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Kitoba.Com >>> The Arts >>> Art Essays >>> Reconstructivist Art >>> Examples of Reconstructivist Art >>> "The Warriors (Ultimate Director’s Cut)" by Walter Hill and David Shaber (index)

November, 1st, 2008
last updated July, 29th, 2010

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Entry #23 Rating: 2.9/5 (9 votes cast)

Examples of Reconstructivist Art:

"The Warriors (Ultimate Director’s Cut)" by Walter Hill and David Shaber

by Chris Sunami

I’ve been a fan of this cult classic movie for years, but it wasn’t until viewing the 2005 "Ultimate Director’s Cut" that I realized the movie was originally conceived in a reconstructivist mode.

Nod to Artifice: The re-release highlights the exaggerated sensibilities of the script by framing key scenes and transitions as panels from the page of a comic book.

Classic Structure: As is common in reconstructive art pieces, the movie is an adaptation of an adaptation, in this case taken from a novel that was itself inspired by the Anabasis, by the ancient Greek warrior, Xenophon, a (literally) classic tale of an outnumbered band of mercenaries making it home against all odds.

Transcontextual and Iconic Elements: Each of the movie’s many gangs is iconic and allusive in look, style and conception, including the eponymous heroes who represent mercenary warriors of Xenophon’s original, but with a look partially inspired by war garments from various Native American nations. Other transcontextualized gangs include the "Baseball Furies", who are named after the ancient Greek spirits of revenge, but who dress like zombie ball players; and the "Lizzies", a seductive-but-tough lesbian gang who represent the Ancient Greek Sirens.Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the film’s signature moments have become iconic images of popular culture themselves, most notably the "Can you dig it?" speech by messianic gang leader Cyrus, and the bottle-rattling taunt "Warriors, come out and play!" delivered by demented villain Luther.

Moments of Genuine Emotion or Significance: As cartoonish as the movie may seem, it carries a sociological and emotional weight that places it head and shoulders above the low-budget action films it outwardly resembles.

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