103 reviews
Sometimes I wish I was still 10 years old...
I have to say, I was very excited when I learned that this movie was going to be released on DVD. I vaguely remember seeing this as a 10 year old in the 1980s and being impressed (granted, as a 10 year old).
So I rented it last night and was overall disappointed, but I must say its probably because I had over-hyped it with my own cloudy memories. I found the animation and the general artwork to be very impressive. The songs were fantastic, especially "My Name is Mok", but I found the characters to be generally annoying and the story lacking much development. Mok was the only character who was interesting and entertaining. Omar was a self-absorbed narcissist who doesn't give the audience a reason to empathize. Omar's companions were overly juvenile as were Mok's assistants.
The story has a great basis--dangerous post-apocalyptic world of mutants. But we don't really get much of a feeling for this world beyond the initial set-up. Also, we know that Mok wants to raise a demon, but why? Did I miss it or is it never really stated? I assume he wants to dominate the world, but it seems to me that he pretty much does already.
Overall, the movie is lacking character development and follow through on the story. The music is fantastic and the animation is great. Its kind of a mixed bag. I only wish it had lived up to my expectations.
So I rented it last night and was overall disappointed, but I must say its probably because I had over-hyped it with my own cloudy memories. I found the animation and the general artwork to be very impressive. The songs were fantastic, especially "My Name is Mok", but I found the characters to be generally annoying and the story lacking much development. Mok was the only character who was interesting and entertaining. Omar was a self-absorbed narcissist who doesn't give the audience a reason to empathize. Omar's companions were overly juvenile as were Mok's assistants.
The story has a great basis--dangerous post-apocalyptic world of mutants. But we don't really get much of a feeling for this world beyond the initial set-up. Also, we know that Mok wants to raise a demon, but why? Did I miss it or is it never really stated? I assume he wants to dominate the world, but it seems to me that he pretty much does already.
Overall, the movie is lacking character development and follow through on the story. The music is fantastic and the animation is great. Its kind of a mixed bag. I only wish it had lived up to my expectations.
- nick_clemons
- Jun 15, 2005
- Permalink
very entertaining, but not really for the plot
In a post-apocalyptic future, (or if you watch the Candian version, "Another time...Another place) Mok, a legendary megolaniacal rock superstar who appears to have fallen somewhat, but not totally out of flavor, kidnaps Angel, a new female rocker, to sing for him to open a portal into a darker dimension. It's up to Angel's band mates to save her from Mok's evil clutches in this Canadian produced animated sci-fi musical. The story and plotting seem a bit on the archaic side, but the music is superb (escpecially from Lou Reed and Debbie Harry) and the animation is pretty good. That's enough to make me recommend this film, but I still believe that the earlier "Heavy Metal" is a better overall experience.
My Grade: B-
DVD Extras: Disc 1) 77 minute version; Commentary with Directory Clive Smith; 24 and a half minute Making of; Character sketch Gallery; Restoration Comparisons Disk 2) 81 minute CBC version; "The Devil and Daniel Mouse" short; a Making of said short; "Drats" work print; Rock and Rule Title Workprint; more sketch galleries; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailer for "Electric Dragon 80000V"
DVD-Rom content: the original screenplay in .PDF format
My Grade: B-
DVD Extras: Disc 1) 77 minute version; Commentary with Directory Clive Smith; 24 and a half minute Making of; Character sketch Gallery; Restoration Comparisons Disk 2) 81 minute CBC version; "The Devil and Daniel Mouse" short; a Making of said short; "Drats" work print; Rock and Rule Title Workprint; more sketch galleries; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailer for "Electric Dragon 80000V"
DVD-Rom content: the original screenplay in .PDF format
- movieman_kev
- Feb 23, 2003
- Permalink
Rule & Rock
Canadian edit is the only version worth watching.
The re-dubbed American cable edit is absolutely horrible. It rips the heart and soul out of the movie - right from the intro where Mok's code isn't referred to as "satanic", to the removal of almost all of the drug references, and the absolutely horrible replacement voice for Omar (the guy doesn't hold a candle to the original voice actor). Get the 2 disc version from Amazon with the uncensored Canadian version, you won't regret it.. the original movie, as intended.
I think the problem with this movie, ever there ever really was a problem, is that it isn't a kids movie, nor is it particularly well written or clever to be much of an adult's animated feature, but it works well for teenagers (as I was one when I first saw it, many years ago on the CBC late night movie). Given the time the movie was made animation was still thought of as "kid's stuff", or simply dirty (Say Fritz the Cat), and this movie really falls into the grey area between those extremes. Poorly marketed, no doubt, but the American cable edit exists because of this failure to the realize the market.
