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Tank Girl (1995) More at IMDb Pro »

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137 comments in total

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33 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
Great fun and visually interesting, with some wonderful one-liners and buckets of attitude., 21 June 2000

Author: Mephisto-24 from Perth, Australia

One of the best films ever based on a comic, Tank Girl should not be taken seriously, but it's enormous fun, and a badly needed send-up of all those testosterone-pumped action movies. Instead of the usual male buddies, you have two sassy young woman, while a genetically modified and not very bright kangaroo plays the part of the Bond girl. All the leads perform well, particularly McDowell as the villain, and the script has some great one-liners, even if the plot is pretty dumb (it's a comic, ok? Get over it.)

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36 out of 49 people found the following comment useful :-
seriously under rated, 28 December 2004

Author: binro-1 from Canada

This movie seems to have gotten a bad rep on IMDb. Less than 5/10??? It ain't Shakespeare, but it's better than that.

This movie was unpretentious and fun. You could clearly see that everyone involved in this project was having a good time.

Tank Girl is a campy comic-book splashed up on your screen. The folks who take it too seriously should lighten up. It was well written (as camp) and I really enjoyed all of the characters. It's the ultimate "In your face" movie. The feminist subtext was interesting. I didn't notice it right off, I was too busy enjoying the ride. But if you look at all of the characters, it's the women who are strong, and all of the male characters are either villains or are defective in some way (1/2 human Rippers).

It was (and is) one of my favourite flicks and I can be very critical of badly done movies.

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25 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Fantastic Cult Classic!, 1 May 2005

Author: trouvere_2000 from United States

A lot of people tend to dismiss this movie because of it's "comic book" feel and comic-book (really) transitions.

I enjoyed this movie a LOT, as it has the same "feel" as the original comic books I remember reading, and the same style of humor. It's very well done for 1995, the dialogue is well-scripted for the intent of the movie, and the funny stuff is actually funny. Some of the action scenes are a bit "campy" - but then again, they're *supposed* to be that way in this kind of movie. In addition, I thought the acting was excellent, and that Lori Petty (who played "Kit" in "A League of Our Own) Malcolm McDowell (practically legendary) and Naomi Watts were excellent choices for their characters, as were the rest of the supporting cast. Lori Petty hasn't been in anything "huge" since this movie, which is truly a pity as she is an excellent and versatile actress. Look for some interesting supporting actors, including Ice-T, Iggy Pop, and James Hong.

Listen to the comedic dialogue carefully - most of the punchlines are funny on several levels, which I found most refreshing, and you'll encounter a lot of funny double-entendre.

Don't look for a bunch of CGI computer effects in this movie. However, well-designed and imaginative props and sets give a good feeling of "authenticity" to the scenes, and the visual and special effects are excellent.

Don't bother critiquing little details and spurious claptrap like that with this movie - it sets out to be a comic-book-style fun action-adventure and accomplishes that goal magnificently. (The funniest thing is that the plot precept of a mega-corporation in control of the world's water supply is becoming more and more of a plausible idea and leads one to think of a possible metaphoric reference to the world oil situation) This movie might have been rated "R" at the time for adult situations & violence (and a little nudity), but I didn't notice a whole lot of "foul language", and I didn't really see much in the movie that wouldn't be put on broadcast TV today.

This movie has everything - good acting, evil villains, cute heroines, mutants, cool vehicles, explosions, big sets, a huge supporting cast, hilarious humor, great stunts, and even a classic musical number with a full chorus line! ("Let's Do It" by Cole Porter) It even pokes fun at beat poetry. All-in-all, well worth seeing.

If you like stuff like "The Wizard of Speed and Time", "Flash Gordon", "Johnny Mnemonic", "Space Truckers", "Ice Pirates", or "Yellowbeard" then you'll definitely love this movie. Even if you don't, see this movie anyway - it may change your mind about this genre.

From personal experience: "Chicks dig this flick."

Get the popcorn & enjoy.

