Customer Reviews

Defiance (Amazon.com Exclusive) [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's a shame that this movie is so relatively unknown and barely seen on TV anymore. Anyone who is a fan of gritty, urban flicks set in NYC in the '70s and early '80s ("Death Wish," "Taxi Driver," "Gloria," "Fort Apache, the Bronx," etc.) should definitely check out 1979's "Defiance," starring Jan Michael Vincent as Tom Gamble, a merchant seaman who is forced to reside in Manhattan's Lower East Side until he can find employment on another ship. As it turns out, the Lower East Side (or "L.E.S." as it has come to be known over the years by its actual residents) is run by a vicious street gang known as the Savage Souls, and it isn't long before Gamble and the Souls are at odds with each other, culminating in a brutal (and very realistically-staged) fight between Gamble and the gang's leader in the hallways and stairways of a housing project .
As a Puerto Rican who has lived in Manhattan all of his life, I'll be the first to admit that there are hints of prejudice throughtout the movie: Like other vigilante films of the same era ("Death Wish," "Fighting Back," "Vigilante,"), the protagonist is a white man who is going to "clean up the streets" by taking on out-of-control minorities who have become too much of a problem for the the police to handle (in this case, it is the Souls, a mostly Puerto Rican gang led by the not-so-Puerto Rican actor Rudy Ramos). Some Puerto Ricans may be offended by the fact that some of the Souls even have the Puerto Rican flag displayed on the backs of their jackets, as well as a scene where a Jewish grocery store clerk (played by Art Carney) tells Tom how the neighborhood used to be great before "everything changed" (an indirect way of blaming the neighborhood's social problems on the influx of Puerto Ricans who have moved in).
Nevertheless, I cannot help but get swept up in nostalgia when I see "Defiance:" as dilapidated and crime-ridden as New York City's Latino neighborhoods may have been back in 1979 (and mind you, "Defiance" presents an exaggerated view of this), their imagery will always be a part of my childhood, and therefore I will always have a soft spot in my heart for a movie like this, despite the racial overtones. At the same time, I have always liked urban vigilante movies, and the sight of seeing pissed-off white men battling black and/or Latino thugs is something that, for better or for worse, goes with the territory.

Why is it that other less works get a dvd release and this does not?

I saw this on cable TV many times, I even had it recorded on my DVR box, until the hard drive went out. I was glad when I saw it finally available on DVD. I'm puzzled though as to why it was released on a DVD-R format. I'm sure that this film was popular (at least in cult status), to warrant a release on standard DVD. The film print that this was copied from looks kind of grainy at times (the version on cable looked a lot sharper and richer), but the overall sound is good. I'm just glad to finally have it on DVD, period.

Saw this on HBO when I was 16, Loved it ! the scene where the old punch drunk fighter, Wacko, puts his trunks and robe on and wraps his hands to go fight the gang broke my heart, even though they snuffed him out he got in a few bombs. This is the movie hollyweird needs to remake, not all the comic book /super hero crap. Trust me, everyones sick of all that. Remake this movie and give Jan Michael a cameo, he could use the help. Cheers....

Judge Tom Becker, DVD Verdict -- "Defiance is a reasonably entertaining if forgettable little film. Rather than offering up an action/exploitation-fest, director John Flynn--who's turned out action/exploitation fests like Rolling Thunder, Lock Up, and Out for Justice--keeps everything down a couple of notches here. The result is a film that's a bit too slow-moving and restrained for its own good. Since these character types are so familiar that you can figure out their backstories the minute they open their mouths, you might find yourself checking your watch while waiting for the Souls to show up and trash a convenience store or smack around an old man. While they're definitely menacing loons, the Souls don't really look like they'd be all that hard to take down. The gang could be called the Old Souls; while mischief-making street gangs are usually havens for teens, there's not a soul in the Souls who looks to be under 35. Besides being disco-era stylish, they're agreeably multicultural and drive around in a cool car. Thanks to his pretty-boy good looks, Jan-Michael Vincent was a fairly significant low-tier star in the '70s. With Defiance, the mid-30s Vincent started settling into more mature roles. Tommy Gamble is not exactly a demanding part, but Vincent's tight-lipped, distanced persona serves him well here; plus, he's surrounded by enough enjoyably hammy supporting actors (including Danny Aiello as a loud-mouth local, and Art Carney as a wise and fearless old shopkeeper) to keep things interesting. Defiance comes to us from MGM's DVD-R "on demand" line. Picture and audio are acceptable, and the only extra is a trailer that features pretty much every interesting part of the film."

I cant for the life of me figure why this movie isnt on dvd yet?Its such a good film.Its a good vs evil and the good wins in this one.One of my favorites.Please release it on dvd"""

Of course, this movie is supposed to be an action. But the movie boasts more then just fighting. The story behind th action is what supportsthe entire movie. There are many parts where there is fighting, yet you keep your mind focused on the actual thought of the movie and what itis about. Personally, I thought the movie would have done better asa drama, rather than an action, and that is it's ONLY fault.

Gritty late 70's action flick. And yes, NYC WAS like that back then!

Where is the DVD release???

Dated but a great "make you feel good movie" slow at moments but the "high energy scenes" make up for it.

I could not find this movie anywhere, and I looked and looked for it on the internet, even on Ebay, then I finally found it on Amazon, and I am so glad I did. It was my favorite movie when I was growing up, and the service I recieve was fast and the quality was good