T. Rigney (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} filmfiend) wrote,@ 2006-05-10 16:19:00 |
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Escape From New York
Snake owns you.
---
Though EXTREMELY dated, Escape from New York is still one hell of a thrill ride, featuring one of the greatest anti-heroes to ever grace the silver screen. Kurt Russell IS Snake Plissken, infamous criminal mastermind and bad-ass supreme. It's one of John Carpenter's best movies, and though the special effects are terribly dated and the action scenes laughable in comparison to the "wire-fu" we're so accustomed to these days, Escape from New York still holds its own as the futuristic action/adventure masterpiece so many of us consider it to be. Seeing as how 2006 is Escape's 25th anniversary, I thought it would be nice to sit down with this film on DVD to reacquaint myself with Plissken, Maggie, Brain, The Duke, and the countless freaks that inhabit the prison-city. And though it doesn't quite have the charm it did when I first saw it back in the early 90's, I still had a blast watching it again.
For those who aren't hip to the world of cult cinema, let me give you the low-down on Escape from New York. After the nation's crime rate climbs to an all-time high in 1988, the US Government turns New York City into a walled prison filled with all sorts of degenerate criminals, turning this once-vibrant city into a disgusting, hollowed-out metropolis ruled by none other than Isaac Hayes. When Air Force One is hijacked by those who oppose the president's policies, everyone's worst fear has been realized: The President of the United States is being held hostage somewhere in New York City. Having been warned by The Duke's henchman to leave them the hell alone, the powers that be decide to execute a VERY risky plan to get our Commander in Chief back home in one piece. Instead of sending in highly-trained soldiers to eradicate the kidnappers and rescue the president, they send in our buddy Snake Plissken to do the job. Since he's unwilling to do this task out of the kindness of his own heart, they inject microscopic explosives in his neck that will detonate within 24 hours. Once the president and the suitcase attached to his wrist are safely returned, only then will they neutralize said devices and let Snake go free. But the prison world of New York is more than Snake can handle, and he soon finds himself going head-to-head with the many freaks, geeks, and goons the former city has to offer as he desperately tries to locate the president before time runs out.
John Carpenter stretches his slim budget to the breaking point, giving us a nightmarish world filled with kooky characters and cannibalistic convicts who roam the streets at night in search of food. Topped with a minimalistic sound design and some nifty action set pieces, Escape from New York helped create the prototypical "post-apocalyptic future" witnessed in countless motion pictures over the past 25 years. I'm not saying it single-handedly created a subgenre -- I think that kudos probably goes to George Miller and his Mad Max series, or possibly A Boy and His Dog -- but it did influence a number of aspiring filmmakers to create their own visions of a dark and dreary future. The story is also pretty good, giving us plenty of opportunities to explore the city and interact with all its inhabitants. Though it moves at a break-neck pace, Carpenter allows the movie to unfold slowly and deliberately, creating an almost laid-back atmosphere despite the explosions and carnage that follows. Sure, there are incredibly huge holes in the plot, and it does lose steam towards its nonsensical conclusion, but that's just a part of the experience.
As far as performances go, I need only say these names to drive my point home: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasance, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, and Tom Atkins. Though everyone is great in their respective parts, it's essentially Kurt Russell's whispery turn as the iconic Snake Plissken that grants the movie its cult status. According to IMDB, the studios weren't too sure about Russell's ability to handle the part, given his Disney-centric roles in the past. Personally, I can't see anyone else as Snake Plissken, and some of the alternatives the studio suggested were ALL WRONG. However, Carpenter got his wish, and a legend was born. It was also nice to see Van Cleef in a non-western role, since I'd only seen the man in several B-Grade cowboy flicks up until my first viewing of Escape. Keep an eye out for Season Hubley -- Russell's wife at the time -- in a small role as the girl in the nut store.
Though the action is horribly dated and often quite silly, there are a number of sequences that still hold up rather well. For instance, Plissken's battle with the hulking brute in the wrestling ring is impressive, due in part, I think, to Ox Baker's furious assault on Russell during filming. I remember watching the documentary on the special edition VHS that was out oh-so many years ago, a segment of which was devoted to Baker's overzealous performance. The scene where Russell is blocking the attacks with his shield is the part that stands out as a fine example of Baker's willingness to go that extra mile. Watch in amazement as our boy Ox delivers blow after blow while Kurt tries his best to stay out of harm's way. Good stuff. Even our heroes' mad dash through a mine-covered bridge is still quite suspenseful, the ensuing carnage both heartbreaking and unexpected. Just don't expect anything too outrageous. After all, this WAS filmed in the early 80's.
If you haven't seen Escape from New York and don't mind some dated special effects and goofy fisticuffs, you should do yourself a favor and check it out. For those of us who've seen this thing a hundred times over, watch it again. After all, it's Escape's 25th anniversary, giving you a good excuse to revisit Carpenter's ludicrous vision of the future, er, past. Whatever. Though this Master of Horror has seemingly lost his touch these days, there was once a time when he could do no wrong, giving us such classic fare as Halloween, The Fog, Christine, and, yes, Escape from New York. The action may be beyond silly, the special effects may be laughable, and seeing Adrienne Barbeau's hair may be frightening, but it's a great movie nonetheless. A masterpiece, you ask?
