The first half is leaps and bounds better than the second, and I don't think there's much under the hood that isn't explicitly stated, but there's real delights in seeing such a lush, lavishly produced piece of surrealism executed on such a huge scale. Still not convinced Jodorowsky is as clever as he thinks he is, but as a visual stylist? Absolutely spectacular. A revisit confirms my need for Jodo's alchemist hat, up there with The Golux's hat from Thurber's The 13 Clocks as one of my favorite hats to ever appear in fiction.