Escape from New York is bad. However, the technology presented is awesome, as are the sets, Romero, and Kurt Russell's pants. Russell's performance may be the campiest of all time.
I can definitely see the appeal of "Escape from New York", but the movie hasn't really aged that well. The fact that the effects are rather poor is something I can live with, but the action as a whole is also pretty underwhelming. On top of that, the pacing is poor, which repeatedly results in boring stretches. However, the dystopian world presented here is quite interesting. This vision of the near future has obviously inspired several other films. The characters, on the other hand, are a little too shallow for me, but even with them, at least the look is convincing. For example, you can't say much in depth about the character of Snake Plissken, but you immediately recognize his distinctive look. On this level, the movie works quite well, but in the end, I still didn't have much fun watching it because of the pacing issues.
Pretty sure this wasn't the first time I've watched this but I didn't remember anything about it. All I can say now is that, while it may have been a blockbuster when it was first released, it's VERY dated. The acting was very sub-par on ALL parts (sorry, Kurt; I loved you in The Thing but you seemed to kind of "phone it in" in this one) and the story was so completely unoriginal and just goofy that it was hard to watch (again, by today's standards). The ending was very predictable - right down to the 00:00:02 left on his "digital" watch (the size of a mini-fridge that somehow strapped around his wrist) - and really the only thing I can think of positive about this was the small part played by Ernest Borgnine as "Cabbie". This really was just too outdated to be considered "good".
Love the worldbuilding and atmospheric directing in this, visuals and soundtrack are great (though the sound effects haven’t aged that well). What seperates the film from other 80’s action films is the fact that it isn’t trying to be cheesy and light, but I don’t think that was the right call in the end. The plot is a little too dumb to take seriously, and none of the characters are even remotely interesting. Way too heavy on exposition during the first act, a lot of that felt unnecessary and could’ve been cut, especially if you’re trying to make this a more serious film for a mature audience. The acting’s also pretty poor for the most part, as is a lot of the dialogue. Again, it should’ve just embraced its own kitsch, this would be so much better if it was directed like a Schwarzenegger film. Also could’ve used just more memorable scenes in general, there’s very little action in it.
4.5/10
Definitely a classic John Carpenter movie. I love all the sleazy advance technology of the 80’s!
No doubt “Escape from New York” has influenced at least two generations of movies and video games. Now it can be enjoyed for John Carpenter’s usual irony and cynicism (everyone, including the hero and the authorities, is rotten), but as a straightforward action flick, I doubt it will be able to entertain new viewers.
Part of my 2022 Sci-Fi Tuesdays
Just a rewatch because of a newly acquired 4K Limited Edition set from Studio Canal. These releases are something else…
And… Still like it, and still recommend you watch it. Read the old review for details.
Old review below...
This is one of the best movies Carpenter has ever made. Russel, Van Cleef (with an earring no less) and Borgnine wrapped up in one of the most atmospheric action flicks you'll ever see.
The action in Escape from New York leaves a bit to be desired, and it rarely, if ever, raises the tension up to adrenaline-pumping levels. BUT...there is something with this movie that makes it stand out from the rest of the early 80s action movies. The lighting, the music, the set. It all works so darn well together, and when it is fronted by a total badass like Kurt Russel, it just works.
The story is ok, but not great. It falls a bit short of its potential and manages to actually be a bit tedious when it drags on. The funny thing is that it doesn't actually ruin the experience in any way...
You might compare this movie to the an Eastwood spaghetti western. Lee Van Cleef might have something to do with that, but Russel incorporates a lot of the qualities that Eastwood used in the now-so-famous westerns.
I don't know quite how to explain this, but this movie is a really good watch, even though it lacks both in the excitement and story. Watch it at night with the lights down to get greater detail in the dark set and the full experience.
"Escape From New York" is yet another film from John Carpenter that many call a "cult" classic. It seems like practically all of Carpenter's films are considered cult which bothers me. This is mostly because Carpenter's work is often dismissed using this label. It's probably a way for movie critics to actually retain their street cred and still like Carpenter's movies. Twerps.
I read a review published in TV Guide's Movie Guide calling "Escape From New York", "a percipient satire of a society irreparably split along lines of class and race". What!?! In the movie New York is a huge prison. Class? Race? The President's plane crashes in NY (the prison) and Snake Plissken is sent in to rescue him. I'm missing the class and race commentary here. Stupid critics. Another called it "an intriguing window into the fears and anxieties of the early Reagan years". Is this because "Escape's..." president is attempting to avert a nuclear war before he crashes? Weren't Cold War fears highest during Kennedy's term in office? Can you say Cuban Missile Crisis? Seriously what the Hell are these people talking about? If forced to work at it, I can barely pick up on a general mistrust of the office of the President here. But Pleasance's POTUS does save Snake after all. Sure he dismisses Snake in front of cameras later, but which of the POTUS's actions do you want to focus on? "Escape" is nothing more than a tale about a military vet who's forced to rescue the President for the very government he distrusts.
