The Warriors 1979 Review is finally here, and this week on Born to Watch, Whitey, Gow and Damo are heading deep into enemy territory for a movie they've been circling since the early days of the podcast. Walter Hill's 1979 cult classic has leather vests, painted faces, subway trains, some of the strangest gangs ever assembled and one very simple objective: get back to Coney Island alive. The Movie Review Podcast, where we don't take the movies or ourselves too seriously, is about to find out if The Warriors can still come out to play.

For the boys, this isn't just another movie review.

The Warriors carries some serious childhood baggage.

This was one of those movies you heard about before you actually saw it. The video shop cover caught your eye; older kids talked about it, and somehow the movie's reputation became almost as important as the movie itself. Whitey remembers hammering it during his teenage years, while Damo recalls hiring it on VHS and watching the bloody thing twice back-to-back.

That's the sort of nostalgia we're dealing with here.

The setup remains magnificent.

Cyrus has a dream. Get every gang in New York together, stop fighting each other and realise they collectively outnumber the cops.

CAN YOU DIG IT?

Unfortunately, Luther can't.

Cyrus goes down, The Warriors get blamed, and suddenly a crew from Coney Island is stranded in the Bronx with every gang in New York looking to collect.

What follows is essentially one long journey home through a New York City that feels like it exists in another universe.

Whitey, Gow and Damo get stuck into Walter Hill's world-building and the collection of gangs roaming the streets. The Turnbull ACs look genuinely terrifying. The Lizzies have guns but apparently attended the Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy. The Orphans desperately want someone to take them seriously.

And then there are the Baseball Furies.

Baseball uniforms. Painted faces. Baseball bats.

It shouldn't work.

It absolutely works.

The boys also give plenty of love to Barry De Vorzon's brilliant score. From the opening moments, that pulsing soundtrack drags you straight into The Warriors' version of New York, and the music accompanying the Baseball Furies chase remains an absolute belter.

Then there's the cast.

Michael Beck brings the brooding as Swan, while James Remar is perfectly unhinged as Ajax, a bloke who seems about five seconds away from causing a problem in every scene he enters.

But David Patrick Kelly's Luther may own the movie.

Three bottles on his fingers.

"Warriors... come out to play-ay."

An improvised moment that became one of the most recognisable scenes in cult movie history.

Of course, nostalgia only gets you so far on Born to Watch.

The boys ask whether a film with such a notorious reputation is actually violent enough. They question the shooting ability of the Lizzies, the sheer amount of running required while wearing a leather vest with no shirt, and whether the final confrontation delivers the payoff the movie has been building towards.

There's also plenty of Walter Hill appreciation, including his incredible run through movies like Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire, Red Heat and Last Man Standing.

Where does The Warriors land?

You'll have to listen.

After more than four years and 226 episodes, the F-Wits have finally made it back to Coney Island.

Grab your vest, paint your face, jump on the subway and come along for the ride.

WARRIORS... COME OUT TO PLAY-AY!

JOIN THE BORN TO WATCH CREW

Love the show?
Follow Born to Watch, leave us a five-star review and, most importantly, share the episode with another movie-loving F-Wit.

Because podcasts don't grow on their own, people.

Can you dig it?

#TheWarriors #TheWarriors1979 #BornToWatch #MovieReviewPodcast #CultMovies #WalterHill #ClassicMovies #1970sMovies #BaseballFuries #CanYouDigIt

This week on Born to Watch, we're diving deep beneath the surface for our Crimson Tide (1995) Review, revisiting Tony Scott's tense 1995 submarine thriller starring two absolute acting heavyweights, Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. It's a film packed with military drama, explosive confrontations, unforgettable performances, and enough pressure to make anyone glad they never enlisted in the Navy.

Whitey and Damo return to the captain's chair to break down one of Tony Scott's most underrated films, a movie that proves you don't need endless explosions to create edge-of-your-seat tension. When a US nuclear submarine receives an incomplete launch order during an international crisis, Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and Executive Officer Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) find themselves locked in a battle that could determine the fate of the entire world.

At its heart, Crimson Tide isn't really about submarines or nuclear weapons. It's about leadership.

Gene Hackman delivers one of the most intimidating performances of his legendary career as the old-school Captain Ramsey, a man who believes orders are meant to be followed without question. Opposite him is Denzel Washington, calm, measured, and incredibly composed as Hunter, the officer who believes thinking before acting might just save millions of lives.

The chemistry between these two acting giants drives every scene. Every conversation feels like a heavyweight boxing match where neither man wants to blink first. Whitey and Damo debate whose side they'd be on, whether Ramsey is a fearless wartime leader or simply an egotistical loose cannon, and whether Hunter's calm approach would really survive under the pressure of nuclear war.

Of course, this is Born to Watch, so things quickly drift into discussions about sweaty submarines, impossible flat-top haircuts, George Dzundza somehow fitting through submarine hatches, Tony Scott's signature directing style, Hans Zimmer's early military score, and why James Gandolfini was already becoming Hollywood's go-to bloke for playing absolute jerks before The Sopranos.

The boys also revisit Tony Scott's incredible filmography, comparing him to brother Ridley Scott, while reminiscing about classics including Top Gun, True Romance, The Last Boy Scout, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Deja Vu and more. Is Tony Scott one of the greatest blockbuster directors of the 1990s? The debate certainly gets underway.

