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Heavy Metal was a groundbreaking film when it was released in
1981. What had traditionally been considered an art form for children,
animation, was suddenly turned upside down and inside out. What
was created changed the face of animation forever. Not longer
would animation be confined to the cutesy imagination that Disney
had pioneered. In Heavy Metal, anything's possible and nothing's
off limits.
Derived from the American translation of a French magazine, Heavy
Metal could best be described as a long form music video. Rock
music plays an important role in the feel of the film, and some
of the sequences presented don't have a real narrative to follow,
but rather are there just to accompany the music. Also of interest
in Heavy Metal is the use of many wildly varying styles of animation,
with some sequences drawn in a more traditional manner while other
sequences present a much grittier look.
Starting with the first of many narrative sequences with a sinister
green orb, the Loc-Nar, the film takes viewers on a free for all
through time and space as the Loc-Nar weaves its way through several
adventures. The thing about Heavy Metal is that since there's
no real straightforward story, it's hard to give a real plot synopsis.
The various sequences represent very different stories, only held
together by the thread of the Loc-Nar.
Sprinkled within these stories though, are some very familiar
voice talents from Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy, and the late, great
John Candy. Of all the stories, the ones that I enjoy the most
are the comical turns in Den, Captain Sternn, and So Beautiful
& So Dangerous. I'll always laugh listening to Zeke explanation
of how to fly stoned. I should use that philosophy in life.
There's no doubt about it, Heavy Metal is a film like no other.
A comic book come colorfully to life for adults. Sex, drugs and
rock & roll have never been so wonderfully packaged and offered
up. For nearly twenty-years, the film has gained mythical cult
status through endless midnight shows and pirated videocassettes.
Now the myth comes home in the finest presentation ever given
to it. Read on.
Video: How Does The Disc Look?
Presented in Columbia TriStar's wonderfully common high-definition
master downconverted to anamorphic widescreen, Heavy Metal is
a sight to behold. Colors are beautiful and strong without any
bleeding to be found. You'll find no compression artifacts anywhere
in this presentation. Being animated however, detail is only as
good as the animation but never lacks to bring out all the subtlety
in the drawings.
The thing lost with the animation however, were the scan lines.
This picture is as smooth as anything I've ever seen and I actually
found myself, several times, forgetting that this was a DVD. That's
probably the highest compliment that I could ever give to a studio
regarding one of their releases. While there is some dirt evident
in the print, with animation, it'd be hard not to. Very high marks
to Columbia TriStar. Did you expect anything different?
Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?
When Heavy Metal was re-released theatrically in 1997, it was
given a complete makeover in the audio department. Released then
with an ear-blistering SDDS soundtrack, that experience now comes
home in the disc's wonderful Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The main
drive of the movie and the primary element of the soundtrack is
the thumping rock tunes present throughout. While a lot of this
music is confined to the front soundstage, some does sneak its
way back for a more full feel from time to time. The music sounds
wonderful and exhibits excellent frequency range considering the
age of the film.
Effects are directional with good dynamic range. Bass never quite
reaches all the way down, but gets low enough to shake your sternum
a few times. Dialog, obviously ADR, sounds somewhat detached a
few times, but on the whole is smooth with only the occasional
slightest distortion at higher volumes, no doubt due to the age
of the elements. Surrounds get used a lot with great use of split
effects, although sometimes they can be slightly overused, a problem
I also found with 2-channel version and therefore completely inherent
in the mix.
As I stated, there is also an English 2.0 stereo track included,
along with English, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles and English
Closed Captions.
Supplements: What Goodies Are There?
Heavy Metal fans, brace yourselves! This is what all of you have
been waiting for. Right off the bat, I'll tell you that if you
were actually to sit down and go through the entire disc's content
of just video and audio supplements with the movie, you'll be
sitting there for nearly 6 hours!!!
Most impressively, this disc contains the full-length rough
cut version of the film as a separate title (i.e., it is not
accessible via seamless branching or a multiple angle) in addition
to the theatrical version. This is a work-in-progress with scenes
and designs not contained in the theatrical release print. The
rough cut is presented full-frame and slightly altered in story
sequence. This rough-cut version can be viewed with either a 1.0
mono audio track or a full audio commentary with Heavy
Metal historian Carl Macek. Macek has tons to divulge about the
production of the film and many are going to find this one feature
a marvel that they will revisit again and again.
But wait, Macek's not done yet. Included, as an alternate
language track running nearly the length of the final film,
is Macek reading his book "Heavy Metal: Animation of the 80s."
Again, great stuff to be heard here. Follow that with the all-new
35-minute documentary "Imagining Heavy Metal," which
contains a look at the creation of the film and the writing process,
including interviews with producer Ivan Reitman, amongst others,
and you'll learn even more about this trailblazing film. Last
in the video supplement area are two deleted scenes, including
"Neverwhere Land" and the first-time ever release of an alternate
framing story, which also is available with or without Macek's
commentary.
On the text slant to the disc are some equally impressive and
noteworthy finds. The Artwork of Heavy Metal breaks down
the animation process into several different stages: pencil art,
concept art, single cel art, and layered cel art. A variety of
the different sequences are then showcased during these different
stages. An additional production still section gives a photographic
insight into the creation of the "B-17/Gremlins" and
"Taarna" sequences. Last on the text side is EVERY SINGLE
COVER produced for Heavy Metal magazine from 1977 to 1999!
DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc
in your PC?
No ROM extras have been included.
Parting Thoughts
Columbia TriStar has done something that is becoming increasingly
harder to do these days, they impressed me with their treatment
of Heavy Metal. This is a set to get if you're a fan of the movie
or of serious animation in general. I commend Columbia TriStar
for this set and think that this disc is worth every single penny
they're charging for and then some. Highly, highly recommended!!!
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