Heaven and Earth Magic

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William L 05/01/2021 Heaven and Earth Magic appears to be the result of a Beat Generation filmmaker looking to create a surreal feature in the style of Méliès while tripping on acid. Compared to the other products of the '60s experimental New York film scene, Smith's cutout-animation film is infinitely more appealing in that events actually take place (though claiming that the film has a plot may be a stretch) and the fact that there is a distinctive style at play, using dated Victorian-era imagery in an entirely new context to portray a strange mix of the worldly and ethereal. It's bizarre and carries a number of potential interpretations (and is difficult to numerically rate as a result), but at least it's distinctive and original. When you consider that Warhol was simultaneously receiving gratuitous praise for making films such as the 70-minute Taylor Mead's Ass (which was just a single shot of exactly what the title describes), you start to become thankful that others in the city at this period at least had some imagination, even if their films didn't make a whole lot of sense. (3/5) See more s r @ScottR 10/10/2020 1001 movies to see before you die. This one was interesting stop animation of Victorian era catalogues that was silly, but not as entertaining as the Monty python's use of them. The sound effects were annoyingly repetitive. See more eric b 03/12/2014 "Heaven and Earth Magic" is a mere 66 minutes, but it seems like 66 hours. Fans of Terry Gilliam's cut-and-paste animation will be curious about this strange, symbolic Harry Smith film, but they're bound to be disappointed. Start with its stilted motion and dull, black-and-white, two-dimensional imagery (the action is shot against a dark background and feels almost like a photogram). Add a non-existent plot -- it apparently involves, um, chasing after an escaped watermelon? -- and an irritating soundtrack full of animal noises, crowd murmurs and sloshing water. No dialogue at all. Yes, this is a grim labor to grind through. Recurring visual elements include skulls, skeletons, birds, dogs, mallets, Victorian women and things being "oiled." The central character is a tiny, bratty man whose movements are so stiff and repetitive that you'll hope something will squash him. Unfortunately, this sweet relief never arrives. See more 05/18/2012 A phantasmagoric collage of amazing animated stream-of-consciousness surrealism. See more 02/02/2012 plot: The first part depicts the heroine's toothache consequent to the loss of a very valuable watermelon, her dentistry and transportation to heaven. Next follows an elaborate exposition of the heavenly land, in terms of Israel and Montreal. The second part depicts the return to Earth from being eaten by Max Müller on the day Edward VII dedicated the Great Sewer of London. don't bother with this one. See more 11/06/2011 A Very fine tone poem slice of americana avante-garde. At times obtuse, at times blisteirngly transparent, it keeps your eyes moving and is free floating enough to keep the ideas floating by. There IS A structure behind it, but it is a impressionistic one. If you don't like hippie things, you won't like this in that it has that druggy quality. However, it is very well done and much bubbles under the surface. Worth seeking out for fans of impressionistc cinema and the avante garde See more Read all reviews

Heaven and Earth Magic

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