I can remember back in 1971 when the film THE POINT first
aired on TV. Featuring the music of acclaimed composer and singer Harry Nilsson
it was an immediate hit. In addition to the show being popular on TV the soundtrack
was a best seller featuring the single “Me and My Arrow” from the show. And
then it sort of disappeared. I can’t recall if it ever aired again but other
versions popped up in various locales. It was released on VHS and disc but to
no acclaim. Now it arrives from MVD with a new group of extras to enjoy.
For those who’ve never seen it the movie has a father
reading the story to his young son, trying to encourage his imagination. That
story revolves around a land where everything and everyone has a point,
literally. The buildings have pointed roofs and everyone has a pointed head.
And then a young boy named Oblio is born with a round head. Oblio is accepted
to a point (pun intended). But when he beats a bully at school at a game called
triangles, the boy’s father the Count will settle for nothing less than
banishing Oblio from the Land of Points.
Banished to the Pointless Forest along with his faithful dog
Arrow, Oblio encounters numerous characters as he finds his way through the
world. Among them is a rock man, a swarm of bees and throughout his journey a
pointless man who points in every direction at once. Each of the characters
lends themselves to helping him move forward and teaching him along the way
that having no point is a point in itself.
The combination of story used to, well, make a point
combined with the music of Nilsson was an enjoyable treat most watching TV
wouldn’t expect. The animation used was minimal and simplistic to some but
fueled by pop art and the time and images that were twisted and mind warping as
well. Just three years after the Beatles YELLOW SUBMARINE feature film, it’s
reminiscent of that.
The soundtrack was a hit for Nilsson and that single, “Me
and My Arrow”, has been heard not only on the radio but in commercials as well.
It remains one of his most familiar tunes. Fortunately this wasn’t the only
song Nilsson brought the world and his passing in 1994 at age 52 was a loss to
the music world.
Here’s the kicker about this new release from MVD. The movie
is presented with a 2K High Definition transfer presented in its original
aspect ratio. While that might sound great the actual copy used leaves
something to be desired, with scratches at various moments. But when that’s all
you have to work with you realize how important archiving movies being made is
and how many like this deserve to be saved before they all fall to degradation.
Making up for that shortcoming the folks at MVD have added
plenty of new extras to be enjoyed. Those include “The Kid’s Got a Point: An Interview
with Mike Lookinland” who did the voice of Oblio, “That Old Guy Wrote The
Point” a conversation with screenwriter Norm Lenzer, “Everybody’s Got A Point:
Kiefo Nilsson and Bobby Halvorson on Adapting The Point”, “Nilsson on Screen” a
near feature length documentary about Nilsson including biographer Alyn Shipton
and friends on his film projects and appearances, “The Making of The Point” a
four part featurette and a collectible poster for the film.
If you remember and loved this from your childhood it’s
worth picking up. If you have you kids around it’s worth adding to your
collection. And if you simply enjoy animated films that are remarkable in a
different sort of way, then by all means you need this film. It’s well worth
investing in.
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