What is Zardoz? Why is it called Zardoz?

Zardoz, directed by John Boorman in 1974, is a pretty weird film. Then again, any film with a big magical stone head is going to be pretty weird. But why is called Zardoz?

[@azuredystopia3751]

I might be wired wrong but the floating head introduction would pretty much guarantee my full attention.

[@j.b.booker7912]

It really is a fascinating film. I definitely suggest it. Its crazy but also very entertaining.

[@ThreadBomb]

David Lynch did the talking head introduction better in Dune. I don't know if Zardoz was an influence on that.

[@Derek_Smallshorts]

There's some brilliant ideas in it. The trouble is, it was made during John Borman's chain-smoking-weed-and-not-being-able-to-take-his-own-work-seriously phase, so it's completely bonkers. Somewhere between a Heavy Metal comic strip, a Monty Python film and The Lord of the Rings as rendered by Jodorowsky. Incidentally, Borman tried to get a Lord of the Rings trilogy made for years but couldn't raise the funds. It would have starred John, Paul, George and Ringo as the Hobbits.

[@ShamrockParticle]

|_|_|_|_| 0000 Any movie that blames the ****s for everything is going to be hard...

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

ShamockParticle haha! boing!

[@FabinHim]

The best part of all this is that John Boorman was, by his own admission, was completely stoned out of his mind when he wrote and directed this, and made it up as he went along.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Ben Reyes I wonder if he had ever seen "Head" , a other cult classic from 1968 that was written while everyone involved was high.

[@Crazed-Sanity]

It shows... but in a good way.

[@robertnett9793]

Even if I am bit to young to live in that times - I really miss the time when people could make such stuff while high as a kite or completely plastered. I mean it gave us gems like the Rocky Horror Picture show - and the lifework of Hunter S Thompson... The war on drugs surely killed this very endearing part of culture.

[@jameslatimer1432]

Nothing is done by mistake ,,,

[@robertnett9793]

@@jameslatimer1432 I would say the most interesting things happen by mistake. X-ray-photography, Penicilin, Post-It-notes, Graphene, likely half the script for Life of Brian... Life would just be half as fun, if we wouldn't allow for happy little accidents....

[@TheSuperQuail]

Zardoz is one of the few film that *should* be remade. The original had great ideas but wasn't quite able to pull them off.

[@StarDustSid]

It will be remade mate. They always are.

[@TheSuperQuail]

Not true. Only the commercially successful ones are - which is bollocks because those ones were generally good the first time.

[@StarDustSid]

I half agree with you , in the short term many commercially successful films are remade. But over a longer period ideas from the past tend to get recycled, and Hollywood is Notorious for this. If you look at the link below to Wikipedia which lists film remakes , you'll see that many in the list were not commercially successful at the time. These tend to be films that get remade 30 or 40 years later. en.m.wikipedia.org

[@CorvairScott]

Yes Zardoz should be remade. Especially with the current world we live in. Also the movie needs better special effects which we can provide nowadays. I'm sure this show has been copied many times. For instance, think of Battlestar Galactica, and the Cylon on the newest tv show. The human clones Cylons could be regrow and supplanted with the memories of their model that was just killed.

[@veritechace6181]

Only if Terry Gilliam remakes it.

[@mikemacdee6390]

That intro is definitely a last-minute thing added by people who were worried the casual viewer wouldn't "get" the movie.

[@MisterBones2910]

It seems to me to clearly be a reference to Shakespearean-era plays where they'd have a character do exactly that same fourth-wall-breaking rundown at the beginning. It even kinda sounds like it may have been written in iambic pentameter. To be fair, they did that in plays for the reason you stated, but I think this is supposed to be an homage.

[@mikemacdee6390]

It's probably both.

[@ThreadBomb]

If it was added to clarify the film, they utterly failed in their aim. If anything it adds to the confusion.

[@robotpanda77]

The director mentions in his commentary it was added to help audiences understand the film after screening audiences were confused but that it didn't really help. Personally I like it, it does feel like something you would see in a stage play.

[@Evilriku13]

@@robotpanda77 so u are gonna tell me that ZARDOZ isnt a stage play? Technically its a movie, but movies are plays that dont tell you that they are a theatric play. But yes, they should perhaps redone that scene and.. remove the drawn in beard on that guy because this looks just silly xD

[@bdwitt66]

You had me at, "the gun is good, the penis is evil."

[@jochenstacker7448]

That final scene always has me in floods of tears, just the way they dissolve into dust and then the handprints on the wall.

[@Jordanmode]

The part where you’re taping your book back together... it’s touches like those that make me love your channel.

[@blacknapalm2131]

*I personally LOVE this film. Boorman's masterpiece is visionary, surreal, thought provoking, and gives more and more to the viewer with repeat viewings.* Also an obscure fact that the 'infinite storage crystal hard drive using light refraction' is actually under research right now as a real possibility. Pretty rad.