I think the problem with this movie, ever there ever really was a problem, is that it isn't a kids movie, nor is it particularly well written or clever to be much of an adult's animated feature, but it works well for teenagers (as I was one when I first saw it, many years ago on the CBC late night movie). Given the time the movie was made animation was still thought of as "kid's stuff", or simply dirty (Say Fritz the Cat), and this movie really falls into the grey area between those extremes. Poorly marketed, no doubt, but the American cable edit exists because of this failure to the realize the market.
- sir_hotbod_handsomeface
- Nov 5, 2006
- Permalink
Rock & Rule ROCKED!!
I first saw this movie back in '85 on HBO and I LOVED it! (I managed to tape it, but someone stole it from me!) The art is great, the music superb, and the storyline is intriguing! I've managed to find some of the songs online (with alternate lyrics) I agree that its a shame that Nelvana doesn't seem to think releasing this on DVD is worthwhile. I managed to find a genuine VHS copy at a flea market (for $3) back in '94 and I've held on to it ever since!! :) the box is very worn and slightly damaged, though. Rock and Rule is on a par with some of the best Anime on the market today! I showed it to a local Anime club, and they loved it and asked where they could acquire a copy as well...See Nelvana? You could still have a moneymaker there.....
To Melt the Devil
It's 'Fritz the Cat' meets 'The Devil and Daniel Mouse' meets 'Heavy Metal' I was astounded at the level of animation and love that went into this film. I can't even believe that I had never heard of it before watching it now in 2016. It is absolutely 80's "retrotastic", with the soul of 'Fritz the Cat', the animation and story of 'The Devil and Daniel Mouse' and the atmosphere of 'Heavy Metal'. Anyone who loves the 80's and the animation it brought, of the likes of, Don Bluth, Ralph Bakshi and the team of animators from 'Heavy Metal' and the Nelvana animation production house, will love this film.
Also, with Don Francks (Dr. Claw on Inspector Gadget 1983) as Mok; and Lou Reed as the singing voice in "My name is Mok", is freaking awesome.
Cheap Trick also played many of the heavy tracks of the film which seals the deal with this film's immortality, and makes it a "must own" for 80's lover's. Gotta say if you love the 80's and have never seen it, why are you not watching it now. Seriously, wth are you waiting for.
Also, with Don Francks (Dr. Claw on Inspector Gadget 1983) as Mok; and Lou Reed as the singing voice in "My name is Mok", is freaking awesome.
Cheap Trick also played many of the heavy tracks of the film which seals the deal with this film's immortality, and makes it a "must own" for 80's lover's. Gotta say if you love the 80's and have never seen it, why are you not watching it now. Seriously, wth are you waiting for.
- ericdrooster
- May 28, 2016
- Permalink
Trippy French animation meets Canadian music... on LSD
I can't say that I enjoyed it, but the spirit of this animation is something that I will always appreciate. Weird hand drawn animation, rat and dog mutants singing 80's rock to bring forth demons in chaotic cities ruled by music and drugs, songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Earth Wind & Fire, Iggy Pop and others, the power of love conquering all... How can you not like this?
The plot is very simple, fairy tale like, where the girl is captured by the evil villain and must be saved by her confused man and his merry band of sidekicks - that do all the work for him. The songs themselves are from an era long gone, but still enjoyable in that "we sing what we like" way that completely ignores the industry. It goes all over the place, switching from trippy to dead serious and from funny to horror.
Bottom line: needs to be seen to be believed. For extra experience points. Make Canada great again! :)
The plot is very simple, fairy tale like, where the girl is captured by the evil villain and must be saved by her confused man and his merry band of sidekicks - that do all the work for him. The songs themselves are from an era long gone, but still enjoyable in that "we sing what we like" way that completely ignores the industry. It goes all over the place, switching from trippy to dead serious and from funny to horror.
Bottom line: needs to be seen to be believed. For extra experience points. Make Canada great again! :)
Talk about an 80s Music Time Capsule
There are certain movies that you swear would not make it past their time in terms of aging, yet the shear fact that they exist alone is enough to warrant some attention. Such is the case with Nelvana's first feature film Rock & Rule, a trippy rock & roll fantasy musical that came and went due to the distributors MGM leaving it to die at the box office from poor promotion, hence why the studio had to make toy branded kiddy fodder to save themselves. Fortunately, the movie went on to gain cult status, mainly for its soundtrack by legends such as Cheap Trick, Blondie, Earth Wind & Fire, and more. But how does it stand in 2020?
