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Barbarian Queen (1985)
Squeezing in some time for Lana Clarkson...
This film is one of the cheaper 'barbarian' films of the 80's that followed in the wake of the Conan movies. The effects are not great and the action is 'ok' but nothing special. In terms of production values it is perhaps reminiscent of an episode of 'Xena : Warrior Princess' and was probably made with the same budget.
But this film isn't out to wow with special effects, amazing fight scenes or stunning locations - instead it is full of female characters who get a lot of abuse, culminating in a rather infamous torture scene involving the main character (portrayed by perfectly cast Lana Clarkson).
Compared with the sequel that seems better regarded in terms of story and direction I think this original still has the edge in terms of being more hardcore - especially the 'restored' version.
The commonly available version of this film has had a lot of cuts - several minutes worth. There is however a 'restored' version with the cut bits restored, this is the limited edition 2 disc version that comes with both a blu ray and dvd - both with menu options to see the standard or extended versions. The one I got is actually in German but the soundtrack can be changed easily.
The extended version has parts that are more patchy and unclear compared to the otherwise very crisp print, so it is obvious when they appear back in the film. Generally these are moments of gore - such as a villains throat being cut - this changes to fuzzy and we have more sawing and more blood instead of this being brief. Some parts seem trimmed just to top and tail a scene without making any big difference apart from the running time. A large sub-plot involving the henchman who likes fire is added (and fuzzy), here he begins to spy on the rebels and uses gladiators and informants to help. Most notably out of the restored bits is the infamous torture sequence - with new naughty bits added. Ironically the censored version is trimmed in such a way that it implies the Barbarian Queen has to win against the torturer using only a certain muscle ladies have than males do not. However in the extended version Lana somehow gets her legs free to hold the torturer in place while she torments him with her whole body!
The 2 disc extended version seems quite rare and is about double the price of the standard version of this film. All this being said I actually stumbled across the full uncut version (with fuzzy bits included) online, which was free to download.
This isn't the best 'swords and sorcery' film by a long-shot but is probably highly regarded by those who like exploitation movies.
Vice Girls (1997)
An OK film, with some surprisingly irony...
Not the greatest film of this era but not the worse - it reminded me of a lower budget version of the 80's classic 'Road House' in looks and vibe - although the female characters are not as tough as Patrick Swayze and there is very little action after the initial fight scene. Lana shines as a tough cop who doesn't play by the rules, but her two companions aren't quite as interesting.
This is probably one of those films that was made quickly and cheaply, but had more thought and time been put into it then it would have been much better.
This film has some very ironic scenes for Lana Clarkson, considering what would happen to her in real life :-
There are a couple of scenes with Lana getting kinky in a nightclub toilet cubical - with her gun and handcuffs brought into play.
There is a scene where she busts a 'snuff picture' being filmed and is angry to find a woman has been shot in the head for cheap thrills (she turns out to be alive afterwards).
The most ironic scene is near the end - where Lana is kidnapped by the psychotic baddie - who wears a dated suit, has a mop of hair and looks very much like Phil Spector! He waves his gun in Lana's face as she is tied to a chair and she tells him how sick and twisted he is!
My feeling so sorry for poor Lana has possibly clouded my viewing experience of this film, but generally I'd say this is a mild yet entertaining B-movie 'action film' of its time - but with little action a bit lacking on thrills. I'd recommend it to fans of the late great Lana Clarkson only.
Gendai poruno-den: Sentensei inpu (1971)
A Revenge Film with Reiko turning Femme-Fatale!
This isn't a love story, although there is a love story sub-plot. It is a bit confusing as there are many characters and the story goes off on a few tangents. The romance element concerns Reiko's fiancé and there are flashbacks about his previous romance in Paris (a rival of Reiko - who comes to visit him in Japan - only to gets it on with Reiko in the shower instead!).
Unlike some films in which Reiko stars she is in almost every scene here and there are numerous scenes involving nudity and frolicking. The is not much subtlety overall but this conflicts with later things that are more hinted-at nearer the end...
Ultimately the story is about a not-so innocent girl getting corrupted and realising she can use her charms to get men to commit villainous acts for her benefit. Thematically this made me think of Jess Franco films or even The Marquis de Sade.
Spoilers below!
Reiko plays an innocent teenager with high sex-drive who gets abused by her Step Dad and then gets into a life of clubbing and booze and drugs. She meets 'Sugar Daddies' who are Japanese businessmen keen to cover her in cash for her company and favours.
As a high-class sort of prostitute Reiko meets and gets romantic with a handsome heroic character and romance follows. He wants to marry her but his dad refuses (this being a Grey-haired businessman) - as he knows Reiko to be both a prostitute and someone he wants for himself!!
To sour their relationship The grey-haired businessman gets his son-in-law to drug Reiko so the grey guy can molest and rape her. (A rather lengthy scene involving a large feather!) This has the desired effect though and Reiko gets dumped.
The grey businessman then kidnaps Reiko's mother and molests her too - he mentions he hopes to have both ladies as his personal slaves. There is an accident during some groping and Reiko's mother falls through a window and dies in hospital.
Reiko wants revenge and offers herself exclusively to the grey-haired businessman - then has an affair with the son-in-law. She tells the son-in-law about his wife having an affair with a kinky guy she knows of. The Son-in-Law catches them at it and kills them both!
He then meets Reiko after the murder and she smiles evilly at him.
She then arranges to meet him for an evening of steamy fun. She then gets the grey-haired businessman to meet her at the same time and place - just in time to be caught writhing with the Son-in-Law.
A vicious fight occurs between the men as Reiko lays in bed, smiling evilly. The grey-haired man is killed beside her and Reiko smiles and lights a cigarette!
The survivor decides he wants to finish what he started with her - despite being a fresh corpse beside them. Reiko in not keen, things get heated and Reiko is held down and violated.
Luckily her 'Ex' arrives in time to save her and avenge his grey-haired dad. The hero has learned from Reiko's late mothers Housemaid that Reiko had been drugged and misused. He shoots the son-in-law and is destined to get locked away in jail for life.
The final scene is quite dramatic and subtle - Reiko is partying in her new club which was previously owned by the grey-haired guy. She has caused the deaths of all male characters and seems to have got all their businesses and cash! She moves to the doorway and turns towards the camera and smiles very evilly - wow!