source: Defiance

Defiance

I started to yawn after 15 minutes. Actors play artificially, with poor dedication to their role like they were forced to participate in this movie. Soundtrack average. I started to yawn after 15 minutes. Actors play artificially, with poor dedication to their role like they were forced to participate in this movie. Soundtrack average. I started to yawn after 15 minutes. Actors play artificially, with poor dedication to their role like they were forced to participate in this movie. Soundtrack average. I started to yawn after 15 minutes. Actors play artificially, with poor dedication to their role like they were forced to participate in this movie. Soundtrack average.

I think this is JMV's finest Hour and a half on film besides AIRWOLF and why this isn't out on DVD yet is beyond me. With all the crap they they do have out now, I would have thought I could find this somewhere but alas, I can't but thank god I have it on VHS when I copied it years ago for my own personal use. You have already read the storyline from the rest of the comments up there so take my word for it, this flick is worth watching if you like "Gangs tearing up the neighborhood and the good guys kick their asses in the end" movies. It's just a shame the JMV's career has since gone down the toilet.

I knew nothing of this movie going in so I didn't know what to expect, just from synopsis I figured this would be a revenge story like Death Wish. But it was more like a slow moving Western, where the mysterious stranger rides into a troubled town... you know the rest. This movie is very dated, the 80'sness in it makes it extra cheesy which I enjoy but because the movie moves so slow it doesn't make it fun. Overall it was entertaining to watch while I did housework but nothing that would captivate me to sit through another viewing, there are better movies out there.

This just aired on the ENCORE ACTION channel recently. This is a very entertaining NYC flick - and pretty action filled considering it is PG! Jan Michael Vincent is at his best as a reluctant action hero who finally has enough of a Puerto-Rican gang in a Italian NYC neighborhood. Jan is one of my favorite actors, and he effortlessly pulls off this character with believability and heart. And looks sexy doing it, too. His love interest is very sweet in this movie, as is the orphan kid he 'adopts' along the way. The bad gang leader is very entertaining - this guy loves hats! the gang looks like they dressed up to partake in Michael Jackson's Beat It Video! Best part of this movie is the Jan-Michael shower scene - that's all I have to say.

I seen this movie way back in probably 1981 & liked it. I happened to see the last twenty minutes of it on TV a few weeks ago. I decided to buy the VHS tape. All in all I still liked it. Filmed in the older & trashy area of New York City helped the overall feel of the movie. I am a little bias of the movie since I have always been a Jan Michael Vincent fan. I give it a 7/10

Jan-Michael Vincent portrays a suspended young seaman who takes up temporary housing in a neighborhood overrun by a gang,while waiting for his next orders to ship out.The gang is in dominating control.They steal and rob at will.No one will press charges due to fear of retribution.So he takes matters into his own hands to combat the growing violence spurring his fellow neighbors to join him.I remember seeing "Defiance" on Polish TV many years ago.I am also a big fan of John Flynn's earlier revenge thriller "Rolling Thunder"."Definace" doesn't disappoint.It's a gritty drama/thriller with excellent central performance of Jan-Michael Vincent.The look of the film is ugly and washed out,but the violence is kept to minimum.A must-see for fans of "Death Wish","The Warriors" and the likes.8 out of 10.

Defiance is one of those films that you can find once in awhile on cable TV at some odd hour. Jan-Michael Vincent portrays a merchant marine who makes his home in a rundown tenament that's undersiege by a local street gang. Highly enjoyable film with a depressing aura of realism. Many of the films stars are veterans of this genre. Sadly, this film has been over looked for years and it's deserves a release in the future on DVD. The movie has the markings of a cult classic. Highly recommended if you can find it. B.

I doubt I know all of them, but the three films of street gang genre which came out in the very late 70's and very early 80's were "The Warriors"; "The Outsiders" and this one, "Defiance". Each one had it's own positive and negative points, in my opinion. I have to admit that I've watched "The Warriors" several times over the years, and I never tire of it. On the other hand, one viewing of "The Outsiders" was enough for me, it just didn't hold up. "Defiance" however is an excellent film from start to finish, and I'll be sure to watch it again and again. The film does an outstanding job of showing the essence of what it was like to exist in a then gang-ridden neighborhood in NYC. And there is story behind it, as well as good acting, a touch of a love affair, and most importantly the grittiness of people who are determined to regain what was once theirs, only to be snatched by a gang of merciless thugs. Cheers!