Some movies should never be remade. The best remakes are from movies that weren't very good the first time around. The most recent example I can think of is 'Ocean's Eleven.' But now comes the sad news that one of the best cult movies of all time (I'm not even sure if the label of 'cult' movie fits), 'The Warriors', directed by Walter Hill is going to be remade by Tony Scott ('Top Gun', 'Crimson Tide').
Why?
'The Warriors' is one of those rare movies that is good and bad at the same time. The action, tension and great band of characters allow us to overlook the huge plot holes, cheesy dialogue, and wooden acting. It's also great to watch now, because some of the cast have gone on to bigger and better things. For others, it was the end of the line after that.
For those pop culture heathens who have not seen it, 'The Warriors' is about a gang from Coney Island in Brooklyn who attend a 'super-gang' meeting in the Bronx. They are there to listen to Cyrus, a charismatic Black Panther type who talks about the gangs taking over the city and shouts "Can you dig it?" to the adoration of the thousands of gang members in attendance. Well, Cyrus is shot to death by one of the gangs there (we never find out why really. The shooting is done by the little weasily guy who played 'Luther' in 48 Hours. Oh and his name is 'Luther' in this movie too) and The Warriors are blamed. From that point on 'The Warriors' are determined to get back to their turf, but now they have all the gangs in New York chasing them. Their route takes them everywhere from the subway to Central Park and finally back to Brooklyn where the final showdown is to take place.
It's a cheesy good time and the cheesiness starts right away when one of the Warriors, 'Cowboy' (Tom McKitterick in his first and only role) is asking "What do you know about Cyrus?" The answers are things like, "He's the one and only." and "Magic. Pure magic." Well that explains it for me.
After Cyrus is capped, the guys realize they are going to have to "bop" their way back. No, not dance. Bop. That's the word used instead of 'fight' in this movie. "We may have to bop are way back" and "This is for all you boppers out there" are just a few times it is heard. I guess if you truly did want to fight some guy, walking up to him and saying, "Do you want to bop?" would do the trick.
Article comments
1 - TDavid
Well said on the dangers of remaking movies that did great the first time around. Heaven Can Wait was another movie that should have never been remade. Chris Rock is no Warren Beatty. For that matter, Superman shouldn't be remade either.
2 - Patrick
Why not a remake ? The original will always stand the test of time.A remake is irrevelant.Enjoy it or hate it,who cares.
Patrick
3 - James
great article Jay! you should sign the petition, and everyone else who wants to stop the remake. im not against anyone who are for it, but i guess some people like the movie more than others...
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopwarriorsremake
4 - John
Cool! The Warriors rocked in 79' and they'll rock again in 06'. You don't like it, to bad, they'll kick your ass anyway!
5 - Reece
where is the reasons why the 'remake' shouldn't go ahead.
i pity the fool!
6 - Dj Jonesy
i thinkm it will be opk, but it wont be as gd as the original, how can they leave out the baseball furies, they should remake it exactly the same, but update it, with betta and more realistic fights, or an evemn betta idea, wot happend afta the warriors, or what happend leading up to it!!! Oh n btw The baseball Furies have the best NAME