Post by doomedbloodwork on Nov 3, 2004 9:42:13 GMT -5
Sandwiched between the classic horrors of Argento and Fulci in 70's and 80's cinema are the film-making nightmares of Enzo G. Castellari, nightmarish in light of the amateurish techniques of somebody who clearly hasn't studied the form of cinema.
Inexplicably, his offerings, 1990 - THE BRONX WARRIORS, THE NEW BARBARIANS and BRONX WARRIORS 2 for example, became cult favourites on UK video in the early 80's. Out of curiosity, I decided to purchase a copy of BRONX WARRIORS 2, having heard that it was better than the original.
BRONX WARRIORS 2 is as sloppily staged and acted a movie I have seen in an age. Clearly taking elements of films like MAD MAX and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, the film had nothing new to say about this type of genre film-making in 1983, and looked as outdated as the future it is trying to depict. Castellari defies the one rule which is trying to base the future on conflicting ideas of the present and taking them imaginatively to the next step.
The budget constraints are clearly evident. The Disinfestors, as I think they are called, led by Henry Silva in a role he clearly took to bide some time, go into a housing estate with the view of levelling this sub-standard situation and offering the residents new homes elsewhere, with penalty of death by flamethrower. Yet, the van they are using is moving at a snail's pace and would give anyone with sense time to prepare (a la THE A-TEAM)
However, they haven't reckoned on Trash (Mark Gregory) last seen dragging Vic Morrow along the ground at the climax of BRONX WARRIORS 1 who has an amazing six-shooter with giant-strength bullet potential (witness the scene when he shoots at a helicopter and blows it up on six bullets!!)
If you do lose interest in the film's action (don't worry if you do) there are some gems to behold, like the sequence clearly shot during the rushhour in New York City where real-life businessmen are talking, just as Castellari's extras dressed in crash helmets and jumpsuits arrive in a van and storm down into the subway....
If more thought had been applied to the script and staging, BRONX WARRIORS 2 would have been a passable exploitation movie in the realm of THE EXTERMINATOR. As it stands, it is left where it falls down.
Inexplicably, his offerings, 1990 - THE BRONX WARRIORS, THE NEW BARBARIANS and BRONX WARRIORS 2 for example, became cult favourites on UK video in the early 80's. Out of curiosity, I decided to purchase a copy of BRONX WARRIORS 2, having heard that it was better than the original.
BRONX WARRIORS 2 is as sloppily staged and acted a movie I have seen in an age. Clearly taking elements of films like MAD MAX and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, the film had nothing new to say about this type of genre film-making in 1983, and looked as outdated as the future it is trying to depict. Castellari defies the one rule which is trying to base the future on conflicting ideas of the present and taking them imaginatively to the next step.
The budget constraints are clearly evident. The Disinfestors, as I think they are called, led by Henry Silva in a role he clearly took to bide some time, go into a housing estate with the view of levelling this sub-standard situation and offering the residents new homes elsewhere, with penalty of death by flamethrower. Yet, the van they are using is moving at a snail's pace and would give anyone with sense time to prepare (a la THE A-TEAM)
However, they haven't reckoned on Trash (Mark Gregory) last seen dragging Vic Morrow along the ground at the climax of BRONX WARRIORS 1 who has an amazing six-shooter with giant-strength bullet potential (witness the scene when he shoots at a helicopter and blows it up on six bullets!!)
If you do lose interest in the film's action (don't worry if you do) there are some gems to behold, like the sequence clearly shot during the rushhour in New York City where real-life businessmen are talking, just as Castellari's extras dressed in crash helmets and jumpsuits arrive in a van and storm down into the subway....
If more thought had been applied to the script and staging, BRONX WARRIORS 2 would have been a passable exploitation movie in the realm of THE EXTERMINATOR. As it stands, it is left where it falls down.