MonsterVision’s Joe Bob Briggs calls it “Sean Connery’s weirdest film.” Michael Medved called it “A fatuous vision of the future in which the universe is ruled by domineering females who all lust for the macho magic that Sean Connery conceals under his skimpy loincloth.”

Originally intended as a spoof of “The Wizard Of Oz” (contracted to "zardoz") by writer/director John Boorman (Deliverance, Excalibur), sci-fi/fantasy fans are still split on whether it is a work of genius or Connery’s Barbarella. The British film is set in the post-apocalyptic year 2293. A force-field separates the immortal and decadent Eternals from the barbarians who live in the barren wastes of the outer zone, called the Brutals (wouldn’t this make a great videogame?). While useful as slaves, the Eternals worry that the Brutals might get out of control, so a vicious police force called the Exterminators are supplied with weapons and ammo from the great and powerful Zardoz – a giant stone head that floats down from the sky. The Exterminators appease the stone god with food grown by the Brutals, but one Exterminator named Zed (Sean Connery) suspects that Zardoz is not what it appears. He gets inside and discovers that it is just a machine. Then he gets into the Vortex and destroys the master computer known as Tabernacle. Then he escapes with one of the female sex-less Immortals and introduces her to the joys of sex, to breed a happier race of humans.

Seen occasionally on Fox Movie Channel or Encore

Filmed on location in Ireland by Geoffrey Unsworth, who developed a new projection method for “2001: A Space Odyssey” and died after making “Superman: The Movie” (which is dedicated to his memory in that 1978 movie’s credits). Sean Connery would have better success playing a sword-wielding immortal in “Highlander.” MonsterVision review & host segments for Highlander

"Zardoz" may be available on video or on DVD from Amazon.com

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