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Friday, June 25, 2010
Heavy Traffic
Bakshi's best movie, ever. A must see. Luckily, as of this post, you can still get Heavy Traffic on DVD or even rent it from Netflix! SEE IT TODAY! Or, like Bakshi's Bustin' Out, you'll miss your chance.
I remember when I discovered this gem at the video store back in the 90's (from a dingy print that had some scenes altered for the "R" rating in a re-release). There's so many interesting moments in the film, but the one that's sticking out in my head is pretty much the very end of the animation portion itself. I often say this is Bakshi at his highest point, if only since I tend to enjoy this film the most.
I got my copy of Heavy Traffic years after I got the VHS of Street Fight, AKA Coonskin. I still think Coonskin is one of Bakshi's best, but Heavy Traffic is better only by virtue of being a bit more of Bakshi. It's a shame we may never get Coonskin on DVD, but at least they released Heavy Traffic. It's not the uncut X-rated version, but maybe someday we'll see it.
Too bad nobody took up the challenge that Bakshi showed us with these movies. Maybe now we've had Nina Paley and Bill Plympton show that animators can make artist driven animated features there could be more movies like Heavy Traffic some day.
I got a copy of this for $3 at BigLots and I love the ending.
Now, "Coonskin", I find fascinating, like the beaten woman's speech about how she doesn't want to hurt anymore and the "Archie and Mehitabel" sequence in the background.
Tohoscope said... I got my copy of Heavy Traffic years after I got the VHS of Street Fight, AKA Coonskin. I still think Coonskin is one of Bakshi's best, but Heavy Traffic is better only by virtue of being a bit more of Bakshi. It's a shame we may never get Coonskin on DVD, but at least they released Heavy Traffic. It's not the uncut X-rated version, but maybe someday we'll see it.
You have. A good way to tell from what I noticed is the shot of Michael's mom showing herself at the dance hall, in the R rated version they drew panties on her, but she didn't have any on before. I think during the scene where Angie brought home a hooker for Michael also had been altered with close-ups to remove some of that as well.
I just assume for the DVD release they grabbed the original negative/print anyway and used that.
Too bad nobody took up the challenge that Bakshi showed us with these movies. Maybe now we've had Nina Paley and Bill Plympton show that animators can make artist driven animated features there could be more movies like Heavy Traffic some day.
Perhaps.
Dr. Mila said... I got a copy of this for $3 at BigLots and I love the ending.
It's quite an interesting ending indeed (thinking about it, I'm reminded of what Hideaki Anno wanted to do with End of Eva where he had a live-action bit filmed showing several girls from the show as they go about their daily chores, it was a very Bakshiesque though he declined to use it in the final cut).
Yeah, all the Bakshi films are for the picking on YouTube these days. I should've said something about it, but I was modest to leave it alone for the sake of letting those find it for themselves (or pay for the reel thing).
6 comments:
I remember when I discovered this gem at the video store back in the 90's (from a dingy print that had some scenes altered for the "R" rating in a re-release). There's so many interesting moments in the film, but the one that's sticking out in my head is pretty much the very end of the animation portion itself. I often say this is Bakshi at his highest point, if only since I tend to enjoy this film the most.
I got my copy of Heavy Traffic years after I got the VHS of Street Fight, AKA Coonskin. I still think Coonskin is one of Bakshi's best, but Heavy Traffic is better only by virtue of being a bit more of Bakshi. It's a shame we may never get Coonskin on DVD, but at least they released Heavy Traffic. It's not the uncut X-rated version, but maybe someday we'll see it.
Too bad nobody took up the challenge that Bakshi showed us with these movies. Maybe now we've had Nina Paley and Bill Plympton show that animators can make artist driven animated features there could be more movies like Heavy Traffic some day.
And soon, I hope.
I got a copy of this for $3 at BigLots and I love the ending.
Now, "Coonskin", I find fascinating, like the beaten woman's speech about how she doesn't want to hurt anymore and the "Archie and Mehitabel" sequence in the background.
Also a major plus? Soundtrack by Chico Hamilton.
Tohoscope said...
I got my copy of Heavy Traffic years after I got the VHS of Street Fight, AKA Coonskin. I still think Coonskin is one of Bakshi's best, but Heavy Traffic is better only by virtue of being a bit more of Bakshi. It's a shame we may never get Coonskin on DVD, but at least they released Heavy Traffic. It's not the uncut X-rated version, but maybe someday we'll see it.
You have. A good way to tell from what I noticed is the shot of Michael's mom showing herself at the dance hall, in the R rated version they drew panties on her, but she didn't have any on before. I think during the scene where Angie brought home a hooker for Michael also had been altered with close-ups to remove some of that as well.
I just assume for the DVD release they grabbed the original negative/print anyway and used that.
Too bad nobody took up the challenge that Bakshi showed us with these movies. Maybe now we've had Nina Paley and Bill Plympton show that animators can make artist driven animated features there could be more movies like Heavy Traffic some day.
Perhaps.
Dr. Mila said...
I got a copy of this for $3 at BigLots and I love the ending.
It's quite an interesting ending indeed (thinking about it, I'm reminded of what Hideaki Anno wanted to do with End of Eva where he had a live-action bit filmed showing several girls from the show as they go about their daily chores, it was a very Bakshiesque though he declined to use it in the final cut).
Turns out you can watch all of Heavy Traffic on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZ6ki77-9w
The channel also has Coonskin, Fritz The Cat and other Bakshi animated features for those interested. Just look around:
http://www.youtube.com/user/coonskinthemovie
Yeah, all the Bakshi films are for the picking on YouTube these days. I should've said something about it, but I was modest to leave it alone for the sake of letting those find it for themselves (or pay for the reel thing).
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