Customer Reviews

Tank Girl [VHS]

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Tank Girl is, make no mistake, a campy B sci-fi. It lives up to the genre perfectly, keeping a light, humorous tone in a world so dark that it would make most of us hide under the bed. It's probably no surprise that someone like Tank Girl would survive the apocalypse.

Lori Petty's character is perfectly witty, a girl who plays it large and in charge even when things are at their worst. She can kill an armed man and then answer the irritated stares of his buddies with "What?" While McDowell's character tries to break her in for a mission, she spends all her time coming up with lines to really get under his skin--and succeeds.

The complaints of some accusing McDowell of hamming up the role of the villain are unfounded; he not only plays the role perfectly, but does it so well that I don't think anyone else could have done it. He's playing the stereotypical megalomaniac bad guy, yes, but on top of that he adds a touch of class and intelligence. His repartee with Tank Girl proves he's nearly a match for her wit with flippant remarks. He's a very bright guy with an ingenious solution to an ongoing problem, who's simply flummoxed by the dauntlessly rude spirit of his opponent. McDowell is brilliant enough as an actor to get all these characteristics across. Bravo.

The plot gives us a nice, reasonable adventure without being overly simplistic; the campy tone prevents it from getting any more complex. The off-the-wall antics of Tank Girl bleed over at times from the character to the movie itself, which gets a bit goofy (in a good way) in parts where you'd never otherwise expect it to. In the middle of the film they break into a musical number in the silliest of venues--it might not be logical but it's a whole lot of fun. All this is carried along by a soundtrack pretty well suited to the film, arranged appropriately enough by Courtney Love.

For sheer entertainment (though not a family film, if that wasn't obvious), Tank Girl is really worthwhile. The DVD is noticeably light on features, but for the price I can live with it. If you enjoy a movie that doesn't take itself seriously, Tank Girl is for you.

I first saw this movie when i was 16 (now 21)... and i fell in love from the very beginning. I'd never call this "quality cinema," but it is thoroughly entertaining, and quickly became one of my favorite movies. The color is breath-taking, Lori Petty is absoltuely beautiful, sexy, funny, wonderful, etc. And this is just a kick-a#$% grrrl-power movie, without the corporate cheese that tends to come in the package. It is a fantasy world that i ventured to often as a teenager... and now with a DVD version, the journey can continue. ENJOY!

From the first minute I saw the movie I was hooked, the charcters are fantastic and the film just so rich in design and content.

It's also one of the funniest things i've seen in ages with the humour pouring from it!

I was however sad to hear that many scenes had been cut from the film and that a DVD would never be released. I started up an internet protest to get MGM to release it on DVD with the footage and here it is! This DVD is out due to the fans who protested for it!

I am still angry that have not included ANY extras or the cut footage and after much arguing with MGM i dont think they ever will replace the footage! Anyway check out www.tankgirldvd.8m.com to see what bits they have not included on this disk and sign our online from to try to get them to put more stuff on the disk! theres still time!!

Okay, I didn't just like this movie, I love, LOVE this movie. Yes, its campy, yes the plot line is bizarre, No I can't get a guy to watch it with me (but they won't watch Earth Girls are Easy either) but I just love this movies humor and girl power without being GI Jane.

Yeah, the Rippers (aka Kangaroo people) are a little scary, but they are genetically engineered kangaroo mutants who happen to be trying to find their creator. (I got over the Rippers scariness when Rebecca and Jet were high on helium and then doing that stupid dance.)

I think about this movie when I am down because most of the movie had me laughing my head off. But I guess this tells you about my personality because this movie isn't for everyone. Don't watch this movie expecting to learn anything or have a plot to follow. Just sit back, and enjoy the cartoons...and the fact that one of the main characters is a tank!

While I didn't know this was a comic first, I'm curious to see them now. But since I generally won't watch a movie if I've read the book, I can understand why the people that read the comic didn't like the film. To them I have to say I'm sorry, because I still adore this cartoon/movie. But I will admit that knowing now that this was supposed to be an Australian flick explains a lot...I always thought this had kind of a Mad Max feeling too it.

BTW, it really would have been cool if they had done outtakes etc on this movie, so I do agree there...

"Tank Girl" desperately wants to be a funny, trendy, super-hip post-apocalyptic comedy -- it's how "Mad Max" might have turned out had it been written by MTV VJs. Unfortunately, the script isn't one-tenth as witty or clever as it pretends to be, and the actors clearly know it. Underneath the bucketloads of in-your-face attitude and exploding energy that the actors infuse their performances with, there's a strong sense that they're really moving at such a frenzied pace because they can't wait to get this disastrous mess over and done with. Still, many people (well, a few people, anyway - at least as many as it took to post the positive reviews you'll read here) truly enjoyed this movie for some reason, and it's theoretically possible that you'll like it, too. Just keep in mind that Pauly Shore would have been perfectly at home playing a role in this film, whereas Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens would likely have turned it down for not being up to his usual standards.

Tank Girl (played convincingly by Lori Petty)is a fun grrrl action film.

Although the theme is supposed to be about human survival after a major geological/metorlogical nuclearish disaster, it pokes gender, and class relations.

A handfull of rich white men control the world's water supply with millitary force and apparently spend much of their leisure time at a girle club where all of the women (unsuprisingly) are altered to look alike) The women who ultimately engineer the saving idea are punkish (anarcha-feminists? ) who defy society expectations of what is appropriate for women.

Even though the graphic juxtapositions seem to be a cheap imitation of the comic book/reality style pioneered so well in the 1960's Batman TV series, and Ice T's inclusion in the cast, it is still a good story line.

I've seen this movie several times, and even though she is much less of a cultural compromise than Buffy (who also saves the world, but looks more conventional)Tank Girl rocks. When the movie came out, I was actually planning to streak my hair fushcia in homage to this great character.

The soundtrack (produced by Courtney Love) is also worth getting!

There is just something about this movie. It ranks on my top 5 list of all time favourite movies. Lori Petty is kick [tail], wears kick[en] clothes and does the weirdest things to her hair. Her sidekick Jet is just awesome. But lemme tell ya', nothing beats the fighting Kangaroos. This movie is sci/fi-comedy, has an awesome sountrack, can be quite silly at times, and is wholly entertaining. Kick back and relax when watching this movie. Alcohol will only intensify the sensations.

This is a movie you either like or don't. I find it fast-moving, colorful, loads of fun, and entertainingly bizzare. It's not something to think about too much, and it drags toward the end, but it is a cult favorite for a reason. Great soundtrack, too.

Leonard Maltin gave this film 2 stars. I disagree. It's not a perfect movie but it is excellent in its own right. It's very self-concious and hip. If I were to see another rapper play a half-kangaroo right now, it will be to late. Lori Petty (A League of Their Own) is a lot of fun, and Malcom McDowall is menacing as always.

I remember when this movie came out on video when I was extremely underage to view a rated R movie such as this one. But somehow I came across it, and from that young age (maybe 6, 7?) it was always my favorite movie.

This film is a masterpiece of liberation; Tank Girl is the poster girl for it. She runs completely wild and free, something we all wish we could do. That is the appeal of this film - feminism, combat boots, and freedom.

Many people will argue this is a poorly made movie, and yeah in a way it was: they had no money to make it. With what they did have everything was beautifully filmed, and I mean it. Until I heard critics talk of the movie I thought it was as big budget and high cost as any other.

The playfulness and liberty that is shown in this film is remarkable, and I can only say I miss Lori Petty and wish she was a more prominent actress today. Tank Girl is a movie to watch for some feminine butt-kicking!