top of page
Search
egritade1972

Heavy Metal Movie Full Version 1981: A Cult Classic of Dark Fantasy and Eroticism



The film uses the rotoscoping technique of animation in several shots. This process consists of shooting models and actors, then tracing the shot onto film for animation purposes.[6] The B-17 bomber was shot using a 10-foot (3 m) replica, which was then animated. Additionally, Taarna the Taarakian was rotoscoped, using Toronto model Carole Desbiens as a model for the animated character. The shot of the exploding house near the end of the movie was originally to be rotoscoped, but as the film's release date had been moved up from October/November to August 7, 1981, a lack of time prevented this. This remains as the only non-animated sequence in the film. During development of this film, the Canadian animation studio, Nelvana Limited, was offered the chance to work on Heavy Metal, but they declined their offer, instead working on their first theatrical film, Rock & Rule.




Heavy Metal Movie Full Version 1981




What's even more peculiar is the fact that the movie, like the famous magazine it's based on, is designed to lure in teens with the promise of gratuitous sex and nudity, as well as elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and violence. But the movie's overall content and themes make it more appropriate for adults, who will not be as interested. On the plus side, the movie has a good soundtrack of 1970s and 1980s-era arena rock (not all heavy metal, by the way), and the songs are used interestingly as background, often giving scenes an effective and much-needed boost of adrenaline. Ivan Reitman was a producer.


Taarna is our main feature, essentially, by far the longest section and probably the most famous what with Taarna being on the movie poster and that one South Park episode parodying it to Hell and back. The Loc-Nar finally gets of its ambiguously existent ass and crashes into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It attracts hordes of Mad Max-esque tribesemen and coats them in green goo, turning them into savage green mutants. These mutants then wage war on all of civilization while riding giant bats and blasting Black Sabbath. It is, to quote the poet Keats, metal as fuck.


Plans for a new version of the film began to take shape in 2008, with lots of big names floated around to direct segments. However, the project fell into Development Hell, since nobody was interested in investing in it. However, in August 2011, Robert Rodriguez acquired the rights for a Heavy Metal movie and started the project over from scratch at his newly created company, Quick Draw Studios. This, too, would fall to the wayside as Rodriguez began focusing more on his own television channel.


Based on the graphic magazine of the same name, this full-length animated movie runs the gamut of animation styles and futuristic alien story lines. Blue Oyster Cult's "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" is featured during a segment that might better have fit the song "Sole Survivor". BÖC wrote several songs based on the different stories in the movie, which are on the "Fire of Unknown Origin" LP.Bad Channels1992


A prog metal album cover comes to life in Heavy Metal 2000, the direct-to-video sequel to the cult 1981 animated science-fiction fantasy film Heavy Metal, based on the popular magazine of the same name. It was released 20 years ago today, and was directed by Michel Lemire (who worked in the animation department of the first Heavy Metal) and Michael Coldewey (of German VFX studio Trixter, who would go on to work on several Marvel movies). Enter a universe of sex, death and violence, full of monsters, space ships, ancient prophecies and tall, scantily-clad, buxom women.


The soundtrack of the first Heavy Metal is probably more famous than the film itself. It featured the very best of heavy metal and rock artists of the era, like Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Nazareth and Sammy Hagar. It even peaked to the number 12 position on the Billboard 200 chart. Any vinyl aficionado probably has the record somewhere in their collection (looking at you, Rachel Prin!).