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15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
Even comics characters need at least two dimensions, 23 May 2002
Author: roarshock from Oregon USA

The main problem I had with this otherwise appealing movie is that Lori Petty's Tank Girl has exactly the same attitude toward virtually every incident in the movie... good, bad, otherwise. And while it's a really sharp and cool attitude, the movie might have soared if instead of merely being an attitude it had been a personality. Then, arising from this Tank Girl personality, a whole range of interesting emotions could have been emerged, adding variety and a chance for excitement to build instead of plateauing in the first few minutes. Because even in a romp of a pic, you still need to care about the characters. And it's a whole bunch easier to care about a person than it is to care about an attitude.

Still, I had good fun watching this movie. The "Feeling a little inadequate?" scene is a minor classic. And by chance I happened to watch this movie the same day I saw "Mulholland Dr." and I still have a very difficult time recognizing that Naomi Watts is the same person in both films. She's excellent in both, but so very different. Ice-T, Jeff Kober, and Reg E. Cathey do a surprisingly effective job of creating characters from underneath their Ripper make-up... they're so good that one of the best parts of Tank Girl is just watching and listening to them.

This isn't a movie to go into with high expectations. Read all the negative comments, take them to heart, and then watch the movie anyway. It will make Tank Girl a pleasant surprise.

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18 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
One of a kind and I mean that in a good way!, 1 October 2005

Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

Movie adaptation of a British comic book. It's 2033--Earth had been hit by a giant comet 11 years before. It wiped out most of civilization and (somehow) caused it never to rain again. Water is in very short supply and evil Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell) is hoarding it all and controlling it. He's attacked by the Rippers--a gang of mutant man-animals (don't ask). He also attacks Rebecca (Lori Petty) and destroys most of her friends. She vows revenge. That's (sort of) the plot.

The original comic book was great. Tons of sex, nudity, violence, strong aggressive women and a stubborn refusal to take itself seriously. The movie tries to recreate that--and it succeeds! The nudity is gone and sex and the violence were toned down but the strong female characters remain. It all starts out with a great opening song and cartoon images from the comic book shoved in your face. Then Rebecca orders her boyfriend Richard (Brian Wimmer) to strip at gunpoint! Then it starts to get strange... There is a plot but the story keeps taking detours with STRANGE (but fun) dialogue, a loud aggressive alternative soundtrack, animated sequences and even a show stopping song and dance number! This all somehow fits together and the movie never stops moving. Set designs are incredible--filled to the brim with pop culture. Director Rachel Talalay deserves credit for keeping this all together.

The acting is great--McDowell goes over the top (enjoyably), Naomi Watts is fun as Jet Girl and Petty is just beyond belief as Tank Girl. Loud, aggressive, snapping off one-liners left and right and a STRONG female character who never stops fighting. Just great all the way! United Artists had no idea how to market this picture (it IS difficult) so it bombed but it acquired a cult following. This isn't for everybody (a lot of critics hated it) but I loved it. A 10.

Best exchange: Tank Girl asks the madam of a whorehouse to sing. The madam asks, "What song?" Tank Girl responds, "Let's Do It by Cole Porter, 1929." The madam: "I HATE that song".

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13 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
Gotta love this movie, 13 August 2000
Author: nak15 from NYC

IF your looking for a movie that is intellectual, smart, sassy and leaves you thinking you have found the wrong movie. If you're looking for a movie that has its own type of humor, some good laughs, and leaves you thinking that was one silly movie- you've got it. Although this may not be a movie for the average type of person, if you have a sense of humor and adventure you can admire Tank Girl for the work it is and admire Lori Petty's performance in the role she was born for.

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16 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
absolute fun!, 2 January 2005

Author: katjaweimer from Germany

i saw this film three times and i love it! it's so much fun to watch it. it's bright and funny. the main character is though she's quite childish, very sexy and a strong woman! and to everybody who says this film is stupid:come on!it's a comic! you can't make a comic serious! batman and robin is also not really serious,i mean:look at the penguin! it has to be weird and strange!bright and loud! it's fun,it's a party!when you watch it you also want to be as self confident and cool like the tank girl!..........i love it!the kangaroos are also quite cool!they got something that reminds to a motorcycle rider!if they were real men they would be quite sexy.....;-)WATCH IT!YOU'LL HAVE FUN!SURE!

