DVD One-Disc Special Edition
November 24, 2009

Amazon.com
Although it featured songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Rock and Rule (Canada, 1983) never received a general US release. Set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by mutants, the underdeveloped story centers on the rock star Mok and his efforts to summon a demon from another dimension. Only the voice of aspiring singer Angel can cross the dimensional barrier and free the monster. Mok pursues Angel through series of chases and concerts that produce complications involving her true love/singing partner Omar and his band. Clive Smith's direction is simply inept: the story plods along listlessly; the characters change motivation on a dime; the crude CG special effects are squandered in minor scenes, rather than used to punch up the climax.

Rock and Rule reflects the confusion of the animation industry in the early '80s. Yellow Submarine and Fritz the Cat had proved there was an audience for hip, edgy animated features. But nobody could make a good one, and a series of bombs caused animation to be labeled box-office poison. More than 20 years later, Rock and Rule holds a curiosity value for fans of old rock, but it's not a memorable film. (Rated PG: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Review
"Rock & Rule is a masterpiece of outré animation and wildly ambitious vision and remains a triumph in animated feature film." --Keith Breese, FilmCritic.com

"Gorgeous animation" --The Boston Herald

Product Description
In this acclaimed, animated rock and roll feature, Angel, a member of a punk rock band in the apocalyptic future, is kidnapped by Mok, a legendary super rocker. Obsessed with an evil experiment, Mok plans to use Angel s voice to summon a demon from another dimension. The rest of the bands follows Mok to Nuke York in an attempt to rescue her and then the ultimate battle of good vs. evil begins.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007YMV92/?tag=imwan-20

---

DVD Two-Disc Collector's Edition
June 7, 2005

Amazon.com
Although it featured songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Rock and Rule (Canada, 1983) never received a general US release. Set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by mutants, the underdeveloped story centers on the rock star Mok and his efforts to summon a demon from another dimension. Only the voice of aspiring singer Angel can cross the dimensional barrier and free the monster. Mok pursues Angel through series of chases and concerts that produce complications involving her true love/singing partner Omar and his band. Clive Smith's direction is simply inept: the story plods along listlessly; the characters change motivation on a dime; the crude CG special effects are squandered in minor scenes, rather than used to punch up the climax.

Rock and Rule reflects the confusion of the animation industry in the early '80s. Yellow Submarine and Fritz the Cat had proved there was an audience for hip, edgy animated features. But nobody could make a good one, and a series of bombs caused animation to be labeled box-office poison. More than 20 years later, Rock and Rule holds a curiosity value for fans of old rock, but it's not a memorable film. (Rated PG: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Review
"Rock & Rule is a masterpiece of outré animation and wildly ambitious vision and remains a triumph in animated feature film." --Keith Breese, FilmCritic.com

"Gorgeous animation" --The Boston Herald

Product Description
In this acclaimed, animated rock and roll feature, Angel, a member of a punk rock band in the apocalyptic future, is kidnapped by Mok, a legendary super rocker. Obsessed with an evil experiment, Mok plans to use Angel s voice to summon a demon from another dimension. The rest of the bands follows Mok to Nuke York in an attempt to rescue her and then the ultimate battle of good vs. evil begins.

Customer Review
Rock & Rule is truly one of the greatest undiscovered gems of early 80's animation. Barely being released in theaters and having limited TV and video releases, not too many people had the chance to really see this masterpiece. Taking more than a few years to make, and more than 200 people working around the clock on the project, it was truly a labor of love.

This new 2-Disc Collector's Edition is a very nice set, however you look at it. You can tell that much time and care went into this one. Packed with a new Anamorphic 16X9 Widescreen transfer and a jaw-dropping Dolby 5.1 remix, Rock & Rule has never looked and sounded better! The package is a custom box with a pullout gatefold digi-case, and exceptional artwork on all sides.

Now let's talk about the extras on the first disc, which is also available as the cheaper stand alone single DVD release of Rock & Rule. An audio commentary with Director Clive A. Smith is well worth listening in on, you'll learn tons and never get bored. A 22+ minute vintage making-of featurette also reveals many facts concerning the production of Rock & Rule. A short restoration comparison is included, where you can see just how great this new DVD transfer looks! Lastly is an extensive stills gallery of pre-production sketches.

Now let's talk about the special features on the 2nd disc, only available in the 2-Disc Collector's Edition. A nice collector's booklet is included featuring various interviews, artwork and photos. Perhaps the real gem is the alternate Canadian version of Rock & Rule presented here in fullscreen format. The main differences are that a different actor was used to voice Omar, much of the dialogue is more risque, and it runs a few minutes longer in the credits. The original negatives for this version were lost in a fire and the best remaining print source was used, so the quality is sometimes not too great and has imperfections, yet it's well worth watching. Also included is "The Devil And Daniel Mouse", an earlier half-hour animation piece, which was the inspiration for Rock & Rule. Next is another lengthy making-of featurette about the production of "The Devil And Daniel Mouse". Next we have a 12+ minute workprint version of the end of Rock & Rule with various scenes in rough form. There's also a short workprint title sequence containing the alternate "Ring Of Power" title name of Rock & Rule. Included are two trailers, one being for Rock & Rule. Another extensive stills gallery is included again on this disc. Lastly, if you have a DVD-ROM drive on your computer you can pop this disc in and view the original script for Rock & Rule in Adobe PDF format.

