Rainbow War (1987) User Reviews

I would have loved to have acted in this film!!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 20 September 2009]

This short film might just be the coolest film in the world for the actors--that is, if they don't mind getting covered in gallons and gallons of paint! It looked like so much fun to be in the film and it's a lot of fun to watch.

RAINBOW WAR is an Oscar-nominated live action short from Canada. And, being a Canadian film, if you look carefully you might just recognize Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles among the extras (while Stiles is an American, he lived in Toronto at the time)--two of the wonderful regulars on "Whose Line is it?". I think Ryan's a yellow guy and Colin's a blue one--it's hard to tell--especially since the extras all sport wigs or hats and so you can't look for Colin's shiny scalp! The film is a very silly film that is appropriate for kids and adults alike. It's a fairy tale of sorts about three kingdoms that have never learned that the other two exist. Each is dedicated to one color alone--all other colors are banned. So, when a genius from the Yellow land makes a weird flying machine, he lands in the red land and is amazed. However, the Yellow Princess is NOT amused as ALL lands must be yellow! About the same time, a balloon with people from the Blue kingdom arrive as well--and demand that everyone become Blue! Soon, soldiers from all three worlds are involved in a funky and non-violent "war" where they are throwing buckets of paint on each other. After a while, however, the anger subsides and they start to see all the cool possibilities these new colors provide.

Overall, despite being a rather preachy premise, the film is so much fun you can't help but admire it. A nice film and you can easily understand its Oscar nomination. Oh, and by the way, no one talks in the film at all and it's silent other than its stirring soundtrack.

Good little film

[KylieTroyer · 7/10 · 18 October 2006]

OK, I'll admit that I was only five years old when I first saw this "film", but I liked it. I can recall that it was on long enough to entertain my kindergarten class (very short) but the concept was original and fun. I'll admit the colors are what caught my attention at the beginning (hey, I was five!), but the futuristic traveling device and the love story was entertaining. Considering I haven't seen this film since 1987, I still remember it. It deserves credit for being a small art piece. I would have to say that this film left a good first impression. Consider this: I remember it twenty years later after seeing it once. :)

Last comment missed the point

[difrancophile-1 · 7/10 · 15 July 2008]

The previous comment to this one comes across as rather omniscient and is all "look at me I hate a popular film" in attitude...kind of like a first year university student discovering critique and doing a hack job of it.

Rainbow War was never about everyone being the same, as that reviewer suggests (SUCH a shallow reading of a pretty transparent film). It was precisely about the fact that we're NOT all the same. It was made in the context of the (pre-thaw) Cold War, and it was about breaking down barriers between cultures and nations.

It was tongue in cheek in tone, with a simple message, and it intended to appear childish and light-hearted. I guess some people are too dim to realise that.

OSCAR NOMINEE screened at Canada Pacific Pavilion of Expo 86

[kreeper · 10/10 · 10 February 2000]

This is one of the great short films of all time!!! I thrilled to it with members of the USSR pavilion as a visiting US journalist and its obvious yet delightful symbols of colorus representing the world powers was simplistic-undeniably- and brilliantly presented- absolutely. A gorgeous score, handsome cast and stunning production collided in one of the great world's fair cinematic experiences of all time.

A Joyous Celebration of World Diversity circa Expo '86!

[jake j · 10/10 · 13 August 2001]

Bob Rogers greatest triumph! David Spear's beautiful score! This short film made for the Canadian Pacific Pavillion at Vancouver's underrated Expo 86 extols all the virtues of good filmmaking. A succinct allegory with gorgeous set design, rollicking special effects and infectious good cheer. Worth seeking out as one of the best examples of big budget short film production. Needless to say, a 10 out of 10. And naturally, it lost to the vastly inferior talk-fest "Molly's Pilgrim" at the 1986 Academy Awards.

A beautiful and sweet children's film.

[shella79grl · 4 April 2000]

The first time a saw this film was a few months back, because of the fact that Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles are in it. I must say I was very impressed by this film because it's actually funny and I definitely recommend it to parents. It's very hard to find of copy anywhere, but if anyone is interested in seeing it, it's available for viewing at the North York City Centre Library in North York. :)

Messy but Brilliant

[Manfromthehorizon · 10/10 · 9 April 2006]

I have to say that this film was Messy but Brilliant.

My Film lighting instructor worked as a Lamp operator on this film and said that the studio, the actors, the equipment and even the entire crew got drenched in paint, but he had a lot of fun working on it.

I couldn't stop laughing at the characters, the action, everything. It's small films like rainbow war that are made fresh out of the box, brought to the screen and received such a response from the audience.

although it had a small budget, it has imagination, a good story, funny characters and a wonderful message about peace.

I recommend this film to any aspiring young filmmaker who has the imagination that this film was made from.

awesome short

[schla · 10/10 · 8 September 2004]

The first and only time I have seen this short was at EXPO '86 in Vancouver, BC. It was my introduction to animation, one of many showings I took in during my ten day visit to EXPO.

I found the story to be profound and think it would be an excellent short to show in schools. Kids may think otherwise, but the story is telling of the ills of society and how absurd war really is. It presents the bias commonly seen in today's society and puts it to light. How better a way to teach the silliness of disagreement?

see this short if you can! Thanks to Spike and Mike for furthering my love of animation!