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
In 2033, justice rides a tank and wears lip gloss..., 13 September 2006

Author: Jessica Kolk from Brazil

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

''Tank Girl'' is a funny movie based on Tank Girl's comics, and I think that the IMDb rating is very unfair with it, since you can have a very good time of fun watching it. Only now,after so many years, I noticed that the Jet Girl is Naomi Watts!She is sooo much better with black hair! Lori Petty is perfect as Tank Girl as well(In my opinion is her best role as actress)!

The animation used to keep in touch with the comic book, is another cool thing present in this movie, that the director Rachel Talalay had the creative to imagine.

The plot:

In the future, year 2033, there are 11 years that the planet doesn't receive a drop of water from the rain. Tank Girl,a punk and crazy girl, and her rebel group, are all attacked by Water & Power, a powerful force that controls the remaining water on Earth. Tank Girl is the only survivor, as long as Sam, her deceased boyfriend's daughter. The story revolves around Tank Girl's quest to save Sam and have her revenge against those who killed her boyfriend and friends, with the help of Jet Girl and the Rippers, creatures with a human DNA mixed with a kangaroo.

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
great comic fun!!, 24 September 2000

Author: sqrt_-1 (graviton.atom@icon.co.za) from Pretoria, South Africa

Okay so not all people are comic lovers and neither am I. But this movie is wonderful fun. So maybe being male I find the girl more entertaining than necessary but it is still funny. One should not forget that this movie is based on a comic strip and therefor very simple and (slightly)predictable. There is no deep story here. It is a movie to watch with friends and enjoy the music(Bjork, Portishead, etc) and glib retorts of tank girl herself. Why the low ratings?? Maybe people just don't appreciate the humour and subtle jokes. Like the buffalo being a water buffalo! Think about it, it is very funny in context. This movie is a must-see cult classic. So maybe not Malcolm Macdowell's best(that is clockwork orange). Enjoy!

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Funny, Cute, Sparky Punk Girl Saves The World Wacky Comic Sci-Fi Action Caper, 16 April 2006

Author: ShootingShark from Dundee, Scotland

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

In the year 2033 Earth is a post-apocalyptic wreck with a chronic water shortage, ruled by the evil Water & Power Corporation. Rebecca, aka Tank Girl, is a wacky kid who teams up with her friend Jet Girl and the half-human, half-kangaroo Rippers to defeat the party-pooping bad guys and restore both justice and fun to the planet.

This is a wild and wonderful science-fiction action flick, based on a great Dark Horse comic-book by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, and is crammed full of so many nutty sequences and ideas that it's impossible to resist. It's sort of like Mad Max 2 with water instead of petrol, but it's so full of fun and the acting is so goofy that your eyes are always bugging out at what's on-screen, and it's fearless in its willingness to try anything. There are dozens of montages, thousands of superfast comic stills, several beautiful animated scenes (by Mike Smith), an epic musical number in a sex club, wild action sequences, a tribe of hippy kangaroo eco-warriors and a villain whose face gets chopped off halfway through. Central to it all is Petty, who nails Tank Girl's cheerful free-spirited mall-girl superwoman perfectly and is simply irresistible, and is ably supported by an admirably straight-faced Watts and a hilariously maniacal McDowell, plus a couple of very funny cameos by Hong and Pop. Extremely well directed, with an amazing sense of fun and visual dynamics, and great special effects by Stan Winston and Peter Crosman. Like most post-seventies youth-oriented films, this features a lot of very loud music cuts as a score; I normally dislike this practice, but here, because the film is so anarchic and the fast-paced editing style really does suit the story, the songs actually contribute a lot, and the featured artists are fun (notably Devo, L7 and Bjork). This is a great silly movie, with oodles to enjoy, and I think its unique quality as a sci-fi flick is probably down to the fact that the star, production designer and director were all women, who together have brought a very different sensibility to this kind of picture. A punk-rocking, tank-driving, thug-slapping, ass-shaking, good time movie.

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