1990: I guerrieri del Bronx

I have watched the sequel to this film before, but this is the first time seeing this one and I have to say it is a better film. Basically, it is kind of a combination of Warriors and Escape From New York brought to us by Italy who likes to take something that is popular here and make it their own. Usually the film is not the best film ever made, but it can oftentimes turn out to be rather entertaining and that is the case with this one. It has some good action and a so over the top plot that it is at times rather funny too.

The story, Trash and his gang find a girl being harassed by a gang on roller skates called the Zombies! Why they are called the Zombies and not the Wheelies is anybody's guess. This girl is actually supposed to be the head of some major weapons company, which is honestly rather stupid and just a strange excuse to bring in the Hammer! Vic Morrow plays the bad guy and does so with his usual gusto making the film more entertaining than it should be. Trash must find the Ogre who is king of Bronx, but there is much treachery afoot and the flamethrowers are a coming!

Fred Williamson plays the Ogre and the amount of times he appears in films in Italy leads me to believe the man really enjoy the country. I heard he once asked to be in a film, the one with the guy and a talking motorcycle and they agreed to put him in it. I am betting he was going to have to go home otherwise! Vic Morrow also appears in a lot of these Italian films too and I bet the same applies to him.

So, this film has lots of mindless violence and lots of weird stuff going on and so it is not a good film, but fun to watch nonetheless. It is kind of like a Full Moon film with these Italian films that copy the famous films, they are usually short and may not be great, but always generally fun and once in a while you get a diamond in the rough. This one manages to entertain and also can make you laugh and make you wonder. Like, why didn't Vic Morrow simply move out of the way of the harpoon as he had all day to do so.

Definitely struck me as an uncredited remake of The Warriors (1979) with elements stolen from Escape from New York (1981).

The Bronx has been abandoned by police, since it has been taken over by gangs. Each gang wears costumes and have matching modes of transportation. A woman runs over a bridge into the Bronx. She's due to inherit the presidency of The Manhattan Corporation, but wants to avoid those people who would have her be just a puppet. After she gets attacked by one gang, another gang saves her and she becomes the girlfriend of their leader, Trash, who has the most feminine walk I've ever seen in a guy. Perhaps that's what too-tight pants does.

Anyway, Trash's gang ends up having to fight their way through a couple other gangs to get to the King of the Bronx, the head of the Tigers, Ogre. Trash also has to deal with traitors in his own gang.

The video I saw unfortunately was cut, so I missed out on the tap-dancing gang (!). There were some silly gangs in The Warriors too, so I guess they were just following that.

Fairly entertaining, but derivative. Don't bother with any cut versions.

I'd be lying if I said 1990: The Bronx Warriors was a good movie, because its not. In fact, the rating I've given it is probably too high. But there's a certain amount of fun to be had with the movie. It's one part Jack Hill's The Warriors, one part John Carpenter's Escape from New York, a sprinkling of the Hell's Angels, a dash of bizarre costume design, and just a pinch of homo-eroticism all covered in Italian cheese. 1990: The Bronx Warriors unashamedly rips-off just about everything. I'm not sure what it is about the movie I like, but I found myself oddly enjoying much of it. Maybe it's the overacting, scene-chewing Vic Marrow, maybe it's the bad-ass Fred Williamson, or maybe it's the bizarre set-pieces like the one featuring the song-and-dance street gang. Whatever "it" is, 1990: The Bronx Warriors has "it".

Even though I had fun with the movie, there are too many problems and weaknesses to just ignore them. Beyond the less than original screenplay, the movie has other problems. Chief among them is the "acting" on the part of the male and female leads. Actually, I'm not sure "acting" is the right word for what these two were doing. They're as stiff as boards. The scenes of the pair in an emotional moment are all but laugh out loud funny. Other weaknesses include ridiculously large plot holes, bad fight choreography, and unnatural dialogue. But if you're able to look past these shortcomings, 1990: The Bronx Warriors can be fun.

I just finished watching this movie tonight,( I saw the complete version). I thought it was actually pretty good, it reminded me a lot of the movie "The warriors by Walter Hill", but even though it reminded me of that movie, because of all the gangs and violence, I must say it didn't rip it off. It was original in it's own. The main character seemed straight out of a comic book. I must admit that the movie flows really nicely it goes fast. The music is nice. And the ending isn't predictable. I recommend it.

How have I not seen this film. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a fan of bad cinema especially exploitative action pics Savage, Streets, Chained Heat, Barbarian Queen, enough said. But this one...this one takes the cake. It centers on a young woman who escapes from Manhattan in the future "1990" it was made in 1981 which has becomes the arms capital of the world to the Bronx which has been declared a war zone full of degenerates. She immediately falls in with Trash and his gang. But when Her rich Dad sends a ridiculous assassin to get her back who in turns plans on turning all the Bronx gangs against one another or something well chaos ensues. Now let's talk Trash. Wow he is one of the most stupefying, badly dressed, hunky conic characters I've ever come across. He has long curly hair, a muscular broad chest and sports a very open leather vest that exposes his nipples from time to time and very tight Mom jeans that well just lets you see everything. oh and let me not forget about his knee high leather boots. Oh he is amazing. even more amazing is how committed he is too the role. And his acting is just so bad he even has an intensely dramatic crying homoertic moment when his best friend gets killed. And the film is filled with gorgeous moments like that. The bad ass assassin is about 60 and jumps down from first floor windows in slow motion, Fred Williamson shows up as a sort of disco pimp character and his sidekick is a feisty blond with silver claws, a whip and a shiny silver and black cape. And let me not forget about the gang on roller skates with rainbow elbow and knee pads and their samurai haired leader. Oh I could just talk about this movie all day. But here it is if your a fan of Trash cinema you will be a fan of Trash and his gang and this movie seek it out as soon as possible it's worth it