Took me a while to get around to seeing this movie, but I'm glad I can finally say that it's as awesome as I’ve always heard it was.
The Warriors takes place in an alternate New York City that’s overrun by hundreds of gangs who strike fear into the hearts of others by painting their faces like mimes and getting dressed in overalls and roller skates. Truly terrifying, but whatever, just go with it.
So when the leader of the largest gang in the city is assassinated at a gang convention (I guess that’s what you’d call it), a gang of nine – The Warriors – are falsely accused of the murder and have to book it from the Bronx back to their home turf on Coney Island with every gang in the city hot on their butts. It’s a pretty straightforward story, but it’s a cool one all the same.
I don’t really know what genre this movie would fall into. Probably somewhere between action/adventure with a dash of drama thrown in there to add some credibility to it. But I love movies that take place over the course of one day and really keep the intensity up over a short span of time. That’s something that The Warriors does really well and does a good job of keeping you engaged.
And considering that it was made in 1979 and it would be a good while until it actually looked like people were making contact with their punches during a fistfight (think Rocky), the gang fights that take place amongst The Warriors and every other freakshow in New York are pretty legit. The fact that the fight scenes aren’t a laughable mess and are different each time is impressive even in its own right.
It’s a really original movie that borderlines on being epic in scope and I really have a thing for movies that take place in the 70s in New York City. NYC was a lot different back then (now think Taxi Driver) and being that I’m a current resident, it’s wild to see movies that serve as a kind of time capsule back a period when you wouldn’t be caught dead in Central Park after dark.
Even though I really liked this movie, it’s also one that I’d love to see get remade. It has good characters with a mixed bag of actors playing them, good dialogue, and a great setting, but creating a connection between the audience and nine other main characters over the course of an hour and a half is kind of stretching it. Cut it down a handful next time and you’re golden.
The Warriors is fun, it’s quotable, and it’s just freakin’ cool. I wish simple action movies like this still got made.
Media > Movies > 1979 > The Warriors > All Reviews
The Warriors - 5 July 2009
overall: 8
The Warriors - 18 October 2008
overall: 9
Hello Boppers
Rellik7778 Giving you the low down on the cult classic, The Warriors.
The movie is about a man named Cyrus trying to bring all gangs together to out number the cops of New York. See this is where I feel I should stop because the next parts really made the movie for me and I don't want to ruin it for you either. I can say the movie's fight scenes can be thrilling and very well choreographed though. Also the cinematography is beautifully done showing real suspenseful moments and great action scenes. They also have a nice comic layout they use in parts of the movie to change to different places or a new event.
I had some problems with the movie though which is why I couldn't give it a perfect score. I know the movie is based on the book (written by Sol Yurick) but man some of the gangs are downright ridiculous looking. They look more of a laughing stalk then a gang. At the beginning of the movie I was waiting for a bunch of people to start a song and dance the way that some of the gangs looked and acted. Luckily the movie gets much better after more scenes.
All and all if you can get passed the goofy costumes I think you will really enjoy The Warriors.
Your Loyal reviewer
Rellik7778
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