Editing Heavy Metal (film) (section)

==Reception==
The film was met with mixed response. Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 66% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10 and the critical consensus: "It's [[Sexism|sexist]], juvenile, and dated, but ''Heavy Metal'' makes up for its flaws with eye-popping animation and a classic, smartly-used soundtrack."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1068461-heavy_metal/ |title=Heavy Metal Movie Reviews, Pictures |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=August 7, 1981 |publisher=[[Flixster]] |access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref>

[[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that "for anyone who doesn't think an hour and a half is a long time to spend with a comic book, ''Heavy Metal'' is impressive," and noted that the film "was scored very well, with music much less ear-splitting than the title would suggest."<ref name=NYTimes-Maslin>{{cite web | title = Heavy Metal (1981) 'HEAVY METAL,' ADULT CARTOON | author = Janet Maslin | url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9805EFDF153BF934A3575BC0A967948260 | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = August 7, 1981 | access-date = May 1, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' declared, "Initial segments have a boisterous blend of dynamic graphics, intriguing plot premises and sly wit that unfortunately slide gradually downhill ... Still, the net effect is an overridingly positive one and will likely find its way into upbeat word-of-mouth."<ref>{{cite journal |date=August 5, 1981 |title=Film Reviews: Heavy Metal |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |page=18 }}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three stars, writing that it "isn't intended for close scrutiny on a literal level. The film clearly is intended as a trip, and on that level it works very nicely." He criticized the film as "blatantly sexist" and for having "wildly romanticized" violence.<ref>Siskel, Gene (August 10, 1981). "'Heavy Metal' a fine but disturbing cartoon". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 2, p. 8.</ref> [[Sheila Benson]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "Somehow a great deal of the charm [of the magazine] leaked out on the way to the movie house, but all of the sadism stayed put. And then some. It's the most expensive adolescent fantasy revenge fulfillment wet dream ever to slither onto a screen."<ref>Benson, Sheila (August 7, 1981). "'Heavy Metal' ... And the Zap Goes On." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part VI, p. 9.</ref> John Pym of ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' found that it was "to put it mildly, something of a hodge-podge."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Pym |first=John |date=December 1981 |title=Heavy Metal |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=48 |issue=575 |page=246 }}</ref> Film historian and critic [[Leonard Maltin]] gave the film 3 stars out of 4 in his ''Movie Guide'', calling the feature "... uneven, but great fun on a mindless, adolescent level."<ref>{{cite book | last = Maltin | first = Leonard | title = Leonard Maltin's 1999 Movie & Video Guide | publisher = Signet | year = 1998 | page = 582 | isbn = 0-451-19582-5 }}</ref>

On the whole, in terms of individual segments, critics were typically most favorable towards the "Den" story.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.scifimoviepage.com/heavy.html | title=Heavy Metal (1981) | work=Sci Fi Movie Page}}</ref> Maslin of the ''Times'' gave the segment a positive review, writing, "The other highly memorable story is about a bookworm from earth who winds up on another planet, where his spindly body is transformed into that of an extraterrestrial Hercules." She also complimented John Candy's vocal performance as Den.<ref name=NYTimes-Maslin />

Christopher John reviewed ''Heavy Metal'' in ''[[Ares (magazine)|Ares Magazine]]'' #11 and commented that "Sadly, what could have been a true boost for animation in this country{{efn|Referring to the United States, not Canada.}} is a weak, opportunistic failure, put together with very little care and no love at all."<ref name="Ares">{{cite journal | last=John | first=Christopher | title=Film & Television | journal=[[Ares (magazine)|Ares Magazine]] | publisher=[[Simulations Publications, Inc.]] | date=November 1981 | issue=11 | page=22}}</ref>