The main storyline revolves around superstar Mok Swagger's malicious quest to unleash a demon at his next concert, thus manipulating an indie rock band's lead singer Angel to perform her beautiful voice as a beacon. What seems like your typical band breakup story has a surprisingly fascinating twist where the antagonist, Mok, desires the talents of a heavenly singer to reach immortality, thus making the otherwise predictable plot intriguing to say the least. In addition, the world building showcases a striking post-apocalyptic cityscape with grim pollution, dirty slums and humanoid animals. That gross reality contrasts beautifully with the surreal world of Mok, since his home-scape breathes with colorful albeit disturbing magic and out-there environments. Also, being a film made for an older audience, the humor can be both hysterical and sophomoric, like one can tell Ralph Bakshi might have been an influence on that tone. Needless to say, the film absolutely nails the imaginative and gut wrenching aesthetic of a broken-down world being haunted by a crazy rockstar's ego.
However, given that this film is intended as a character-driven narrative, the downside to that is the cast being rather hit or miss. The absolute worst of them all has to be the band leader Omar, who is way more unlikable than one might seem due to his selfish and careless behavior towards his own group and how useless he is of a hero. Angel also could have had potential being a strong confident woman, but she was sadly wasted on being a damsel in distress. At least the duo Dizzy and Stretch have a few laughs with their brainy and goofball personalities if nothing else. As for Mok, since he always knows how to get his way in putting on a show, his inner desires for immortality make him deliciously diabolical if not insane. By his side are his bumbling henchman Zip, Toad and Sleazy, whose slapstick banters and heartfelt moments do make them endearing in their own right, along with their party animal sister Cindy. When the ones on the antagonist's side leave more of an impact than any of the protagonists, that's when you should reconsider giving your leads more substance.
Even for their first fully animated feature, the crew at Nelvana really put their A game into the feature visually. Star animators like Frank Nissen, Anne-Marie Bardwell, Robin Budd, John Celestri and others executed the characters to move smoothly with extremely broad expressions and gestures, making the character acting highly believable, though some of their features look pretty grotesque. Because the characters are designed to resemble animal-like humans, they either look extremely cartoony or relatively realistic, and while the contrast isn't always the best, they are easy to tell apart based on who's more serious or comical. As mentioned before, Mok's bizarre albeit high-class mansion contrasts well between the run-down joints called Ohmtown and Nuke York, detailing luscious colors, early usage of computer graphics, and playful shot compositions. And yes, given that this film is heavily reliant on songs, there are several music video like moments, and that's where one can tell the team really had fun with the unlimited possibilities in experimental animation and early technology.
Speaking of music, the film's soundtrack could very well be the highlight of the feature. Like a lot of animated movies, the character's singing performances differ from their vocal performances, but heaven forbid they would have gotten anyone else besides Robin Zander, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop to do the songs justice. Some numbers like Angel's Song, My Name is Mok, and Pain & Suffering are performed by a certain character either expressing how they feel or by mainly carrying the narrative forward. Others like I'm the Man, Dance, Dance, Dance and Born to Raise Hell merely establish the mood for certain scenes, although they are entertaining to listen to on their own. In fact, one could argue that these songs would not be out of place on MTV as separate music videos, yet the way the filmmakers fit them into the narrative works well in presenting the hellish landscapes and inner emotions. Besides, at least the internet has gracefully restored the beats for us all to hear on our own free will, so it wouldn't hurt to pick those over the feature.
While Rock & Rule may suffer from a paper-thin plot, bland and downright deplorable protagonists and some questionable creative choices, it's still a unique experience thanks to the rocking soundtrack, admirable world-building, entertaining villain and stellar blend of both hand-drawn and computer animation. If you're a fan of retro bands and singers from the 80s or you're into weird animated films that would possibly never be made today, then this is just what the doctor ordered. Think of the show like an actual live performance: for every quality you don't like, you'll still get some memorable moments out of it.
The main storyline revolves around superstar Mok Swagger's malicious quest to unleash a demon at his next concert, thus manipulating an indie rock band's lead singer Angel to perform her beautiful voice as a beacon. What seems like your typical band breakup story has a surprisingly fascinating twist where the antagonist, Mok, desires the talents of a heavenly singer to reach immortality, thus making the otherwise predictable plot intriguing to say the least. In addition, the world building showcases a striking post-apocalyptic cityscape with grim pollution, dirty slums and humanoid animals. That gross reality contrasts beautifully with the surreal world of Mok, since his home-scape breathes with colorful albeit disturbing magic and out-there environments. Also, being a film made for an older audience, the humor can be both hysterical and sophomoric, like one can tell Ralph Bakshi might have been an influence on that tone. Needless to say, the film absolutely nails the imaginative and gut wrenching aesthetic of a broken-down world being haunted by a crazy rockstar's ego.
