his Blackwolf-controlled programming. A bizarre and psychedelic meditation on magic vs. technology, this cult film still finds an audience on college campuses and will prove quite rewarding to viewers in the right frame of mind. [More]

Starring: Mark Hamill, Bob Holt, Jesse Wells, Richard Romanus

Starring: Mark Hamill, Bob Holt, Jesse Wells, Richard Romanus

Director: Ralph Bakshi

Director: Ralph Bakshi

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Wizards

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1 - 15 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Moderate fun here and there.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sword-and-sorcery animation, neatly done but reliant on the same bunch of dog-eared cliches.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment 1 Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An effective mix of animation, stock footage, and rear projection.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
11/14/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Mr. Bakshi's allegory is fairly obvious from the outset, but he and his animators are convincingly professional. They have devised a melange of animation and live footage that gives their feature mystical, slightly scary and, occasionally, comic tones.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/09/05
A.H. Weiler
A.H. Weiler
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Wizards may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is an audacious refreshment that deserves appreciation and respect nonetheless

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
05/18/04
Blake French
Blake French
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/10/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A cartoon classic of its time that hasn't aged well.

comment Comment
08/22/02
Gerry Shamray
Gerry Shamray
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

No review available.

comment Comment
08/04/04
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Ahead of its day when released Bakshi animation

comment Comment
10/19/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

Ralph Bakshi's animated sword-and-sorcery tale is a long way from his best work, marred by cut-rate techniques and a shapeless screenplay.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
11/14/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

poorly written, and worse, it's ugly to look at

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment 2 Comments
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

No review available.

comment Comment
01/27/03
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

No review available.

comment Comment
11/26/02
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

Degenerates into sub-Heavy Metal carnage.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment 2 Comments
01/01/00
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
 
 
1 - 15 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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