The New Barbarians
release year: 1983
genre: post-apocalyptic action/adventure
viewing setting: home Bluray 2/13/22
synopsis: Long after a nuclear war, the wastelands are roamed by a murderous group...and their victims...and the rare few willing to fight.
impressions: This was the third movie in a 3-pack I got, whose first two were pretty bad. This one...well, at least it actually had an apocalypse in the past, which the other two movies lacked. But the Templars - who want to kill all living things, and who have technologically advanced vehicles and laser guns - are making life hell for everyone. Hmm, actually, everyone has those laser guns, not just the Templars. And the vehicles all sound like the Venus Probe from that one Six Million Dollar Man two-parter. And also, the good guy's car is full of colorful buttons and controls including a joystick similar to those found in the Vipers in Battlestar Galactica. Anyhow, one group of victims is massacred early, and another joins up with two tough guys and then it's on. This movie was crazy as well as silly; some of the Templar vehicles had spears, buzzsaws, flamethrowers, and so on. And the Templars themselves had outrageous haircuts...and hair...and costumes...and names...and lines. This movie also contains two of the most bizarre sex scenes, one of which is rather disturbing and which I could have done without. Anyway, it was still pretty bad. See it once, then try to forget.
acting: Giancarlo Prete is the main guy, who's not the kind of hero I'd expect. Fred Williamson is an ally of his who acts oddly. George Eastman is also strange as the main bad guy. No one won any Academy Awards for this movie.
final word: If you want to see The Road Warrior done poorly, this movie is for you.
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