However, given that this film is intended as a character-driven narrative, the downside to that is the cast being rather hit or miss. The absolute worst of them all has to be the band leader Omar, who is way more unlikable than one might seem due to his selfish and careless behavior towards his own group and how useless he is of a hero. Angel also could have had potential being a strong confident woman, but she was sadly wasted on being a damsel in distress. At least the duo Dizzy and Stretch have a few laughs with their brainy and goofball personalities if nothing else. As for Mok, since he always knows how to get his way in putting on a show, his inner desires for immortality make him deliciously diabolical if not insane. By his side are his bumbling henchman Zip, Toad and Sleazy, whose slapstick banters and heartfelt moments do make them endearing in their own right, along with their party animal sister Cindy. When the ones on the antagonist's side leave more of an impact than any of the protagonists, that's when you should reconsider giving your leads more substance.
Even for their first fully animated feature, the crew at Nelvana really put their A game into the feature visually. Star animators like Frank Nissen, Anne-Marie Bardwell, Robin Budd, John Celestri and others executed the characters to move smoothly with extremely broad expressions and gestures, making the character acting highly believable, though some of their features look pretty grotesque. Because the characters are designed to resemble animal-like humans, they either look extremely cartoony or relatively realistic, and while the contrast isn't always the best, they are easy to tell apart based on who's more serious or comical. As mentioned before, Mok's bizarre albeit high-class mansion contrasts well between the run-down joints called Ohmtown and Nuke York, detailing luscious colors, early usage of computer graphics, and playful shot compositions. And yes, given that this film is heavily reliant on songs, there are several music video like moments, and that's where one can tell the team really had fun with the unlimited possibilities in experimental animation and early technology.
Speaking of music, the film's soundtrack could very well be the highlight of the feature. Like a lot of animated movies, the character's singing performances differ from their vocal performances, but heaven forbid they would have gotten anyone else besides Robin Zander, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop to do the songs justice. Some numbers like Angel's Song, My Name is Mok, and Pain & Suffering are performed by a certain character either expressing how they feel or by mainly carrying the narrative forward. Others like I'm the Man, Dance, Dance, Dance and Born to Raise Hell merely establish the mood for certain scenes, although they are entertaining to listen to on their own. In fact, one could argue that these songs would not be out of place on MTV as separate music videos, yet the way the filmmakers fit them into the narrative works well in presenting the hellish landscapes and inner emotions. Besides, at least the internet has gracefully restored the beats for us all to hear on our own free will, so it wouldn't hurt to pick those over the feature.
While Rock & Rule may suffer from a paper-thin plot, bland and downright deplorable protagonists and some questionable creative choices, it's still a unique experience thanks to the rocking soundtrack, admirable world-building, entertaining villain and stellar blend of both hand-drawn and computer animation. If you're a fan of retro bands and singers from the 80s or you're into weird animated films that would possibly never be made today, then this is just what the doctor ordered. Think of the show like an actual live performance: for every quality you don't like, you'll still get some memorable moments out of it.
- elicopperman
- Jan 8, 2020
- Permalink
a very well made, cult, animated film
A very well made animated film that has garnered a cult following. The animation was groundbreaking for its day. The film features music by Cheap Trick and Blondie but the songs never seemed particularly awe inspiring to me. I enjoyed the storyline, and the post-apocalyptic style of the film worked well and fit with some of the humor in the film. The animation is very psychedelic in the way it is presented, and this unique added a lot to my enjoyment of the film. Overall, I thought it was a very fun film.
- shawndevin
- May 8, 2001
- Permalink
Interesting but with room for improvement
I have always loved animation, and would watch anything animated regardless of how good or bad it is. I did like Rock & Rule. It is not one of my favourite animated movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Secret of NIMH, Sleeping Beauty, Watership Down, Snow White, Prince of Egypt, Bambi, Pinocchio and The Iron Giant. But it is nowhere near one of the worst like Spiders Web: A Pig's Tale, Titanic: The Animated Movie, Legend of the Titanic, In Search of the Titanic, Space Thunder Kids, Secret of NIMH 2, Doogal, Ratatoing and Pokemon: The First Movie. Rock & Rule is problematic for me, with the exception of Mok the characters are not really all that interesting, Omar especially is very bland, and the story despite having a good premise is rather predictable and doesn't have much to it, for example we are aware of Mok's plan but we don't know why. The dialogue is a mixed bag, there are times where it is funny and with inspired quips but there are other points where it comes across as stilted. Conversely, the animation is great, the character designs are bizarre but quite unique and the backgrounds and colours are very atmospheric. The voice acting is good, and Mok is an interesting villain, the best character of the movie by default. I did enjoy the thrilling atmosphere conveyed during the songs. But the best part of Rock & Rule is easily the soundtrack, which is amazing. It has such a groove and takes you back to one of the most nostalgic eras. In conclusion, had room for improvement but a very interesting animated film. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 18, 2012
- Permalink
Who Needs a Reason to Destroy the World?
For those who have never heard of this ugly looking animated feature, think if "Heavy Metal" (1981) was redrawn by furries on quaaludes and dubbed it like a kung-fu movie. Oh and the music sucks.
