Movielogr

Rating: 10 stars

Tags

Filipino exploitation 35mm facets cinemateque facets night school midnight movie Chicago

All movies seen on 06/23/2012

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Wonder Women (1973)

Directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill

Action | Horror | Thriller

Most recently watched by sleestakk

Overview

Dr. Tsu is a brilliant surgeon with her own exotic island off the coast of Manila. Using her sexy, all-girl army of martial-arts experts, Tsu kidnaps some of the world’s greatest athletes. She is able to transplant any body part, so she uses the athletes for spare parts to sell to the world’s richest men. Mike Harber is a womanizing, wise-cracking insurance investigator for Lloyd’s of London sent to Manila to investigate the disappearance of a jai-alai player, and becomes involved with Dr. Tsu’s mad mission.

Rated PG | Length 82 minutes

Actors

Nancy Kwan | Ross Hagen | Maria De Aragon | Roberta Collins | Tony Lorea | Sid Haig | Vic Diaz | Claire Polan | Shirley Washington | Gail Hansen | Eleanor Siron | Bruno Punzalan | Joonee Gamboa | Rick Revere | Rudy DeJesus | Wendy Green | Robyn Hilton | Marilyn Joi | Leslie McRay

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

I convinced myself to drive into Chicago to see this film at midnight as part of Facets’ Night School series despite the fact none of my friends were available to go with. I’m so glad I made the sacrifice because seeing Wonder Women in 35mm was probably a once in a lifetime experience. The fact that this is one of the best Filipino exploitation films I’ve seen made it even more worthwhile.

I rated it a 10 not because Wonder Women is a great movie in the true sense of the word, but because it is a near perfect ‘bad’ film. It’s unintentionally hilarious and stupid and goofy and that makes me love the hell out of it.

One of the best scenes is an incredibly long fight/chase scene between insurance investigator/ladies’ man Mike Barber, and femme army ‘commando’ Linda, who first beds Barber and then tries to kill him. The ensuing fight all but destroys the hotel room before breaking out into the street, with Linda making her escape first on foot, and then in a stolen Jeepny through the crowded streets of Manila. I swear to God, the entire scene lasts about 20 minutes and is equal parts French Connection-esque realism and the fakest shit you’ve ever seen in your life.

I have no idea if this movie exists on DVD, but if it does, I’m certainly going to track it down and make a point of showing it to every person I can!

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