By Stephen Pytak 

     "Imitation is the sincerest flattery," C.C. Colton 
once said.
     But I wonder what that 19th century writer would 
have thought after screening this 20th century, Italian 
"Escape from New York" knockoff.
      If you have a sense of humor, like me, you're going 
to love it.
     After a nuclear war, society is divided into two 
groups, the Nazi-like Euraks and what's left of the 
federal government. The latter enlists a mercenary, the 
Italian "Snake," a death racer named "Parsifal," to 
save the human race from extinction.
     The mercenary has to waltz into the remains of 
New York City, try to avoid the horse-riding, crossbow-
wielding Euraks, and find the only fertile woman left 
on Earth. 
     Parsifal isn't given much to go on. There's no 
tracking device. He doesn't know the girl's name or 
address. He doesn't even know what she looks like. So, 
he doesn't have a clue where to begin.
     It's a good thing they didn't inject him with some 
kind of burning-artery time bomb or give him a 
deadline. He'd piss himself every time he checked his 
watch. Come to think of it, they didn't give him a 
timepiece either.
     All they give him are two bodyguards. You can't 
call them guides. They don't know where they're going 
either.
     On the road to Hell, these three run into midgets, 
strange acrobat clowns, sewer rats and an 
apocalyptic Dizzy Gillespie, whose trumpet was 
actually kind of inspiring.
     They also experience gore. There's a great eye 
gouging. They kill a lot of rats, and I swear some of
the rat kills are real.  And in battle sequences, there 
are guts spilled here and there. You have to give 
those Italian filmmakers some credit for that.
     The funniest and most amusing things our heroes 
run into, however, are the references to Carpenter's 
1981-classic "Escape from New York." There are 
dozens, definitely enough to base a drinking game on. 
But don't drink anything too strong. You won't be 
able to stay sober for the end of the film.
     Under his leather jacket, Parsifal wears a 
sleeveless black shirt. There's a scene where ass-
stomping psychos chase our heroes up and 
around former public transportation vehicles. There's 
also a chase in the end with an armored station 
wagon. And there's a least one hero here with an eye
patch here.
     But through it all, Parsifal does kick ass. And 
you'll find yourself cheering for him in between 
laughs.
     The filmmakers and stars tell all in a new DVD 
release by Shriek Show, which really does justice to 
the film and is another classic example of what a 
DVD package should be.
     There are interviews here with the director, Sergio 
Martino; actor George Eastman, who plays a Gypsy 
mutant named "Big Ape;" and actor Al Yamanouchi, 
who plays "The Rat Eater King."
     What's not advertised on the cover however is the 
commentary track, which features not only actor 
Sopkiw, but also a few so-called "post-nuke 
historians," Dolph Chiarino and David Zuzelo. I 
never heard of 'em. But I can't wait to give it a listen. 
     This is the kind of film that needs to have an 
audience, preferably in a big theater and a midnight 
showing. It would get laughs and more laughs. It's a 
fun ride. And I'm sure the characters from Mystery 
Science Theater 3000 would eat it up.