As always, there's plenty of Born to Watch goodness along the way. Expect the IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes comparisons, the VHS synopsis, the 1995 Hit, Sleeper and Dud, plenty of movie trivia, questionable observations, and enough laughs to break the tension inside the USS Alabama.

The discussion also shines a light on the incredible supporting cast. Viggo Mortensen appears long before becoming Aragorn, James Gandolfini is perfectly cast as another intimidating authority figure, while early performances from Ryan Phillippe and Steve Zahn provide plenty of "I forgot they were in this!" moments.

The episode also explores whether Crimson Tide deserves its reputation as one of the greatest submarine films ever made. How does it compare to The Hunt for Red October? Is Gene Hackman's Captain Ramsey one of cinema's best military leaders or one of its most dangerous? Does Denzel Washington quietly deliver one of the finest performances of his career?

If you love intense thrillers, powerhouse acting performances, Tony Scott's kinetic filmmaking style, or simply enjoy hearing four mates argue passionately about movies while constantly getting distracted by completely unrelated topics, this episode is for you.

So grab your popcorn, secure the launch keys, and prepare to dive deep into one of the smartest action thrillers of the 1990s.

Have you seen Crimson Tide?
We'd love to know whose side you're on.
Was Captain Ramsey right to follow orders without hesitation, or did Hunter make the only decision that could save humanity?

Join the conversation across all our social channels and let us know your thoughts.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and tell a movie-loving mate about Born to Watch. Your support helps us keep revisiting the films we all grew up with.

#BornToWatch #CrimsonTide #CrimsonTide1995 #MovieReview #TonyScott #DenzelWashington #GeneHackman #90sMovies #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast

This week on Born to Watch, the boys dive into a true cult classic with our Big Wednesday Movie Review, the coming-of-age surfing epic that has inspired generations of surfers while leaving plenty of movie fans wondering what all the fuss is about. Directed by the legendary John Milius, Big Wednesday isn't just about riding waves; it's about growing up, friendships, the passing of time, and the harsh reality that life eventually catches up with everyone.

Whitey, G-Man and Damo paddle out into one of the most personal films ever covered on the podcast, and the discussion quickly reveals a massive divide. For G-Man, this is sacred territory, a film that captures everything he loves about surfing culture and the changing seasons of life. For Whitey, it's a movie full of unanswered questions that leaves him searching for meaning between the swells. Somewhere in the middle sits Damo, appreciating both the spectacular surfing sequences and the emotional weight hidden beneath the surface.

The boys break down the journey of Matt, Jack and Leroy, three lifelong mates whose lives unfold across more than a decade as they chase waves, girls, parties, responsibility and eventually the mythical Big Wednesday itself. Is the famous swell simply a perfect wave, or is it a metaphor for life's biggest moments? G-Man comes armed with enough knowledge to teach a university course on the film, explaining the significance of each swell and how every chapter represents another stage of growing older.

Along the way, the conversation drifts into everything that makes Born to Watch what it is. Whitey questions why nobody seems capable of explaining anything in 1970s cinema, Damo reminisces about recording surfing competitions onto VHS tapes before the internet existed, and G-Man somehow turns an episode about surfing into a passionate defence of Jan-Michael Vincent's career.

Speaking of Jan-Michael Vincent, the boys explore what should have been one of Hollywood's biggest success stories. Blessed with movie star looks and undeniable charisma, Vincent seemed destined to become one of the industry's leading men before a series of personal struggles derailed his career. They also examine the careers of William Katt, Gary Busey, Lea Purcell and the incredible creative team behind the film, including legendary director John Milius and composer Basil Poledouris.

As always, the regular segments are packed with laughs. The team looks back at 1978, discussing classics including The Deer Hunter, Grease, Superman, Animal House and Every Which Way But Loose. The Snorb's Report uncovers another unforgettable scene from Animal House, while Hit, Sleeper, Dud delivers recommendations ranging from Midnight Express and The Wild Geese through to the gloriously ridiculous disaster movie The Swarm.

Of course, no Born to Watch episode would be complete without random tangents. There are discussions about beach culture, lending surfboards to complete strangers, teenage house parties, Bear's outrageous life choices, surfing legends, Airwolf, The Greatest American Hero, Star Wars auditions, Gary Busey's teeth, and whether anyone has ever actually met an old surfer who correctly predicted the mythical "Big Wednesday".

Whether you grew up quoting Matt Johnson, dreamed of chasing perfect waves, or you've never understood surfing culture at all, this episode celebrates a film that means something different to everyone who watches it. Some see an unforgettable surfing movie. Others see one of the greatest coming-of-age stories ever made. Whitey still isn't entirely sure what he watched.

So grab a beer, wax the board, paddle out with the boys, and join us as we revisit one of cinema's most beloved cult classics. The waves are building, the friendships are tested, and eventually, Big Wednesday arrives.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share Born to Watch with your mates. Every new listener helps us keep celebrating the movies we all grew up loving, one classic at a time.

#BornToWatch #BigWednesday #BigWednesdayMovieReview #MoviePodcast #SurfMovies #JohnMilius #CultClassic #FilmReview #MovieLovers #PodcastAustralia