Tank Girl

Plot synopsis:
In 2022, a comet strikes Earth causing an 11-year drought. By 2033, most of the little remaining water is held in reserve by Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell) and his Water & Power (W&P) corporation, which uses the water to control the population. Rebecca Buck – "Tank Girl" (Lori Petty) – is a member of a commune in the Australian outback that operates the last water well not controlled by the corporation. In an attack on the commune, W&P troops kill Tank Girl's boyfriend, Richard (Brian Wimmer), and capture Tank Girl and her young friend Sam (Stacy Linn Ramsower). Rather than killing her, Kesslee tortures and enslaves the defiant Tank Girl. Jet Girl (Naomi Watts), a talented but introverted jet mechanic who has given up trying to escape W&P, urges Tank Girl to make less trouble for their captors, though Tank Girl refuses. Among other forms of torture, W&P personnel push her down into a long pipe to induce claustrophobia.
The mysterious Rippers slaughter guards at the W&P compound, then escape undetected. Kesslee uses Tank Girl to lure the Rippers into the open, but they gravely wound Kesslee and let Tank Girl and Jet Girl escape. Jet Girl steals a fighter jet from W&P and Tank Girl steals a tank, which she modifies heavily. The girls learn from the eccentric Sub Girl (Ann Cusack) that Sam is working at a sex club called Liquid Silver. They infiltrate the club, rescue Sam from a pedophile, Rat Face (Iggy Pop), and then humiliate the club's owner, "The Madame" (Ann Magnuson), by making her sing Cole Porter's "Let's Do It" at gunpoint. W&P troops break up the performance and re-capture Sam. Tank Girl and Jet Girl wander the desert and find the Rippers' hideout. They learn that the Rippers are supersoldiers created from human and kangaroo DNA by a man called Johnny Prophet. Tank Girl befriends a Ripper named Booga (Jeff Kober), while a Ripper named Donner (Scott Coffey) shows romantic interest in Jet Girl. Despite the objections of the Ripper T-Saint (Ice-T), who is suspicious of the girls, the Rippers' leader Deetee (Reg E. Cathey) sends the pair out to capture a shipment of weapons. The girls bring the weapon crates back, though most of them are empty. After finding Johnny Prophet dead in one of the containers, the girls and the Rippers realize that W&P has tricked them.
The girls and the Rippers sneak into W&P, where they are ambushed. Kesslee, whose body had been reconstructed by the cybernetic surgeon Che'tsai (James Hong), reveals that Tank Girl has unknowingly been bugged. Deetee is killed. While the Rippers turn the tide of the battle, Jet Girl kills Sergeant Small (Don Harvey), who had earlier sexually harassed her. Kesslee reveals that Sam is in the pipe, her life endangered by rising water. Tank Girl uses her tank to kill Kesslee, then pulls Sam out of the pipe. The film ends with an animated sequence showing water starting to flow freely. Tank Girl drives down rapids, pulling Booga behind on water-skis, then takes them over a waterfall, shouting for joy.

Tags: cult, humor, violence, stupid

Review:
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..
It is a movie to watch with friends and enjoy the music(Bjork, Portishead,  etc) and glib retorts of tank girl herself.
(every movie should start with a cute dude getting nekkid!) whatever it was, tank girl is fun despite its frustratingly low quality - the way barbarella or xena warrior princess are fun..
I highly recommend that everyone watch this film because every movie you watch from here on out you can say at least it's better than Tank Girl..
But I'm a thirty-something-year old guy, so I thought it was a worthless piece of trash that made me want to smash nearby inanimate objects without regard for their monetary or spiritual value.Tank Girl is an early exponent of the "Charlie's Angels - The Movie" school of film-making, a close cousin of the "Austin Powers" style: a series of short, horrible scenes, each of which begins with loud, bad-ass rock music that quickly fades out to some vomit-inducing dialog and ends with a painfully un-funny one-liner.
And that is the why I forced myself to sit through the whole thing despite the signs being bad initially, falling to awful, then 'oh my god' and somehow still managing to sink further by the end.This is the first time I've ever written a review of a movie for IMDB but was compelled to do so to try to save others from the suffering I endured as a result of this movie.To name but a few of the very worst elements (and I really am skipping a *lot* of other bad things): i) Continuous "cool" "attitude" from the "sexy" heroine.
Ten years ago if someone had given you $25 Million dollars and challenged you make the worst flick possible with the money (stipulating that ALL the money had to actually be spent making the movie), it is unlikely that you could have deliberately matched Rachel Talaly's "Tank Girl".
I blundered into a showing of "Tank Girl" during its short-lived (and basically disastrous) release and found it memorable for its comic page scene transitions (borrowed from television's "Wonder Woman") and its spoof of the action/adventure movie genre.
Conversely it is impossible for Watts to not be sexy, no matter how hard they try to detune, grime-up, and disguise her."Tank Girl" poses the question, why do so many people dislike it, both now and at the time of its release ten years ago?
This does not pose the post-production problems it does in other movies because Talaly seems committed to insuring that no element of "suspense" is present to distract you from Petty's irritating performance.The Tank Girl comic strip embodied a freewheeling anti-authoritarian anarchism, with some feminist and even lesbian themes.
