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Today, 07 August 2008

» Elections will 'shock, offend'

» Waterkloof 4 lose final bid

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» ANC suspends parly officials

» Scorpions a 'security threat'

Yesterday, 06 August 2008

» Infamous Olympic moments

» Do we still need quotas?

» Elections will 'shock, offend'

» A Scorpions referendum?

» Cosatu flexes muscle

Last week I looked at vampires, this week it’s superheroes — go figure.

The sudden resurgence of the superhero could be linked, I guess, to some half-baked socio/screwball theory that the world needs saving. But then, as Trixy Honore points out in iAfrica’s Bitch and Famous, it could just as easily be down to latex suit fetishes.

Basically the need for new superheroes is about as inexplicable as why track 9 on any given CD is usually the best on the disc — (am I the only one to have experienced this?)

Whatever the reasons, they’re all here, spandex, masks and gadgets galore. And they’re all getting in on the act. Halle Berry, not content with outdoing Ursula Andress in ‘Die Another Day’ is set to star in ‘Catwoman’.

That’s no kind of role model for young women around the world. They could learn a thing or two from Tank Girl, though.

Andrew's obsession with cult films began at midnight at the age of ten, and involved a bowl of popcorn, an old television set and John Carpenter's Halloween. Little has changed since then, besides age, the popcorn and the fact that he can now climb dark stairwells after a horror movie by himself. Andrew is a published writer of horror fiction, a screenwriter and a freelance journalist. His time is spent largely in pursuit of a truly original horror film. Failing that he has threatened to make his own.

‘Tank Girl’ stars Malcolm McDowell as Keeslee, a corporate villain who controls the world’s water supply through his company — Water and Power. Tank Girl (Lori Petty) is the reluctant renegade hero who sets out to end his reign, and along the way shags a kangaroo, enlists the help of a number of distinctly unusual colleagues and just generally causes massive upheaval.

‘Tank Girl’ was directed by Rachel Talalay, whose name may be more familiar to you as the producer on a number of Nightmare on Elm Street films. She also took the chair and megaphone for ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 6: Freddy’s Dead,’ as well as directing several episodes of Ally McBeal.

She may seem an unlikely choice for the director on ‘Tank Girl’ but then the film is equally unlikely.

Based on the cult British comic strip, ‘Tank Girl’ has many redeeming features and shatters the conventions of its genre in a number of ways. Most notably the future in the film is easily foreseeable — the world has been struck by a comet and in 2032, water is the planet’s most valuable commodity.

Naturally someone nabs the monopoly on it (does anyone else see a reflection on the tendency to hog the market on anti-retroviral drugs here?) and as Becky explains in the intro the world is basically screwed.

THE CULTDOMETER TANK GIRL [1995] Dir:Rachel Talalay Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Lori Petty and featuring Iggy Pop Why should I bother? Entertainment – and to see what a female role model actually looks like. What others think of the film… Enormous energy went into this movie. I could not, however, care about it for much more than a moment at a time, and after awhile its manic energy wore me down. -Roger Ebert- What the film thinks of itself… "There was a freedom, a lack of restraint. Most female roles in Hollywood movies are very one-dimensional. It's like, 'Who do I fuck and when do I fuck them?' But there's never been a character like Tank Girl who's allowed to be free, and who's the boss without being a bitch or cold and manipulative. She's just honest and out there." -Lori Petty on the character- Cultdometer Rating: 100% Cult comic book mayhem and not nearly as sanitised as Wonder Woman!

The film is fast-paced; with terrific performances from McDowell and Petty in the leading roles, but what really sets the film apart from its more glamorous cousins is the use of… wait for it… comic book graphics to propel the action.

You may remember the old Batman and Robin series back in the Seventies, where the action is punctuated by a cartoon “POW” or “KERBLAMM”. That’s what I’m talking about.

By far, the most compelling aspect to the film is the complete indifference with which Tank Girl lives her life; the ease with which insults and sexual innuendos fall from her lips.

The main character in a superhero adaptation is central to the film’s success and Becky is a fine example. She’s somewhere between Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and Mad Max in her outlook on life.

It’s a departure from the norms of the genre and neatly avoids the problems associated with it. It’s not nearly as formulaic as a film like ‘Batman’ or ‘Spiderman’. Nor is it as sanitised.

This said, I did enjoy ‘Daredevil’, even though it also suffers in the translation. Like Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ or ‘The Crow’ the balance tips in favour of dark Gothic mayhem.

But for the most part there seems to be a clumsy gap between the live action and the comic book source for the majority of comic-book adaptations.

It’s no surprise then that the most entertaining films are those based on alternative graphic comic books.

Films like ‘From Hell’, ‘Spawn’ and even ‘Condorman’ (if you remember that one you’re as old as me) offer refreshingly different adaptations that are as multi-faceted as the dual-personalities behind the masks.

In human terms, a massively commercial film like ‘Spiderman’ would be the fashion victim in a bar, desperately trying to look good, and in the process, completely forgetting to have a good time.

At the other end of the bar would be a film like ‘Tank Girl’, with no other agenda than wanting to have a great time… oh and to seduce a kangaroo.

I say why the hell not?

Until Monday...

‘Tank Girl’ is available from THE VIDEO SHOP - 13 North Park Centre, 7th Avenue, Parktown North - Tel: 011 788 8613. Email: tebaldi@mweb.co.za. With a vast range of titles, especially rare and classic films and knowledgeable staff, THE VIDEO SHOP has just what you’re looking for. THE VIDEO SHOP is Cult de Sac’s video outlet of choice.

Cult de Sac Parting Shot

“Look, if you want to torture me, spank me, lick me, do it. But if this poetry shit continues just shoot me now please.”
-Tank Girl-

Last Week’s Meaningless Trivia Question:

Which David Bowie song is featured in ‘The Hunger’? Clue: Peter Murphy would later cover it, in addition to having appeared in ‘The Hunger’ with the rest of Bauhaus.

Answer: ‘Fun time’

This Week’s Meaningless Trivia Question:

In the fashion shoot ruse in the weapons factory, which Bjork song accompanies the ensuing comedy romp?

Answer next week.

Feel free to disagree with all of the above and contact me with ideas, suggestions and abuse. I’m open to all three, although I do prefer qualified abuse.