Now Watching: Escape From New York (8/11)

The movie that inspired Kojima's grizzled protagonist Solid Snake. Available for free with Amazon Prime with the sequel/re-make Escape From L.A. available on Netflix.

John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing) - Director/co-writer

This is filmmaking at its finest. The story is laced with social commentary without being preachy and Carpenter gets the best out of his cast and crew on a modest budget. Pay mind to the visual effects- that had a team including James Cameron- as they are a testament to ingenuity rather than the modern schlock CGI.

Here are some questions:

1. How did you like the movie? Roughly on a scale of 1-10 and you can be as weird about the scoring as you please.


2. What did you think of the visual effects?


3. What didn't age well?


4. What was your favorite scene?


5. Who's your favorite character?


6. Any other comments?

Good heavens. I'll have to put on my DVD copy and watch it again before I can answer this. For some reason it's not as fresh in the mind as Galaxy Quest was.

You know, I'm thinking I picked the wrong movie since the basketball scene in LA is worthy of discussion itself. G. I. Joe type discussion >.<

1. How did you like the movie? Roughly on a scale of 1-10 and you can be as weird about the scoring as you please.

I'd give it a 7, but I'm the type where a 10 is a PERFECT movie and anything above a 6 is worth seeing.

2. What did you think of the visual effects?

Some of the model stuff, especially with air force one and the glider haven't aged particularly well, but the set dressing and make up once he's on the ground is all top notch stuff.

3. What didn't age well?

See above, everything else if it didn't age is just because it was a product of the time it was made which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

4. What was your favorite scene?

I really like the bit where all the weird guys emerge from the sewer and he has to take refuge/escape. Don't know why it's just really creepy and cool the way they just emerge and start running about.

5. Who's your favorite character?

Snake...obviously. Even the voice is like Solid Snake, he's just so badass. I also enjoyed his little thing in the ending, where he asks the president about the men lost then rips up the tape. Thought it was a nice touch.

6. Any other comments?

There's something very unique about all the Carpenter films that were made in the 70's and 80's. They all feel really unique and are very patiently paced, this one is no exception. Also Kurt Russel...what a bamf.

When you posted that comment in the chat thread, I knew it was going to be this movie.

Speaking of MGS-related things. Did anyone feel the WHOLE scene explaining how Snake was going to go in, talking about the glider, the fact that he had to do it alone, time limit was very very very much like the opening of MGS with the little tube and the conversation between the Colonel and Snake?

Anyone?

1. How did you like the movie? Roughly on a scale of 1-10 and you can be as weird about the scoring as you please.

The best of John Carpenter's work shows a filmmaker working with the lowest of budgets and resorting to more creative measures and this film is the purest example of that. Also, Carpenter's scripts don't always have the sunniest of outlooks; despite the carnage, the pessimistic view towards government (and how the 99% are doomed to suffer) and the cavalier attitude towards life, this remains entertaining and thrilling. As with the best of Carpenter's work, the ending is fucking beautiful. A solid 9 for me.

2. What did you think of the visual effects?

I'm old enough to recall when CGI didn't rule everything, when artists put their backs into inventive physical/practical effects. When executed well, they captured the imagination, even if you could see the seams. One thing that is impressive is the set design: the debris, the graffiti. It looks lived in and real; a very immersive experience.

3. What didn't age well?

The fight scenes and gunfights lack a certain degree of polish; sometimes it looks like Russell is just shooting a gun in random directions and the gladiatorial fight has moments where I don't feel they're hitting each other very hard (like there's an WWE quality) to it. It may not be perfect but it doesn't hurt the film. There are some early effects shots that look weird, like the guard's reaction to Air Force One going down not syncing with how fast the plane model is actually moving. In a film where the pace is swift, some characters aren't well developed. Every time I see that scene with Season Hubley (aka "The Girl in the Chock Full of Nuts" building), I always feel that's leading somewhere else before she's taken away. I also wonder if Duke has anything to do with the underground people; does he control them or is there a truce?

4. What was your favorite scene?

Snake flying his glider into NY and landing on top of one of the WTC towers. I liked the psuedo-computer layouts of the city in the monitors and his banter with Van Cleef's character ("You mean I can't count on you?" "No." "Good."). I completely bought it. I also like Romero's entrance and dialogue to Van Cleef ("Touch me, he dies. You don't leave in 30 seconds, he dies. Come back here again, he dies.").

5. Who's your favorite character?

Snake. Russell's basically doing a riff on Clint Eastwood but it's a damn good riff. He just owns that role so perfectly. Honorable mentions to Donald Pleasance as the President, who I like at first but despise him at the end for his indifference to those who saved his ass; and Harry Dean Stanton as Brain.

6. Any other comments?

No matter how many times I've watched it, no matter how hard I try, I can't stop looking at Adrienne Barbeau's cleavage.



That woman was a work of art.

There's probably a drinking game where you take a shot every time Isaac Hayes' right eye twitches.