Tank Girl Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Tank Girl," courtesy of Shout! Factory, features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The film's notorious vibrancy is well-captured, with the high-definition presentation effectively rendering the bold blues and vivid reds intrinsic to its visual style. Fine detail shines, particularly in close-ups where textures like Jet Girl's tweed jacket and Tank Girl's bowler hat are prominently detailed. Minor age-related issues such as small specks, white flecks, and minimal scratches are present but do not detract significantly from the overall visual experience. The natural filmic appearance is maintained with a fine grain layer, especially noticeable in outdoor scenes, although special effects shots reveal more pronounced grain and dirt.

The video transfer, encoded in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4, generally delivers an excellent viewing experience but isn’t without faults. Detailed textures in faces, clothing, building structures, and the makeup of mutant kangaroos display remarkable clarity. However, some sequences suffer from poor resolution and softer details, adversely impacting dialogue-driven scenes. Composite shots and special effects are more forgiving. The overall contrast is stable and commendable, despite a few hot highlights, with stable black levels. The color palette is appropriately vivid and animated, staying true to the film's comic book roots. Overall, while some inconsistencies exist, the high-definition transfer of "Tank Girl" is largely satisfying and captures the essence of the film's exuberant visual style.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Tank Girl" excels in leveraging its source cues and musical sequences, particularly those featuring Cole Porter, with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that significantly enhances the soundstage. This mix, accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 option, provides substantial depth and richness, especially in the mid- and lower frequency ranges. Dialogue is consistently clear and firmly anchored in the center channel, while the 5.1 mix delivers a more immersive experience with precise discrete channelization of individual effects. The dynamic range is notably wide, ensuring that both subtle details and high-energy moments are reproduced with excellent fidelity.

In addition to its technical robustness, the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack brings "Tank Girl" to life with a punchy and hard-hitting low-end that adds oomph to the film's action sequences, music, and even intimate scenes. The imaging is notably wide and expansive, with excellent channel separation that enhances the overall auditory experience. The clear and intelligible vocals in the center channel stand out against the backdrop of dynamic sound effects. The lossless mix shines particularly during action sequences, where it offers expansive rear-channel activity and flawless panning of sounds from the front to the back, creating a fully immersive environment. This high-resolution audio track ensures that every explosion, bullet ricochet, and piece of debris is rendered crisply and clearly, encapsulating the chaotic energy of this cult favorite.

The extras on the Blu Ray of "Tank Girl" offer a comprehensive and engaging look into the movie's production, featuring in-depth interviews and nostalgic behind-the-scenes content. Lori Petty’s interview is both fun and insightful, providing a retrospective of her career and experiences on set. Director Rachel Talalay shares an enthusiastic discussion about her vision for the film and its production challenges, while Catherine Hardwicke delves into the film's creative design process. Additionally, the commentary track, while occasionally interrupted, is lively and informative, offering fans an intimate glimpse behind the scenes. Complementing these are a vintage featurette and the theatrical trailer, providing a well-rounded package of bonus materials.

Extras included in this disc:

• Baseball, Tanks and Bad Tattoos: An animated interview with Lori Petty discussing her career.
• Too Hip for Spielberg: Rachel Talalay shares props and stories from the production.
• Creative Chaos: Catherine Hardwicke details the film's design challenges.
• Vintage Making of Tank Girl Featurette: A dated yet charming behind-the-scenes video.
• Trailer: Original theatrical release trailer.
• Commentary with Lori Petty and Rachel Talalay: Insightful and entertaining audio commentary.

"Tank Girl," directed by Rachel Talalay, emerges as a distinctive yet flawed entry in the post-apocalyptic genre, brimming with punk-rock attitude and anarchic flair. Based on the British comic by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin, "Tank Girl" attempts to transmute the dynamic energy of its source material to the screen. Talalay's commitment to recreating the comic's aesthetic is palpable, employing various filmmaking techniques to lend the film an authentically chaotic and gonzo vibe. Lori Petty’s portrayal of the irreverent titular character encapsulates this spirit, rendering Tank Girl a delightfully insolent, sardonic heroine whose punk essence potentially aligns the film with the likes of "Mad Max," revamped through a rebellious lens.

However, the film's chaotic fervor often undermines its structural integrity. Talalay has openly acknowledged that interference from United Artists and producers diluted her vision, and indeed, the film's narrative feels disjointed and hastily assembled at times. The storyline offers minimal characterization and lacks genuine tension, leading to predictable outcomes that drain potential dramatic momentum. Malcolm McDowell’s role as the villain Kesslee is one-dimensional, and Naomi Watts’ character, Jet Girl, adds little depth or purpose. The mutant kangaroos introduced as comic relief further muddle the plot’s coherence, detracting from the film's intended satire.

"Tanki Girl" revels in its crude, offbeat charm, which has garnered it a cult following despite its many flaws. The production design by Catherine Hardwicke showcases inventiveness within a constrained budget, but the film nonetheless exudes a somewhat "student production" feel. Fans of anarchic cinema might appreciate its brashness and irreverence, but even they might concede that the film's promise is often overshadowed by its disordered execution and erratic pacing. Despite these shortcomings, "Tank Girl" boldly asserts itself as an artifact of '90s counterculture cinema, unapologetically demanding attention while inviting viewers to ponder what might have been if Talalay’s vision had remained unsullied.

The 1995 cult classic 'Tank Girl,' directed by Rachel Talalay and featuring an exuberant performance by Lori Petty, receives a respectable presentation in Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release. The film, which is as scattershot and chaotic as its protagonist, thrives on an absurdist punk-rock aesthetic mixed with unrestrained humor. Technically, the Blu-ray offers solid visual fidelity with a better-than-expected audio track that captures the chaotic essence of the film, ensuring viewers can fully immerse in the offbeat narrative and frenzied charm of its colorful dystopian world.

Fans will appreciate the inclusion of several engaging supplements, enhancing the overall value of this release. These extras provide deeper insight into the film’s production and its quirky, rebellious spirit. Despite its numerous flaws and a box-office performance that left much to be desired, 'Tank Girl' boasts an infectious zaniness that has cemented its status as a cult favorite. Lori Petty's spirited portrayal and the film’s distinctive style remain central to its enduring appeal.

It's easy to understand why 'Tank Girl' has achieved the cult status it enjoys, but ultimately, the film represents unfulfilled potential. While entertaining in doses, it can be overly chaotic and noisy, never quite reaching the heights of lunatic humor it aims for. Still, fans of the film should find this Blu-ray release gratifying, with commendable technical merits and appealing supplements making it a worthy acquisition for those who appreciate its unconventional charm.