60-second cinema

5 out of 10 The Warriors is set in gang-ruled, 1970s New York and follows the eponymous gang who, when wrongly implicated for the murder of a kingpin, have to make their way to the safety of home turf. So, a glimpse into the rough, tough world of gangland killings, then? Not really. All the gangs in the film are truly comical, both in the cartoony sense and the frankly-ridiculous sense. Entertainment comes primarily in the form of unintentional hilarity. The acting, too, is pretty ropey, but... I went into it expecting no more and wasn't disappointed. Even so, I can't give this cheese-ridden nonsense any more than a five. Perfect fodder for a videogame , but not a great film.

7 out of 10 The Warriors is a cult classic, and despite various recommendations I wasn’t really looking forward to it. Set in New York, the film starts with a mass gathering of gangs in The Bronx. When a gang leader is killed, the finger is pointed at ‘The Warriors’. What evolves is a tense chase movie as the gang attempts to get back to Coney Island with thousands of rival gangs and Police after them. It all sounds very macho, but it really isn’t as brutal as you might think. The film is shot like a comic book with transitions between scenes combining live action with a style that seems way ahead of its time. The violence is also very comic book; think the 60’s TV series of Batman or the A-team. The casting of unknowns works in the film’s favour, as the characters seem genuinely tough. None of the cast went on to become big names in Hollywood (although Twin Peaks fans may recognise the leader of the Rogues, a sterling performance from a young ...