Comments on: Formative 10: The Warriors http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/ a "b" blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:29:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: dantel http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74481 dantel Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:01:46 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74481 Ah, Rev - did you get a mail and do the verification? I just tested the whole thing and it worked so the server must have been playing up when you tried to log in. Ah, Rev – did you get a mail and do the verification? I just tested the whole thing and it worked so the server must have been playing up when you tried to log in.
]]> By: Reverend http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74480 Reverend Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:42:58 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74480 Mikhail, So many good things here. Let me make an odd case for <em>Repo Man</em> based on a recent viewing. I saw the director's commentary, and for the most part is was basic chatter with a whole lotta noise and not much of interest. The dude who played Kevin wouldn't shut up, quite annoying. That said, I found it interesting that the plot was changed, originally it was going to end with Otto heading to South America to join a leftist band of guerilla. Which ties in with th scene in the film were the Ramirez brothers are all decked out in strange military garb, the were actually "freedom fighters." The movie never went that direction, but the punk rock mind set, tied in with Alex Cox's other films like <em>Walker</em> and <em>Highway Patrol</em> makes me think you can actually argue for a kind of urban jungle film LA style circa the mid 80s. A unique strain of the music, but still consistent with many of the themes. The acme food labels, hippie god loving parents, the whole nine yards. As for Suburbia, it is a natural, burnt out LA suburb with no territory, nothing, the logical extreme of <em>The Warriors</em>, no community to even come home to. The true greek tragedy writ large in suburban culture, what's worse than living in a decaying city, well an empty, burnt out suburb. As for the video game, I couldn't agree with you more. It is so smart because it develops the gangs in even more detail. The Soho Top Hats come alive in the video game, as do the Saracens. It is a gem, the video game was a ball to play, yet the aesthetic is so paltry comparatively. We still have far to come in that regard. Mikhail,
So many good things here. Let me make an odd case for Repo Man based on a recent viewing. I saw the director’s commentary, and for the most part is was basic chatter with a whole lotta noise and not much of interest. The dude who played Kevin wouldn’t shut up, quite annoying. That said, I found it interesting that the plot was changed, originally it was going to end with Otto heading to South America to join a leftist band of guerilla. Which ties in with th scene in the film were the Ramirez brothers are all decked out in strange military garb, the were actually “freedom fighters.” The movie never went that direction, but the punk rock mind set, tied in with Alex Cox’s other films like Walker and Highway Patrol makes me think you can actually argue for a kind of urban jungle film LA style circa the mid 80s. A unique strain of the music, but still consistent with many of the themes. The acme food labels, hippie god loving parents, the whole nine yards.

As for Suburbia, it is a natural, burnt out LA suburb with no territory, nothing, the logical extreme of The Warriors, no community to even come home to. The true greek tragedy writ large in suburban culture, what’s worse than living in a decaying city, well an empty, burnt out suburb.

As for the video game, I couldn’t agree with you more. It is so smart because it develops the gangs in even more detail. The Soho Top Hats come alive in the video game, as do the Saracens. It is a gem, the video game was a ball to play, yet the aesthetic is so paltry comparatively. We still have far to come in that regard.

]]> By: Mikhail http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74479 Mikhail Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:37:00 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74479 Not sure I'd include Suburbia even Repo Man on THAT list. There are several others better suited for that one. To your list of urban jungle flicks I would also add "Fresh," a little known film where chess + street smarts = ghetto survival. Also, Rev, whata re your thoughts on Rockstar Games' adaptation of The Warriors? In my mind, this is the rare instance where a video game adaptation is indeed an adaptation, rather than simply a tie-in. Not sure I’d include Suburbia even Repo Man on THAT list. There are several others better suited for that one.

To your list of urban jungle flicks I would also add “Fresh,” a little known film where chess + street smarts = ghetto survival.

Also, Rev, whata re your thoughts on Rockstar Games’ adaptation of The Warriors? In my mind, this is the rare instance where a video game adaptation is indeed an adaptation, rather than simply a tie-in.

