Gwendoline [DVD]

I had heard of this movie some years ago, and on and off had looked for a copy on VHS but never finding one I promptly forgot about it. Then very recently a good film buff friend from New Zealand recommended the DVD to me and I was able to get to see 'Gwendoline' in its full uncut glory...This movie musn't be taken seriously, thats the point I don't think some people get when they watch it! It was never made as a 'serious' film, but simply as an enjoyable comic book. (it is based on a popular French comic strip 'The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline') The story resembles something akin to Raiders of the Lost Ark or Romancing the Stone, but with more nudity and some strange scenes of S&M when our heroes enter the fabled land of Yik-Yak. Even so despite the directors other movies (Emmanuel and The Story of 'O') its sexual aspects are not really that gratuitous. This movie is very silly, sexy and funny, for both the right and wrong reasons... Look out for the man eating Crocodile folks!The cast are well suited to acting in this sort of movie. Tawny Kitain, in her first role, looks great and tries her best to get into the part of Gwendoline. Brent Huff (Who?) is the macho lead, a reluctant hero come Han Solo wannabe whose more brawn than brains... indeed Huff's lack of acting skill is perhaps a bonus for this role... But tops for me was French actress and model Zabou as Gwendoline's trusty maid/sidekick Beth, who on the one hand is a real zany and kookie sort of girl. but then on the other can be uber-sexy and worldly wise... Wait until you see her wearing a palace guard's g-string unifom :-)The other cast members encountered in Yik-Yak are great fun, especially the OTT Queen and the sets are also pretty good in my opinion. Production values are quite high and apart from the obvious studio setting for the Hong Kong dock the jungles and deserts were actual locations in Morroco and Thailand which adds a nice exotic touch.Gwendoline is a popular movie and if viewed in the right frame of mind its very enjoyable. Give it a go, you won't regret it and you'll find yourself a real guilty pleasure...

I saw the trailer for this one about twenty years ago and have been fascinated with the idea of watching it ever since - it was almost like a forbidden gem for a while with its general lack of availability and bumpy BBFC history (they originally demanded quite a few cuts in the 80s, back in the day when they were much more easily offended, and this censored version - released through Embassy video - became the only convenient way to see it in the UK). The trailer paints quite a different picture to what you eventually get to see - the film is kind of an erotic comedy fantasy adventure, and not entirely successful one (depending on perspective obviously). Personally I think the main issue is with the 'comedy' - it's quite juvenile in nature and no funnier than some of those sitcoms aimed at young teens that one happens to unfortunately catch a glimpse of when flicking channels on occasion (i.e. apathy is the primary response, rather than laughter). It does, however, have a few things going for it: there is a sense of epic adventure in there, doused in lots of imaginative touches that push it into the realms of science fiction/fantasy. Tawny Kitaen (probably one her better roles), one-time babe of David Coverdale (the lucky person, him), looks really fetching throughout, and conveys an attractive sense of innocence well, while she's joined by a host of naked and semi-naked females mainly in the latter part of the film. These factors keep things moving along in a moderately entertaining fashion and at a reasonable pace, but it feels as though it should have been better. The humour repeatedly drags things down into the realms of the silly, and the square-jawed hero/Indiana Jones-wannabe was particularly getting on my nerves. The score, which I believe partly constituted the aforementioned trailer, brings about an odd contrast to the proceedings in that there is an air of melancholy to be detected in its electronic waves - it's certainly not a score I would have guessed to be supporting on-screen comedy (perhaps the composer didn't realise it was supposed to be funny while scoring - quite possible!). All in all, there are pluses and minuses in Gwendoline, but it never quite becomes the great film it could have.The DVD from Nucleus is a good one - anamorphic widescreen transfer (2.35:1) that holds up well (though will never compete with anything Blu-ray can now offer), ably backed up by an excellent selection of audio tracks: English stereo or 5.1, French stereo or 5.1, and director's commentary. I did watch this first time with the English (5.1) track active, though I may try the French track out next time around - material can come across very differently in foreign tongue and perhaps this oddball stuff will work better in the director's native language. There are a couple of other small extras to pad things out. The DVD cover is also reversible (not immediately noticeable when it comes in a standard black amaray case) - not a massive difference, rather you are presented with a variation on front cover.Overall - 2.5 for the film (though I'll give it another chance in a year or so and may amend the review if I change my mind!) and 3.5 for the DVD.

Was reliving a part of my youth, great 80s cult film

O Bluray muito necessário para quem é fã dos antológicos filmes cults dos anos 80. E da musa belíssima Tawny Kitaen.

Pour le jeu d acteur

If you're in the market for the DVD, see below: some confusion amongst reviewers in regards to correct region code(s) I hope I can clear up. (Correct ASIN numbers provided below.)All region bluray release from Severin 11/19! I pre-ordered bluray from Severin as soon as release was announced. Man, so glad I'm on the Severin mailing list!The bluray:Wow! The 4k scan is amazing! Eye-popping eye candy! It's like seeing the film for first time. Many extras ported from the Severin DVD - plus more! Additional commentaries and featurettes. Glad to see that Tawny Kitaen is on board for this edition! She participates in promos and there's a brand new (bluray only) second commentary track with her and costar Brett Huff. Excellent!Tawny Kitaen and the director of the original Emmanuelle(74) and the Story of O brings a (relatively) high budget fetish-fest. Exotic locales, exotic women. Great production design and wardrobe(when the cast is clothed).Based on John Willie's iconic fetishy comic serial. In fact, one of the extras is a vintage(audio) interview between Alfred Kinsey and John Willie - back in the day a fellas "bent" needed to be tagged and studied, I guess. (Of course, Kinsey was an odd duck himself...)Well plotted, and often compared to a campy/fetishistic take-off of Indiana Jones. (Through it has much more in common with 1980s Flash Gordon).Lots of iconic fetish scenarios, lovingly photographed -Indeed, the director is a former fashion photographer.Despite the material, it is lighthearted and suitable for most adult sensibilities. Only a prude would consider this "dirty." It's a fun romp for all - no shortage of male skin, ladies. Also, despite the heavy S&M iconography, the "sadism" is presented as kinky fun.Extras also include: director commentary, subtitles, widescreen and photo gallery from a frog skin mag; as well as the aforementioned Alfred Kinsey/John Willie interview. Also new to this bluray is a feature on the (exquisite) production/ costume design.A must own!DVD info: region one (or A) are as follows:ASIN# B01M7X2U0G or B01I06H026, so double check! (I inadvertently bought a Euro, region B. on the first go-around.)

Tja, was kann ich noch Anderes sagen. Es ist halt herzallerliebster Cine-Trash der 80er. Erotik soll da auch vorkommen, aber ehrlich gesagt ist das eher so 70er Jahre Erotik. Also weder besonders aufreizend, noch besonders liebevoll in Szene gesetzt. Nichts gegen die beiden Hauptdarstellerinnen - zwei wirklich schöne Frauen, aber die Szenen sind einfach nur banal. Der Film ist genial unfreiwillig komisch. Leider hatte ich nur die englische Fassung, aber da die Texte nicht besonders anspruchsvoll sind, kann man das verschmerzen. (Deutsche Fassung ist leider nicht mehr verfügbar)