Set in the far future long after humans have destroyed themselves, stray mutant dogs, cats and rats have taken over and created a dystopian society run on sub-par rock & roll. The most powerful man-thing in the world, Mok (Iggy Pop) has a plan to unleash an inter-dimensional being that would destroy everything in its path. Why? Because he's evil. The only hitch in his plan is a woman-mouse-cat type thing Angel (Deborah Harry), who possesses the voice needed to open the portal. Problem is she's got her own band fronted by her continuously aloof boyfriend Omar (Robin Zander). So he devises a clever plan pitting them against each other and...just kidding! No he actually just kidnaps her.
Supposedly "Rock & Rule" was jolly-rogered by MGM's changing management and forced to rewrite and move things around. Apparently the studio was not excited about an animated project with constant casual and forced drug use, devil worship and sexuality. It's even more subversive when you consider all the characters look like Goofy and his extended family have taken over. Regardless I doubt this movie would have amounted to anything even if it had 100% studio support. The characters are dopey, the songs are boring and the animation is lazily cheap. The Omar character in particular is so incredibly unlikeable I found myself rooting for the bad guys.
I doubt anyone watched "Rock & Rule" when they were little. If they did they have much bigger problems than film taste. But with a cult following thanks to late night HBO showcases and a surprisingly formidable 6.4 on IMDb out of a group of 1,426 voters, I'm starting to think people will make a cult out of anything.
http://theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com/
Set in the far future long after humans have destroyed themselves, stray mutant dogs, cats and rats have taken over and created a dystopian society run on sub-par rock & roll. The most powerful man-thing in the world, Mok (Iggy Pop) has a plan to unleash an inter-dimensional being that would destroy everything in its path. Why? Because he's evil. The only hitch in his plan is a woman-mouse-cat type thing Angel (Deborah Harry), who possesses the voice needed to open the portal. Problem is she's got her own band fronted by her continuously aloof boyfriend Omar (Robin Zander). So he devises a clever plan pitting them against each other and...just kidding! No he actually just kidnaps her.
Supposedly "Rock & Rule" was jolly-rogered by MGM's changing management and forced to rewrite and move things around. Apparently the studio was not excited about an animated project with constant casual and forced drug use, devil worship and sexuality. It's even more subversive when you consider all the characters look like Goofy and his extended family have taken over. Regardless I doubt this movie would have amounted to anything even if it had 100% studio support. The characters are dopey, the songs are boring and the animation is lazily cheap. The Omar character in particular is so incredibly unlikeable I found myself rooting for the bad guys.
I doubt anyone watched "Rock & Rule" when they were little. If they did they have much bigger problems than film taste. But with a cult following thanks to late night HBO showcases and a surprisingly formidable 6.4 on IMDb out of a group of 1,426 voters, I'm starting to think people will make a cult out of anything.
http://theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com/
- bkrauser-81-311064
- Apr 16, 2012
- Permalink
Remastered and in better shape than ever.
Unearthed Films just brought this classic out on DVD in a two-disc collector's edition. It's well worth the price! The two-disc set contains the original Canadian version, the altered American version, and the release of "The Devil and Daniel Mouse", the inspiration for this movie. Also included are "making of" features about both "Rock and Rule" and "Devil".
This movie is animated, but it's not for the very young crowd. It contains animated nudity, occasional adult language, and adult situations such as drug use and death. That said, I first saw it when I was 12 and wasn't scarred for life. This movie's got it all: great music, great animation (far better than "Heavy Metal", a similar film, which was released around the same time), and a storyline that appeals to a more mature mindset. If you think of animation as two categories -- anime or "Care Bears" style kid stuff -- this doesn't belong in either. It's a uniquely American animation style. And the music! Debby Harry, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, Earth Wind & Fire, it goes on and on, a constant stream of music that not only doesn't distract, but is a complement to what's going on on screen. The songs have aged very well in the past 30 years. This movie's a musical, but its music flows naturally, without those "And now I must stop everything and sing!" moments that make musicals so tedious. The special effects are also amazing, the more so when you consider when this movie was made.
I was one of the people who wrote Nelvana, and then Unearthed, begging for this re-release, and I was one of the first to order the set. I'm happy to say Unearthed has remained true to Nelvana's vision -- this set is everything I hoped it'd be. Don't miss it.
