I first saw this film yonks ago when it first came out on VHS because it had a (partial) Jim Steinman sound track. (I know, I know. But honestly, the tracks are great.) It was apparently a huge flop at the box office but it did have Purple Rain to content with.

At the time, I really loved it and probably for all the wrong reasons. It's quite cheesy with lots of laughable macho posturing and dreadful acting in places. But, it has a great story, great music, good cast and a fabulous visual style thanks to Walter Hill. Mind you, I'm not quite sure what's going on with Willem Dafoe in chest height rubber waders - but hey, it's a look and he does seem live above a leather fetish bar.

It's the common age old story of girl loves boy, boy leaves girl, girl breaks in to song and gets kidnapped by rubber biker freak, boy breaks in to s&m dungeon and rescues girl, rubber biker freak looses fight to steal back girl, girl breaks into song - so boy leaves girl, again, obviously girl… more »

I first saw this film yonks ago when it first came out on VHS because it had a (partial) Jim Steinman sound track. (I know, I know. But honestly, the tracks are great.) It was apparently a huge flop at the box office but it did have Purple Rain to content with.

At the time, I really loved it and probably for all the wrong reasons. It's quite cheesy with lots of laughable macho posturing and dreadful acting in places. But, it has a great story, great music, good cast and a fabulous visual style thanks to Walter Hill. Mind you, I'm not quite sure what's going on with Willem Dafoe in chest height rubber waders - but hey, it's a look and he does seem live above a leather fetish bar.

It's the common age old story of girl loves boy, boy leaves girl, girl breaks in to song and gets kidnapped by rubber biker freak, boy breaks in to s&m dungeon and rescues girl, rubber biker freak looses fight to steal back girl, girl breaks into song - so boy leaves girl, again, obviously girl didn't learn her lesson about the singing thing first time around.

Over the years, I've occasionally randomly recalled it and thought nostalgically..."ahh, I remember that" then immediately realised that by now it'll be outdated, corny and rubbish. Well, I saw it again recently and the news is that it's all of those things BUT I found I still love it.

Seriously though, it's a really enjoyable, stylish film that's easy to watch even 20 years or so later. Buy it and have a few drinks as you let it wash over you. Altogether now..."Let the rebels begin, Let the fire be started, We're dancing for the restless and the broken-hearted...." Bliss.