The New Barbarians (1984)

Every time cinema has a game-changer (in this case, 'Mad Max' and the entire genre of 'post-apocalyptic dystopia movies'), it's fascinating to watch how various countries and cultures react to the instant knowledge that 'something new is out there that can bring in for us a lot of money'. For this Italian effort, which needed very little in the way of budgeting for either actors, set design or costumes, it's not bad.Director Castellari brings to it an action-packed flow which never flags for a moment. (The 87-year-old Rome native--God bless him--is directing 'Keoma Rises' at the moment, his first film in six years, and it is slated to be released later this year.) I have previously only seen his spaghetti-western 'Keoma', which I adore. He throws in two instances of nice gratuitous sex in a heartened attempt at 'character and plot development', but I really don't have a problem with that, especially with great Italian beauties like he has at his disposal here. There's a bizarre homoerotic undertone, particularly to a scene in which Scorpion is being tortured, but it's not problematic. Fred Williamson is the only star I recognized, and he continues his credo of 'getting the girls and winning the fights', which he stands by in his movies. The electronic score is dated but not bad, though it's inferior to those of, say, either Tangerine Dream or Goblin.All in all, it was a 91-minute span of time I don't regret in the slightest--I even watched it with a plate of spaghetti and glass of red wine at hand to further exemplify the Italian experience.

I only write reviews of movies with low rating, which actually are not that bad. Give them a chance!Yes, they tried to make another Mad Max and yes, they failed. But, the movie is still watchable and good in some parts. Vehicles are SO BAD that they actually look like the apocalypse happened! Nothing can be perfect when you have nothing! So I find this great! :) Acting is OK, Fred is great choice. Fighting scenes are bad, but if we look at the budget... Don't expect much and you will watch it to the end, especially if you like post-apocalyptic movies as I do.5.5/10

(42%) Hanging on the back of the majesty of Mad Max came this cheap Italian knock-off that makes a lame attempt to link itself to the two Bronx warriors movies that in themselves ripped-off such current classics as The warriors, and Escape from New York. Director Enzo G. Castellari shot this almost entirely in a mine located rather convenient fifteen minutes drive outside of his home town of Rome, so at least he didn't go above and beyond to make this; not that anyone would accuse him of such a thing. In terms of plot this is one of the thinnest movies ever which revolves around the good guys against the bad, but unlike Mad Max 2 they're not fighting for control over a few thousand gallons of fuel, there're instead fighting over nothing really at all. Castellari does know how to shoot, but his writing is awful, while some of the acting here is among the very worst ever. On a plus side this is entertaining enough to sit through with plenty of daft over the top action with lots of people (clearly dummies) getting their heads cut off, blown up, run over, or burnt. The costumes are also brilliantly camp and silly, with good old Fred Williamson having a great time with his explosive arrows. Fans of the largely unrelated movies in the series should find something to enjoy here as it is good cheesy B-movie fun, but it's absolutely nothing more.

You may have thought you'd seen it all but you just have not until you've seen Warriors of the Wasteland, an apocalyptic tale of one man, Scorpion, fighting off the Templars - a group to which he formally belonged that goes around trying to purge mankind by killing any survivors(except themselves of course)of the nuclear holocaust which has left a barren world void of any vegetation or animal life or real cities but lo! has allowed a new world of crates, cardboard cities, junk cars and trucks, and movable golf carts by the dozens. There must also be gasoline I assume in this new post-apocalyptic vision. Hmmm. This film is just awful and just awful in so many ways. Let's, for a moment, buy into the cardboard cities that somehow survive while cities of stones, bricks, and steel disintegrate - the story is ludicrous as we see a band of men just attack with no real purpose. Why do they follow the man known as One? Why was there even a nuclear holocaust? Where did the cardboard come from? How about the big bubbles that are put over holes in cars? The golf carts with mechanisms that come out and slowly decapitate men that run and never waver from a straight path? The cast is wooden and principally Italian with Fred Williamson standing out in a bland performance but better than most of what you get. I really wasn't expecting much, but you think if people got enough money to produce this and act in it and assemble all that cardboard that they would have at least put a bit more care and attention to details, the story, the direction, the settings, and their performances. At the very least the American title is partially prophetic using the word "waste."