It’d be an understated that Zardoz is one unique, and bizarre, movie from the subject to costumes but well worth checking out thanks in large part to Sean Connery in one of his most… interesting performances. The Blu-ray released through Twilight Time offers good video/audio transfers and although the bonus material is limited, the two commentaries are pretty good.
Zardoz
(1974)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fantasy
Twilight Time | R – 105 min. – $29.95 | April 14, 2015
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MOVIE INFO: Directed by: John Boorman Writer(s): John Boorman (written by) Cast: Sean Connery, Charlotte Rampling, Sara Kestelman, John Alderton DISC INFO: Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 2.0) |
** Click Here to Purchase Zardoz on Blu-ray from Screen Archives **
THE MOVIE
Writer/Director John Boorman’s fabulously bizarre Zardoz is a visually stunning science fiction/fantasy fable starring Sean Connery as the spanner in the works of a dreamily languid future society. A primitive Adam (CONNERY), Zed charges like a bull through the china shop of a civilization from which all signs of lusty humanity have been drained.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.5/5
This release comes with a 6-page essay booklet.
The features are relatively light but we do get two Audio Commentaries, the first with Writer/Director John Boorman and the second featuring Film Historians Jeff Bond, Joe Fordham and Nick Redman.
Also included are six Radio Spots (TRT 5:28; SD) and the Original Theatrical Trailer (2:29; SD).
VIDEO – 4.25/5
Zardoz arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Twilight Time presented in its original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given a nice looking 1080p high-definition transfer. When you consider the film was released 41 years ago, and a reasonably limited $1.57M budget ($8.25M adjusted for inflation), it doesn’t look half bad. Colors tend to be bright and detail levels are decent. There is a discernible amount of grain or noise present but otherwise it appears to be clean enough with no obvious dust marks or aliasing.
AUDIO – 4.0/5
The movie comes with a standard but effective 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track which offers clear dialogue levels throughout and any of the more action-oriented sequences are of course limited but still efficient. There were no apparent hisses or pops making for a well done lossless aural experience. I won’t say it’s entirely expansive lacking some depth, but it’s far better than I assume it’s ever sounded before.
OVERALL – 3.0/5
Overall, it’d be an understated that Zardoz is one unique, and bizarre, movie from the subject to costumes but well worth checking out thanks in large part to Sean Connery in one of his most… interesting performances. The Blu-ray released through Twilight Time offers good video/audio transfers and although the bonus material is limited, the two commentaries are pretty good.
Published: 04/14/2015
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.