[@migueltigrelazo]

Theyre using DNA for storage now

[@morphman86]

That intro is a throwback to Greek theatre, which usually started with "GOD" coming in and explaining the premise. "GOD" being the narrator, who occasionally would ride in on a machine to resolve an unsolvable plot, to make the heroes win against all odds, named "GOD on the Machine" or "Deus ex Machina". You can see this pre-narration in a lot of films of that era and before, but it was later replaced with a text crawl and even later still by being weaved into the narrative of the intro and nowadays often withheld completely to produce a twist ending.

[@RonJohn63]

First paragraph good, but second paragraph hogwash (opening text crawls being least 30 years older than Zardoz).

[@eldermillennial8330]

RonJohn63 Maybe he means the text scrawls finally replaced them permanently.

[@johnrichmond.4783]

@@ceramichouse310 Eh?

[@varanid9]

@@RonJohn63 Yes, but, they hadn't been seen in years. Star Wars re-introduced the text scrawl.

[@Jesse__H]

you've got Deus ex Machina about half wrong. The machine is not something god rode in on, it's the plot itself. It's a very old trope dating back to ancient Greek plays, in which an actor playing one of the Greek gods would literally descend onto the stage, usually in the final act, and "fix" the mess the characters had made of the plot. He'd basically save someone or punish someone or reunite two lovers or whatever the plot needed, with just a wave of his hand. So, it's not God ON the machine, it's God IN the machine, as in, the omnipotent force that comes into the machinations of the play and sorts it all out for em. Of course, nowadays it's used derogatorily, to describe a lazy and unbelievable plot point, but that's another story.

[@Football__Junkie]

Every time I see that opening I always think it’s Eric Idle.

[@nhmooytis7058]

FootballJunkie it is, isn’t it?

[@occultnightingale1106]

@@nhmooytis7058 nope, it's Niall Buggy

[@nhmooytis7058]

Occult Nightingale oh OK, thanks-never heard of him but I looked him up!

[@wrightsong]

Everytime? How many times have you watched it?

[@Ashworth6]

@@occultnightingale1106 Nope its Space Pirate Chief Murphy from 'Galloping Galaxies!'. Bless you Your Honor, you're a lovely man!

[@runevi]

And yet Connery opted out of Potter and LOTR because he "Didn't understand them"

[@kennethmiller2333]

That's what happens when you put down the hash pipe.

[@rodwilliams68]

But opted in on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[@kennethmiller2333]

@@rodwilliams68 Which, to be fair, was fairly easy to understand... just not very good.

[@rodwilliams68]

@@kennethmiller2333 That was my point. Connery was at an age where elves and wizards sounded like nonsense while a movie like LOEG was reminiscent of a more swashbuckling style connery would be more familiar with.

[@kennethmiller2333]

@@rodwilliams68 Ah. Didn't pick up on it at first, but that's a fair point. That said, I think LoEG -could- have been good.

[@tigerburn81]

"The gun is GOOD; the penis is EVIL." Might was well be the motto for modern US.

[@theonlychickensama8353]

tigerburn81 hopeful not the rest of the world

Yeah you’re right, guns and sex are only discussed in the US. Everywhere else on earth has ascended except the US. Good joke though

[@alanfunt4013]

You mean Democrats?

[@Only1ChosenOne]

The Lie that they were told, were to kill the brutals. The truth was to preserve and sacriface the brutals to zardoz= To keep/preserve the sperm in male, and ova in women. = The message of the movie

[@imheretochewbubblegum]

Even more true 6 years later.

[@haroldcagle3937]

The whole thing is a Monty Python skit.

[@pvtrichter8816]

nobody SUSPECTED THIS of course !!! [get the reference!!?] odd and of course psychedelically entertaining!

[@themightychabunga2441]

And now for something completely different,.. ...

[@1pcfred]

Exactly. Zardoz is a Monty Python movie without Monty Python. But Zardoz is more than that. Also Zardoz is less than that too. Zardoz is all things to all people!

[@DrCruel]

Too funny to be a Monty Python skit. No fish in it neither. All the funny Python skits had some sort of fish in them.

[@Ratama]

that's not fair, first watch tier really. it actually has a pretty compelling sci-fi story. if you released it this year, with blue retards or super heroes, nobody would shut up about it.

[@johnbrewington2539]

Zardoz: Gun is good! Disciples: GUN IS GOOD! Zardoz: Penis is evil! Disciples: ...

[@BunhieKleever]

I thought I was the only one who ever watched "Zardoz" on late, late, late night cable. It's been almost 20 years and the image of Connery in a red speedo is still burned into my memory.

[@jefftheriault3914]

I watched the theatrical release. Back, back in the day.

[@jeremymine6722]

I LOVED this movie! Saw it @ age 10. NEVER knew the name, till now. Now I can go back and rewatch it. TY!

[@HEDGE1011]

"This story is full of intrigue and is sure to annoy...." Brilliant!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Show Me What You Got Oh, right. You got a video on Zardoz, a movie i unironically love. Cheers.

[@ScottGLloyd]

I first saw "Zardoz" when I was 16 and I loved it for its intriguing story and beautiful cinematography. Really one of the best sci fi movies of all time.

[@ColonelMetus]

You must be old

[@CJFourakiProductions]

My former high school tutor for English recommended me to watch this 3 years ago. I thought it was pretty great. The ideas were there and it was pretty damn entertaining to watch. Watched it again last week, having smoked a fuck tonne of weed with my tutor. Basically just a bunch of guys and girls baked out of their minds lying down on each other watching this. I appreciate it even more now. Great stuff.

[@BrotherNkosi]

May God forgive me, I love Zardoz. I always have. I was there in the 70's when it came out so I watch it with 70's sensibilities. A giant head vomiting guns? What in the world could be better than that? Yes I love the ending . Made me a life long fan of "Beethoven - 7th Symphony - 2nd movement" I can say i have class and culture up the wazoo.

[@MrPlannery]

Same; I loved the ending too and loved the Beethoven piece ever since

[@BrotherNkosi]

@@MrPlannery Yes Dare I say a cult classic.

[@theeternalgus9119]

Must be that good then. I'll check it out.

[@bluetownbarry]

Pre-internet trying to find that out required lots of dodgy freeze framing on my vhs.

[@kakizakichannel]

Based Huey avatar

[@rimbaud0000]

This film is essential viewing for cult film fans. It freaked me out at the time.

[@ince55ant]

maybe i'm weird but that intro is totally my jam. its sci-fi shakespear.

[@matthiasnagorski8411]

Felt like a bit out of Richard the Third in SPACE!

[@nicholasdickens2801]

This film makes me smile. It's just totally bonkers! Can you imagine anyone making this today? Really?

[@madloz76]

The giant Zardoz head spewing out the guns reminded me of the scene in Mad Max: Fury Road where Imortan Joe releases the water to his people. I wouldn't be surprised if George Miller was inspired by that scene for his film.

[@CaminoAir]

I would have thought I was watching a Monthy Python film during the first scene (Eric Idle plays floating head). Thanks. Great video as usual.

[@joshknightfall]

"Zardoz is a weird film." Understatement of the hour.

[@henryhill3778]

Worthless.

[@1SaG]

"The gun is good! The penis is evil!" ... only in the 70s, man... only in the 70s... I've watched Zardoz multiple times and every time I did, I couldn't help but think that it reeks of a project of two 1970s social-studies teachers who were stoned out of their minds and who thought they were just a little bit cleverer than they actually were.

[@MrFuggleGuggle]

Sci-Fi in the 70s before Star Wars was really weird... Zardoz and Logan’s Run are very odd, and weren’t released that far apart from Star Wars, historically.

[@themasteryourdaddy.6307]

ZARDOZ is perhaps one of the greatest sci fi movies ever. It possess many question, then answers ever single one of them. Great film, great acting. Great introduction. Awesome. "Zardoz".

[@L0LWTF1337]

What is important about Zardoz is that the films message is NOT: "Immortality would be boring". The ending basically is Sean Connery choosing to live instead of immediate death suggesting that death is nothing to strife for. Instead the film is about peer pressure and societies. The life of the immortals is only shit because they can't act on their own accord. If they don't do as the group wants them to do, then they are punished by ageing. And the outside world is shit because people are free to do, kill and rape who ever they want. So it doesn't really offer a solution but only raises questions.

[@julesf.meloborges811]

True. Life inside the vortexes was unbearable. It was a trap for eternity.

[@stuartprior6178]

Great to see a review for this movie, I must have originally seen it back in 77 or 78 and watched about 6 or 8 times since. Got a copy of it 3 years or so ago finally, I have always enjoyed from the start. The novelization by John Boorman does give a lot of the background on the tech. and history of the Vortex that is missing in the film as you mentioned and has contributed to why I enjoy it so much.

[@andremoreau8390]

I love the moment of the kill, because that is when I feel closest to Zardoz.

[@marianotorrespico2975]

Correct.

[@saxglend9439]

I am Zardoz. 🔫

[@marquittabryant4632]

I've seen a short snippet of this film on some late nite, and never have I been actually compelled to watch the film in its entirety until now... Thanks!!

[@Barbel1th]

It's called Zardoz because it's a re-telling of the allegory presented at the end of The Wizard of Oz. And, just like the god loses power when you discover the "man behind the curtain", the god's name loses power when you discover how it was derived. Also, the "cringy" scene you highlight around 6:05 is actually very important to the story at hand. Friend has been outed as a "renegade", meaning he has had thoughts against the Eternal collective. So as a punishment (since he cannot die) they age him. The entire group is attacking him psychically for not being in alignment with them and he's trying to keep them all out, which is why he's convulsing the way he is...

[@StarWarriorMusic]

Jack Frost spot on for sure but the cringe comes not from the meaning or intent of the scene but more from the acting and the editing. it could have maybe been shot a little differently or the way the actors were coached could have been better.

