I only ever saw the trailer at a theater that used to be in downtown Portland, Maine. I watched The Creature From The Black Lagoon and It Came From Outer Space both in 3D that day. I vaguely remember thinking that I'd like to see that movie, but it was rated "R", and being 11 at the time, I figured it would never happen. I thought about that trailer over the years, but didn't get to see the movie until today...I'm 40 now. Love the movie! Thanks, hulu.com!
I was 7 at the time, and I remember the commercial spots playing on TV. I wanted to see it very badly, because it was "a cartoon with rock music!" My parents were heavy into rock music as well, that's the origin for me, and I thought that at least one of them would take me...but no. They were cool with taking me to see R-rated stuff...but it pretty much came and went, so I guess it was an oversight. I did see it about a year or so later on WHT with my uncle, who was like 6-years older than me. And through the 80's, it would occasionally appear on Cinemax.
It's a great film, I always admired it, and I don't think it has gotten the respect it deserves.
Off topic, my mother took me to see "Lord of the Rings" when I was 5, an experience I'll never forget. Bakshi is a true artist, it's a shame he's not more respected and recognized.
-UJ
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I saw it at a theatre opening night in Boston. I was 18 and old enough to get in. The screen size was HUGE and the stereo sound was cranked up full blast--but I wasn't impressed. The story was, to put it nicely, cliched and the animation just basically wasn't that good. Also the R rating was ridiculous--this was PG all the way. The only thing that impressed me was the soundtrack. When we were walking out there was a large crowd waiting to get in. Someone asked, "How is it?" Someone in my crowd (not me) said, "It's lousy! Get your money back."
shareYes, I saw American Pop in a suburban Chicago theater when it was first released.
I was impressed with the film and have always enjoyed it as a musical rather than a drama. At the time the surround sound was especially striking as was the alternate form of animation(rotoscope)and use of color. Being able to see American Pop in 35mm on a large screen was an experience, as I believe many of the film's critics have only seen an inferior video version.
I have shown it in my high school music appreciation class a few times with very negative reactions from the students. I dig American Pop, however, and I know others of my generation will enjoy it. Ralph Bakshi, a true artist.
"The power lines are down, that explains why the lights went out."
What reasons do the high school students give for disliking it so much?
shareSaw it at the Aero a couple nights ago. It was my first time seeing it and I LOVED it. Especially on the big screen. Gotta love revival cinema screenings!
A lot of strange things happen in this world. Things you don't know about in Grand Rapids.
I saw it at the Aero too, did you arrive just for that one or did you go early and see Heavy Metal with it? I saw both films back to back and thought it was a trip! Loved the music on a good sound system!
shareI watched both. I didn't really enjoy Heavy Metal, though I suspected as much having watched some of it before. American Pop really struck me though!
A lot of strange things happen in this world. Things you don't know about in Grand Rapids.
Sure did. Saw it at the Cinema East Theater in DeWitt, NY in 1981.
shareI was a Freshman in high school and a big "Wizards" and "LOTR" fan so I couldn't wait to see what Bakshi was up to next, and the poster was really striking. The idea of a Bakshi cartoon about rock/pop music seemed like an idea that couldn't miss. Then I found out it was a double feature with "Tommy," which I'd only seen a couple times on cable and worshipped, and from that point on I'd have gone if I had to crawl there, ha ha. My mom got me in since it was an R and then left, I sat through Tommy twice and AP once.
My first impressions were that Bakshi was up to his old tricks...rotoscoping then was like (most) motion capture now...yeah, it's animation but you feel a bit cheated, like you'd rather see the "real thing" instead. It was crass and vulgar and ugly, about dirty, reprehensible people doing unpleasant things. Then too, the story truly was "adult" in the sense of not really something kids could relate to or understand, and pretty dry for most of its running time. I remember some stoned hippies sitting behind me saying, during the psychedelic finale, "We had to sit through the whole movie just to get to this--why couldn't it all have been this way." I sort of agreed...why make it a cartoon? I thought it was confusing, depressing and ugly and it left me sour.
Then it showed up on cable and I've grown more fond of it every time I watched it, dozens of times by now. I really do think it must be Bakshi's greatest film and certainly the best storytelling he ever did...it has a beginning, middle and end, characters that are interesting and is done with style, thought and care. With time the once-cheap aspect of the rotoscoping has made it something unique and the music--both the existing songs and the score--are just wonderful. The piano rendition of "Night Moves" sends pleasant chills down my spine just thinking about it and is a knock-out denoument for a mini-epic of a film. I really think it has gotten better with age, oddly.
Nilbog! It's goblin spelled backwards! This is their kingdom!
I saw this in the theater when it was first released and was impressed. I particularly liked the ending, (what a build-up). And I'd like to see this movie again.
Saw it in the theater in Southern California in '81 along with Stripes and Heavy Metal... all 1981 movies. What a creative period. Here's an audio only interview with Bakshi as he explains the use of Bob Seger's "Night Moves" in the film's climax. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxweSfE7KYk&feature=channel&lis t=UL
Apparently Bakshi wanted a different song but can't recall exactly which... that sequence really made me a fan of "Night Moves" strangely enough.
"Night Moves thuthks..." God, that guy is something, he just calls 'em as he sees 'em, ha ha ha...dunno if this is true but a friend told me he showed his "lack of appreciation" for a drawing in a meeting by wiping his butt with it and handing it back . Oddly enough I think the ending works great or maybe I'm just used to it. I THINK I read somewhere Seger himself likes the "piano-heavy" version in the film better than his original...I sure do...that piano riff really made me a fan of the original song, I wish Seger would have released that version, oh well, that's why God invented recording devices, eh? Thanks for posting!
Nilbog! It's goblin spelled backwards! This is their kingdom!
"the poster was really striking." Agreed. I hung the poster on my dorm wall during the '80s. Unfortunately, I truly do not recall seeing the movie in the theatre or at all. All I recall is having the cool movie poster.
sharei did
Look daddy, I'm gay-Gay Rodd Flanders
I wish can remember the theatre and 2nd feature but I did see this film in in Oakland (or Berkeley) CA in '81.
sharethis is one of the truly underrated animation films of all time. I remember seeing it when I was 15(?) in the movie theater. It drove me crazy that I could never find it on VHS. Now 20 years later I find it on DVD. I have always loved this movie.
share