This movie is animated, but it's not for the very young crowd. It contains animated nudity, occasional adult language, and adult situations such as drug use and death. That said, I first saw it when I was 12 and wasn't scarred for life. This movie's got it all: great music, great animation (far better than "Heavy Metal", a similar film, which was released around the same time), and a storyline that appeals to a more mature mindset. If you think of animation as two categories -- anime or "Care Bears" style kid stuff -- this doesn't belong in either. It's a uniquely American animation style. And the music! Debby Harry, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, Earth Wind & Fire, it goes on and on, a constant stream of music that not only doesn't distract, but is a complement to what's going on on screen. The songs have aged very well in the past 30 years. This movie's a musical, but its music flows naturally, without those "And now I must stop everything and sing!" moments that make musicals so tedious. The special effects are also amazing, the more so when you consider when this movie was made.
I was one of the people who wrote Nelvana, and then Unearthed, begging for this re-release, and I was one of the first to order the set. I'm happy to say Unearthed has remained true to Nelvana's vision -- this set is everything I hoped it'd be. Don't miss it.
While It does definitely rock, It does not rule!
This film is one that is a bit bi-polar and frustrating for me, one scene will be awesomely good then the next is utter crap.
Well I always try to start with the good, without a doubt the musical talent (Iggy Pop & Blondie) in this film ROCKS!
All of the voice actors do their job but only if you see the original Canadian cast. The designs are old hat these days but it was striking for its day and still holds up well.
But.... The story is a bit of a mess and many scenes just don't flow right and end up not adding to the story resulting in confusion as to what the story is about. I get the feeling that it wasn't edited right or was rushed; it is just hard to put a finger on it as it comes so close to awesome and then misses the brass ring by mere inches.
Overall this film was savaged by the critics when released and I think unfairly. While it definitely has issues there was more good than bad here and the music does ROCK!
I'm sorry for being so middle of the fence on this one but that is what this film is.
Well I always try to start with the good, without a doubt the musical talent (Iggy Pop & Blondie) in this film ROCKS!
All of the voice actors do their job but only if you see the original Canadian cast. The designs are old hat these days but it was striking for its day and still holds up well.
But.... The story is a bit of a mess and many scenes just don't flow right and end up not adding to the story resulting in confusion as to what the story is about. I get the feeling that it wasn't edited right or was rushed; it is just hard to put a finger on it as it comes so close to awesome and then misses the brass ring by mere inches.
Overall this film was savaged by the critics when released and I think unfairly. While it definitely has issues there was more good than bad here and the music does ROCK!
I'm sorry for being so middle of the fence on this one but that is what this film is.
Awful...
This is one of the worst animated films I've ever seen. The only redeeming qualities are well done set designs/backgrounds and a few songs that are tolerable. The mouth flaps don't match the voices, the plot is weak, the humor is very lame, and I really coulda enjoyed my life much better without seeing the dog-girls under ware 40 times. Anyway, don't believe the fan-boys on this one. It's garbage. I watched the movie before checking out the IMDb page and I made the comment to my friend who watched it with me, "are there people who actually LIKE this?". Today, I checked it on IMDb and was floored to see it had a 7/10. People.. that means you're saying it's only MARGINALLY worse the Siderman (which has a 7.4/10). You're also saying it's BETTER than The Patriot (6.8/10). And it apparently is far superior to Conspiracy Theory (6.4/10). It's really quite comical.
- email_dot_com
- Jul 16, 2005
- Permalink
His name is Mok, thanks a lot....
Well, I can see that here is about the same as in the real world, about three people have ever heard of this movie. That's a shame too, the Cheap Trick songs alone make it worthwhile. I would have to say if you stumbled upon this and have never seen it go try to track it down if you are into animation or good ol' Eighty's rock. Great story, great animation, great voiceovers, great songs = great movie. In my opinion, I would have to put this movie above Heavy Metal in comparison with viewability. This movie I could watch over and over, Heavy Metal always puts me to sleep near the end now. That is probably because this is one complete story instead of some short stories put together for a movie.
10 out of 10 here... By the way, to all you aspiring animators out there; can you guess what they used to give the Creature that gelatinous look? (Yeeech, you probably don't want to know)
10 out of 10 here... By the way, to all you aspiring animators out there; can you guess what they used to give the Creature that gelatinous look? (Yeeech, you probably don't want to know)
The Goofy Movie but with a demon
It's a solid movie with fun animation and a killer soundtrack. Although it's not my favorite cult movie of all time, still definitely worth a watch. I mean c'mon, it's the Powerline concert but with a demon.
- canoncurtis
- Jun 20, 2020
- Permalink
A Roller Coaster of Fun!