I certainly think so.
Snake owns you.
---
Though EXTREMELY dated, Escape from New York is still one hell of a thrill ride, featuring one of the greatest anti-heroes to ever grace the silver screen. Kurt Russell IS Snake Plissken, infamous criminal mastermind and bad-ass supreme. It's one of John Carpenter's best movies, and though the special effects are terribly dated and the action scenes laughable in comparison to the "wire-fu" we're so accustomed to these days, Escape from New York still holds its own as the futuristic action/adventure masterpiece so many of us consider it to be. Seeing as how 2006 is Escape's 25th anniversary, I thought it would be nice to sit down with this film on DVD to reacquaint myself with Plissken, Maggie, Brain, The Duke, and the countless freaks that inhabit the prison-city. And though it doesn't quite have the charm it did when I first saw it back in the early 90's, I still had a blast watching it again.
For those who aren't hip to the world of cult cinema, let me give you the low-down on Escape from New York. After the nation's crime rate climbs to an all-time high in 1988, the US Government turns New York City into a walled prison filled with all sorts of degenerate criminals, turning this once-vibrant city into a disgusting, hollowed-out metropolis ruled by none other than Isaac Hayes. When Air Force One is hijacked by those who oppose the president's policies, everyone's worst fear has been realized: The President of the United States is being held hostage somewhere in New York City. Having been warned by The Duke's henchman to leave them the hell alone, the powers that be decide to execute a VERY risky plan to get our Commander in Chief back home in one piece. Instead of sending in highly-trained soldiers to eradicate the kidnappers and rescue the president, they send in our buddy Snake Plissken to do the job. Since he's unwilling to do this task out of the kindness of his own heart, they inject microscopic explosives in his neck that will detonate within 24 hours. Once the president and the suitcase attached to his wrist are safely returned, only then will they neutralize said devices and let Snake go free. But the prison world of New York is more than Snake can handle, and he soon finds himself going head-to-head with the many freaks, geeks, and goons the former city has to offer as he desperately tries to locate the president before time runs out.
John Carpenter stretches his slim budget to the breaking point, giving us a nightmarish world filled with kooky characters and cannibalistic convicts who roam the streets at night in search of food. Topped with a minimalistic sound design and some nifty action set pieces, Escape from New York helped create the prototypical "post-apocalyptic future" witnessed in countless motion pictures over the past 25 years. I'm not saying it single-handedly created a subgenre -- I think that kudos probably goes to George Miller and his Mad Max series, or possibly A Boy and His Dog -- but it did influence a number of aspiring filmmakers to create their own visions of a dark and dreary future. The story is also pretty good, giving us plenty of opportunities to explore the city and interact with all its inhabitants. Though it moves at a break-neck pace, Carpenter allows the movie to unfold slowly and deliberately, creating an almost laid-back atmosphere despite the explosions and carnage that follows. Sure, there are incredibly huge holes in the plot, and it does lose steam towards its nonsensical conclusion, but that's just a part of the experience.
As far as performances go, I need only say these names to drive my point home: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasance, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, and Tom Atkins. Though everyone is great in their respective parts, it's essentially Kurt Russell's whispery turn as the iconic Snake Plissken that grants the movie its cult status. According to IMDB, the studios weren't too sure about Russell's ability to handle the part, given his Disney-centric roles in the past. Personally, I can't see anyone else as Snake Plissken, and some of the alternatives the studio suggested were ALL WRONG. However, Carpenter got his wish, and a legend was born. It was also nice to see Van Cleef in a non-western role, since I'd only seen the man in several B-Grade cowboy flicks up until my first viewing of Escape. Keep an eye out for Season Hubley -- Russell's wife at the time -- in a small role as the girl in the nut store.
Though the action is horribly dated and often quite silly, there are a number of sequences that still hold up rather well. For instance, Plissken's battle with the hulking brute in the wrestling ring is impressive, due in part, I think, to Ox Baker's furious assault on Russell during filming. I remember watching the documentary on the special edition VHS that was out oh-so many years ago, a segment of which was devoted to Baker's overzealous performance. The scene where Russell is blocking the attacks with his shield is the part that stands out as a fine example of Baker's willingness to go that extra mile. Watch in amazement as our boy Ox delivers blow after blow while Kurt tries his best to stay out of harm's way. Good stuff. Even our heroes' mad dash through a mine-covered bridge is still quite suspenseful, the ensuing carnage both heartbreaking and unexpected. Just don't expect anything too outrageous. After all, this WAS filmed in the early 80's.
If you haven't seen Escape from New York and don't mind some dated special effects and goofy fisticuffs, you should do yourself a favor and check it out. For those of us who've seen this thing a hundred times over, watch it again. After all, it's Escape's 25th anniversary, giving you a good excuse to revisit Carpenter's ludicrous vision of the future, er, past. Whatever. Though this Master of Horror has seemingly lost his touch these days, there was once a time when he could do no wrong, giving us such classic fare as Halloween, The Fog, Christine, and, yes, Escape from New York. The action may be beyond silly, the special effects may be laughable, and seeing Adrienne Barbeau's hair may be frightening, but it's a great movie nonetheless. A masterpiece, you ask?
I certainly think so.
