Based on the science fiction/fantasy comics magazine that is still being published to this day. Personally I do own a few of these from over the years and would state that they are heavily violent and/or heavily erotic, but always beautiful artwork that is based in science fiction or fantasy. If that sounds like it is up your alley then perhaps you should go out and look for one in your local corner store. They might have one.
The one thing I would say first off about this film is that it does not really capture the amazing artwork that is within the magazine. While not terrible animation, it never really amazes you or is exactly memorable like the artwork is. The film as well is not for everyone and may be aimed at the fantasies of young straight teenage boys. Mind you I think the strongest character is the main female in the last story. One thing that does work in the film though is the voice work of the characters. Most of them are actually really well done and you may recognize the names of a few of the actors.
I will try and make this review as short as I can, but it like the magazine is a film about a group of short stories and it tries to have a narrative that connects them all. Sometimes it works well other times it is sort of thin, but they all do connect.
After a car descends to earth after leaving a space shuttle in space, it lands and drives home. An astronaut Grimaldi (voiced by Don Francks) steps out with this interesting encased green orb. Once he shows it to his daughter he is killed and the extremely deadly green orb (voiced by Percy Rodriguez) has stories to share with the girl and about his evil. He goes under the name Loc-Nar for the stories. Perhaps that sounds like a really weird opening, but in fact it really works and sort of brings you to not expect anything and sort of accept anything that may be weird that happens during the film.
The stories that the orb spins are a story about a cab driver named Harry Canyon (Richard Romanus) who picks up a sexy young lady (Susan Roman) whose being chased for the Loc-Nar that her father found. Al Waxman, John Candy and Harvey Atkin also lend their voices for this segment. The second story is quite funny and memorable. Pretty much due to the narration that John Candy provides. He plays a dorky nerd named Dan who finds the green orb. He then conducts a science experiment during a thunderstorm and bam he is transported to a new world called Neverwhere now much bigger and stronger. The third story is one of the weaker installments as we see the court case of Lincoln F. Sternn (Eugene Levy). Joe Flaherty, John Vernon, Douglas Kenney and once again John Candy provide their voices. It is kind of silly until a nice little twist at the end. The fourth story is one of my favourites. It is very serious and does not play the comedy card like the previous stories had done. Written by Dan O'Bannon it is about a WWII B-17 bomber that is being followed by the Loc-Nar. It in turn brings the dead back to life within the bomber. Nice twist at the end that makes we wish that story would continue. Certainly more in the horror vein than any of the other stories. The fifth story is about aliens who visit the Pentagon and accidentally abduct a woman named Gloria (Alice Playton). John Candy voices the robot and Eugene Levy and Harold Ramis voice the two pilots of the ship. Some good laughs in this entry although I am not exactly sure what the point of this segment is as the story doesn't seem to lead anywhere. The sixth and final entry is much more serious and is the longest story. It is about a Taarakian warrior named Taarna. To me she is the strongest character in the film and she seeks out vengeance for a city that has been destroyed.
Also has a great soundtrack including Blue Oyster Cult, Journey, Black Sabbath, Stevie Nicks, Sammy Hagar and many others. Would love to get my hands on the LP. The underrated Elmer Bernstein does the music when the "metal" bands aren't playing. It does add a wonderful warmth to the film as well. In the sixth story I found the music was in fact reminiscent of GHOSTBUSTERS. But, it should be, since he did that score as well.
The film comes around full circle and although using the plot device of the green orb or Loc-Nar to connect all the stories at times is thin it does seem to work out in the end. Produced by Ivan Reitman. Followed by a name only sequel HEAVY METAL 2000 that does not connect with this film.
The one thing I would say first off about this film is that it does not really capture the amazing artwork that is within the magazine. While not terrible animation, it never really amazes you or is exactly memorable like the artwork is. The film as well is not for everyone and may be aimed at the fantasies of young straight teenage boys. Mind you I think the strongest character is the main female in the last story. One thing that does work in the film though is the voice work of the characters. Most of them are actually really well done and you may recognize the names of a few of the actors.
I will try and make this review as short as I can, but it like the magazine is a film about a group of short stories and it tries to have a narrative that connects them all. Sometimes it works well other times it is sort of thin, but they all do connect.
After a car descends to earth after leaving a space shuttle in space, it lands and drives home. An astronaut Grimaldi (voiced by Don Francks) steps out with this interesting encased green orb. Once he shows it to his daughter he is killed and the extremely deadly green orb (voiced by Percy Rodriguez) has stories to share with the girl and about his evil. He goes under the name Loc-Nar for the stories. Perhaps that sounds like a really weird opening, but in fact it really works and sort of brings you to not expect anything and sort of accept anything that may be weird that happens during the film.
The stories that the orb spins are a story about a cab driver named Harry Canyon (Richard Romanus) who picks up a sexy young lady (Susan Roman) whose being chased for the Loc-Nar that her father found. Al Waxman, John Candy and Harvey Atkin also lend their voices for this segment. The second story is quite funny and memorable. Pretty much due to the narration that John Candy provides. He plays a dorky nerd named Dan who finds the green orb. He then conducts a science experiment during a thunderstorm and bam he is transported to a new world called Neverwhere now much bigger and stronger. The third story is one of the weaker installments as we see the court case of Lincoln F. Sternn (Eugene Levy). Joe Flaherty, John Vernon, Douglas Kenney and once again John Candy provide their voices. It is kind of silly until a nice little twist at the end. The fourth story is one of my favourites. It is very serious and does not play the comedy card like the previous stories had done. Written by Dan O'Bannon it is about a WWII B-17 bomber that is being followed by the Loc-Nar. It in turn brings the dead back to life within the bomber. Nice twist at the end that makes we wish that story would continue. Certainly more in the horror vein than any of the other stories. The fifth story is about aliens who visit the Pentagon and accidentally abduct a woman named Gloria (Alice Playton). John Candy voices the robot and Eugene Levy and Harold Ramis voice the two pilots of the ship. Some good laughs in this entry although I am not exactly sure what the point of this segment is as the story doesn't seem to lead anywhere. The sixth and final entry is much more serious and is the longest story. It is about a Taarakian warrior named Taarna. To me she is the strongest character in the film and she seeks out vengeance for a city that has been destroyed.
Also has a great soundtrack including Blue Oyster Cult, Journey, Black Sabbath, Stevie Nicks, Sammy Hagar and many others. Would love to get my hands on the LP. The underrated Elmer Bernstein does the music when the "metal" bands aren't playing. It does add a wonderful warmth to the film as well. In the sixth story I found the music was in fact reminiscent of GHOSTBUSTERS. But, it should be, since he did that score as well.
The film comes around full circle and although using the plot device of the green orb or Loc-Nar to connect all the stories at times is thin it does seem to work out in the end. Produced by Ivan Reitman. Followed by a name only sequel HEAVY METAL 2000 that does not connect with this film.