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Plot: New York, year 2012. After some kind of catastrophe, only a few people survive in the city. With barely enough to eat, they form different clans who fight against each others. Carson, a lone warrior, joins the more civilised of them.

Comments: This one made it to the "good movies" board, but barely. Robert Clouse, from "Enter the dragon" fame, wrote it and directed it at a time when this kind of post-apolyptic films (think "The Omega man" or "Soylent Green") were popular. The reason why is that on paper it could have been a far more thoughtful film, considering it deals with one of the last remnants of civilisation, the comune led by Max von Sydow, and how it tries to surive in an increasingly difficult environment.

Instead, Clouse prefers to focus in the action department. Things be said, he does it quite well. The fights are numerous, and although the coreography is not exactly at Hong Kong level, Yul Brynner manages to make it very credible. For a man in his 50s, he is remarkably lean and agile, and his efficient, lethal movements fit the context well.

And well, at least the film manages to provide an exiting climax in the abandoned NY subway, and the final fight against the main villain is well staged, even if the ending is quite far fetched. Carson, if I were you, I'd wait for that guy to let go or throw the axe at him, rather than cutting my own hand.

I saw this probably about the time it was released and about the only thing I remember about it was the hand thing.

I saw this on cable (HBO, Showtime or Cinemax . . . not sure which one) many years ago soon after we had cable installed for the first time.  I remember being disappointed . . . like it could have been a really good movie but ended up being dull.  Yet, for some reason, I've had the urge to watch it again in recent years.

They used to play "The Ultimate Warrior" on late nite TV... I'm not sure if it was CBS or ABC but I recall seeing the movie at least 2 or 3 times. And all I remember was Yul Brynner standing still for days... I dont recall much after that... :(

Maybe I'll put it on my watch list... :)

As we're only half a year away from 2012, it's always interesting to see what speculative SF said things would be like in the future.  I, for one, am glad to not have to live in a postapocalyptic world.

I saw this one on videotape when I was about 14.  A friend had a copy, as he was a fan of this movie and other old science fiction and horror movies, like The Devil's Rain.  He liked that movie so much he even tried to make a knife like the Warrior's, getting a file or similar piece of metal and grinding it into more-or-less shape. 

I mostly remember three scenes, including the one in the screenshot above, where Yul Brynner stands silently, advertising his services as well as waiting for a response.  Max Von Sydow tells him something like they can offer him food and a place to stay, but 'companionship' he would have to find himself.  I remember the band of marauders and the leader biting into a ripe tomato as if it is some kind of luscious delicacy, and I remember the 'hand thing' as well.

Come to think of it,  I borrowed that guy's video tape and never gave it back!  I wonder where I put it...