Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

In 1990, the future, street gangs have taken over the Bronx, and it is officially designated "No Man's Land". A lone hero, Trash (Gregory) is a member of the Riders gang . He wants to protect his girlfriend Ann (Goodwin) from the onslaught of violence and lawlessness, but she's the daughter of the President of The Manhattan Corporation, the suits who are really running things from behind the scenes. Part of Trash's quest is to get to Ogre (Williamson), a powerful man in the underground community. In order to do this, Trash and his compatriots must fight through a dizzying array of enemies. Meanwhile, Hammer (Morrow) and Hot Dog (Connelly) are monitoring the situation. If that all sounds confusing, don't worry, as 1990 is a year that can't come too soon! Ah, 1990: The Bronx Warriors. A video store classic if there ever was one! Just starting from the opening credits, you know what you're about to see is going to be an absolute treat. The Walter Rizzati music is pitch-perfect, the outfits are amazing, the vehicles are a joy to watch , and the weaponry is filled with eye-catching innovation. It's yet more proof, as if any was needed, that the 80's rule! We've always been fans of Enzo G. Castellari, and here he puts his stylish directorial touches (as well as a role in the movie) towards the time-honored post-apocalyptic movie. In more recent years, this has come to be synonymous with "slog", but here, that couldn't be further from the truth. Pretty much using The Warriors (1979) and Escape From New York (1981) as its template, the filmmakers behind 1990 somehow managed to come up with their own unique beast. The Italians really have their own style, and here they put their energies to an extremely entertaining use.Trash is truly a hero for the 80's. First off, his name is Trash. Are you really going to argue with him? Well, there's really no second part to that. Adding to the nostalgia factor, there are plenty of scenes that feature the World Trade Center towers. But 1990 offers something new even there: how often do you see a dude playing the drums right out in the open in front of the towers? And later on, there's even a New York cake with the towers on it! The "icing on the cake" (sorry) is that this falls into another category we love: movies that take place in the future but are now the past.We really enjoyed 1990 and we're pretty confident you will too. The Media Blasters DVD looks great, and needless to say, blows away the old Media tape, quality wise. It's hard not to love 1990.For more action insanity, drop by: www.comeuppancereviews.com

"1990: The Bronx Warriors" may get no points for originality, but it still has a certain cheesy charm going for it. It's nothing if not fun. Basically, it's an amalgam of ideas taken from earlier movies such as "Mad Max", "The Warriors", and "Escape from New York". It takes place in a post apocalyptic future where the neighbourhood of the Bronx has become a "no man's land" which the police don't bother with any more, and it's every piece of scum for themselves. Into this area comes Ann (Stefania Girolami Goodwin), daughter of the head of a massive arms manufacturing corporation. She wants no more to do with that life, and has run away before she can rightly inherit the corporation. Trash (Mark Gregory), the leader of a gang dubbed The Riders, falls in love with her and does all he can to protect her, even as the corporation sends its top thug, Hammer (Vic Morrow) into the Bronx to retrieve her. If one is familiar with the films of Italian director Enzo G. Castellari (who also has a supporting role here), they know to expect an entertaining diversion. This is colourful stuff, in more ways than one. The production and costume design, by Massimo Lentini, is particularly impressive, and the widescreen photography captures it all in high style. This vision of the future does have a certain decrepit look going for it. The music by Walter Rizzati is another very enjoyable asset, and helps to drive the movie forward. The action in this thing usually isn't very slick, but this aspect merely adds to the amusement factor. The characters are given great names - in addition to Trash, there's also Golan (George Eastman), Ice (Joshua Sinclair), Hot Dog (Christopher Connelly), Witch (Betty Dessy), Blade (Massimo Vanni), and The Ogre. The Ogre is a gang leader played by the almighty Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, who's at his charismatic best. Morrow, in what was sadly one of his final few roles, is a hoot as the crazed antagonist. Gregory has the right look for this sort of thing, but his hopelessly stiff "acting" will either elicit chuckles or groans from the viewer. The gangs, as in "The Warriors", each have their own gimmicks, including one highly unlikely bunch that can boast choreography. The story hits the ground running and builds up to a priceless resolution. The film may obviously be padded at times, but even the padding is pretty cool, such as the endless drumming on the beach. Fans of the post nuke genre should give this one a look, as it does have its moments throughout. Followed by the sequel "Escape from the Bronx". Eight out of 10.

The Bronx is a no-mans land. Gangs run it, and the rest of NYC avoids it all costs. A girl runs into the Bronx and she is rescued by Trash's gang. Trash (Mark Gregory) is a really terrible actor and is very girly when he runs, or does pretty much anything. The girl turns out to be the next-in-line for the Manhattan Corporation, which controls the Bronx's fate. Hammer (Vic Morrow) is sent in to retrieve her and much chaos ensues. Trash has to fight through the Bronx to see Fred Williamson "The Ogre", who helps him fight off the bad guys. Many of the gangs that Trash and Co. encounter makes it seem like The Warriors, and the girl escaping into the no mans land gives it the Escape from NY charm. I missed the tap dancing gang, so check the uncut version. The dialog and acting is OK. Characters talk tough constantly, the music is appropriate (drumming scene on the beach). Sets are all very cheap to give that vibe of the Bronx being the No mans Land. The action is solid, with generous slow-mo and explosions. While it's certainly not a good movie, I would recommend it for the cheesy qualities, cool action scenes, bizarre gangs, and of course Fred Williamson, who is by far the best actor in the movie.

Enzo G Castellari, I salute you.I first saw this movie in my local youth club in 1983 when a VCR was still a luxury and around a dozen sweaty teenagers would gather in Bertie Road YC on a damp Monday evening to be entertained by whatever Mr Butler had rented from the petty cash for our amusement.From the opening montage of myriad nasty, pointy things and exquisitely made up "warriors" we were hooked and the first brawl of 5 riders whupping the arses of 10 silly skaters our attention was riveted to the screen like Trash's jeans to his thighs. (Seeing the "Ben Hur axle blade things" flip down to hamstring the two skaters and Trash elbow a bloke in the face with his sooo cool fashion accessory were the hight points for me).This movie is undoubtedly flawed. Atrocious choreography, risible dubbing and more holes than a popular brand of cheese. BUT....Enzo and pals obviously had so much fun making this film that you can forgive them their trespasses. Any movie that has a birthday party being interrupted by Vic Morrow, clad in leather and conducting a slaughter of street gangs by baddies on horses, armed with flamethrowers...well, what can I say? I have loved this movie and its sequel for nearly 25 years now, well not warming to Enzo's other work particularly (anyone seen Warriors of the Wasteland? It's Mad Max 2 in a quarry!). I own the two VHS versions from the shop that the Bertie Road youth club hired from and have met Enzo twice in the last few years in Rome (nice fella).Check out my website dedicated to the two greatest movies about the Bronx (although not in the opinion of the mayor of Manhattan methinks).www.bronxwarriors.comOne of life's guilty pleasures.