Time Masters

Starring:Jean Valmont, Michel Elias, FrÃ©dÃ©ric Legros, Yves-Marie Maurin, Monique Thierry, Sady Rebbot, Patrick Baujin, Pierre Tourneur, Alain Cuny, Yves Brainville, Michel Barbey, Jim Bauman, Michel Paulin, FranÃ§ois Chaumette, Henry Djanik, Nick Storey, Gabriel Cattand, Georges Atlas, Judit HalÃ¡sz, GyÃ¶rgy KÃ©zdi
Director: RenÃ© Laloux
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Description

Time Masters (Les Maitres du Temps) is a dazzling animated space epic from the director of the cult classic "Fantastic Planet" and the celebrated graphic artist Moebius, best known for his work on Heavy Metal magazine. Jaffar, a hero for hire, finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime as he races across the galaxy to save a young boy from a menacing evil. Can he stop the heartless Masters of Time from turning back the clock and stealing his home planet?

Customer Reviews:

Highly imaginative.......2005-08-13

Designed by the great graphic novelist Jean Giraud - AKA Moebius - Time Masters is a fascinating piece of animated sci-fi from France, that is well recommended for lovers of the genre and of the artist. Though the animation looks somewhat primitive by today's standards - though not for 1982, it looks quite better than any American cartoon of the time save Disney's, and don't forget that it wasn't a corporate effort like G.I. Joe or Transformers but an independent film with limited budget - but quickly enough you can learn the look past the rather bulky movements and simplistic faces of the characters and find yourself amazed at Moebius' amazing, seemingly endless imagination and creativity. The film is directed mainly at younger viewers - so it's not as liberated and wild as his more independent comics work or his contributions to Heavy Metal magazine - but his incredibly original vision is all there, in the out-of-this-world designs for the landscapes, the structures and the alien characters. Every minute of the film is a complete innovation in terms of design.

Plot-wise, there's not that much to be said for it; it's an intelligent but simplistic sci-fi story with a nice twist ending, which will, I think, appeal mainly to younger viewers. The characters are mostly simplistic and cartoonish, and largely unconvincing. These are the only reasons why I couldn't give Time Masters full marks; but these flaws take very little away from the pleasure of this film. As long as it focuses on the child character Piel, who is largely unaware of what goes on in the larger picture and is therefore touching and interesting, and not on the flat characters of Jaffar (good and brave for the sake of goodness and bravery), Matton (bad and greedy for the sake of badness and greediness) and the other adults; then it manages to be beautiful and gripping. And when any of the alien races are on screen, be they cute and cuddly or bizarre and frightening, you won't be able to look away. Time Masters is essential viewing for any lover of Moebius' work, and is well recommended for fans of science-fiction and of classic animation, and will surely become a treasured favorite for any of these.

French animation? Eh..........2004-08-30

When it came to branching out to see new movies I had no idea that I would ever witness a French anime-style movie. Yet this is that movie. The story begins when a ship crash-lands onto a planet, and the child-aged son of the pilot is left alone there. A rescue attempt is formed by, what we can assume to be, friends of the fathers, whom stay in contact with the boy throughout the attempted rescue.

This is what the plot should be taken at for face value. However, there is developing action on the rescue ship itself. All of the various sub-plots then are tied in with an unusual twist for the end. In addition, the movie is obviously in French, but with subtitles or the knowledge of the language, this should be no barrier for anyone.

Now, I cannot comment on how this film compares with other French animation, for this is the first I have seen though. I can say this though. First of all, the animation was not that terrific, mediocre at best. This movie is centered in plot, and not flashy graphics. However, although the plot is not really lacking, it just gets a little dry at times. Nonetheless, the movie had no horrible flaws and was really just, and I mean just, a decent movie. Mildly entertaining, and only worth it for the last half I'd say, this movie only really deserves one view.

Time Masters.......2003-08-31

Having seen Time Masters on tv many years ago, which was dubbed into English. I have, sofar, been unable to track down a copy (DVD or VHS) of this version, (ie. with the english dubbing). Any ideas out there?.
The film itself was great with a fair few interesting deviations along the way, (though I would not have enjoyed it as much, if the tv version had been with english subtitles).
In all, a film I shall, for one, never forget.

a truly riveting film.......2002-12-08

I first saw this film when I was in my early teens and was as enthralled with it then as I am now. I haven't seen 'Fantastic Planet' so, unlike some of the other disillusioned reviewers, I cannot compare Time Masters to what they obviously consider a classic film. I may also venture that those reviewers did not see this film when they were younger because, if they had, they would no doubt look at it from a different perspective.
The animation and production may not be up to hollywood standards but Time Masters is truly a work of art and a film which has captured my imagination for almost 20 years. I am not an 'art' film afficionado and so see this film for what it is - wonderful!

Time Masters - Review not based on DVD.......2002-12-06

The animation, of course, is not that great. It does, in fact, at times seems Scooby-dooish. But the idea of the film, especially if you are a serious sci-fi fan, should please you.

I cannot comment on this particular edition, since my review is based on the countless times I've seen this film in the theater dubbed in Russian. But I was pleased to find a copy in New York years after, and was not disappointed.

The film is not recommended for children. But it is both a slightly phylosophical film, and a puzzlement for those who are interested in the time-space continium. The story itself must've been great, just as the planet of the apes, before it turned into a joke.

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