Reviews of El Topo
Displaying all 3 reviews
Benoît
22May11
Avec El Topo, Jodorowsky propose un western totalement atypique, s’approchant essentiellement de l’oeuvre mystique. L’oeuvre baigne constamment sous le signe de la foi et de la religion, avec en point de mire le Christianisme et le Bouddhisme. El Topo semble être un personnage sorti tout droit d’un livre Saint, entre quête de la Vérité et protection des plus démunis, mais également sombrant facilement dans le pêché avant de vouloir trouver la rédemption. Bref, sur le fond, l’oeuvre possède diverses qualités qui tentent à vouloir démonter que le chemin de la foi ne se trouve pas essentiellement dans un seul livre ou dans une seule religion. Mais il y a un sacré hic à tout ça. C’est l’univers général du film de Jodorowsky. Trop, c’est trop. Trop de surréalisme, trop de personnages atypiques, trop l’envie de se démarquer. Ca plombe le film, ça alourdit tout le propos et au final ça en fait une oeuvre de qualité très moyenne que pour convaincre.
- Currently 2.0/5 Stars.
McNulty
10Sep09
My first experience with Jodorowsky was a bootleg shitty blurry DVD copy of “The Holy Mountain” and that shit blew my fucking mind!
I then got a hold of the Jodorowsky DVD Collection and watched his other movies. (Why isn’t Fando Y Lis listed here on The Auteurs)?
The first time I watched El Topo I thought it was kind of boring, dragged on, didn’t make sense, and wasn’t as surreal as “The Holy Mountain” that forever will be his masterpiece.
So a couple of nights ago I warmed up the vaporizer took a nice hit of that sweet smelling Mary…and proceeded to indulge myself with El Topo for the second viewing. Beautiful cinematography, the violence all though over the top wasn’t that graphic, what I noticed is that this movie is full of symbolism and metaphors deeply rooted in Mysticism, Zen Buddhism, Alchemy, Kabbalah etc. But the movie still didn’t make sense to me!!
My third viewing this time with the audio commentary with Jodorowsky himself (in spanish with English subtitles) and it every single image and scene made sense! I recommend EVERYONE to listen to that shit! This mutherfucker is a GENIUS I don’t give a fuck what anyone says. He acted in his own movie cuz all the mexican actors at that time were too pussy to SHAVE their heads, he used his REAL son, real cripples, dwarfs, Shamans, random girls he met who were on acid! I mean how the FUCK can you film a movie when half the crew is on LSD?!?!
That’s why he is a true artist. He doesn’t give a FUCK about conventional cinema, he doesn’t care if the audience walks out, or if the critics bash it he was making a revolutionary movie! Sergio Leone who spent MILLIONS making Epic Spaghetti Westerns even asked Jodo, “How the hell did you shoot those magnificent crane shots?” and Jodo replied, “I just stood on a bunch of chairs”! HAHA
I love his views on actors and entertainers. He says that well known actors DESTROY cinema because they want to change the script, they want more money, it’s their EGO, instead of the money going to the director’s artistic vision it goes to the actors and that’s true! The same with “Theatres” it’s owned by greedy corporate bastards who only want to make 1 hour and 30 minute movies that cater to a specific audience and genre.
He mentions that he wants to take CINEMA OUT OF the Theatres, and project his art on the streets across walls in the cities/towns/etc so people can watch it. He’s not worried about making a profit, just doing it for the love of art! That’s what I respect about this man. Always staying true to his vision!
Out of 10 I give this a solid 8.5 a magnificent surreal journey! Show your friends, show your family, show your fuckin priest I don’t care just show them El Topo….because The Holy Mountain would be TOO much for them……now that’s a different story!
- Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
Crap Monster
7Feb09
As my first and only introduction into Jodorowsky as of yet, I have to say I went into viewing with a set of already pre-established expectations which were surprisingly not met. This is not inherently a negative or positive characteristic, rather my perception of the film was quite skewed by what I had learned, read, and heard about the film from others.
I found the surrealist elements quite tame and nowhere near the extremity I was expecting. Confusion was all together minimal, and at least this viewer for the most part, found the film fairly straightforward both in a narrative context, and in its symbolism. There are clear dichotomies present, and actually most if not all the ones studied in many Latin American nations today. The clearest one seemed to be the conflict and symbiotic relationship between a polarized “white” West, and the “darker” indigenous cultures. The film literally showcases a “sexual” attraction between the two in many different contexts such as in religion, culture, and race. A clear virgin/whore dichotomy in addition to a serious case of an “Eve” complex is highly prevalent in the film’s narrative.
It seemed to me that if anything, the extreme and almost cartoonish nature of much of Jodorowsky’s film serves as satire on the present cultural buildup, almost literally showing that the cultural birth of today’s society is the result of a “rape”. Such facets like religion (in a Western mold) are seen in a parodical context as completely absurd and laughable, as does the presence of what can only be termed “white-face” seen on many of the film’s antagonistic characters such as the town sherriff.
Overall, a very interesting film for all its socio-cultural subtexts as well as some breathtaking visuals. All in all, definitely lives up to the hype and praise.
- Currently 4.0/5 Stars.