Tank Girl

I'm almost reluctant to include this film, but I've seen it enough times to know it's never going to be considered a masterpiece, so I feel that warrants its inclusion in the films reviewed by this blog.

Anyone who's read the comic series by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett will be hard pressed to recognise their innovation in this film, despite the repeated use of cartoons and artwork in various scenes.  This is because the sheer stark raving bonkers barely understandable storylines found in the comics are simply missing in a film that is essentially a watered down version turned into a standard rebel with bad attitude and lack of dress sense taking on evil organisation perpetuating dystopia storyline.

Essentially the plot is that in 2022 a comet smashed into the Earth laying everything waste and ensuring that water becomes a scarce commodity over which people are willing to fight.  Eleven years later the evil Water & Power have got most of the water but keep getting attacked by the rippers, half-man, half-kangaroo guerillas who don't use guns but have nasty claws to do the job instead, hence the name rippers.

Tank Girl meanwhile is trying to rescue either her little sister or a friend or whatever the hell the little girl is from Water & Power.  Throw in Naomi Watts as Jet Girl without the craziness of that character and our little band of heroes is correct.  In the end, after a whacked out brothel scene that is actually half decent until Tank Girl decides to sing some Cole Porter, our heroes raid Water & Power, save Sam and kill the bad guy before releasing all the water for everyone to enjoy for free.

However this is a site about films so bad, their good, and with scenes that include impromptu Kangaroo poetry, ultra sofcore porn and bad French, this film has become something of a cult classic that remains worth watching every now and then when you want either a cheap laugh or some decent background noise (its good for either).

The real reason to watch this film though, is that it stars Malcolm Mcdowell as the sinister Kesley.  This is Mcdowell at his very best and Kesley is a villain in the best Mcdowellesque tradition.  Imagine Alexander De Large with actual power and a sharp suit and you have Kesley, a man who combines sadism and charm in every gesture, not to mention knows the best use for a straightjacket and freezer.  Overall I'll give this one minus three out of five, if only because I've watched it so often and because it stars Malcolm Mcdowell.