The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut

The initial DVD release of this cult classic was treated like a spare film in the warehouse that needed to get out on the shelves for those die-hard enough to seek it out. Then suddenly buzz started to surround the mighty Warriors and next thing you know there's a full scale videogame from the infamous Rockstar (Grand Theft Auto) and director's cut DVD edition. And it's for a good reason that a new generation are discovering this classic tale of a citywide truce of New York City's gangs that turns into a deadly hunt for our framed heroes. The Warriors always seemed like a campy street fighting flick that was embraced by the youth and has survived through hip-hop culture (with lines solidified by Ol' Dirty Bastard) but with this new outlook via interviews with Walter Hill things run a little deeper than expected. Hill explains how the Warriors compares to a similar fight in ancient Greek mythology as Swan and his posse have to overcome countless challenges and battles along their journey home, from the psychotic, bat-wielding Baseball Furies to the food stamp and newspaper clipping style of the Orphans. And then you realise how incredibly exciting and tense this film really is, with the use of fast-paced chase and fight sequences matched with eerie hide-and-go-seeks that are heightened by the lack of soundtrack. The DVD comes with four great shorts on the process and aftermath when it came to getting a low-budget production off the ground, and you can see that there was much heart put into everything, as the crew battles NYC along with the gangs. There are interviews with the aging cast and plenty of tidbits dropped, such as the reason Mercy suddenly decides to steal a jean jacket or how a simple act of clinking little bottles together became movie history. The only problem is Hill's decision to take his idea of the Warriors being a comic book film one step further and adding illustrated panels to break up some scenes. Admittedly it does sort of work in adding a little flavour to an already action-packed adventure, and will surely roll smooth with first-time viewers, but you really shouldn't mess with The Warriors. Look what happened to that roller skating gang. Plus: introduction by Walter Hill. (Paramount)