The Warriors Review

        We wrap up the 70s with another good action flick. My very first exposure to The Warriors was that it was made into a video game, 30 years after the fact. I haven’t played it and I have a feeling it’s good. This is an interesting one since it involves gang warfare and a dystopian New York. Here’s what I think.

1. Gang Warfare

        At this point I’m starting to notice that a lot of popular movies are indeed based on a book. This one is no exception, based on a novel by Sol Yurick. While I haven’t read the novel, I’m mostly going to assume that the movie is a faithful adaptation with some creative liberties. With that, in the not-too-distant future of New York City, multiple gangs converge as the leader Cyrus proposes a truce among them. Unfortunately, he’s assassinated, and the movie’s namesake are accused. Prompting them to head back to their turf, easier said than done. 

        The movie is great for a lot of reasons, I’m going to name a few of them. The individual designs of the gangs all scream 1970s, like duh I know. They all have a gimmick, with one of them dressed up in baseball uniforms, another that looks like the rejected version of The Ramones, and we have our gang who wear brown vests. It seemed that everyone is in a gang, I want to be in one.  

        The Warriors themselves are interesting since they are a seemingly good gang. All of them are bad, but when we follow them throughout the film, they never commit an act of crime. Only if they are confronted where they do things drastic. When the ensuing action happens, Swan takes over as the impromptu leader. Throughout the movie his leadership is called into question among his own. 

        Moreso that their numbers get smaller as the movie progresses. It’s very bold when we expect that all of them are supposed to make it out alive. The great thing about that is it shows just how much everything is going against them. Aside from the gangs hunting them down, the police as well are on their tales. Nothing is held back when one of them dies and gets arrested. 

        If there’s one thing, I noticed about the movie is that the gangs are seen as stand ins for class levels. All of the gangs are not on the same level, especially the first ones the Warriors encounter. The main guys practically scoff at The Orphans, especially the young lady Mercy who follows Swan and the Warriors. It shows that all of the gangs in New York are in the same predicament, but are different structurally speaking. 

        One scene that I like is when they take the train and a couple joins the same subway. Nothing is said just the camera cutting back from the normal couple and Swan and Mercy. We see the couple looking at them completely oblivious to what they went through. Once more, highlighting the class difference between them. We can only assume that they’re the same age, but it’s more stark if that’s apparently true. 

        The action is pretty good for the 1970s. I really like how it starts when the gang starts to lower their guards. One in particular when one half spends time with a an all-girl gang The Lizzies. As soon as they locked the door, all hell breaks loose. I just love it when one of them socks the girl with a chair like it’s wrestling. I think the best fight scene is in the subway restroom. It’s like a bar brawl with the Warriors and the Punks, just great all around. 

2. Legacy

        It’s hilarious reading on the film’s release that people wanted the film to be banned. Additionally, there were reported fights when the movie was released, ironically enough not in New York City. I think in one way, the film practically showcased the grime that was going on in NYC in the 70s. This one and Taxi Driver really showcased just how dirty the city was, albeit the gang representation was exaggerated in Warriors. It’s one of those things where if you tried to remake nowadays with a smack of newspaper littering, it’s just not enough. 

3. Overall

        The Warriors is a product of the 70s that is still timeless. It’s a modern day Greek play where one gang just wants to reach home.