The dreary subway stations and dark streets of New York, with their gargantuan amount of graffiti, set the overall mood for this cult classic. The dirty-colored walls and the piled-high refuse represent the true grime of the inner-city lifestyles of the countless armies of the night.
Thousands upon thousands of New York Street gangs converge at one center to let Cyrus (Roger Hill), the leader of all gang leaders, speak about overtaking the city from the police. At this rally, the leader of the gang entitled the Rogues (Joel Weiss), murders (or possibly even assassinates in this case) Cyrus, by quickly pulling the trigger. He then optimistically assumes that no one saw him complete the act. However, one person did--a Warrior.
The leader of the Rogues quickly points his finger and pins the blame on the Warriors--one of the toughest bunches out on the streets. Now, the wrongfully accused Warriors must run for their lives and try to return home to Coney Island safely. Only there are over 20,000 cops and over 100,000 different gang members out for the tough band of brothers who sport the burgundy brown leather vests and let their chests (either fit and muscular or hairier than a wooly mammoth) hang out to intimidate their many opposing enemies. The Warriors have it tough and are in for one wild night—an all-out sprint for their home territory, from the most fearsome squads the streets have to offer.
This movie possesses the look, style, and feel of Escape from New York, but Michael Beck as Swan, overlord of the Warriors, does not even come close to Kurt Russell’s powerful screen presence as Snake Pliskin; however, the gang as a whole definitely does. This movie also shares hints of being an interpretation of West Side Story; it seems like the inner battle of the Warriors vs. the Rogues is also like that of the Jets vs. the Sharks, only instead of all the dancing and singing, there is nothing but violence and savagery between the two poor-stricken street teams. In addition to the Rogues and the Warriors, there are the Orphans, the Turnbull AC’s, the High Hats, the Lizzies, the Gramercy Riffs, and the face-painted Baseball Furies, who surely inspired an age of Fury Halloween costumes. All of these thugs and hoodlums provide in the exciting hunt for the brawling bad-boy bunch, the Warriors.
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Article comments
1 - nightowl
Suddenly falling across this NEW "directors cut" I was a bit struck by the lack of info surrounding any extra's, restored footage, interviews etc. It's a cracking 70's movie, all i wanted to know was what's so different about this version and whilst telling the story well; it doesn't add anything else. Still get out there and get a copy.
2 - rob
Great movie. Haven't seen it in over 20 years now. Would love to see it again.
3 - AnalogZombie
This "Director's Cut" only adds annoying comic book style panels that cut up the pace of the film. Instead of merely cutting to the Warriors in the park, we are treated to a cut to a comic book panel that reads "Meanwhile... Somewhere in Gramacy Park..."
If you're a hardcore, long time fan of the film like I am, this'll probably sit bad with you. My advice: keep the original dvd you hopefully already own, and pick this up for the extras. no commentary though. still you can find it for about $13.