MovieChat Forums > Wizards (1977) Discussion > How old and when did you first see this?

How old and when did you first see this?

posted 18 years ago by Doctor-Phibes
85 replies | jump to latest

Me, I saw it when I was about 10-11, back in the mid 80's. We lived overseas at the time and couldn't get TV stations (save for taped shows sent over by family), so Wizards was one of a few movies I'd rewatch a gazillion times.

I almost wonder if many kids who've grown up on things like Dragonball Z (ugh) think that Wizards is a screwy flick. I still love the trippy effects, weird rotoscoping- and Mike Ploog's and Ian Miller's art still stands today!

[–] glimmung-2 17 years ago

I saw it in 1977 when it was in theaters. I was 11. I loved the film, and saw a trailer for a film called 'Star Wars' that I anxiously waited for to be released...

[–] diverkled 17 years ago

I saw it when it came out, while in college. It was one of those movies that stick with you, so when my kids started watching the Mighty Mouse shows in the late-80's, I knew I had to get the movie and introduce them to one of Bakshi's most famous works. They loved it and I bought the VHS soon afterward. This movie and some of the Japanese anime brought my daughter into going to the Academy of Art in SF. But about 5 years ago, while serving in the Marine Corps working in the graphic arts section, she mentioned the movie, and no one knew what she was talking about. So she got the movie and showed to the group there, and they were blown away too. So its still gaining a following, after all these years. It deserves its cult status and just keep getting better and better.

[–] botfish 17 years ago

I am 33 now and I think it was around 1981 or so. That would make me around 6ish at the time. And I loved it as soon as I saw it.

[–] snorlax3111984 17 years ago

I first saw it this very morning. I'm 23.

[–] maversaints 17 years ago

First time I saw it was on TV, I was 8. They also showed Fire And Ice and Heavy Metal. I didn't get the subtexts or not-so-subtle nazi parallels, but I understood the plot well enough. Those three movies are responsible for who I am today.

________________________________________

only bad witches are ugly

TIG, biatch

[–] CloudsOverEurope 17 years ago

Wizards was released here in the UK in 1979 and was shown in cinemas as a double bill with Werner Herzog's Nosferatu. I knew nothing about it, but it was such a relief after Nosferatu (which to a 13 year old boy was an ordeal). I loved Wizards so much I stayed in the cinema that day and suffered Nosferatu twice just so I could see Wizards again! It didn't get released on VHS for many years, so it became an elusive treasure.

It's a film I get very nostalgic about, the atmosphere in it is really special, a big part of what makes it so memorable is the great voice acting, notably the narrator (uncredited Susan Tyrell) who has such a moody, unforgettable voice.

For me it is definitely Ralph Bakshi's finest film, closely followed by his wonderful, although sadly incomplete version of The Lord of the Rings.

[–] lopp_cyded 17 years ago

I was like 8. Im 20 now. I dont feel like doing the math right now. But I remember it was SAAAAVVVVVYYYY

[–] Metalwerx 17 years ago

I was 10 years old and saw it at a drive in move theatre. I remember some of it and my pops use to have a shirt just like the movie poster. Id like to see it again since its been 31 years.

[–] tonymurphylee 17 years ago

I saw it when I was two or three. My dad used to leave it on the TV when I went to sleep.

[–] xerses13 17 years ago

Twenty-Six (26). Went to see it after seeing previews that looked fairly impressive. Was disappointed though and found that it dragged and the combination of classical animation with rotoscoping jarring. Felt the same way about Bakshis' LORD OF THE RINGS. It seemed that he had a good idea but lacked the budget and the skill to execute properly.

[–] schulz-7 17 years ago

I would have been 19 or 20 when I saw it as part of a triple bill at a drive in theatre during its original run!
I loved it and bought the VHS, very happy to see it is out on DVD now and will be keeping my eye out for it.
Salmon Arm, BC!
How I miss those old days in the drive in theatres!

[–] gnome-5 17 years ago

If I remember correctly, I saw this when I was around 19 or 20. It must have been 1977 or 78. I think I saw it at an art house on Key West, FL, where I also saw A Boy And His Dog.

I too miss drive-ins, but even more I miss art house theaters showing strange movies like these!

[–] Simian_Jack 17 years ago

At some pont in 1979, the pilot for the tv show "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (the one with Gil Gerard and that little phallic-headed robot Twiki) was released as a theatrical film well in advance of its tv debut.

It was paired as a double feature with Wizards. Don't know if that was nationwide or only here in Portland. I was thirteen.

[–] Selish70 17 years ago

6 or 7 years old in 1977, I saw most of this in the theater just outside of Hartford. The place was a 5 theater multiplex - unusual in those days - and we originally went to see something else which I can't remember. That was sold out, so my parents decided they'd take me to the "cartoon". We left a little early...

[–] DannyRK 16 years ago

I was about 11 in the early 90's when the Sci-Fi Channel showed good movies and shows intead of the crap it shells out now. I was impressed by it's adult themes like the Holocaust and showing some busty female charaters.

Having just seen it for the second time recently 15 years later, it still is a great animated flick, considering how small the budget was.