Review of The Warriors (1979) by Jose G — 06 Aug 2018

I've seen this film many times before, but this was the first time I'd watched the new director's cut where writer/director Walter Hill added a prologue about a about a small group of Roman soldiers being trapped behind enemy lines, which I though was too on-the-nose and completely unnecessary. The film already contained subtle references to stories such as the Odyssey and the Iliad and adding this prologue gives the film an unwelcome self-importance that I found off-putting. Hill also added comic book panel style transition instead of the grainy screen-wipes he used in the original film, which had the opposite effect of the self-important prologue and instead highlighted the film's cartoony/comic book nature, and had the impact of making the film seem less serious (not to mention that the animated transitions simply looked cheap and amateurish). Hill's tinkering with his film 25-years later is worse than Ridley Scott adding the unicorn dream sequence to "Blade Runner." Hill's additions very nearly ruined my enjoyment of the film. The next time I watch "The Warriors" it will be my DVD copy of the original theatrical cut. Below is my review of the film from the last time I watched the film on 8-23-2017.

The Warriors are a red leather vest (with no shirt) wearing 1970s street gang from Coney Island who travel to Central Park where the city's most powerful gang leader, Cyrus, wants to unite all the gangs of New York City. Can you dig it? The plan fails immediately when David Patrick Kelly shoots Cyrus and then blames The Warriors for the assassination. Our heroes then have to fight every gang between Central Park and Coney Island in order to get home. Gangs include the bat wielding Baseball Furies, the school bus riding Turnbull AC's, the all-girl Lizzies, the overall-wearing Punks, Chinatown's Savage Huns, and many, many, more awesomely costumed and colorful gangs (the gang dressed as mimes is probably the most awesomely ridiculous). "The Warriors" is one of my desert island films, as in, if I were trapped on a desert island and could only take ten films with me, what films would they be? For such a list, you might not jump to Ingmar Bergman or other heady fare, but might rather seek pure escapist entertainment that can be enjoyed over and over again, and that is exactly what this film excels at. "The Warriors" is a film that I have lost all objectivity on. I don't know how many times I've watched it and can probably quote almost every line. I love the film's gritty, grimy 1970s pre-Giuliani NYC feel. It's not necessarily a realistic representation of the city, as was "The French Connection," but this comic book version of a city overrun by gangs and crime is utterly enthralling. "The Warriors" was notorious at the time of it's release for incidents of gang violence breaking out in the theaters, which were attributed to the level of violence in the film. Although the violence is comparatively tame by today's standards, it none-the-less remains exciting even by modern standards. Action sequences don't get much better than James Remar taking on a face-painted Baseball Fury, or the subway bathroom fight, or the shootout at the Lizzie's hideout. Producer/writer/director Walter Hill knows his way around an action sequence better than most directors and those talents are on full display here. The film has a deceptively simple story, but Hill gives the film an epic feel that I'd argue taps into Greek mythology, much like Odysseus as he faced his series of trials on his long journey home. Michael Beck is terrific as the leader of The Warriors (actually the war chief, who's forced to take over after their leader is killed), as is the always great James Remar in his first of several appearances in Hill films. No review would be complete without mentioning David Patric Kelly as the crazed leader of The Rogues, who memorably clinks his glass bottles together and reciting his creepy chant, "Warriors, come to plaaaayyyyyyy." Look fast for Mercedes Ruehl as a policewoman in a park scene and Debra Winger on a subway train during a double date. Taking place entirely over the course of one night, the film never slows, has an amazing soundtrack with an even better score by Barry De Vorzon, and features gorgeously photography of a gritty yet comic book version of a crime ridden NYC. "The Warriors" is an undeniable classic that in my mind cannot be improved upon. I think I now want to buy the old PS2 video game version of the movie, that featured a good number of the original cast. If you haven't seen this film, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately!