Home :: DVD :: Science Fiction & Fantasy :: Futuristic  

Alien Invasion
Aliens
Animation
Classic Sci-Fi
Comedy
Cult Classics
Fantasy
Futuristic

General
Kids & Family
Monsters & Mutants
Robots & Androids
Sci-Fi Action
Series & Sequels
Space Adventure
Star Trek
Television
Barb Wire

Barb Wire

List Price: $9.99
Your Price: $9.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 5-star chest
Review: that is what this movie shows. it is about a busty babe who runs a bar in the future. the acting gets corny, but pam will keep you watching. i must recommend, for all you pambo fans, that you check out raw justice instead.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Acceptable Science Fiction Actioner
Review: The 1996 Pamela Anderson vehicle "Barb Wire," her supposedly logical transition to superstardom on the silver screen, bombed at the box office. The vivacious blonde bounced back, of course, but the verbal jabs directed at this vanity picture must have hurt on some level. What I don't understand after I recently viewed this film is why so many people bashed it. Perhaps it concerned one of those overexposed celebrity issues, that people wanted to see her fail after seeing her so often in the tabloids and on television. I know I cannot stand the sycophantic blather about celebrities, so seeing one of the anointed crash and burn every now and then provides some comfort. But in the case of "Barb Wire," I think a reassessment is at hand. This movie is far from objectionable when viewed within the context of its genre: "Barb Wire" essentially falls into the post-apocalyptic genre, a cinematic category in which most entries are extremely low budget potboilers that appeal to a male fan base. The emphasis in these types of movies is on special effects, quirky ideas, and beautiful women. "Barb Wire" meets all of these criteria quite nicely. It looks like director David Hogan had a hefty budget to play around with, and he certainly put the money in the right places as well: "Barb Wire" sports lots of big explosions and copious gunplay.

Pamela Anderson plays Barbara Kopetski, known as Barb Wire to her clientele at the Hammerhead Inn in Steel Harbor, who is a former soldier working as a bar owner when she isn't out bounty hunting. The year is 2017 and America is in the throes of a second civil war, with Steel Harbor the only "free city" left in the United States. The warring factions in this conflict, although never elaborated on as much as I would have liked, seems to be a fascist, right wing dictatorship called the Congressional Directorate and a more populist faction called the United Front. Barb once fought against the Congressionals until an event in the battle for Seattle soured her on the idea of morals and choosing sides. She now spends her days playing hardball at her bar, bantering with her headwaiter, and caring for her blind brother. Just keeping up with payments to the corrupt chief of police and his thugs keeps Barb endlessly busy, along with her frequent encounters with the sleazy bail bondsman Schmitz. Life in war torn America is tough.

Unbeknownst to Barb, problems back in the ruins of Washington, D.C. threaten to upset her lucrative business. The Congressional Directorate initiated a virus program called Red Ribbon with the help of a female scientist named Corrina Devonshire. This weapon, derived from the HIV virus, can wipe out the United Front areas in less than twelve hours. Unfortunately for the fascists, their doctor defected to the resistance, changed her appearance through plastic surgery, and is now headed to Steel Harbor with some type of special contact lenses that can hide resistance fighters from identification scans. Barb wants nothing to do with this rogue scientist, her resistance friends, or anyone else who wants something for nothing from her. Predictably, Barb soon finds herself in the middle of a conflict between Congressional thugs headed by the notorious thug Colonel Pryzer and the local resistance fighters who still maintain an ideological hold on her brother. The whole thing boils down to massive amounts of gunfire, big booming explosions, and lots of shots of Pam strutting around in skintight outfits. For a post-apocalyptic movie, "Barb Wire" works overall despite failing on a few critical levels.

"Barb Wire" hinges on whether you accept the idea of Pamela Anderson as a ruthless bounty hunter capable of beating even the toughest guys into submission. This is a tough call. Sometimes Anderson pulls it off, but more often than not she doesn't and this hurts the film the most. Put a Sigourney Weaver in this role and it would have been a winner, but a rail thin woman with a big blonde coif and a waist you could wrap one hand around? Nope. Fortunately, we do see Udo Kier in a minor role, along with Steve Railsback as the unbalanced Pryzer and the ever-reliable Clint Howard as the smarmy Schmitz. Ultimately, the acting isn't nearly as bad as many entries in this film genre.

Another problem with "Barb Wire" concerns the plot. The people behind this film tried to do too much with it. There are so many subplots going on at once that it becomes slightly irritating trying to follow the various threads. Plot holes abound, for example Devonshire's claim that she developed Red Ribbon and wiped out Topeka, Kansas with it. If the virus worked and the Congressionals tested it, why not simply use the virus to destroy Steel Harbor and the rest of the United States? Why waste time tracking down this scientist if you could simply use the virus and solve the problem? Moreover, Barb constantly claims she wants nothing to do with anyone unless it is on her own terms. It is because Barb doesn't give anyone what they want that leads to the trouble in the first place. A smarter person would do a small favor just to keep problems away.

Despite a few difficulties, "Barb Wire" does exactly what this type of film should do: blow stuff up, show some pretty women, and sport a high body count. Fans of the genre who can look past its myriad flaws will find plenty to like with this movie. The DVD includes a trailer, cast bios, and expanded footage of the risqué introductory scenes (you will know which scenes when you see it).

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: ... horror
Review: The only reason I bought this movie is because Steve Railsback is in it. This is a typical T & A film which I suspect appealed most to those who want to see Pamela Anderson naked. The only acting in the whole thing occurs when Railsback is on camera; his portrayal of the evil and sadistic police chief is over the top, as only he can do it - he sends chills down your spine - but I love it! Call me sick. The story line is weak and contrived.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: pam looks great but i thought the BIGFATSO STOLE the movie,,
Review: the story was a little confussing but i liked it pam looked great and het fight scenes were done very well, I thought BIG FATSO stole the movie he was everything a slob should be and very cunning.the love interest could have been more and more bath tub scenes could have helped

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: BARB WIRE review
Review: There are some movies that really don't need a good plot. Such as any film starring a leather-clad Pam Anderson with her breasts nearly popping out in almost every shot. Pam looks great in a really dumb movie that is actually inspired by Casablanca (I'm not kidding!).

Pamela Anderson is a leather-clad babe (but don't call her that) who is fighting crime in 2017 as a female soldier who also runs a nightclub. Anderson's superb cleavage (which pops out at every corner) is the real star of this silly live action comic book. Running around in leather bondage-type numbers with really big guns makes for some easy on the eyes entertainment. Her acting is awful but if you are in for that, you get what you deserve. As far as movies for horny young males to entertain themselves to, they don't get much better, but as a serious action film, this one is pure garbage. Anderson as a tough superhero chick is about as easy to believe as Marlon Brando as a sex object.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ANY TRUE PAMELA ANDERSON FAN WOULD LOVE THIS FILM!!
Review: THIS A GREAT MOVIE , IT HAS ACTION,SUSPENCE,DRAMA,COMEDY,AND BEST ALL PAMELA ANDERSON. AND THE BARTENDER WITH THE WIG IS COOL TOO.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: if you love pam
Review: This film is supposed to be a lot of fun, not an oscar contender, and it does this very well. The best part for me was the first 5 mins, this is why pam was put on this earth, so if you like pam in all her glory then buy this film.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not good.
Review: This video is just not good. I rented it, thinking it would be so bad it would be funny. It's just not good. I also figured it would be sexy, what with Pam Anderson starring in it. But it's not. She's not photographed very well, and "strips" all the way down to a full length dress in her strip scene. The story is bad and the acting stinks. Don't bother with this video.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An amazing piece of cinematography !
Review: This work of genius is something that all self respecting Americans should own, and I don't just mean the guys.
It is true to say the appendages that adorn the lead role are not insurmountable but aside from this the potential for depth in this film is amazing. The thought that has been put into a story line that would A. make sense and B. involve the viewer has obviously been considered for a second or two at some point during the creation of this masterpiece of celluloid accomplishment. To sum this film up in one word I would say "palatable". Buy it..... if you dare !!


Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Fortunately, it is not this easy...
Review: Wow. Now this is not good. However, the movie sets its level right away, by having a stripping, dancing wet Barb (Anderson) already in the introduction of the movie. So, there you have what this movie is all about. Sure you get some violence, explosions and bad costumes as a bonus. Clearly, there is no relevant story in the movie, all revolves around (Barb) to show her off in different ways. The mentioned costumes are almost offending to the audience. Whoever responsible for them clearly did not work very hard. Barb competes with herself to wear some leather-thing that shows off as much as possible, but actually must be considered well dressed as compared to other ladies. The villains wear something that bear a striking resemblance to nazi-uniforms. Well sure, we know who's the bad guys, thank you. And some other people wear broken calculators and other piece of machinery that you'll find in a scrap-heap as hats, and are automatically dressed up like guys from the future. If it was this easy to make a good movie, I could have made it myself. Fortunately it is not, and Barb Wire is not a good movie.

But, and this is a mysterious but, I actually didn't get bored out of my mind and switched off. The movie actually, in some way, had some small piece of entertainment value throughout that made me stay. And that something, whatever it was, is what ultimately saves the movie from being complete junk.

So, if you have absolutely nothing else to do, you may want to watch this one, once. You may get some ideas how to (or not to) dress for the next masquerade.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates