The first time I saw Wizards I thought it was pretty stupid, and I dissmissed it. But then an odd thing happend. From time to time, images or moments in the film would come back to me. Finally, two years after I saw it the first time, I watched it again. I now see that it is a truly great film, with a style so unique it may be initially off-putting.
Ralph Bakshi was the first American filmmaker to make animated movies for an adult audince. His breatkthough, the ultra-nihilistic Fritz the Cat was the first cartoon to get an X rating. Bakshi's work is not porn, but there is a lot sexual innudendo and situtions that can turn people off. His visuals, combines a lot of different styles- live action, rotoscope, traditional cell animation, often in the same shot. In Wizards, it creates a new cinematic world.
The plot of the film takes some explaining. In the near future, World War III will break out and destroy the world as we know it. What humans that survive will become mutant creatures. However, the desstruction of civilization allows magic to emerge again, and the parts of the Earth that are healed are home to elves and fairies. A powerful sorcerress one day gives birth to twin wizards: the good Avatar (voice of Bob Holt), who allies himself with magic and the evil Black Wolf (Steve Gravers), who allies with technology. One day, they fight, and Avatar defeats his brother, but spares his life because he is family. Black Wolf retreats into the wastelands and is held at bay because his mutant armies have no disapline. But one day he discovers Nazi propaganda footage an old projector and uses it to control the mutants and invade the good lands. The only person who can stop them is the now-ancient Avatar, who leaves with his fairy student Elinore (Jesse Welles), the elf warrior Weehawk (Richard Romulas), and the android Peace (David Proval).
Yes, I know what you are thinking- this sounds like something a Dungeons and Dragons geek would write in high school. What saves the movie from being an unbearable geekfest is the edge and darkness that Bakshi brings. Although Bakshi claims it's family film I don't think that's correct, unless you are okay with young children seeing mutant prostitutes or the horrors of WWII (I think if the movie came out today it would be rated PG-13). In a Bakshi universe, good does not always win over evil so we know that Black Wolf could win at the end. The other elements that Bakshi brings is suspense- Avatar is so old and weak that's we really question how he can possibly pull his quest off. The movie is also pretty deep, it has a lot to say about the power of the media, as well as many other ethical issues.
This is such a unqiue film in style and execution that I reccomend it to all film fans as probably the best introduction to Bakshi possible. It also can take it's place along with The Wizard of Oz, Labyrnth and Jackson's The Lord of the Rings as one of the finest fantasy films ever made.
Wizards (1977)