Music From The Motion Picture Heavy Metal A: Sammy Hagar: Heavy Metal Riggs: Heartbeat Devo: Working In A Coalmine Blue Oyster Cult: Veteran Of The Psychic Wars B: Cheap Trick: Reach Out Don Felder: Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride) Donald Fage: True Companion Nazareth: Crazy (A Suitable Case For Treatment) C: Riggs: Radar Riders Journey: Open Arms Grand Funk Railroad: Queen Bee Cheap Trick: I Must Be Dreamin' D: Black Sabbath: Mob Rules (*) Don Felder: All Of You Trust: Prefabricated Stevie Nicks: Blue Lamp - (*) includes Ronnie James Dio on vocals- E5150 missing from the soundtrack although it exists in the movie- Mob Rules is a different version than on the Mob Rules album Australia, 1981- Gatefold sleevesEpic 2ELPS 0037, Australia, 1981- Gatefold sleeves- White label promo release- Clickhere for back sleeve pictureFull Moon/Asylum DP-90004, Canada, 1981- Gatefold sleeves Dionet-00768 Full Moon EPC 88558, France/Holland, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Sleeves and vinyls made in Holland, identical with the first version listed here, but includes a French sticker on the front sleeve. Dionet-00704 Epic EPC 88558, Greece, 1981- Gatefold sleeves Full Moon EPC 88558, Holland, 1981- Gatefold sleeves- Clickhere for 2nd LP pictureFull Moon EPC 88558, Holland, 1981- Gatefold sleeves, identical with the other pressing- Different label design than on the other pressing- ReissueCBS/Sony 40AP 2122/3, Japan, 1981- Gatefold sleeves, includes a title strip- Clickhere for label picture. Dionet-01310 CBS/Sony 40AP 2122/3, Japan, 1981- Gatefold sleeves, includes a title strip - Promo release, has a promo sticker on the back sleeve and a folded press release insert - Click here for side B label picture. - Click here for side C label picture. - Click here for side D label picture. - Click here for front sleeve picture. - Click here for back sleeve picture. - Click here for the press release insert picture. Dionet-00405 Epic EPC 88558, Spain, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Includes an insert - Click here for front sleeve picture. - Click here for back sleeve picture. - Click here for side B label picture. - Click here for side C label picture. - Click here for side D label picture. Full Moon, Switzerland, 1981- Manufactured in Holland for Swiss market- Has Swiss sticker on the back sleeveEpic EPC 88558, UK, 1981- Gatefold sleeves- Contains a black/white information sheet Dionet-00459 Full Moon/Asylum Records DP-90004, USA, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Has a sticker on the sleeve - Click here for a picture of the sticker. Dionet-01608 Full Moon/Asylum Records DP-90004, USA, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Promo release, promo stamp on the front sleeve & white label promo vinyls - "(CTH)" text on the labels, indicating Columbia Records' pressing plant in Terre Haute, Indiana. - Click here for a picture of the promo stamp on the front sleeve. Dionet-01609 Full Moon/Asylum Records DP-90004, USA, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Promo release, promo stamp on the front sleeve & white label promo vinyls - "(CP)" text on the labels, indicating Columbia Records' pressing plant in Pitman, NJ. Dionet-01610 Full Moon/Asylum Records DP-90004, USA, 1981- Gatefold sleeves - Promo release, promo stamp on the front sleeve & white label promo vinyls - "(CSM)" text on the labels, indicating Columbia Records' pressing plant in Santa Maria, CA. Dionet-00695 Epic/Suzy Records/Jugoton EPC-88558 (ULP-1310), Yugoslavia, 1981- Gatefold sleeves


Heavy Metal - The Radio Special A: Exact track listing unknown, includes music and interviews from Heavy Metal movie, including Mob Rules from Black Sabbath B: Exact track listing unknown, includes music and interviews from Heavy Metal movie Dionet-00448 Full Moon/Asylum Records PROMO-HM-781-RR, USA, 1981- Promo release for radio stations - Click here for back sleeve picture. - Click here for side B label picture.


The title Heavy Metal is somewhat misleading. Sure, this terrific soundtrack from the 1981 animated cult favorite features heavy metal and hard rock numbers. But the title refers to National Lampoon's sci-fi/fantasy magazine on which the film is based. Musically, Heavy Metal offers more than the title suggests, and the songs fit perfectly with their respective film segments. Heavy Metal was originally a double album, but at 62 minutes it fits just fine on one CD. Sixteen songs are contributed by Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Grand Funk Railroad, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Nazareth, Stevie Nicks, Riggs, and Trust; Cheap Trick, Felder, and Riggs each provide two. Most songs are exclusive to this soundtrack. The best-known song here is Journey's ballad "Open Arms." Blue Oyster Cult's darkly menacing "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" is a haunting gem. Devo's quirky, new wave interpretation of the Allen Toussaint-penned "Working in the Coal Mine" was a minor hit. Black Sabbath's blistering "The Mob Rules" is a fine example of the underrated Ronnie James Dio era. Felder's "Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)" and "All of You" are well-crafted, and they make a good argument that he was the Eagles' secret musical weapon. Fagen's "True Companion" is a delightful jazz-rock song that would have fit nicely on a Steely Dan album. The odd thing is this five-minute tune is practically an instrumental; Fagen doesn't start singing until 3 minutes in. Nazareth's "Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)" has a hypnotic rhythm. Stevie Nicks' "Blue Lamp" is clean, upbeat pop/rock. Cheap Trick's "Reach Out" and "I Must Be Dreamin'" rely more on synthesizers than power-pop guitars. Riggs' "Radar Rider" is basic, catchy hard rock. 2ff7e9595c


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page