It's been awhile since I last saw this and it's still a good time. It's got a dark mood and there's moments of humor, but not the normal action movie one-liners that frequent these kinds of flicks. Come to think of it, Carpenter's only Action/Horror spoofs are "Big Trouble In Little China" and maybe "Escape From L.A.". Other than those, his work is always pretty heavy.
I'm pretty biased about Kurt Russell's performance because I generally like everything he does. He doesn't have to do a lot with the Snake Plissken character (whose temperament he'll nearly recreate in 1982's "The Thing"), and Snake is a jerk. However, Russell is so appealing in these kinds of roles that Snake has no trouble in establishing himself as the hero. Snake is totally humorless and the polar opposite of Jack Burton in "Big Trouble...", but he's somehow really fun to pull for anyway. Adrienne Barbeau and Harry Dean Stanton are also appealing as Maggie and the Brain.
There is a lot of good stunt work and some pretty exciting action sequences. The final chase scene isn't nearly as hectic as it should be but the scenes when Snake drives through a mob on Broadway and lands his glider atop the World Trade Center is harrowing stuff.
I don't give a fuck about your war... or your president.
"I'm an asshole..."
Totally forgot what an awesome cast this movie has, Kurt Russell, Lee van Cleef, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Tom Atkins and Adrienne Barbeau? Decent right?
Anyway still love that Carpenter just drops off of in the middle of the movie. Just a voice over by Jamie Lee Curtis and BAM we are there. Snake Plissken needs to save the president from a dark prison New York. Really glad New York cleaned up his act the past 20 years! He also has to fight a huge guy with a baseball bat! We have people coming up from the ground, we have so many great stuff. Really love this world.
And the duke. HE IS A NUMBER ONE! His car wit the chandeliers? How fucking awesome is that?!?! Love Iscaac Hayes in this. And Kurt Russell with his Clint Eastwood light performance. It just works.
So happy I've finally rewatched this. Still soo much fun.
Surprisingly little action for a film of this ilk and frankly what action there is isn’t particularly well staged or inventive for a film where it’s low budget nature usually demands something to make it stand out. The premise is fun and the first half is much stronger in setting up the stakes and building the world of New York as a prison and there are some creepy moments as the hero first infiltrates the city. But as Plissken encounters more and more characters, it quickly loses its way as none of them stand out and whilst Russell chews the scenery for all its worth, there is little else to maintain interest as the film shuffled towards its end.
A good movie and great performance by Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, the anti hero who is tasked with saving the life of the POTUS while Manhattan is being overrun by criminals during a time when crime stats are up 400 percent. The best part of the movie you ask. Those chandeliers
on the front of the King of New York’s car...... so funny but so cool!
A good movie to check out in case you have not yet.
I've watched this movie a few times from '81 to '92, I just started watching it again tonight and I just noticed that Kurt can see through his eye patch. You can see Kurt's eye really well when he's talking to Lee, just after Kurt gets injected with the capsules. ;)
The John Carpenter cult classic Escape From New York is a dark and gritty action film with a unique vision. In a dystopian future the island of Manhattan is turned into a maximum security prison controlled by the inmates, but when Air Force One crashes into the prison the military turns to notorious criminal Snake Plissken as their only hope to sneak onto the island and rescue the President. Kurt Russell, Isaac Hayes, Donald Pleasence, and Ernest Borgnine make for a strong cast and deliver good performances. Russell in particular does an excellent job; creating a captivating anti-hero that became one of the most iconic film characters of the ‘80s. Additionally, Carpenter's directing is quite vivid, and creates a fascinating aesthetic and atmosphere that enhances the story. Escape From New York is a compelling and edgy thriller that has become a sci-fi classic.
Before watching this I knew the plot was excellent, what I wasn't prepared for was how excellent the directing was. Hot take: from a technical stand point (and other points as well), Escape from New York is Carpenter's best work.
Kurt Russell is fun but the movie is weird and slow.
Shouldn't be as watchable as it is. A lot of the time not much is happening, but it's well shot and has a great atmosphere as well as having larger than life characters. There is an ongoing feeling of tension and of stealth movement in New York. It did feel like it's own little world and there are many simular movies in the same setting that fail.
Movies usually only reach cult status when they are so bad they are good but here is an exception. The action is not great, the story is not great, but there is something entertaining going on. It is surely not the musical score which sounds like it was done on a Toys 'R Us synthesizer by a 12 year old. I think I heard a part in there that was sampled for the Doogie Howser M.D. intro theme. Some great shots of Adrienne Barbeau, great one-liners, and Ernest Borgnine seal the deal of this cult classic
So awesome! One of my favorites. Never losses its punch.
One of the best from John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. I was just never a fan of the musical score. It's a little bland. Carpenter has done better scores, like Halloween.
I don't know, just never found the score to fit the plot or Snake. Sounds more like it belong in a movie like War Games.
You ain't a pimp unless you got hydraulics in the back AND chandeliers in the front baybee... A true perfect 10 isn't defined by the actors or the script or the effects but by the REPLAY value...write that down
A rough and enjoyable film built on a great character in Snake and a great performance from Russell.
Shout by ZyrusBlockedParent2013-02-13T21:59:28Z
I expected more. Slow.