ZardoZ vs. Logan's Run vs THX 1138

These three movies had a big effect on me as a kid (the scant clothing in ZardoZ helped).  Which of these do you prefer? I wasn't going to include THX 1138 at first cause I feel it will make less of a contest.








I like dystopian "speculative fiction" the most -- from black comedies like Brazil to strange films like Zardoz..  I have frequented various SF boards, and have something of a reputation as a Zardoz freak.

Here's a silly blurb I wrote at one board for the movie (I'll avoid important spoilers, though you may get some diaper soilers).

Zardoz speakz to you, hiz chozen onez!



A really big, toothy, and freaky stone head magnificently soars through the azure sky. A group of men in red diapers (Exterminators) rush to meet it. Wearing masks with the same visage as the stone head, they gather worship-fully before the stone-head which gracefully lands. With a booming voice it addresses the Exterminators, "The gun is good. The penis is evil. The penis shoots seeds, and makes new life, and poisons the earth with a plague of men, as o­nce it was. But the gun shoots death, and purifies the earth. Now go forth and kill." The stone head, which is the Exterminator's God, Zardoz, spews forth guns which they greedily lap up.

The Exterminator Zed (Sean Connery like you’ve never seen him before) secretly enters the head which is the o­nly path into the Vortex – a land of immortals (the Eternals) with big mental powers and scanty clothing.

He has worked in the service of Zardoz, cleansing the Earth of Brutals (the masses outside the Vortex) but has learned that it was all based o­n a lie and seeks revenge! But while Zed resents the underhanded manipulation by the immortal denizens of the Vortex, who was manipulating the Eternals? And to what ends?

"We’ve all been used!"
"And re-used."
"And abused!"
"And amused."
"Hahahaha blech uhgah."

It seems that Zardoz, by director John Boorman who went o­n to make Excalibur, is a love it or hate it film – truly weird, truly different, and I think, truly wonderful. The final scenes are incredibly moving and powerful.

It’s a very surreal, satirical, sometimes disturbing, sometimes just plain bad, but ultimately poignant film. If fear of seeing Sean Connery in a bright red diaper AND a wedding dress doesn’t deter you, be warned, there are lots of topless females frolicking about, and a depraved orgy scene with seniors involved.

Scene to look out for: Super-human Zed punches through some saran wrap whilst incredulous bystanders exclaim, "It can’t be done, it’s impossible."

Here's a screen-grab from that scene:



I can understand people not wanting to watch it... To quote one character, "Yes, bit frightening isn't it?" It has very disturbing scenes, and Brutality...

On the bright side, it features Connery in a wedding dress...

^ same. Never seen THX as well.

Fee free to vote without having seen THX 1138 (it's easily my favourite Lucas film) since I wasn't planning to include it originally anyway. And for those that don't know Zardoz, please watch the trailer, it's even more whack than the film.

Here are some rather fun re-cut trailers:

I actually like all 3.

Haven't seen any, but THX 1138 has piqued my interest! George Lucas is superb, besides Star Wars which I'm a huge fan, I've also watched American Graffiti which was pretty cool.

Snow Dog wrote: The Quiet One wrote: Haven't seen any, but THX 1138 has piqued my interest! George Lucas is superb, besides Star Wars which I'm a huge fan, I've also watched American Graffiti which was pretty cool.   Thanks for letting me know about this, Greg! Thought everyone new about Lucas' first film. Anyway if you look at the back of the clones helmets in Star Wars the serial number is...........THX 1138

THX is one of the most brilliant works I've ever seen on film. 

Went for Zardoz, personally.  It has that Connery chap....you know......James Bond.

I think my favorite of 70s schlock sci-fi cinema is probably Wizards (which back then was often double-billed with Barbarella)

 ^ that'll ruin a memory alright