It's the year 2033 and Kesslee, the leader of Water & Power holds the World in his clutches as he controls all H20 after the meteor hit creating vast desert wastelands, though tank girl and Jet girl team up with some scientific kangaroo creations called Rippers who want to bring down Water and Power.What you get is a very colourful over-the-top and in-your-face film on a British cult comic strip.
I have never read any of these comic books, so I don't know how true the film is- but from what I mostly heard and read, it's not- but who cares it looked like it would be a fun viewing.After watching this mess I don't know why?
Though the film makes up for it with its upbeat soundtrack that was coordinated by Courtney Love and featuring the likes of Bjork, Hole, Iggy Pop, Bush and Veruca Salt, while it's vibrantly rich and bizarre comic backdrop is quite eye-catching, even though the sets do look kind of cheap.
The added comic cartoon interludes throughout the film I found to be more satisfying at times than the actual live scenes, making you think it would have probably been better if they stuck to a cartoon version.The performances I had mix feelings about.
Lori Petty as Tank Girl was fair and brings a chirpy attitude- but the humour at times was a bit stale, especially some of her cringe-worthy one-liners and from what I grasp about the character she was playing she totally looked the part but was no where near what she acts like in the comic series.
Where as other films like "A Clockwork Orange" had an Anti-Hero as a protagonist, I couldn't bring myself to dislike him even when doing these cruel sickening things, I can't even remember Tank Girl's name.
There are many bad comic book adaptations out there, but TANK GIRL ranks as one of the very worst.
Into this world comes Tank Girl as played by Lori Petty, a loud, bratty, and entirely overbearing young heroine who proceeds to kick plenty of backside as she takes the fight to the bad guys.I remember thinking that Stallone's much-maligned JUDGE DREDD, which came out in the same year, was actually quite a fun film and TANK GIRL serves to prove that opinion; it makes JUDGE DREDD look masterful by comparison.
This film doesn't know what it wants to be:  is it making fun of action movies in general?
Her screechy voice, strange mannerisms, and poor comic timing dot this film from start to finish, until you just want to put your head in a vise and end the pain.Do yourself a favor and avoid this movie at all costs.
It's like they didn't have the money to shoot the cool stuff and so resorted to drawings, however cool they might be (an uncensored animated feature would be way better for Tank Girl now that I think about it).
I suppose Tank Girl, played by Lori Petty, looks the trashy punkette part but beyond her "attitude" and sometimes barely amusing retorts, is more two-dimensional and superficial than the worst comic book characters.
The thing that really drives me crazy in this movie, is the characters, they are painfully irritating, especially Rebecca played by Lori Petty, she's really annoying (I'll believe she is the most annoying creature I've ever seen).
It has some nice visuals though.However a lot of people love this film, most of them are women, and that's not weird at all, because this movie is all about girl power..
Tank Girl this is a real chick flick, and the best example of an hate/love film..
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!.
I have not seen the comic book but if you like your movies a little off kilter then, this one is great!
If you are familiar with the Tank Girl books or like movies you can watch and learn more from on each showing then yes this one it is worth it.
Tank Girl is one of my all time favorite movies, it's tacky and kinda silly.
But for some reason both I and everyone I show it too falls in love with her in-your face attitude and power.Tank Girl is one of those movies you have to watch with an open mind, because the characters, plots and well almost everything else is very unbelievable and if you criticize it too much you'll hate every second of it.It's an upbeat movie, that at the end with make you want to be just like her :) (I'm starting to read the comics and they're good too!) A cult classic, will a kick ass attitude.
In Rebecca Buck (aka Tank Girl), as played by Lori Petty, we have what is probably the single most irritating live-action comic-book character ever to make it to the silver screen.
Meanwhile, Malcolm MacDowell and Ice-T chalk up another bomb on their respective filmographies and make-up legend Stan Winston tries but fails to make human kangaroos not look as stupid as they sound.A cool alternative soundtrack adds some much needed oomph to proceedings, there are some surprisingly slick scenes of animation (that suggest that the whole thing would have worked far better as a feature length animated movie) and Naomi Watts is likable as Rebecca's nerdy side-kick Jet Girl (the actress looking great with dark hair), but it's nowhere near enough to prevent this film from being a tedious, virtually unwatchable mess..
Which finally brings me to Tank Girl, the 1995 would-be blockbuster that is better known today as being the film that lost $21 million dollars at the box-office, the film that should have made a Lori Petty a star but didn't, the film that Naomi Watts co-starred in before she became the "it girl" from Mulholland Dr., the film that now resides in the throes of two golden words: cult classic.
Based on the British cult comic-strip, our tank-riding anti-heroine (Lori Petty) fights a mega-corporation, which controls the world's water supply.This film is a very unusual adaptation, comparable to "Super Mario Bros" in how bizarre it turned out to be.
Tank Girl is a fun, silly movie thats witty, and has a lot to offer.
Tank girl is just a fun, enjoyable movie, the story isn't the best there is, but the characters make up for it..
