warriors

THE FLICK: If you didn’t grow up with The Warriors the whole thing might seem more than a little ridiculous. Never mind the hardcore 70’s vernacular (“Can you dig it?”) and screaming synthesizer score. What the hell kind of street gang paints their face like KISS and dresses up in leftover NY Yankees uniforms? Enjoying The Warriors means buying into director Walter Hill’s comic book mythological fantasy. But with no pre-film set-up (where are we...the past, the future or some alternate reality) it’s easy to see why audiences expecting a traditional action flick where left scratching their heads. Of course, the film has been appreciated by just as many fans and critics because those questions were left unanswered. But that didn’t stop Hill from jumping at the opportunity to correct (some might prefer “tamper with”) the original version, which was rushed into production to beat a number of other gang related movies headed for the screen. The Ultimate Director’s Cut adds very little (if any) new footage to the film other than a comic book panel prologue which compares the Warriors situation to a group of Greek soldiers trapped in Persia circa 1409 A.D. Otherwise, the most notable changes occur during certain transitions (the action freezes to allow for more animation and text) and the final credit sequence (again, another comic-book still frame instead of the endless beach walk). By and large, The Warriors is the same movie it was in 1979. The same movie that was pulled from distribution by its studio after gang fights broke out in theaters across the country during screenings. It’s a relentless, melodramatic chase film full of cartoon violence based around the simplest of stories: the Warriors, framed for the murder of a gangland messiah, must fight their way through the heart of New York City, dodging cops, killers and rival gangs, to get back to the safety of their home turf on Coney Island. The additions Hill makes to the Ultimate Director’s Cut are not dealbreakers; there’s no need to lump him in with Lucas as a cold-hearted “artiste.” But they are unnecessary. And in some cases – the introduction of the Baseball Furies, for example – distract and slow the story with self-conscious effects obviously not of the film’s era. For those who don’t agree with the director’s choices, rush out and pick up the previous release. He even suggests as much on a new introduction. But bear in mind, you’ll be missing out on one of the most amazing transfers yet released on Blu-ray! More on that in the next section. THE FEATURES: Like Escape From New York, almost all of The Warriors takes place in a dark, urban environment that is not only a challenge for cinematographers to shoot correctly, but a nightmare to translate to home video. Paramount, however, has raised the bar with this release. This is a catalog title that truly looks like it was filmed with today’s technology. The colors, the contrast and, most of all, the virtual absence of grain make for a viewing experience I would have gladly paid double for. The traditional “Making Of” is also pumped up with Four Featurettes broken down in 15-minute short subjects The Beginning, Battleground, The Way Home and The Phenomenon. All the major players and a number of cast members contribute. Some of the dirt that’s dished: one of the major characters was killed off early because of a poor working relationship with Hill. The actors also were required to take off their “colors” when not on camera so as to not offend the local gangs. Cinematographer Andrew Laszlo hid his lights up in the trees of Central Park to illuminate the wide-open spaces, most of them still visible on camera. This is a first-class documentary, produced by frequent Spielberg collaborator Laurent Bouzerau. And, although a commentary would have been the capper, it goes above and beyond what you would expect in terms of presentation and content. The original theatrical trailer, set to the music from William Friedkin’s Sorcerer, is also included.