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Barbarian Queen [1985]
![Barbarian Queen [1985]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XVF8ZBYTL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £5.99
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"I'll be no man's slave and no man's whore!"
Review date: 2003-10-12 Rating: 6 out of 10
When a quiet medieval village, whose inhabitants inexplicably speak with Californian accents, is for no apparent reason attacked by an evil imperial army, it is left up to the three surviving women to take vengence and free their enslaved friends. And so the scene is set for attractive women in small fur and leather outfits to kick butt big style.
Cult movie afficiandos have credited this bizarre display of sunkissed swordplay as the main inspiration behind Xena: Warrior Princess, which doesn't seem too unlikely. Certainly this Roger Corman production has much in common with the Sam Raimi produced series; the total disregard for period realism, the warrior women protaganists, the kitsch cult appeal. Of course, as the cover art suggests the emphasis here is less on feminine empowerment then fuelling male fantasies; fine when it's ladies in hotpants indulging in unconvincing stagefighting, but a little troubling in the numerous (not very explicit but nevertheless uncomfortable) rape scenes.
This is the fantasy epic at perhaps its most primitive. It's quite bizarre to see an English language film with a sound mix so bad you'd be forgiven for thinking it was dubbed from another language. The sets and costumes hardly radiate authenticity, nor are the battle scenes well choregraphed. Even so, some of the location photography is quite beautiful in a quaint sort of way, and there's no denying the cheap, simple fun of it all. At barely 70 minutes it can hardly be accused of outstaying its welcome, although the lack of DVD extras may mean some will not be prepared to splash out on this disc.
In conclusion, the cult appeal of this film is clear. And its cult status is sure to only increase after the recent, tragic death of leading lady Lana Clarkson; an actress who struggled to escape her B-Queen status for almost twenty years, only to end up murdered at the home of music legend Phil Spector. At the time of writing, to the best of my knowledge, the case remains unsolved.
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Reviews
I don't know what I was thinking
Review date: 2003-10-08 Rating: 2 out of 10
I had just bought Conan and wanted to see more fantast films, I do not, however, know what I was thinking when I ordered this tranvasty.
It has to be the most god-awful piece of film rubbish ever created. Whoever gave this the go-ahead should have been beaten with a stick. The script is terrible, the effects are dire, the story is pitiful and the acting is so bad i don't have words to describe it.
If i could give this film a negative score i would have. I do however take great satisfaction that i have saved someone from having to endure this tripe by destroying my copy
A film that is beyond redemption, do not buy it.
The only good thing about this film is that i now have a spare DVD case.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Frank Zagarino
Lana Clarkson
Dawn Dunlap
Susana Traverso
Katt Shea
Creators:
Lana Clarkson (Primary Contributor)
Katt Shea (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Film 2000
Manufacturer: Film 2000
EAN: 5034377070026
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-10-22
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 76 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985-12
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)