This Sean Connery Sci-Fi Box Office Flop Is a So-Bad-It’s-Good Gem

Beloved actor of the silver screen, who became an icon for his performance as James Bond, Ramirez in HighlanderJohn Patrick Mason in 1996 The Rock, Sean Connery He produced an impressive body of work before his passing on October 31, 2020. However, some of his works have not stood the test of time, and others were complete failures from the start. One can look at the failure of 1974 Zardoz As an example of both, a film that some say was ahead of its time, while others describe it as an overblown passion project that should never have been released in theaters.

70s Science fiction The drama/philosophical/dystopian film certainly confused audiences at the box office with its strange visual direction and heavy themes, but decades later, the film remains an underrated gem for classic movie buffs and audiences who thought the film was just plain bad. We take a look at one of the weirdest films of the 1970s and how it fared. Zardoz It has become a respected classic despite its many flaws.

Zardoz cast and story

plot Zardoz (1974) A difficult film to pin down. Essentially, it's about a man, Zed (Sean Connery), who infiltrates a colony of intellectuals (immortals) through a giant floating head that his people have turned into a god in order to disrupt an enlightened society that remains hidden. However, as Zed interacts more with the immortals, the clash of culture, beliefs, and the struggle over power versus freedom intertwines to destroy the utopia in a wave of philosophical horror. Zardoz It is a surreal, abstract sci-fi adventure unlike anything else ever made.It's as thought-provoking as Alejandro Jodorowsky's book. El Topo But it is as strange in its execution as Nobuhiko Obayashi's house.

Sean Connery plays the elite “savage” in Zardoz. Connery was already a big star, having finished his tenure as Bond in 1971. Diamonds last foreverZardoz's large cast includes Charlotte Rampling, the researcher who falls in love with Zed, Consuela; Sarah Kestelman, who plays the immortal, outspoken May; and John Alderton, who plays the conniving conman, Friend. Zardoz is directed by John Boorman, known for his films enough, Hope and Gloryand The General.

Zardoz was a commercial failure.

Filmmakers and producers behind Zardoz They knew they were taking a risk with the film, because it was already a byproduct of a failed project by director John Boorman who wanted to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's novel. Lord of the RingsThere was no money or benefit, instead, the world got Zardoz. The film had a budget of $1.57 million.which was low at the time, and Sean Connery joined the team to reinvent himself as Bond (Burt Reynolds was the first choice). Despite the modest budget and the power of Connery's name, Zardoz It grossed only $6,520 at the box office.Compare this to Boorman's previous film. enoughgrossing $46 million domestically against a budget of around $2 million, and Zardoz This seems to have been a huge mistake by the esteemed director.

It is primarily seen as a misguided passion project for director John Boorman.Critics weren't kind to the film either. Roger Ebert gave it just two stars and called it “an exercise in self-surrender.” However, looking at the film on Rotten Tomatoes, Zardoz The film currently holds a modest 49% negative rating with 37 critics. However, there is still moderate praise for the project due to Sean Connery's performance, Boorman's ambition, vision, and unique world-building. Zardoz It will gain great popularity after years.with The Long Take calling it “a good, bad movie par excellence.”

Why Zardoz is a very bad but good gem

Zardoz It's certainly not without its advantages. It is a unique vision that addresses many complex topics, from the class divide that involves population control to primal desires that clash with unfettered intellectualism.The film is a deep dive into 1970s politics and addresses fundamental moral issues through a science fiction lens that are all valid today. Analysis of the film and its various themes has inspired many to write about it in depth, including the in-depth analysis provided by Anthony Galluzzo in the novel Against the Vortex: Zardoz and the Utopia of Negative Growth in the 1970s and Today (Excerpt from Truth Dig.) There's certainly something for those who want to dig deeper, and the film has a deceptive depth. However, it's covered in so much nonsense that it's hard to take it seriously.

The film's set and costumes were somewhat abstract for the era, but become downright ridiculous under modern scrutiny. Sean Connery in a swimsuit and a gun holster has become an iconic image among fans of classic films. But there are those who love bad cinema so much that it’s good. However, much of the film, assembled on a shoestring budget, has a surreal “Arts and Crafts” aesthetic that’s hard to take seriously, especially with the psychedelic use of lighting and mirrors for sci-fi elements. The giant floating head that spits guns at the opening of the film is a parody of the humor; some may remember Rick and Morty Parody of Zardoz in the episode “Raising Gasorpazorp”. There are themes throughout Zardoz worth exploring, but the execution is so ridiculous that it's hard to take it seriously..

Even ignoring the revealing and embarrassing designs, The dialogue and performances throughout have some inconsistencies that lead to unintentional humor.It’s hard not to laugh at lines like “The penis is evil!” contrasting with “The gun is good!” in the opening speech of Connery’s Zed. However, the famous psychological battle scene “I’m not going to level two with you!” has to be seen to be believed. It’s one of the most bizarrely acted and executed scenes ever put to screen.

Zardoz is a ridiculous mess with enough depth to warrant multiple viewings; it's a gem that's so bad it's good, unlike anything that came before or after its box office failure. You can rent Zardoz on Apple TV or YouTube..