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The Warriors (1979)

Director: Walter Hill

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

From its powerhouse opening, in which all the gangs of New York gather in tribal splendour in Riverside Drive Park, to the last ditch stand in dilapidated Coney Island, Hill has elevated his story of a novice gang on the run into a heroic epic of Arthurian dimensions, with sex as sorcery and the flick-knife as sword. Anyone expecting gritty realism will be disappointed, because Hill is offering something better: shooting entirely on NY locations at night, he has transformed the city into a phantasmagoric labyrinth of weird tribes in fantastic dress and make-up who move over (and under) the streets as untouched as troglodytes by the civilisation sleeping around them. The novice gang from Coney accidentally encounters some middle class swingers on the subway, and the two groups stare at each other like aliens from different galaxies (while the gang's new female recruit has to be gently restrained from instinctively putting a hand up to straighten her hair). Mixing ironic humour, good music, and beautifully photographed suspense, it's one of the best of 1979.

Author: DP 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Ray Hyland said...

Posted on Nov 12 2007 16:45 It is of little surprise that the cult status garnered from the movie owes more to the recent Ganster Rap artists of both coasts rather than any movie forensists. This is a film however that requires more than one viewing. Based loosely on an old Persian tale of a ruthless army of killers, Hill dispenses with some of the grittinss of his previous efforts with O'Neal and Bronson and enlists the help of ten or so no name stars hardly heard of then and almost not heard of since. Their mission is as celebral as the action is graceful. The Warriors,some of which were trained dancers in the real non Pierott-like world, are framed for the murder of crime Kingpin Cyrus. Bopping their way back to the big Coney they encounter creatures of all descriptions, each one more engrossing and mythical that a lot of science fiction writers have designed since. The script is tight and wastes little, choosing wisely to keep the relentless chase as the real star. Cult classic is an oft and overused phrase but this one certainly earn its kudos. In 1979 there was two great gang movies that fell under the letter 'W'. Its unlikely that the other will be given a second lease of life by Messrs Snoop, Dre et al

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Adam Coppins said...

Posted on Sep 29 2007 14:55 1979, NYC, all the gangs that mean something are called to a meeting. The legendary Cyrus announces that its time for New Yorks finest to stop fighting over turf and to unite. However, a trigger is pulled, Cyrus falls and the Warriors are framed. They need to make it back to Coney Island but with every other gang hot on their tail it wont be easy! A great piece of cult cinema with gritty, drab and desperate locations this really is a must see for any fan of artistic cinema

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