[@Barbel1th]

Yeah, I'm a weirdo that likes the ideas presented in the film so much I overlook its shortcomings. :D And I truly like the scene and John Alderton's performance in it. I think it's more uncanny than cringey... ;)

[@michaelwolf8690]

I think you're very right, it was always my take away that Sean Connery wasn't destroying the immortals so much as the immortals were destroying who Connery was. There's a big theme of civilization killing mysticism and the reveal of the book cover is the plot hitting the bullseye.

[@bonanzatime]

Michael Wolf yeah yeah that's the ticket, I think I remember something like that.

[@eldermillennial8330]

Michael Wolf I’d love Jordan Peterson’s take on the film.

[@leebennett4117]

The Crystal in the Movie was an AI and it had reqognized that Because of the trap of immortality Give to the Rulers of the world, Humanbeings and civilisation could no longer evolve,The AI realised​ that it and it's society must Die for Humans to progress,But the AI would have hardcore programming against its own destruction, Would not want an insane Elite just telling the AI to Destroy itself.So the AI Puts idea into Arthur Frains head to create an indirect way of Destroying itself and he creates Sean Connery a smart barbarian as an agent of this destruction

[@TheSweeny99]

Sort of a cultural precursor to bioshock? I can see some parallels

[@SpiritFilm17]

I would say you are pretty close to the best assessment of this film I have read since we now have the perspective of AI in the world. Boorman foresaw this the same as Kubrick in 2001 with HAL. If someone wrote an more serious dramatic expanded TV series that were to build upon on the themes of the world of ZARDOZ, its Immortals vs. Brutals setting, advanced humans and advanced technology etc. it would actually be a symbolic commentary on today's world from a certain perspective. Yet I would make it ultimately a POSITIVE oriented storyline as to where it would end up, kind of similar to the way the film actually goes. This film and its themes are a favorite of mine, but the film's creators are also having way too much fun in the silliness of some of the events in the story.

[@leightonwinter9243]

at least boorman wasnt scared to do something different

[@captainpawpawchannel]

I loved this movie, I don't understand its bad rating and why Boorman disavowed it, it's a gem, a bit like Altman's Quintet, there are a lot of crazy and interesting movies back then

[@newbiechu7024]

The Heretic says hi.

[@zetetick395]

Gawd knows how he pitched this movie to potential investors... @__@

[@Philbert-s2c]

Cocaine has that effect...

[@devopro5343]

Audio commentary is beautiful as all John Boorman's commentaries. Shot by same DOP as 2001. It's got fantastic ideas that have been lifted especially for BSG.

[@AnsellSteven]

A remake of ZardoZ is unnecessary. Although I think it could work as an HBO series kinda like Westworld. I would love to learn more about the Vortexes and the Brutals and how it all started. There seems to be lots of class issues that are really relevant these days.

[@captcorajus]

Zardoz is one of those moves that definitely falls into the 'its so bad its good' catagory.

[@hoosierarcher]

I saw it when it came to theatres in America. Which I think was 1975. I was 14. I was already a SciFi fan. I had read Jules Verne and H.G. Wells before the age of 12. Zardoz was to me then the strangest film I had ever seen It took me three years and several other viewings to decide I actually liked it. 20 years after it Came out I was married and I found it at a lical video rental place. I rented it and showed it to my wife. She was utterly confused by the film. She wasn't big on SciFi.

[@araspaulius]

That ending is beautiful, thank you for showing it.

[@obiwanrussell1747]

I LOVED this movie! It was one of many I saw as a kid when it came on TV (late 70s early 80s) that was shown after 11pm on a Friday night in the UK. As I didn't have to get up for school the next day I could stay up as late as I wanted and saw a lot of great if quirky movies in that slot (Dark Star, the Whicker Man, just about everything by Hammer studios and the Dr Phibes films). It all went to expanding my imagination far beyond the conventional action/fantasy and sci fi fare. Stop picking holes and enjoy the ride!

[@patrickmann3123]

Happy days Russell,happy days.

[@themadmattster9647]

thats like a list of most of my favorite films.

[@gregbowman9741]

I saw this movie years ago. so long, I've forgotten the plot. Heck, I forgot all about it until I saw your title. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

[@thebringerofwonder395]

Well, at least it was trying something new and different, the cinematography is amazing. Sean Connery was brave to wear that outfit (and remember, he was dressed as a bride towards the end of the film also!) As you mentioned, would any studio have the guts (or insanity) to remake/re imagine Zardoz? My moneys on Michael Bay directing, financed by Disney (joke). Great review BTW. Keep''em coming.

[@alexandresobreiramartins9461]

I think only David Lynch could remake it without turning it into pure Fast and Furious action shit.

[@mikegrossberg8624]

Connery INSISTED that he play the part WITHOUT his toupee

[@XthegreatwhyX]

I love this movie in a weird way. I never go looking for it, but every time it comes up, I can't stop watching it until the end.

