Review of Barbarella (1968) by Tim H — 19 May 2008

Heh. Durand-Durand.

I used to have the origianl poster on my basement wall while my dad was still alive. I never had any idea what kind of movie was at the time because I was just a little kid. How would I have known? But yeah, this is one of the greatest sexploitation movies I have ever seen. It was truly absolutely ridiculous, but in a great way. (There's ridiculous like Death Bed and now there's ridiculous like most Grindhouse films.) This movie did exactly like it planned to do and it certainly delivered.

I do find it funny that Jane Fonda is such a staunch, vocal feminist and she is just used as an object in this movie. Yes, you get to see her naked and yes that is awesome. But what might be considered worse are some of the costumes she was in. Those were more provacative than nudity. Seriously? Seethrough breast holes? What does that serve whatsoever? Don't even take into account the fact that this culture doesn't have pleasurable traditional sex. (Although one of my favorite scenes involved the leader of the underground participating in future sex. Simple joke that I dug.).

The story is not something you should be following too closely. Really, it makes little to no sense, but that's really okay. You shouldn't be watching Barbarella for the fact that it is an awesome sci-fi movie. That's not what this movie is at all about. The special effects are just plain ol' silly and that's what makes this movie work. I heard Robert Rodriguez is going to be remaking this movie with Rose McGowan. I hope this isn't a super-big budget Steven Spielberg remake. I doubt it with someone like Rodriguez at the helm, but there's always that nervousness. Perhaps the best part of the movie are the interiors of Barbarella's ship. Having shag carpeting covering all inches of your ship is a heck of a design choice. I'm not saying it's a good one. It's just a choice.