Barb Wire (1996)

User Rating:

3.0/10   

Director:

David Hogan

Writers (WGA):

Chris Warner (characters in comic)
Ilene Chaiken (story)

Release Date:

3 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Don't call me babe!

Plot:

21st century. USA. The second civil war. The whole country is in a state of emergency. What was formerly...

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Bar | Box Office Flop | Topless | Nude Woman Murdered

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Amir Aboulela	...	Patron
Adriana Alexander	...	Redhead
David Andriole	...	Goon #2
Vanessa Lee Asher	...	Emily
Ron Balicki	...	Customs Agent #1
Jennifer Banko	...	Spike
Candace Kita	...	Dancer (as Candace Camille Bender)
Xander Berkeley	...	Alexander Willis
Tony Bill	...	Foster
Alex Bookston	...	Man in White Suit
Gil Borgos	...	Old Man
Andre Rosey Brown	...	Big Fatso
Mark Collver	...	Manny (as Marc Collver)
Tina Cote	...	Woman in Bar #1 (as Tina Coté)
Vinnie Curto	...	Aide to Pryzer

Also Known As:

Barb·Wire (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and nudity/sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | USA:100 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1996) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Canada:18A (unrated version) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (certificate #34430) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Dark Horse Entertainment

Trivia:

The theatrical trailer includes additional footage of the war flashback that didn't make the final cut.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one scene, Barb is using some glasses which inform her that Krebs is in the room next door. She has them on her head, but in the very next shot they are suddenly in her hand.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Alexander Willis: I do believe I'm falling in love.
Barb Wire: Get in line!

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Soundtrack:

Pigskin Parade

Feed her after midnight, get her wet, but, whatever you do, don't call her "Babe"!

Pamela Anderson Lee will certainly never be mistaken for a talking pig, especially in the outfits she gets to wear in Barb Wire. Pamela has cascading blonde hair down to there, acres of cleavage and plenty of clingy leather getups cut up to here. If you get distracted and call Ms. Wire the dreaded "B" word, you may find yourself dealing with her nasty-tempered Rottweiler, Camille, a sidekick with bite. This highly anticipated comic-book action/adventure, starring the pinup star of Baywatch, lasted only a short time in theaters before going bust, so to speak. I'm sure the backers couldn't care less, as their investment was made back in advance by tremendous worldwide sales. Barb Wire was sold on the star's face and form long before there was a story concept or anything resembling a script. Good thing, too. Yes, the futuristic plot does bear some parallels to Casablanca, but the family resemblance is strictly skin-deep. Barb is a nightclub owner who helps an old flame, now a freedom fighter, and his wife escape from a corrupt police official and some neo-Nazi types. Of all the gin joints in the world, Axel had to walk into Barb's. Barb has just been hosed down while performing a torrid dance onstage and is feeling, well, charitable. The movie gets off to a pretty good start, with tongue well in cheek, but grows wearisome when it forgets to laugh at itself. The explosions, shoot-outs and chases are eventually numbing. Must say, however, I did love the death-by-spike-heel scene which comes early on. Steve Railsback, as the head meanie, Colonel Pryzer, comes across as Tommy Lee Jones-lite. Ms. Anderson Lee, as Barb the Buxom, is game, however, firing oversized weapons and kicking fanny without mussing her makeup. Too bad they couldn't afford some better wigs for her stunt doubles.