[@zeusdyman1433]

I saw this film in the THEATER when it came out! It was part of a double feature with Rollerball! My dad took me since both movies were rated R. We were baffled by its lunacy - but I now proudly own the DVD. It's great fun! Demented, sure, but fun. Boorman is certainly hit and miss - Exorcist II anyone?

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

yeah that would be a mind lowing double feature. both of them are amongst my favorite 70s scifi films. the best double feature i had was seeing tenacious d and the pick of destiny, and then sneaking in to borat after

[@jvcyt298]

I was 10 years old when this movie came out, and I saw it in the theatre with my mother, the divorce was pending and I guess we needed to get out of the house before completely losing our minds. We went to the movies a lot in those days, and I was fortunate enough to see some gems. I'm glad that I remembered that because otherwise, it was a very shitty part of my life.

[@pappajudas9267]

Everyone forgets Sean Connery also wore a wedding gown in that film

[@DonSSanders]

I recall thinking that the production values were low budget but very creative. I was impressed how cheaply yet cleaverly some of the scenes were made

[@MrSwanley]

I have no problem remembering Zardoz. Sean Connery and a young Charlotte Rampling: and the end montage was my first introduction to the user of Beethoven's 7th Symphony in a movie montage sequence - leaves a very powerful memory. Oh yes, and the reveal about what the word Zardoz means.

[@MrPlannery]

MrSwanley I remember having to go and buy Beethovens 7th on CD after seeing this as a teenager, it having left such an impression on me.

[@ThreadBomb]

The music is good, the last shot of the hand prints and rusted gun is good, but Sean and Charlotte sitting still until they turn into skeletons is laughable.

[@marianotorrespico2975]

Are you familiar with metaphor?

[@mbe102]

RIP Sean Connery. Watching this in remembrance. Miss your vids Georg!

[@anonb4632]

Is this a good film with bad bits or a bad film with good bits? Never worked that one out.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

I guess that's like the glass being half empty half full. It's all in how you look at it. :)

[@MrChilmatron]

Anon B Definitely a brilliant film with some bits which were too experimental and now seem dated/corny. They really went out on a limb here, I'm amazed that they didn't make a fool of themselves more often than they did, which is a testament to their skill with working on a low budget. Definitely check it out, and don't judge it too harshly by contemporary standards.

[@CorvairScott]

Anon B good film with bad bits....

[@dartek14]

you're obviously brilliant.

[@JayStein777]

It's a good-bad film with great tits!

[@ProjektBurn]

I just recently found your channel and love everything I've watched so far. But I must say, none of your other vids have made me laugh so hard as this one. Bloody brilliant mate! Thanks for doing what you do.

[@ingwerschwensen8115]

I was born in 1963, so in the second half of the 70s when I started to watch the scifi movies of the last ten years - Soylent Green, Silent Running, Planet of the Apes installments etc. - Zardoz had a weird flair about it. Which made it kind of cool to have seen, and it seemed to convey some critical message about civilization too. Whatever. In short: being more or less dumb while growing up in more or less shitty dumb times made Zardoz look much better than it looked just ten years on, and certainly than it's holding up today. Ahem, there's a cultural-historical perspective that's missing from your video.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

Zardoz reminds me of the early days of HBO. When not showing Zardoz, they would run the trailer. Back then, HBO was not 24 hours. This is the first video of yours I have seen, and I subscribed.

[@warface4881]

This movie just showed up on Hulu and I watched the intro and the first scene then some credits roll and it confirmed that it was in deed staring Sean Conery. I currently don't have any weed so I think maybe I'll watch it in a few days. From the intro it's hard to imagine that it made it out of the concept phase.

[@blatherskite3009]

Well, "Zardoz" is a John Boorman film, and he was hot off "Deliverance" at the time, so I guess he had the opportunity to make whatever he wanted and he took it :) He also made the equally out there (in its own way) "Excalibur" - and I guess the passage of time has maybe obscured the fact that it was a seriously ballsy choice to decide to make a serious film of the King Arthur / Holy Grail story only 8 years after Monty Python had rendered it almost impossible to go there without risking unintentional comedy callbacks. But, amazingly, he pulled it off. Anyway, hope you managed to see "Zardoz" in the correct state to be fully enveloped in its weirdness :)

[@warface4881]

@@blatherskite3009 EXCALIBUR is one of the all time epic movies! Anulnathrak Uvaspetude Deheirdiene, something like that.

[@alessandrofuligni4015]

you forgot the soundtrack: the use of the 2nd movement ov Beethoven's 7th symphony is something that gives me the chills every time I watch this movie, simply fantastic!

[@VOLKHVORONOVICH]

You did a good ending: you've got better teeth than Zardoz.

[@lukef3559]

There is rarely an argument for a film to be able to stand alone purely based on the premise. That is what makes Zardoz special. Just a range of fantastic ideas. Apparently Connery asked his agent to get him a project as far from Bond as possible to prevent typecasting. But he is still Sean Connery and actually there is a more of an overlap of attributes and elements with the Bond films than is fairly acknowledged. And, yes, what an ending.

