Rotten
Initial segments have a boisterous blend of dynamic graphics, intriguing plot premises and sly wit that unfortunately slide gradually downhill.
Variety Staff, Variety
Heavy Metal
A step beyond science fiction.
1981 · 1h 30m · R
Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Music, Science Fiction
Directed by
Gerald Potterton
,
John Bruno
,
John Halas
,
Julian Harris
,
Jimmy T. Murakami
,
Barrie Nelson
,
Paul Sabella
,
Jack Stokes
,
Pino Van Lamsweerde
,
Harold Whitaker
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Heavy Metal
Overview
The embodiment of ultimate evil, a glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with bizarre stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.
Director and cast
- Gerald Potterton Director
- John Bruno Director
- John Halas Director
- Julian Harris Director
- Jimmy T. Murakami Director
- Barrie Nelson Director
- Paul Sabella Director
- Jack Stokes Director
- Pino Van Lamsweerde Director
- Harold Whitaker Director
- Rodger Bumpass as Hanover Fiste / Dr. Anrak (voice)
- John Candy as Desk Sergeant / Dan / Den / Robot (voice)
- Jackie Burroughs as Katherine (voice)
- Joe Flaherty as Lawyer / General (voice)
- Don Francks as Grimaldi / Co-Pilot / Barbarian (voice)
- Marilyn Lightstone as Whore / Queen (voice)
- Eugene Levy as Sternn / Male Reporter / Edsel (voice)
- Harold Ramis as Zeke (voice)
- Caroline Semple as Girl (voice)
- Richard Romanus as Harry Canyon (voice)
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
66%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Some of the animation is first-rate, particularly in the more modest comedy segments, and even the heavy set pieces have greater flash and dazzle than anything Ralph Bakshi mustered around the same period.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Rotten
Fantasies that are gratuitously sexist and Fascist (macho whoring and warmongering), and whose roots reach all the way back to post-hippie paranoia, feed the tangled plot-lines of a movie that... should disappoint even the teenage wet-dreamers.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Fresh
Heavy Metal has been animated with great verve, and scored very well, with music much less ear-splitting than the title would suggest.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Fresh
Regardless of its dated stylishness (which still holds up remarkably well a decade plus later), Heavy Metal was a pioneering film in 1981 and remains a pivitol and infuential body of art today.
Jeff Gilbert, Film.com
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