- Taylor_Gibson_
- Jul 26, 2020
- Permalink
Rock & Rule was an interesting animated feature from Canadian company Nelvana
After 25 years of reading about this Canadian animated movie from Nelvana in the now-defunct magazine ComicScene, I finally checked out Rock & Rule from the library a few weeks ago. It was the single disc version so there was no longer alternate CBC version nor the previous Nelvana TV short "The Devil and Daniel Mouse" (which I remember enjoying one late Saturday morning in the late '70s) that I read was on a second disc. The animation was certainly awesome enough for the period with the futuristic sets and character designs. The songs by Blondie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind, & Fire were enjoyable if not completely memorable (though if I could listen to these tunes more than once, they'd probably get stuck in my head). I was intrigued by some of the dialogue in some scenes like the "Evil spelled backwards is Live" line. The plot seemed entertaining enough as it was but for some reason I wasn't as overly impressed with it as I thought I was. Maybe it was because it had some material I was overly familiar with like the girl being some power force that I recognized from The Fifth Element which I remember not being too impressed with (though I realize that that movie came out about 13 years after Rock & Rule). Still, for animation fans and those of the artists I just mentioned, Rock & Rule is certainly worth checking out.
A preachy, animated movie about the power of love
I didn't see this when it first came out, back in the early 80s. If I had, I probably would have liked it, since I was the proper demographic. As someone nearing 40, I really can't say that I was impressed, however. Unlike Bakshi's work, which is generally aimed at adults, this was squarely aimed at the kid demographic, with anthropomorphic animals, over-the-top sentimentality ("love conquers everything" is a major theme), and incredibly dopey characters, right out of a Saturday morning kids' cartoon, with wacky voices to go along with them. The plot is pretty much throwaway. A narcissistic, aging "superrocker" named Mok is looking to summon a demon, although he's never really given any motivation for doing so, other than maybe wanting to be more famous than he already is. Unfortunately, he comes across as a stereotypical Disney villain and a not-so-subtle satire of Mick Jagger. The other characters are pretty much forgettable, though the heroine Angel could have been an interesting character. Stupidly, she's completely incapable of doing anything herself, and needs to be constantly saved by her male friends.
The animation is pretty good, and the voice work is alright. I really wasn't very fond of the art style (cartoon animals, with snouts and big ears), as it was heavily influenced by Disney. Some people have suggested that it's supposed to be a parody of Disney's style, but I really doubt that. These are the same guys who did the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon in the 1980s. I think they're incapable of being edgy enough to take on parody. I think it's a straight-up, honest homage.
In the end, this may be a little too dark for younger kids, but I doubt that it will really appeal very strongly to older teens (or adults), due to the cheesy message and heavy moralizing, which is more common in kids' cartoons. I had always heard it described as "for adults", but it's clearly not. It just goes to show you that pretty much anything that's animated can (and eventually will) be described as "adult" by someone, somewhere, eventually, even if it's overflowing in cheesy sentimentality and completely harmless. I've seen edgier episodes of The Simpsons.
While not totally G-rated, I'd still say that anyone older than 12 should probably steer clear of this movie, unless they're Christian. It's got a very simplistic, heavy-handed moral that should resonate well with them.
The animation is pretty good, and the voice work is alright. I really wasn't very fond of the art style (cartoon animals, with snouts and big ears), as it was heavily influenced by Disney. Some people have suggested that it's supposed to be a parody of Disney's style, but I really doubt that. These are the same guys who did the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon in the 1980s. I think they're incapable of being edgy enough to take on parody. I think it's a straight-up, honest homage.
In the end, this may be a little too dark for younger kids, but I doubt that it will really appeal very strongly to older teens (or adults), due to the cheesy message and heavy moralizing, which is more common in kids' cartoons. I had always heard it described as "for adults", but it's clearly not. It just goes to show you that pretty much anything that's animated can (and eventually will) be described as "adult" by someone, somewhere, eventually, even if it's overflowing in cheesy sentimentality and completely harmless. I've seen edgier episodes of The Simpsons.
While not totally G-rated, I'd still say that anyone older than 12 should probably steer clear of this movie, unless they're Christian. It's got a very simplistic, heavy-handed moral that should resonate well with them.
An underrated treasure.
I was never fortunate enough to catch this film on the big screen. However, I did see it on cable in '86 and have been keeping my eyes open for a copy ever since. Having found an old bootleg recently, I was pleased that the animation is still truly amazing and has held up well over the years. The soundtrack is equally fine. Being a fan of stories with an apocolyptic bent, I really enjoyed this particular film. My friends and I still quote various parts of the film even after all this time. While the story is a little short, I feel it captures some of the frustration of being in a small-town band that is trying to break out. That and the fact this band must battle a vast evil is an interesting angle. Please won't someone re-release this diamond in the rough?
You think he's joking, but he's not.
- kathrynboyt
- Oct 11, 2018
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A good dystopian 80's vibe and that's about it
Well, it is very 80's and dystopian so if you are into that style and stuff that's positive I guess. The rest of the movie is terrible; the characters are annoyingly cringeworthy, especially Omar and Mok. The story makes no sense at all, and the animation is awkward. The music basically just sucks and is terribly outdated. I do like the holograms and some of the FX. But it is just a really bad movie, like REAL BAD! I was very disappointed and it felt like I wasted my time, the trailers and the "making off" are more fun to watch than the whole movie. I totally understand why it flopped back in the day.