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

Criticizing a film because it looks dated is like criticizing a Renaissance-era painting because it looks like a Renaissance-era painting IMHO. Boorman created a cinematic art form without possibly realizing it, as he did with films like Excalibur, another film that I can look at a dozen times and walk away with a dozen viewpoints. Zardoz IS The WiZard of OZ in the sense that a "humbug" was worshiped as a god until he was revealed as just a man and like The Original Oz had no other option but to leave after The Game was over. I too loved the time-elapsed ending of the film encapsulating how the two main characters aged after The Vortex was abandoned. And personally, I would have liked to have seen more of Charlotte Rampling's "nipples!"

[@fmills1583]

That shitty movie looked dated when it first came out.

[@runlarryrun77]

You say that but I'll give you 2 examples of films older than that which, although undoubtedly products of their era, look like they could have been shot yesterday - Marnie & Once Upon A Time In The West.

[@geofff.3343]

I think he's saying it lack a lot of that timeless quality that some works seem to posses. You take a look at it and you're like, "Yeah that's high-concept 70s social SF alright..." It's still a wonderfully influential work though... *burp* Morty.

[@captcorajus]

I remember this film. OMG, thanks for this. Great commentary. That floating head is the stuff of nightmares.

[@nuada1470]

Everybody always asks "what is Zardoz?" but nobody ever thinks to ask "how is Zardoz?"

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

Moron

[@Cheezilla79]

Thanks dude , i'd seen the pic of Sean Connery in this years ago, thought "weird, ok?" and laughed. I learned that Rick and Morty had referenced it, after it was revealed to me by a gunter. Saw your vid, captivated by the 1st sequence, I immediately paused your vid , then acquired a copy of Zardoz. It quickly settled nicely into the top 10 weirdest films I've seen, and believe you me, I've sat through some weird movies. Thanks for the random inspiration.

[@richardmattingly7000]

Zardoz is lost on those who can't see the forest for the trees, and if your cluess its because the film has themes that are rarely included in SciFi of the past 40yrs. In a way the movie's about the rise and fall civilizations as one generation after another inherits then in turn destroys what their given then starts again.

[@morganwardfilm]

That's why Dune will always be the best

[@TheEqualsE]

Ironically, the first time I watched this movie it was late at night and I was flipping through channels, and that intro sucked me in. I didn't expect it to be good. I just had to watch it.

[@10191927]

😂 “the penis evil” is such a wtf line for a beginning shot.

[@floydlooney6837]

Zardoz is anti-natalist isn't he?

[@10191927]

Floyd Looney - I guess so, I mean does he want the whole human race to die out?

[@sciencefindsgod1091]

This would be a great film for a remake. The story line itself is really great sci-fi. The title Zardoz is a clue to the fact that Arthur manipulates all the events, he means for Connery's character to figure it out, he is the one who tricks Connery's character into learning to read and shows him the book Wizard of Oz.

[@sskspartan]

You didn't quite get it.Yes, Arthur did plan that but obviously Zed(Connery) surpassed him because of his enlightenment by saying"well you are also bred and groomed to be in your current role"and Arthur is shocked since he has never thought about that and is speechless

[@richardanderton6508]

Sean Connery's ageing at the end turned out to be remarkably accurate

[@biblegirl]

You're not wrong

[@zetetick395]

Also; hilarious.

[@tappajavittu]

Zardoz is great, I saw it first time as a child when I was channel surfing and noticed that it was on on some channel and started watching, my mind was blown and I was left very confused. 10/10 movie.

[@tubian323]

To say why Zardoz is called Zardoz would be giving away spoilers, wouldn't it?

[@christopherlawley1842]

Oh yes

[@chuckhainsworth4801]

It is question only asked by those who haven't watched the film, or people like an army buddie of mine who was there for the tits.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@chuckhainsworth4801 I admit the reason why I wanted to see movie was because I saw excerpts as a young teen. You can guess what scenes those were. ;) And then I saw the movie about 20 years later and I was really surprised at how good it actually is. Apart from being totally weird.

[@darrenrenna]

Agree--certainly one of those films every movie lover should see at least once. The dvd version with the director's commentary is really interesting, hearing in Boorman's words what the origin of certain elements was and the behind the scenes reasoning for some of the aesthetic

[@zenhaelcero8481]

Is this the source material for Rick & Morty's planet Gazorpazorp?

[@gregorcleganesrabidpug26]

Kalvin Wike yup it sure is. i laughed so hard i snorted pepsi up my nose.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Almost certainly. :)

[@SAVikingSA]

SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Oh wait, I was thinking more about the one with the Amazon women and the floating stone head. :)

[@versasrev]

yes

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

I loved Zardoz, it’s one of my favorite 60s/70s trippy scifi films along with Soylent Green, Logans Run, and Rollerball. Personally i like the opening, I feel it helped set the tone.