]]> By: Brad http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74478 Brad Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:54:28 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74478 Okay, that seems to make more sense to me, though I don't mean to pigeonhole the thing in the first place. I'm all for broadening & tightening genres as seen fit by any separate perspective, it keeps things interesting & keeps debates alive & plausible. This is a very interesting concept for film, though, & it would be especially fascinating to trace it through film history. I don't know if you've seen "Freaks," but it's possible that could fit in there! Or even "Superfly"! Thanks for introducing me to this stuff, there ain't nothing like beefing up the ol' "To Watch" list. Okay, that seems to make more sense to me, though I don’t mean to pigeonhole the thing in the first place. I’m all for broadening & tightening genres as seen fit by any separate perspective, it keeps things interesting & keeps debates alive & plausible. This is a very interesting concept for film, though, & it would be especially fascinating to trace it through film history. I don’t know if you’ve seen “Freaks,” but it’s possible that could fit in there! Or even “Superfly”!

Thanks for introducing me to this stuff, there ain’t nothing like beefing up the ol’ “To Watch” list.

]]> By: Reverend http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74477 Reverend Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:36:23 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74477 Brad, I guess I am broadening it from Jameson's idea to fixate on the politicized city through a kind of urban violence. I think you are right to draw the line a bit around the scifi, near future context, and that makes a lot of sense to me. One film of the three from Jameson affords me this opening, Fort Apache, The Bronx --it isn't really scifi or near future, it is more akin to a kind of [[Blaxploitation]] film starring Paul Newman. It always reminds me of the gangster films of the 90s, and I think my generic loosening is more about tracing the moment of gentrification in urban centers from the 70s through the 90s, so forgive my sloppiness. And now that I got you, another one, which is an utter classic, is the 1980 film Times Square: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_(film) Well worth a watch, has one of my favorite songs of all time, you'll know it when you hear it, can;t repeat it here, out of context would make it dangerous. Thanks for keeping me honest. Brad,

I guess I am broadening it from Jameson’s idea to fixate on the politicized city through a kind of urban violence. I think you are right to draw the line a bit around the scifi, near future context, and that makes a lot of sense to me. One film of the three from Jameson affords me this opening, Fort Apache, The Bronx –it isn’t really scifi or near future, it is more akin to a kind of Blaxploitation film starring Paul Newman. It always reminds me of the gangster films of the 90s, and I think my generic loosening is more about tracing the moment of gentrification in urban centers from the 70s through the 90s, so forgive my sloppiness. And now that I got you, another one, which is an utter classic, is the 1980 film Times Square: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_(film)

Well worth a watch, has one of my favorite songs of all time, you’ll know it when you hear it, can;t repeat it here, out of context would make it dangerous.

Thanks for keeping me honest.

]]> By: Brad http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74476 Brad Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:14:38 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74476 Wonderful! I've never seen any of those movies, though I know about a handful of them. Boyz in the Hood? Really? I was imagining movies that dealt with a dystopic vision of the future, such as Warriors & Escape from New York (& Riki-Oh, for that matter). I figured it was something of a sci-fi-type genre, but this is a shift that makes sense as well. There are a ton of movies like these, they seem to come out every year -- Fight Club, it seems, fits in there as well. Or even something like A Bronx Tale. It seems to be a bit broader than I had thought, but I'm still game! Wonderful! I’ve never seen any of those movies, though I know about a handful of them. Boyz in the Hood? Really? I was imagining movies that dealt with a dystopic vision of the future, such as Warriors & Escape from New York (& Riki-Oh, for that matter). I figured it was something of a sci-fi-type genre, but this is a shift that makes sense as well. There are a ton of movies like these, they seem to come out every year — Fight Club, it seems, fits in there as well. Or even something like A Bronx Tale. It seems to be a bit broader than I had thought, but I’m still game!
]]> By: Reverend http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74475 Reverend Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:05:58 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74475 @Shauser I would buy that reading if Swan wasn't so dejected upon returning to Coney Island. His comment that all that bopping for this, for Coney? The idea being he is going to leave and get away. That said, he also said in response to the head Riff's declaration that "the Warriors are good," Swan;s response is that they are "the best." So maybe you're right, maybe there is hope. I don't know, but evn though it is ll chase and mace after the beginning, I love this film with all my heart. PS -Where is that blog post on [[The Day After]]? @Brad One more thing, if you are diving into this make shift genre, here is a list of possible titles I put together some years ago: “The Urban Jungle” Film [[New Jack City]] [[Boyz in the Hood]] [[Menace II Society]] [[The Wanderers]] [[C.H.U.D.]] [[State of Grace]] [[Black Out]] [[Bad Boys]] (with [[Sean Penn]]) [[Suburbia]] [[Repo Man]] Some are arguable, like C.H.U.D., State of Grace and Repo Man, but I think I could make n argument for them :) @Shauser