- JimmyJimmy86
- Aug 22, 2023
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A cult classic!
Rock & Rule was put out of print back in 1985 shortly after its first video run. Since then it has not really seen the light of day, other than on ebay auctions, random TV sightings, and most recently on Bit Torrent. Now, with a two disc special edition DVD being released, it is finally time for this film to get the attention it deserves.
Rock & Rule most likely failed because it was released in a time when animation was still dominated by the Disney/Children's market. Ralph Bakshi had a few successful films in the 70's, but as the 80's came along, he failed. Transformers (another PG animated film) failed. There were so many experimental animated films coming out, but none of them were successful, just because of its more adult-like content. Rock & Rule isn't as extreme as say some of the Bakshi film are. But, there is a strange use of drugs (with orb-like balls) in the film, sexual innuendos, language, etc., But, nothing a young teen couldn't handle.
Our story begins with some information about a war that is long passed. Humans don't exist anymore. What we have now are mutant evolutions of street animals (dogs, cats, rats, etc.,). We are introduced to Mok. He's an Iggy Pop/David Bowie sort of character. His music career is somewhat going under. It isn't as strong as it used to be.
He stumbles unto a secret code that can only be un-locked with a certain key. That key is the perfect voice. Once this code is unlocked, a beast will come and destroy all that Mok wants to be destroyed.
He stumbles upon a struggling band in his local town led by Omar and Angel. Omar sings the first song. Then Angel sings the second. When Mok hears this, he discovers the perfect voice. So, he does a little heist and kidnaps her and takes her to "Nuke York" to perform. After Omar and his friends wake up from a drug-haze, they travel to Nuke York to try and save her.
Animation is splendid for its time. Crazy visuals. Especially during the "Triumph" scene. It's almost like a psychedelic trip. The music is also great, featuring Cheap Trick, Earth Wind and fire, Iggy Pop, etc.,
I suggest any fan of animation check this out once it comes out on DVD (whenever that may be, but it will be soon). It ain't a cult classic amongst true animation fans for nothing!
Rock & Rule most likely failed because it was released in a time when animation was still dominated by the Disney/Children's market. Ralph Bakshi had a few successful films in the 70's, but as the 80's came along, he failed. Transformers (another PG animated film) failed. There were so many experimental animated films coming out, but none of them were successful, just because of its more adult-like content. Rock & Rule isn't as extreme as say some of the Bakshi film are. But, there is a strange use of drugs (with orb-like balls) in the film, sexual innuendos, language, etc., But, nothing a young teen couldn't handle.
Our story begins with some information about a war that is long passed. Humans don't exist anymore. What we have now are mutant evolutions of street animals (dogs, cats, rats, etc.,). We are introduced to Mok. He's an Iggy Pop/David Bowie sort of character. His music career is somewhat going under. It isn't as strong as it used to be.
He stumbles unto a secret code that can only be un-locked with a certain key. That key is the perfect voice. Once this code is unlocked, a beast will come and destroy all that Mok wants to be destroyed.
He stumbles upon a struggling band in his local town led by Omar and Angel. Omar sings the first song. Then Angel sings the second. When Mok hears this, he discovers the perfect voice. So, he does a little heist and kidnaps her and takes her to "Nuke York" to perform. After Omar and his friends wake up from a drug-haze, they travel to Nuke York to try and save her.
Animation is splendid for its time. Crazy visuals. Especially during the "Triumph" scene. It's almost like a psychedelic trip. The music is also great, featuring Cheap Trick, Earth Wind and fire, Iggy Pop, etc.,
I suggest any fan of animation check this out once it comes out on DVD (whenever that may be, but it will be soon). It ain't a cult classic amongst true animation fans for nothing!
Better defined plot than Heavy Metal, never saw either uncut though.
Yes, I have seen both this movie and the other animation movie "Heavy Metal", but I have never seen either uncut. So I can not really say which I like more. I liked this one because the story was a bit easier to follow, but that could be because "Heavy Metal" is so cut up on the television cut that at times some of the stories are skipping from scene to a completely different scene. Then again "Rock and Rule" seems a bit to tame compared to "Heavy Metal", but once again that could be because the more graphic scenes were cut from the version of the film I saw. The story in this one has this sort of aging rocker using rock and roll to basically summon a demon that delights in killing and such. He does the summoning by using a girl singer that he basically kidnaps. About all there is to it, but it works well. The music as was the case in "Heavy Metal" was very good and rocked suffice to say. One day I wish to see both of these films uncut so then I can give a more accurate review to both and perhaps decide which if any is superior to the other.
Paul LeMat Animated