[@Thkaal]

That guy being cast out used wrong think to state an opinion the collective didn't like.

[@rebeccalovitch8504]

I just found your site and so far I am very impressed. Thumbs up and you have a new subscriber.

[@oldladybast5292]

It's different and funny and metaphysical. It's definitely a 70s movie. Oz.A truly twisted tale. The 70s was like being on LSD when you weren't high.

[@johnwatson3948]

I saw it in film school in the 1980’s but had forgotten it was by John Boorman - which explains everything. Some of the same sort of stuff was in Excalibur.

[@gordonm.7387]

Night of the Generals was on movies4men the other night. O'Toole was some actor! He's demented in that one. The Ruling Class is nuts too.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

"No one rots with me."

[@martindeewan686]

If you want demented Peter O'Toole + demented Faye Dunaway just watch Supergirl (1984). It's delirious !!!

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

He wasn't as nuts in that film as he was in "Caligula" in my opinion. "Little Boots!"

[@floraposteschild4184]

Nope. The most demented is The Ruling Class. English aristocrat, Jesus (he hangs out on a cross in his sitting room) AND (spoilers) Jack the Ripper.

[@CaptWesStarwind]

I actually first found out about this movie on a book I had all about The World of Oz. There was a section about spin offs and this was one. There was just a picture of the giant Zardoz head and a little description about. Sean Connery in a jock strap was an added bonus.

[@gordonm.7387]

Boorman is a brilliant filmmaker. Point Blank is great. Exorcist 2 is demented. Excalibor is great.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

I can never decide if my favourite Boorman is Point Blank or Deliverance. Great movies.

[@gordonm.7387]

+Georg Rockall-Schmidt "I just want my money." Lee Marvin was awesome. Richard Burton loved him. They are in a movie about the Ku Klux Klan together! It's shit! Deliverance is amazing. When Burt puts that arrow through the hillbilly... Jesus.

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

Oh my God The Klansman - I haven't thought about that in ages. Richard Burton was so drunk all the time they almost couldn't make it. Forgot all about that film...

[@thomridgeway1438]

y@sakor88 I think you are wrong, If Excalibur is anything to go by, I am sure he would have made a very unique take on the Tolkein books. Ironically because of their epic scope, they were far too costly to make and could only ever happen through CGI, by the time Peter Jackson directed. I think LOR directed by Boorman, would have made a far more imaginative, more memorable, and interesting idea. If anything, Jackson is too rigidly attached to the books, so much so, that they are too conventional, even prosaic.

[@kirnpu]

@@GeorgRockallSchmidt I love Boorman's work - my personal favorite is The Emerald Forest. Zardoz was bitchen when it came out!

[@bigantplowright5711]

Saw it back in the day. Never forgotten it...... but never ever seen any sign of it since. Probably hardly surprising!!

[@mrnickbig1]

Of course it is named after the Wizard of Oz! Do you really not know the end of the book where the godlike wizard with the huge floating head is revealed to be a man controlling a puppet? As far as the setup for the movie, it is post apocalyptic where two groups of people survived: barbarians who had lost technology, and the descendants of scientists and officials that had refuge in shelters. Connery was one of a group of barbarians that had developed very high intelligence due to mutations.

[@mrnickbig1]

@Officer Murphy , no, the high intelligence was due to mutations.

[@mrnickbig1]

@Officer Murphy , so Frayn even admitted the intelligence was a mutation. The selective breeding program was to make them strong and hardy, not super intelligent.

[@DeepEye1994]

Finally a review that is more clear and calm and actually analyzes it instead of "OH MY GOD DIS MOVIE IS WEIRD AND SHITTY!!!" like all the others I tried to watch.

[@ScooterinAB]

"The Penis is evil. It shoots seeds..." What the fuck? This movie looks insane,

[@ebonymont1705]

Scooter Campbell kind of, more like the beginning of current feminism

[@TheMovingEye]

It makes more sense in context ^^

[@misterprickly]

Actually it was 70's feminism but it applies perfectly to today's!

[@michaelwolf8690]

+TheMovingEye - LIAR!

[@DustinRodriguez1_0]

If immortality was developed, overpopulation would be a titanic problem. Similar to how the exploding population of the lower class in dense urban areas during the Industrial Revolution led to both the church and secular authorities taking harsh anti-sex positions and spreading similar ideas. Is it really all that different between 'the penis is evil' and 'touching yourself causes blindness, insanity, and death'? They didn't openly advocate murder as Zardoz does, but they weren't dealing with immortality. It's pretty easy to see how immortality could lead to a resurgence in anti-sex sentiment if you assume that somehow birth control technology took a big step backwards or something. Or perhaps even if not - just look at how much of the anti-sex ideas of the Industrial Revolution persist to this very day even though we have condoms, birth control pills, patches, injections, IUDs, and a hundred other ways to ensure we only reproduce when we want to.