I would buy that reading if Swan wasn’t so dejected upon returning to Coney Island. His comment that all that bopping for this, for Coney? The idea being he is going to leave and get away. That said, he also said in response to the head Riff’s declaration that “the Warriors are good,” Swan;s response is that they are “the best.” So maybe you’re right, maybe there is hope.

I don’t know, but evn though it is ll chase and mace after the beginning, I love this film with all my heart.

PS -Where is that blog post on The Day After?

@Brad

One more thing, if you are diving into this make shift genre, here is a list of possible titles I put together some years ago:

“The Urban Jungle” Film
New Jack City
Boyz in the Hood
Menace II Society
The Wanderers
C.H.U.D.
State of Grace
Black Out
Bad Boys (with Sean Penn)
Suburbia
Repo Man

Some are arguable, like C.H.U.D., State of Grace and Repo Man, but I think I could make n argument for them :)

]]> By: Reverend http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74474 Reverend Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:10:20 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74474 <blockquote>Watching 300 was like being kicked in the balls by Winston Churchill.</blockquote> Now that might be the quote of the year! P.S.-Just got your message, I'll try logging in again shortly. And couldn't agree with you more about Carpenter, The Thing is definitely in the formative 10, and perhaps my top 3 movies of all time. I loved it!
Watching 300 was like being kicked in the balls by Winston Churchill.

Now that might be the quote of the year!

P.S.-Just got your message, I’ll try logging in again shortly. And couldn’t agree with you more about Carpenter, The Thing is definitely in the formative 10, and perhaps my top 3 movies of all time. I loved it!

]]> By: Andy Best http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74473 Andy Best Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:08:44 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74473 Ah, Rev - did you get a mail and do the verification? I just tested the whole thing and it worked so the server must have been playing up when you tried to log in. Ah, Rev – did you get a mail and do the verification? I just tested the whole thing and it worked so the server must have been playing up when you tried to log in.
]]> By: Andy Best http://bavatuesdays.com/formative-10-the-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-74472 Andy Best Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:55:31 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/?p=1036#comment-74472 Hi Yeah, our server (start logic) seems to get into trouble all the time. Annoying as I bought the more stable linux option. I think I'll go in and just make commenting open without reg. If I end up with spam though, I'll have to sort out the reg process or troubles. I used to blog for a Shanghai indymedia site called Shanghaiist but they started to go all tabloidy so I started my own instead. They shouldn't remake The Warriors at all, especially not with Tony 'Days of Thunder' Scott. I agree fully. As for Escape, John Carpenter was such an interesting, subversive director. They Live and The Thing are right up there too. Alas, another favourite cultural icon of mine is being butchered by a hack director: Watchmen. Watchmen the comic book was an intelligent critique of the Thatcher/Reagan era that also redifined comics completely: they give the movie version to Zack Synder on the strength of his 300. Ouch. Watching 300 was like being kicked in the balls by Winston Churchill. Hi

Yeah, our server (start logic) seems to get into trouble all the time. Annoying as I bought the more stable linux option. I think I’ll go in and just make commenting open without reg. If I end up with spam though, I’ll have to sort out the reg process or troubles.

I used to blog for a Shanghai indymedia site called Shanghaiist but they started to go all tabloidy so I started my own instead.

They shouldn’t remake The Warriors at all, especially not with Tony ‘Days of Thunder’ Scott. I agree fully. As for Escape, John Carpenter was such an interesting, subversive director. They Live and The Thing are right up there too. Alas, another favourite cultural icon of mine is being butchered by a hack director: Watchmen. Watchmen the comic book was an intelligent critique of the Thatcher/Reagan era that also redifined comics completely: they give the movie version to Zack Synder on the strength of his 300. Ouch.

Watching 300 was like being kicked in the balls by Winston Churchill.

]]>