Did I forget to mention the soundtrack? With performances by Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, Debbie Harry and Earth Wind And Fire...every song is simply excellent and stays in your head long after the movie ends. It's a real shame that this never got a full soundtrack release, since the music does for Rock & Rule what the awesome animation visuals do for the atmosphere of the film. And the effective synth score by composer Patricia Cullen (who sadly passed away) works perfectly and is often very creepy.

Even if you never had the chance to see Rock & Rule before, you almost can't go wrong if you enjoy other early 80's animation films like Heavy Metal and American Pop.

Customer Review
But the real strength is in the music. With a soundtrack specifically written for the movie by artists like Cheap Trick and Debbie Harry, it is a movie best experienced with the sound turned way up. A major point of the film is the power of music, and on this end it does not disappoint; unlike other films which merely use music to heighten the mood, here the soundtrack is actually an interwoven part of the story.

The DVD version of the film is extraordinary. The 5.1 mix, which on many older films tends to merely provide it with better music while the rest of the sound goes to the center channel, is actually quite remarkable. While I do remember my VHS tape being slightly more dynamic (some vocals during one of the Cheap Trick songs on the VHS have a more gimmicky-sounding surround than the DVD version, for instance), it is clear, vibrant, and most of all, best heard loud on a good surround system (the end sequence sound so powerful I almost wept; seriously).

Special Features
Disc 1

• The Making Of Rock & Rule
• Commentary Track With Director Clive Smith
• Intensive Sketch Gallery

Disc 2

• Alternate Version Of Rock & Rule
• The Devil And Daniel Mouse: 27 Minute Animated Film
• The Making Of The Devil And Daniel Mouse
• PDF File Of The Script For Rock & Rule
• Alternate Title Sequence
• 15 Minute Work Print Of The Ending Of Rock & Rule
• Another Sketch Gallery

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007YMV9W/?tag=imwan-20

---

Blu-ray 25th Anniversary Edition
November 9, 2010

Amazon.com
Although it featured songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Rock and Rule (Canada, 1983) never received a general US release. Set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by mutants, the underdeveloped story centers on the rock star Mok and his efforts to summon a demon from another dimension. Only the voice of aspiring singer Angel can cross the dimensional barrier and free the monster. Mok pursues Angel through series of chases and concerts that produce complications involving her true love/singing partner Omar and his band. Clive Smith's direction is simply inept: the story plods along listlessly; the characters change motivation on a dime; the crude CG special effects are squandered in minor scenes, rather than used to punch up the climax.

Rock and Rule reflects the confusion of the animation industry in the early '80s. Yellow Submarine and Fritz the Cat had proved there was an audience for hip, edgy animated features. But nobody could make a good one, and a series of bombs caused animation to be labeled box-office poison. More than 20 years later, Rock and Rule holds a curiosity value for fans of old rock, but it's not a memorable film. (Rated PG: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Review
"Rock & Rule is a masterpiece of outré animation and wildly ambitious vision and remains a triumph in animated feature film." --Keith Breese, FilmCritic.com

"Gorgeous animation" --The Boston Herald

Product Description
In this acclaimed, animated rock and roll feature, Angel, a member of a punk rock band in the apocalyptic future, is kidnapped by Mok, a legendary super rocker. Obsessed with an evil experiment, Mok plans to use Angel s voice to summon a demon from another dimension. The rest of the bands follows Mok to Nuke York in an attempt to rescue her and then the ultimate battle of good vs. evil begins.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003V2IHBI/?tag=imwan-20

I have a very vague memory of this, but I don't think I've ever seen it. Adding it to my shopping list. Since the reviews wax rhapsodic about the music, couldn't they have thrown in a bonus soundtrack CD? Did the songs ever show up on other albums/singles by the featured artists?

I have a very vague memory of this, but I don't think I've ever seen it. Adding it to my shopping list. Since the reviews wax rhapsodic about the music, couldn't they have thrown in a bonus soundtrack CD? Did the songs ever show up on other albums/singles by the featured artists?

I believe there were (and still might be) rights issues with the music. To my knowledge there's never been a soundtrack. I do remember a music video for Cheap Trick's "Born To Raise Hell" which I saw on Night Flight (remember that?) in 1983. The video was animated and used clips from the film. I think Cheap Trcik were a bunch of mice or something like that! The film wasn't very good if I remember-kinda a knock-off of "Heavy Metal", but it's been a while.
Without a CD, I'm probably going to pass, but the soundtrack was pretty cool.
If I recall, there was another animated Rock movie called "BC Rock"-I remember Genesis were used in the film, but I don't remember much else. Does anyone remember that one, and is there a DVD or soundtrack for it? Again, if I recall, the film sucked, but now I'm curious!

If anyone could provide additional info on music used in the film, it would be greatly appreciated.... thanks!

It'll be nice if Netflix carries this title.

They showed it on Night Flight, and I remember hating it.

I miss the rash of animated rock & roll movies in the '80s. Adult animation is dead in the U.S., it seems.

Don't be so sure...

Amen. Did you see the Jersey episode? When they got to the climatic battle, I was afraid I was going to choke, I was laughing so hard.

Alan

What's the context of that South Park episode?

The gist of the ep is that the folks from shows like "Jersey Shore" are moving westward and expanding New Jersey. The South Park folks fight back, but they can only hold on for so long, and no other states or countries will help them.



Alan

I love Rock & Rule. Easily my favorite '80s animated film -- despite the lack of naked women, it has Heavy Metal's animation beat with ease. And the soundtrack -- with tracks from Cheap trick, Debbie Harry & Chris Stein (including a climactic duet between both), Earth Wind & Fire, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop... great soundtrack. Here's Lou Reed singing the main villain's "signature" song:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBrZgvbmDA4[/youtube]