[@joshpoke3829]

I watched this on acid and thought this deserves a academy award

[@CorvairScott]

Zardoz is a prophetic warning. All it takes is one barbarian to destroy the immortals

[@maddogmcgruels5643]

lol

[@theomegawerty]

CorvairScott or one man of action to bring down the elites. this is why elites in governments fear the masculine and encourage feminism

[@pantslizard]

CorvairScott SHIT!?! ...I better get to work then... ;>)

[@nelumbonucifera7537]

Not quite. It was actually Frayn who masterminded everything. He created Zed through generations of selective breeding to fulfill the Eternals' death-wish. It was an inside job.

[@misterprickly]

It is a perfect parallel to what is happening to our society now. We've got an entire generation of safe space dwelling snowflakes afraid of what ONE outsider will say or do. The block button is good. The trolls are EVIL. *Twitter has SPOKEN!*

[@TheOldMan-75]

Stumbled upon this movie by accident and watched it with a couple of friends. We had a blast.

[@doraran5158]

I actually really like this film. The brooding music, the depressing weather even the Webley-Foseberry revolver used by Connery all make an ambiance. The goofy commune like place the 'Immortals' live makes this almost a satire of the early '70's and their contemporary 'progressive' progeny that are currently among us. The ending was so hokey, but still thoroughly enjoyable.

[@ColonelMcboot]

I saw this film thanks to watching this channel, and I loved it! Zardoz is great

[@camazotzz]

That isn't a jock strap it's a loin cloth

[@ShamrockParticle]

camazotzz Some say it's a diaper. O.o

[@NuGanjaTron]

It's a nappy

[@Gangdyret]

@Stephen Murphy It's Sean Connery, no padding was needed, except to restrain his magnificent bulge; lest it run the risk of make lesser men shrivel up in their inadequacy!

[@jamiebraswell5520]

You don't know what a loin cloth is much like the guy who made this video doesn't know what a jock strap is.

[@camazotzz]

@@jamiebraswell5520 ha, I actually know a lot about loin clothes, I've made many.

[@chris.bilson]

I remembered the head as a kid. I thought it was a dream until I stumbled upon it on KZbin.

[@tbabubba32682]

Fuckin' Beethoven made me cry again!

[@cigoLxeL]

I like how the movie treats the reveal of Zardoz's name as if it actually explains _anything_ else that's going on.

[@metalmugen]

They really, really don't make them like this anymore.

[@grayscribe2125]

I doubt they even can make a movie like this anymore. It would be full of stuff that mirrors current events and attitudes, which would destroy it's original messages.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

I've just had a horrible thought. I could actually picture Adam Sandler trying to do something like this. 😱

[@dougelick8397]

They've never made them like this. It's the only one of its kind.

[@Otokichi786]

I'd heard of this movie forever, but hadn't seen it until it turned up one night on Turner Classic Movies. As I watched the introduction, this came to mind: "You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Zardoz Zone!" It was...unimpressive.

[@Th3Pr0digalS0n]

I love your cheeky commentaries. good stuff!

[@MadamFoogie]

Since you talked about Zardoz, maybe consider discussing The Holy Mountain? Also, on a private note, sorry I deleted the comment I wrote a few minutes ago in another video. I didn't think anyone would get the joke. Didn't expect you to reply instantly!

[@GeorgRockallSchmidt]

Oh don't worry about it, I figured it was just KZbin doing its thing. I would like to make a video discussing the work of Jodorowsky, where I'll no doubt talk about The Holy Mountain, although I'm not sure when that'll be. Thanks for reminding me of this though, it's something (like so many things) I really need to take another look at.

[@ThreadBomb]

It's an amazing movie! Jodorowsky's best, I think. I guess it helps that I'm a huge William Burroughs fan. Holy Mountain and (Lynch's) Dune are the closest I've come to seeing Burroughs's vision on screen.

[@MichaelSkilling]

Dune was originally supposed to be made by Jodorowsky. Amazingly, the people working on that version of Dune went on to make Alien, and Jodorowsky's ideas are cherry picked to be used used in other films to this day. Check out the documentary, "Jodorowsky's Dune". it's very entertaining and quite informative.

[@Syncopator]

I like The Holy Mountain, but think Santa Sangre is by far his best. The plot to Holy Mountain is essentially the conversation between Mr. Natural and Flaky Foot, when Foont asked, "what does it all mean," and Mr. Natural responded, "it don't mean shit." The scene in The Holy Mountain where the guy wakes up in the warehouse on top of thousands of castings of himself is priceless though...

[@StarWarriorMusic]

see this is the great thing about jodorowsky, no matter which one you like most its a good choice. I personally find el topo and the holy mountain at the top, but if anyone ever tells me one of his other films,Santa sangre, or fando and Lis, is their favorite then they haven't really gone wrong either.

[@originaluddite]

Obscure yet very well-known sounds like one of my favourite bands, Jethro Tull. Everyone seems to either say "of course I know them!" or "what is that?"

[@niallreid7664]

I know them but I don't know anything about them lol.

[@DrCruel]

Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.