Set in the year 2017, Barb Wire takes place after democracy has fallen and a fascist military junta has taken over the U.S. government, plotting to wipe out the country with Red Ribbon, a laboratory-manufactured disease derived from the AIDS virus. The entire test city of Topeka has been annihilated, and only the small bastion of Steel Harbor remains the last free zone in the country, conveniently the home of the title heroine Pamela Lee. Barb, a leather-clad, silicon-stretched motorcycle mama,
happens to carry antibodies for Red Ribbon in her DNA, thus making her an enemy of the state. She sets out to defend freedom and take down the evil government by posing as a stripper and seducing foolish male adversaries with her well-displayed assets. The plot thickens as she happens upon her freedom-fighter ex-lover and his wife (much in the vein of Casablanca). ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi
The irony of this style, with its high-swank grunge clutter, is that it's too dissociated to have coherence even as pop; we're always aware that we're watching sets being photographed.
The movie carries its cyberpunk variation right through to the end, and usually with enough wit and craziness to freshen the mix. Then, there is Pamela, whose tight, disciplined performance deserves more respect than it will almost certainly get.
his cartoonlike starring vehicle for Pamela Anderson Lee offers enough choreographed fight sequences, heavy artillery and fleeting glimpses of the star's august body parts to satisfy the raging hormones of its target young male audience.
Made with a wafer-thin stylishness that thinks dressing the Congressionals like storm troopers is creative, Barb Wire plods along, following one pro forma scene with the next.
The element of high camp that makes for enjoyable 'good trash' isn't present. Bad movies like this often generate small cult followings, and that's about the size of audience the picture deserves.
We used to complain about Hollywood travesties of great books; now we're reduced to kvetching about movies that cheapen the comic strips on which they're based.
The focus remains on Lee throughout, and (except for one flashback scene, in which we see the young, compassionate woman she once was) she pretty much delivers.
Barb Wire is just an excuse for studio executives to fill their wallets by casting Pamela Anderson (who was still big back then) in a film that has little substance. Barb Wire is a terrible attempt at an action film and is definitely one of the worst action films that I've ever seen. The film has some of the worst
acting possible. Based on a comic book, Barb Wire takes place in the future where the U.S government has fallen and a Fascist military dictatorship has taken over. Barb Wire's plot is pretty thin with poor development. Pamela Anderson is definitely no actress and this film proves it. The only thing that's going for this film is that the film looks great. The sets are awesome and the look of Steel Harbor is wonderful. Unfortunately, that doesn't redeem the film from being a terrible miscalculation. I despised this film, and thought it had nothing interesting to offer the viewer. Barb Wire is a mess, and doesn't work as an effective action film. This is one awful film that just doesn't cut it. The film is sloppy and it plays out like a bad B movie. There are no redeeming aspects of this film. Pamela Anderson is a has been sex goddess and with a role like Barb Wire, studio executives knew how to exploit that to their advantage. Unfortunately, Barb Wire is a piece of trash with nothing going for it. The plot is paper thin, and is virtually nonexistent. Barb Wire is a definite miss!
September 27, 2011
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski
Super Reviewer
I didn't see the whole movie.....cause it was so fucking bad
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