A truly weird sci-fi film. Some of the effects (specifically the stone head shots) are pretty cheesy, but it isn't fair to judge them by modern standards. Parts of the plot are highly interesting, and a few other parts are a bit ridiculous, but Sean Connery plays it straight throughout. (Although at the beginning of the film, he fires a pistol directly at the camera, seemingly a nod to his James Bond character) Charlotte Rampling is oddly good in this film as well. Sarah Kestelman and Niall Buggy played parts too odd to really describe. I liked it OK, partly FOR its weirdness.

Ah, you've got to love the 70's. Only in that decade could a film so wilfully weird as Zardoz be released by one of the major studios. This was the decade where Hollywood went left-field and consequently released a large number of brilliantly odd movies. It would probably be fair to say that Zardoz is among the most bizarre. In those halcyon days between the release of the highly popular but highly strange 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and the decidedly more straightforward but astronomically successful Star Wars (1977), what constituted cinematic science fiction was often more conceptual than action-oriented. Zardoz is a pretty good example of this. Its writer and director was John Boorman who had just come off the back of the highly successful, yet decidedly disturbing, Deliverance (1972). The success of that film gave him enough leverage with Twentieth Century Fox that they gave him full control on his next feature, which was of course Zardoz. The result was a highly unusual and distinctive science fiction oddity. On release it seems to have quickly attained something of an infamous reputation. It was considered by the critics as an incoherent and self-indulgent mess. In fairness, it's not really surprising that it attracted such hostility, as while it is a film with lots of ideas, they are presented in a confused manner, with a somewhat muddled plot. However, I think from the point-of-view of today, this can surely now be mostly forgiven and we can appreciate the very fact that this was a sci-fi opus that wasn't afraid to simply let loose and go for it fully, with impressively little regard for commercial considerations.Just recounting a brief synopsis reminds me just how strange the basic story for this one actually is. In the 23rd-century, in a post-apocalyptic Earth, we have a character called Zed. He is an Exterminator, one of the professional killers who eliminate Brutals on orders from a god known as Zardoz, who in turn is a giant floating stone head who spews forth weaponry for the Exterminators to use. Severe doubts lead Zed to stow away in the head of Zardoz and from this vantage point he enters the Vortex, which is the world of the immortal Eternals, a group of fey fops who are guardians to human culture and art. The introduction of this savage mortal into their midst is the catalyst for irrevocable changes in the Vortex.See what I mean? The synopsis reads like madness. This is about as far removed from a high concept movie as you are likely to get. Its story-line is totally out there. But that is a significant part of this film's appeal, as unlike most films this one is highly unpredictable. You just can't really work out where it's going to go next and this is something of a serious plus point in its favour. It considers the ideas of utopia and immortality, and the resultant boredom associated with each. There is maybe a little too much convoluted high-minded dialogue about various matters but some of the ideas connect. It's stylised in that it is the future as seen from the 70's. Some people used the word 'dated' to describe the likes of this. I personally do not like that word and consider it meaningless, moreover I think the look of the future from the point-of-view of the 70's is actually a pretty interesting one and is another plus point for this film. Visually, this one has much going for it generally, with some psychedelic sequences and surreal moments. It's colourful, bizarre and imaginative. In films so offbeat as this acting performances often feel like something of an afterthought but special mention has to be made for Sean Connery who is in a role about as far removed from James Bond as is emotionally possible. He goes around in a deeply unflattering outfit but does so in an impressively committed way, so kudos to Connery for giving such a serious performance in a nappy. Ice queen Charlotte Rampling is also on hand, as is perfectly cast as one of the aloof Eternals; it sometimes feels like Rampling only appeared in cult movies and, well, this sure qualifies as another one. In summary, Zardoz is most certainly not for everyone but it's a movie that grows on you, there really is nothing else like it.

Zardoz is a nearly-great film, well worth the watch. It has detractors, but the criticism is often due to the cultural bias of the times. ( Sean Connery is costumed oddly, he wears high hooker type boots and a red diaper like loin cloth, for instance. Maybe that will be common one day, somewhere, who can tell ?).The story /plot is very intellectual, utilizing time distortion, space travel, genetics, and immortality via cybernetics, and the class struggle... this film is technically post-apocalyptic in theme. Freudianism is evident throughout- the moral of the movie seems to be that no matter how hard Man tries to live forever,his death wish will seek him out.This very enjoyable and engaging film has its dud moments, and this is a shame- with a few extra days work on the set, director Boorman could have pulled off a film that would now be considered to be in the big leagues- but we are thankful for this cult classic anyway, its just as well, since deep or novel ideas are not for the masses, and this gem does contain many profundities worthy of your midnight caress.Extra bonus: Charlotte Rampling co-stars ! So don't hesitate to watch this one, no serious fan of the sci-fi genre can do without 'Zardoz'!

Filmmaker John Boormans' follow-up to "Deliverance" is admittedly not to all tastes. Boorman, who also produced and wrote the film, gives us a one of a kind experience that, ultimately, is better seen than described. Words like "weird" and "provocative" come to mind when viewing it, because it's full of ideas.It depicts a world of the future (the year 2293, to be exact) where a sly master intelligence, Zardoz, has contrived a way to keep unruly lower classes in line. One of the lower class people is an "exterminator", Zed (Sean Connery), whose job is to kill, period. One day Zed decides to seek truth, and hitches a ride in a great stone head, where he's transported to a "vortex", or environment, where the bored upper class, a group of immortal intellectuals, don't know what to make of him. He shakes up their world as much as they shake up his.The most striking element of "Zardoz" is the visual approach. Filmed on location in Ireland, it takes us from one surreal set piece to another, with deliberately stylized dialogue. The cast plays the material with very straight faces. Connery looks fairly embarrassed, and considering the fact that his costume partly consists of a red diaper, one can hardly blame him. (He wasn't too happy about having to wear a wedding dress, either.) Charlotte Rampling, Sara Kestelman, John Alderton, Sally Anne Newton, and Niall Buggy co-star; of this group of actors, Buggy does manage to inject some humour into the proceedings.This is sedately paced and short on action, but it's compelling in its own offbeat way, provided one is able to stick with the story. While it's not likely to be very appealing to a mainstream audience, it's not something easily forgotten for devotees of cult cinema.Seven out of 10.