Rainbow

[pithawg · 10/10 · 19 October 2009]

I can not say enough of this little gem. Expo 86 was great and this was tops for me. The screen was gi.normous at the Canadian pacific pavilion. I think it was standing room only as well. I loved the Red King, what character he had and the Blue king was so kinky. Really a masterpiece of major proportions about race and equality. All people should see this once for its spectacular color and great effects. The Romance, how sweet it is. Even the audio track was inspiring. All in all this is one i praise and recall all the time in polite conversation. Timeless work. Great Job too anyone who helped create this short. Much thanks.

Very colorful and bizarre, but not very good

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 24 May 2016]

"Rainbow War" is a Canadian 19-minute short film from over 30 years ago and probably the most known work by writer and director Bob Rogers. He wrote this one here together with a handful other writers and it certainly turned out an example of too many cooks spoiling the broth. I personally did not feel this was too great an achievement. Yes it was pretty colorful and spectacular at times, but it never looked like an 1980s film, rather something from the 1960s perhaps. The story also did not convince me. This one certainly lives through its style and the overacting by some of the cast members, even if that was intended I guess. Anyway, all in all there were a handful okay moments, but it was not enough, not even for a film under 30 minutes. I don't agree with the Oscar nomination and I don't recommend the watch. Thumbs down.

speech? who needs that? not this great film from the 80s

[rypo · 10/10 · 9 December 2004]

I remember seeing this at Expo 86 in Vancouver when i was four. somehow, I have a tape of it. Not an official one mind you, it has some other Canadian Airline conference taped right after it, and the tracking is terrible. But I have watched it a countless amount of times, and have brought it to two of my university fine arts classes. It's a simple, funny, and overall entertaining adventure of a film. The settings open up like a pop-out book, and they use that feature to change scenes in some humorous ways. None of the actors actually talk, but emit sounds (ie: beeps, morse-code, etc...). This may seem cheesy, but never gets annoying and adds a unique touch that keeps this film fun and different. Not to mention the deep implications of the colours of the three kingdoms. Rainbow War sparked my imagination when I was younger, and it still entertains me years later. A great film.

A revolutionary film... No wait, It's bad

[adunbar · 4/10 · 31 March 2002]

Seriously guys, GET THIS MOVIE!!

It is sooo wicked. There are no words to describe the emotion that you will undoubtedly feel from this classic Canadian film!

HAHAHAHA

Just kidding. This is a waste of time.

** NOT A SPOILER ** Let me give you a brief overview. People are people, no matter what label they may have. Such a deep and complicated movie has never before been made... Who hasn't seen, read, and heard about a million different things with this meaning. Every sitcom has done an episode like this. I think everyone under the age of 50 now knows that people are people. No matter what race, creed, sexual preference, age, or nationality you may be, it doesn't make you any better or any worse than anyone else.

I may be generalizing too much, there probably are people who don't know this. But those people are too thick-headed to get the point of this movie anyway.

So in conclusion, you should watch this movie only if you are at least one of the following: - A person who is on the fence between discrimination and acceptance - A person who has 20 minutes with no possibility of anything as interesting as a clock ticking happening - A person on LSD (There are some cool colours) - A person who enjoys to read reviews of movies, and do exactly the opposite of what the review suggests. You know who you are, you've seen such classics as Jason X, Crossroads, Freddy Got Fingered, and Battlefield Earth - A child between the ages of 2 and 8. They'll like the colours, and it is probably at a level they will easily understand

If there's one good thing i can say about it, it only wastes 20 minutes of your time.

It is a Canadian film, so the general rule is that I have to like it. But in this case, I'll make an exception.

If you want something good and Canadian, see Men with Brooms, seriously.

You can buy it, but it's ridiculously expensive

[kevin-00 · 21 August 2006]

I remember seeing this at Expo 86, but I was only 7, so I really don't remember anything about it except that I saw it. I would enjoy seeing it again. I found a place where you can buy it, but it's $95... For a 20 minute video, that's insane! But if you're desperate, you do have the option of buying it here: http://www.pyramidmedia.com/item.php3?title_id=1231 They do have a 5-minute preview of it on that page! I just watched it, and I have to say, I still don't remember it at all, except for the very beginning with the red outlines of the story book. From what I saw, it looks very colorful and all, and Ryan Stiles is in it, but other than that, I don't see what the big deal is. I guess I would have to watch the whole thing to give it a fair review...

Superb Fable Provided World Exposition Highlight

[shukov · 3 December 1998]

I believe "The Rainbow War" was filmed for Expo '86 in Vancouver; at any rate, that's where I saw it. It is a funny, enchanting, imaginative fable about tolerance & friendship in a fragmented, militaristic world. It will appeal to fans of gentle, humanist efforts like "The Red Balloon" or "Life is Beautiful". I was eleven years old when I saw "The Rainbow War", so it's possible I would be less effusive today. As it stands, though, this movie is:

my #1 all-time favourite Canadian movie

my #4 all-time favourite "war" movie

my #1 all-time favourite movie in which paint is the main weapon

I have no clue where & how it's available today. It ran at some corporate pavilion at the expo (where it was a big hit), and I haven't heard of it since.

Ummm . ...

[PatrickH-2 · 19 September 1999]

I can help the other commenter find out where this movie can be found. I was forced to watch it during my freshman orientation in HS (no joke.) It is one of the biggest running jokes in my school, since everyone had to watch it and everyone was left with their jaws on the floor due to its ridiculousness. Although, I have to say the part at the end with the paint war was pretty cool.