This movie did not feature any deep thinking, or any original ideas, and was simply meant to entertain us with snappy and sometimes "Off The Wall" one liners from the Tank Girl throughout, which gets old after a while.
I felt like "Rebecca" was a really fun character for Lori Petty, but I thought she was kind of stupid, mumbling weird things all throughout the movie.
unwatchable trash,garbage,rubbish,dumps,horrible,terrible,clueless, pointless,boring,meaningless,purposeless,senseless,nonsensical,and inane.Malcolm Macdowell worst role.Ice-T's worst role.Lori Petty's worst role of all time.Lori Petty is very sexy, but Tank Girl is pointless.if i can do anything,then i banned this movie for the whole world.actually i'm Ice-T's biggest fan,but this role is brainless and pointless.director made very bad work.
"Tank Girl" a bad movie?!.
Though playing a rather irritating character, Lori Petty doesn't give a terrible performance as Rebecca, aka Tank Girl.
Malcolm McDowell, Naomi Watts and music performer Ice-T also do the best that can be expected, and they are all clearly having fun with this big goof of a movie.One thing that the picture could be praised for, in terms of filmic value, is that it turns so many tired genres on their heads.
The gratuitous violence and gaping plot holes akin to action movies (where the bad guys can never aim), the underlying voyeurism that seems to always come with Hollywood films that have any female characters, these things are all brought right out to the front and put in your face, a long overdue wake up call to film-makers who rely on such transparent cinema devices.Apart from this, Tank Girl is really just a big silly joke.
It's a movie you have to smile at, feel like both the kid in you and the dirty bastard or girly girl loves to chomp on like some stupid comic book that has all the meat and gravy of a full-throttle action story mixed in with lots of irreverent humor.
It's a lot like if a Sci-fi channel of the week movie actually worked well; the production design isn't too tacky and eye-catching on a fairly low budget, the actors are all having a ball playing odds and ends of good guys or kangaroos or villainous water mongers.
Starring Lori Petty as the WEIRD Tank Girl and ICE-T as her human-kangaroo hybrid boyfriend (I particularly appreciated that one), this movie is one of the most weird and stupid movies I have ever seen.
I noticed before sitting down to watch Tank Girl that it has got a bad reputation for being a Hollywoodised bastardisation of the cult comic.
As someone who has a lot of fondness for the comic and as an admirer of Malcolm McDowell, I found Tank Girl neither a good or terrible movie.
Consequently the black, sassy humour could have benefited the satire and the comedy, but seeing as they were missing the humour to me seemed flat, and the more action-like parts looked clunky.Overall, I was willing to judge it on its own terms and to form my own opinion, but while I don't think Tank Girl is as bad as people say and I have seen far worse movies there wasn't really anything especially outstanding about it.
So what if it doesn't have loads of special effect to compensate for the lame storyboard you people put it down?So let me just tell you, that movie respected the spirit of the book, the wackiness of the characters and therefore it deserve more than just a lousy 4.6, I don't ask for the moon, give a 5 or a 6 if you want, I just think it's a better than average movie, it's worth watching and enjoying it, and if you are not sure, check the comic first.There is one down side in that movie, the rippers which are much more beardy in the comics, they are looking a wee bit too goofy...Anyway this post is just a cry for injustice.
Based on the British comic strip of the same name, it follows our heroine, Tank Girl, and her band of ragtag friends as they battle the evil Water & Power in a post-apocalyptic world with no rain.
It has a great soundtrack that fits the film very well, lots of action, and a great sci-fi/fantasy plot with a little comedy thrown in, not to mention Lori Petty as Tank Girl makes the movie what it is, very enjoyable.
I hadn't seen "Tank Girl" since its theatrical release, then it showed up on Netflix and gave me a chance to remember what a fun ride it is.The movie isn't and doesn't try to be a great film.
That voice, that grin, that swagger; Lori Petty/Becky (aka: Tank Girl) is enjoying a good-time death wish.
If I told you this movie was about a punk girl who primarily uses a tank trying to take down an evil corporation that owns all water in a post apocalyptic world along with saving a little girl with the help of a nerdy girl who flies a jet and mutant kangaroos, you'd say "That sounds like crap" and...
The movie is based on the comic "Tank Girl".
Lori Petty was the perfect pick for the part of Tank Girl, her sense of timing is great and the one liners keep coming.
Lori Petty and Naomi Watts team up as kickass action heroines in Rachel Talalay's adaptation of the comic book 'Tank Girl'.
If you like comic books, you'll love "Tank Girl" the movie.
It's Fun. A silly movie about a tough girl and her tank taking on the world in a post apocalyptic future.
It feels like years since I saw Tank Girl for the first time.
This is a powerful, in-you-face, media sensation that makes you laugh and say, "Chicks RULE!"I loved how the movie's soundtrack was very prominent (great songs!) and how they mixed other media into the film.I didn't read any of the Tank Girl comics, so I don't know if this is "on track" with it's origins, but I still loved it..
The movie doesn't let any fans of the classic 'Tank Girl' comic down!
This movie has everything:it shows scenes from the comic book,real action,and the best part is Tank Girl blowing up stuff and kicking other guys butts!