Plot: What’s it about?
In the deepest reaches of the African jungles, a white woman might seem out of place, but for Sheena (Tanya Roberts), this is the only home she has ever known. Her parents were killed while on a safari and soon after, she was taken in by a female Shaman from the Zambuli tribe. This mystical woman raised Sheena and thanks to her supernatural powers, she was able to grant Sheena the power to communicate with animals. She doesn’t use her vocal powers however, instead she speaks to the animals via her mind, using her immense telepathic powers. Soon however, Sheena will face extreme danger and all sorts of problems, all of which starts when a political figurehead is murdered and the Shaman is framed as the killer. A news reporter named Vic (Ted Wass) is in the area covering a local royal who plays football, so Sheena enlists his help in clearing her foster mother’s good name, as well as her freedom. But when the threat of invasion on Zambuli land arises, it is up to Sheena to defend her home, if she can somehow overcome the odds…
This film was based on the old Sheena: Queen of the Jungle serials and while it is no classic, I’ve always enjoyed Sheena. The premise is your basic “white child lost in the jungle, raised by natives” kind of thing, so don’t expect much there and with Tanya Roberts in the lead, keep your acting demands at the bare minimum also. Roberts is the main reason to see Sheena however, as she looks dynamite and parades around in next to nothing, which is great news, I think. She even does a couple of nude scenes, although they’re done from somewhat of a distance, but still, it’s Tanya Roberts naked and that’s awesome. But aside from her presence(s) and a lot of camp value, Sheena is a disaster in all respects, no doubt about it. You can tell from a mile away it is a product of the 1980s and depending on the viewer, that could be good or downright miserable. I happen to think it adds charm to the picture, but I know some folks dislike 80s filmmaking, at least the kind on showcase in Sheena. Columbia has done little with this disc, but if you’re a fan, chances are you’ll still want to pick up this disc, regardless.
She might not have much in terms of acting skills, but Tanya Roberts has the looks of a movie star, without a doubt. In Sheena, she stumbles through even the most basic of lines, including some a corpse could deliver with more impact. Her mannerisms are no better and she never seems natural within the character or surroundings, just a plain bad performance here. But then again, we don’t watch Roberts in movies for her classical performances, now do we? She looks awesome in Sheena and that’s what counts, especially since she wears skimpy attire throughout and even drops the linen, which is most welcome, of course. The nude scenes are done with class however, so the PG rating is still on the mark and the movie is safe for the younger ones. Another memorable turn for Roberts and another view of her wonderful gifts, what more could we want? Other films with Roberts include The Beastmaster, Body Slam, Tourist Trap, The Yum-Yum Girls, and A View To A Kill. The cast also includes Ted Wass (Tv’s Soap, Tv’s Blossom), Donovan Scott (Police Academy, Savannah Smiles), and Elizabeth of Toro, as The Shaman.
Video: How does it look?
Sheena is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. I expected a nice treatment here, as Columbia usually delivers the goods, but I wasn’t prepared for how good Sheena would look here. The image is excellent, with a very sharp overall impact and very clean source print, even grain is minimal and in these 80s movies, that is impressive indeed. The colors come off as lush and natural, with no bleeds or the like, while flesh tones are warm and natural also. No quibbles with contrast, as all scenes look at least solid and most look terrific. I never imagined Sheena would look so great on home video, but Columbia has come through, so I commend them for their work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround option is not that impressive, but it is a decent overall track and should please fans. I mean, I’d love to have a mix here with tons of atmospheric surround presence, but I didn’t expect it and of course, I didn’t get it from this track. In truth, there is minimal surround activity and while that is a let down, the front channels shoulder most of the load without much of a problem. The audio is clean and though a little thin at times, this is about all we can expect from Sheena, I think. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
