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Le Planete Sauvage

post #1 of 14
10/12/09 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I'm able to afford Netflix again. I celebrated by adding a bunch of French movies to my queue (I'm trying to relearn how to speak it. I was never very good, but I was an ace at reading. I'm shooting for some degree of pseudo-fluency in the hopes that it might land me better work, and that I can read Rousseau and Baudelaire without having to turn them into English in my head). This was one of them.

What a trip. It has to have one of the best realized SF/alien worlds I've seen in a film, in terms of its ecology and culture, along with the challenges it presents to the principle characters. The animation style takes some getting used to. The art style has a very eastern orthodox look to it, and at first looks a bit like a Terry Gilliam cartoon, but taken seriously.

The script is probably the weakest part of the film, as it feels like they could have done a lot more with it. The music is awesome on its own, but it doesn't really do the film any favors in places. The film looks like a greek icon, and I think some sort of church music would have been better than the seventies blues/funk that the film boasts. Especially given the films content, which can be read as presenting themes of how man deals with (mostly cruel) divinity.

Flawed, but if you're in the mood for something weird, compelling, and short, check this movie out.
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post #2 of 14
10/13/09 at 11:39am
It's La Planete Sauvage. Not Le.

God I hated that movie as a kid. I hated the alien-ness of it all, but now I just think the movie is below average.
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post #3 of 14
10/13/09 at 11:44am
This movie creeped me the fuck out as a kid. I can't comment on its actual quality since it's been many years since I last watched it, save for the designs. They are iconic to me. Whenever I hear about something looking strange and alien the designs from this spring forth from my subconscious.
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post #4 of 14
10/13/09 at 11:54am
This is a favorite of mine. The music and the animation style can, admittedly, be off-putting at first, but I soon found these flourishes to be an integral part of its charm. It's a freakish, nightmarish, and fantastical experience all together--sort of like a Bosch or Dali painting come to life. The script is convoluted to be sure and the Anchor Bay dvd I purchased a while back has a subtitle discrepancy that renders the experience of watching it even more confusing.

Another great Renee Lennox film is Gandahar or Light Years in it's Harvey Weinstein-butchered version. The style is quite different but it is equally psychedelic.
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post #5 of 14
10/13/09 at 12:19pm
I loved this film as a kid. But it was creepy as hell. Especially that laughing shaker creature...

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post #6 of 14
10/13/09 at 12:58pm
I've seen Gandahar, actually own the import DVD. Still have mixed feelings about that one so I don't know if I'd be interested in seeing this one.
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post #7 of 14
10/13/09 at 3:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeRolls View Post
I've seen Gandahar, actually own the import DVD. Still have mixed feelings about that one so I don't know if I'd be interested in seeing this one.
Well, if you had mixed feelings about Gandahar, it's probably a safe bet that you will feel the same way about La Planete Sauvage. In fact, you may even hate it since it is borderline incoherent. Gandahar is a much more streamlined effort although it is retains much of the surreality of La Planete Sauvage. I think Renee Lennox's films appeal to only a very niche audience. I don't hear them discussed much.
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post #8 of 14
10/13/09 at 8:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post
This movie creeped me the fuck out as a kid. I can't comment on its actual quality since it's been many years since I last watched it, save for the designs. They are iconic to me. Whenever I hear about something looking strange and alien the designs from this spring forth from my subconscious.
Im exactly the same on this, I was simulataniously creeped the hell out yet enraptured when I saw this as a young'un, like it had sprung from the depths of my sub-conscious. The designs from the film will never leave me ever.

Haven't seen this in many years actually. I may have to rectify that.
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post #9 of 14
10/13/09 at 8:41pm
Thread Starter 
My favorite critter is probably that flying thing with the huge sticky tongue. So freaky. I also love how absurd a lot of the imagery is, and how straight the movie plays it, mostly. The only bit where the film makes fun of itself is with Terr's poodle outfit. I do love the totally straight-faced Gulliver callback.
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post #10 of 14
10/14/09 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmFuks View Post
Well, if you had mixed feelings about Gandahar, it's probably a safe bet that you will feel the same way about La Planete Sauvage. In fact, you may even hate it since it is borderline incoherent. Gandahar is a much more streamlined effort although it is retains much of the surreality of La Planete Sauvage. I think Renee Lennox's films appeal to only a very niche audience. I don't hear them discussed much.
Yeah, that's kind of what I figured.
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post #11 of 14
10/15/09 at 12:33pm
Love the film, love the score. I still have my VHS of this, recorded off USA Network's late and lamented Night Flight*, even though it's all but worn out.





*Replacing the brilliant Night Flight with the hopelessly mundane Up All Night = me having no use whatsoever for USA Network to this day.
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post #12 of 14
10/19/09 at 5:03pm
I don't agree that this film is incoherent at all. It's definitely strange and off-beat and something unlike anything you've ever seen before, but I wouldn't describe it as incoherent in the slightest; it's fairly easy to keep up with what's happening throughout the movie. The real point of contention about this one is just how out there it is; if that doesn't work for you the entire film is going to be a failure.

For me, the trippy and surreal elements of the movie's environments and settings really give it life. It's a strange world, for certain, and something I've never see quite replicated on film, but it's a beautiful and well-realized world.
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post #13 of 14
10/19/09 at 5:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by agracru View Post
I don't agree that this film is incoherent at all. It's definitely strange and off-beat and something unlike anything you've ever seen before, but I wouldn't describe it as incoherent in the slightest; it's fairly easy to keep up with what's happening throughout the movie. The real point of contention about this one is just how out there it is; if that doesn't work for you the entire film is going to be a failure.

For me, the trippy and surreal elements of the movie's environments and settings really give it life. It's a strange world, for certain, and something I've never see quite replicated on film, but it's a beautiful and well-realized world.
I can see your point. Perhaps I need to revisit the film and watch it in its entirety. I can't honestly say I've done that since about 10 years ago. I think a better word may be convoluted. I think that the striking visuals, when juxtaposed against the intricate plot details can make for a slightly off-putting viewing experience. If my memory serves me correctly, I remember walking away from that film feeling that there was entirely too much exposition crammed into each and every scene. I felt that the film would have benefited greatly from a "less is more" approach. In my case this was compounded by the fact that the subtitles on the Anchor Bay dvd release did not match what the characters were saying. I look forward to watching it again!
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post #14 of 14
10/19/09 at 11:51pm
From what I remember, the dialogue in the 2nd half is rather banal, especially after the long stretches of the first half which are dialogue free, carried by the trippy sound and visuals alone. The ending is also a bit pat, but this is a great film to see while high or on psychedelics.
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