JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonThe Warriors (1979) - Footage Included
January 5th 2007 01:46
The Warriors
DVD Cover
Writer: David Schaber and Walter Hill
Starring: Michael Beck, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Mercedes Ruehl, Roger Hill
“Warriors, come out to plaaaaayyyaaa” – Luther
A baseball bat to the face of 70’s cinema, updating Xenophon's "Anabasis. Upon its original cinema release rival gangs rumbled, lives were lost in theatres and consequentially the film garnered a reputation for glorifying bloodshed and the street gang mentality.
“These are the Armies of The Night. They are 100,000 strong. They outnumber the cops five to one. They could run New York City. Tonight they're all out to get the Warriors” - Original Tagline for the film
A comic book style update, The Warriors was one of the earliest films to realize the power of mixing ultra violence, cool dialogue and editing for maximum velocity.
Brutal and bleak, it’s now a pop culture icon, influential and considered an action classic worldwide.
Pumped full of adrenalin and testosterone, the movie opens with all the gangs in New York City meeting in Central Park to form an alliance that will give them ultimate power.
Putting it together is the almighty Cyrus (Roger Hill), preaching his gospel to the crowd, riling up the thousands strong posse to believe in his dream.
“You're standing right now with nine delegates from 100 gangs. And there's over a hundred more. That's 20,000 hardcore members. Forty-thousand, counting affiliates, and twenty-thousand more, not organized, but ready to fight: 60,000 soldiers! Now, there ain't but 20,000 police in the whole town. Can you dig it?” – Cyrus
In the height of fervour a rival member named Luther, executes the charismatic leader and frames The Warriors for the crime.
“There he is... that's him... that's... the warrior!” – Luther
Unarmed, with every gang in New York out for blood our tiny band of Spartans must run the gauntlet and make it back to their home turf on the other side of the city in Coney Island.
“All right now, for all you bobbers out there in the big city, all you street people with an ear for the action, I've been asked to relay a request from the Grammercy Riffs. It's a special for the Warriors, that real live bunch from Coney, and I do mean the Warriors. Here's a hit with them in mind…..no where to run to baby, now where to hide….”-DJ
Loyal, tough and refusing to give in, The Warriors must hack their way through names like the Lizzies, The Baseball Furies, The Electric Eliminators, The Queens Bridge mutilators. All of them on the hunt and wielding brass knuckles, chains and baseball bats, prepare for a battle royale.
“I'll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a popsicle.” - Ajax
I think the they have a problem with our fashion sense
John Doe says:
Just as visceral as the day it was released, energetic and thrilling, take no shit Director Walter Hill (Driver, Southern Comfort, Long Riders, Johnny Handsome) injects the whole thing with a brutality that was seldom seen onscreen before.
An infinitely cool cult classic with a 1970’s sense of style, this is tough entertainment that never gets old. The colourful range of endless gang names with their trademark weaponry are a treat. (Eg: The Lizzies: a gang of Lesbian black Widows. The Baseball Furies: Roller-skating with bats and face makeup etc)
The classic framework of a few brave men facing off against unbeatable numbers is scripted with passion and grandiose vision. Tighter than a virgin wearing a chastity belt the screenplay is in a constant state of movement, each scene pushes into the next and before you know it your along for the ride.
Andrew Lazlo’s (Southern Comfort, First Blood, Owl and The Pussycat) cinematography is atmospheric and exploits the city surroundings maintaining a mood of imminent, dirty, grimy danger.
Swiftly edited with little room for air, supported by a thumping soundtrack that keep the heart rate up, this is B grade action gold that provides A grade fun and adventure.
The cast is a mix of low rent actors and real life gang members and though not overly talented thespians, they fill out there roles admirably.
This is after all not a film about real life, it’s a hyper reality, one of the first celluloid entries in the street gang genre, and the actors all bring a unique spin to their parts.
Worthy of note are Roger Hill as Cyrus, David Patrick Kelly (The Crow, Wild At Heart, 48 Hrs) as loony Luther and James Remar (Drugstore Cowboy) as Ajax.
Don’t go looking for a deeper meaning, there isn’t one, this is about brave men who refuse to yield and will do anything to make it home.
This bad boy of a film is a John Doe fave, an action thriller that does all the work without insulting your intelligence, delivering on its uncompromising promise and inspiring the recent video game of the same name.
The DVD:
Transfer: Anamorphic Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: What a package! This is the ultimate directors cut and with all new comic book inserts that set the tone, is a must see for fans of the cult fave. Equally impressive is the comprehensive making of featurettes. We don’t get a Walter Hill commentary but he does introduce the film and the trailer is also included.
Check out the kinetic trailer below and tell me this isn’t everything action cinema is about.
Click Below and see to see the mighty Cyrus spread his word at the start of the film…..Can you dig it?
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Great review.
I lived the poster for this flick when I was a kid ... I was too young to see it when it came out, had to wait til it came out on VHS ... I remember it was one of those early VHS releases ...
How unintentionally camp does it all look now though, with the stylised clothing and all the stand-offs .... ? Still Walter Hill knows his shit.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
You and me both, my parents wouldn't let me see it so I had to sneak to a buddies house to finally find out what I was missing.
I dont know if i would use the word "camp" as such but it is certainly alot more tongue in cheek than back in the day that is for sure......unrelenting it still is.
No arguemnet, Walter Hill sure knows how to drive a film with action, while maintaining plot.
Comment by Adrienne
Celebrity Fox
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen the film or played the videogame?
Comment by Adrian
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
When trapped behind enemy lines their is always a big pull to get back to home turf. Of course their is always someone guarding the borders but rumbling with a home ground advantage is always favourable.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD