Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Action > Post Apocalyptic > Martial Arts > Science Fiction > War > Politics > 1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982) + Escape From The Bronx (1983) + The New Barbarians (1983/Blue Underground Blu-ray w/DVD Sets)

1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982) + Escape From The Bronx (1983) + The New Barbarians (1983/Blue Underground Blu-ray w/DVD Sets)



1990: The Bronx Warriors


Picture: B-/C+ Sound: B-/C+ Extras: B Film: C+



If you're a fan of films like Escape From New York, Mad Max, or The Warriors, then you should definitely check out Enzo G. Castellari's low budget, high octane action adventure 1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982). It's filled with blood, guts, and bad hairstyles all wrapped up in this nice new package thanks to Blue Underground. For me personally, I'm a big fan of Post Apocalyptic fair and these films are definitely no exception. I hadn't heard of them before this new release and am glad that I got to check them out. While Castellari is no George Miller or John Carpenter, he manages to have fun with the genre and push violence to a limit that almost brings back mind the Grindhouse days of cinema.


It's 1990 (yup) and the Bronx has officially been declared a No Man's Land. The authorities have given up all attempts to restore law and order. When a beautiful young woman runs away from Manhattan into this wasteland of motorcycle gangs and marauding warriors, her corrupt father sends a ruthless mercenary to bring her back at all costs. But gang leader Trash (Mark Gregory) has other plans, uniting the rival outlaws to wage an all-out guerilla war against their corporate oppressors.


Vic Murrow and Fred Williamson also star.


Extras include...


Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari

Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio De Angelis In Conversation, Part 1

Sourcing The Weaponry - Enzo G. Castellari visits the Italian Weapons Rental House of Paolo Ricci

Adventures In The Bronx - Interview with Actor/Stuntman Massimo Vanni

Theatrical Trailers

Poster & Still Gallery



Escape from the Bronx (1983)


Picture: B-/C+ Sound: B-/C+ Extras: B Film: C



Italian futuristic action-schlock sequel to 1990: Bronx Warriors, this fast paced tales once again sees New York City undergoing a major facelift, and the GC Corporation, the company behind the revamp, wants to oust the 'rats' in the Bronx and move them to the new city. Only their operation, led by cantankerous ex-prison warden Wrangler (Henry Silva), uses a bit of unnecessary force and the warriors aren't happy about it. So, with the help of underground warrior Strike (Giancarlo Prete) and a returning Trash (Mark Gregory), they decide to kidnap the President of GC so that they'll stop the operation.


In many ways, this entry reminds me of The Hunger Games, with the Government overtaking the 'rats' and striking down on normal citizens only with some Rebels to oppose them and overthrow. We've seen this in the genre before, but this one's on the raw, honest side, exploitation or not.


Antonio Sabato Sr. also stars.


Extras include

Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari

Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio De Angelis In Conversation, Part 3

The Hunt For Trash - Interview with Bronx Warriors Superfan Lance Manley

Theatrical Trailers

Poster & Still Gallery



The New Barbarians (1983)


Picture: B-/C+ Sound: B-/C+ Extras: B Film: C-



While probably the worst in the series and not narratively connected, The New Barbarians is still pretty fun. It is the year 2019 and 15 years after a nuclear war. The world is now run by gangs of human predators who behave like wolves and carnivorous criminals, but a band of survivors discover distant radio signals that give them hope: could there be a part of the world on which other humans live and can they get there before the mutants get to them? Giancarlo Prete, Fred Williamson, George Eastman an Anna Kanakis lead the cast.


Extras include

Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari

Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio De Angelis In Conversation, Part 2

Tales Of The Hammer - Interview with Star Fred Williamson

Theatrical Trailers

Poster & Still Gallery



The Transfers:


Despite their low budgets, all three films surprisingly look pretty sharp on Blu-ray disc with a lush, lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono tracks (the latter on the anamorphically enhanced DVD versions, which look good, but are no match for the Blu-rays at their best), a High Definition transfer with a 2.35:1 1080p widescreen aspect ratio as shot in Techniscope (2-perf 35mm film, processed by the Telecolor labs in Italy) and captions in English SDH, French, and Spanish, the presentation here is pretty top notch. The films obviously are not flawless with moments of high grain and noise on the transfer, but they look the best they can and I personally enjoy a rough transfer for something of this calibre.


All in all, the three films are pretty fun to watch and in the wake of Mad Max: Fury Road being released, it's also fun to look back on these cult titles and see them again!



- James Harland Lockhart V

www.facebook.com/jhl5films


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com