Escape from New York

Pros: Kurt Russell's performance, characters, well directed action scenes, quite radical
Cons: Occasional hammy acting- unrealistic 24 hour time frame

"Escape From New York" is an early 80's science-fiction action thriller- well actually it fits most of the generic conventions of a western film except with a futuristic setting. The film is set in the distant future, at a rough date 1997. New ...

Pros: Russell's performance, original story, interesting concept, intelligent
Cons: lack of background for Plissken's character

After all of my family had left and most of the clean-up was done, I sat down with a full belly on Christmas day and was ready to relax with a good movie. So I turned on the tube and started surfing. Much to my delight I happened across a film that I ...

Pros: Dark, funny and violently political.
Cons: Has the risk of appearing 'dated'.

Another one of those early eighties movies that is remembered rather fondly. Kurt Russell stars as Snake Plisskin (what a name!) who is blackmailed into rescuing the President, who was aboard Air Force One as it crashed in New York. Unfortunately for all...

Pros: An inspiration for one of my favorite characters Solid Snake of Konami fame.
Cons: Looks a little dull nowadays

There are so many great actors in this movie from Lee Van Cleef to Kurt Russell and Donald Pleasance. As a fan of the Metal Gear franchise my first thoughts were that this was just another cheaply made action movie without any direction into how...

Pros: Russell, creative plot, interesting visually
Cons: character development, horrible chemistry between actors, special effects don't hold up

In 1988, the United States crime rate has risen to an unbelievable rate. To battle the resulting prison population, New York City (partially played by East St. Louis, Missouri) has been turned into a maximum security prison where the prisoners rule the ...

Pros: Creatively evokes dark atmosphere; concept; Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken; fun with screen credits
Cons: Lack of suspense; little action; predictable plot; isn't sure if it's straight or camp

Up here in Canada, stores hold their best sales during the week after Christmas. They call them Boxing Week sales. (This peculiar custom – its genesis, evolution and nonsense – is deserving of its own review.) This year’s Boxing Week shopping yielded...

Pros: Some imaginative, though peculiar, scenes and action sequences.
Cons: Very low budget look, miscast actors, ridiculous story line.

Don't get me wrong; I like (some of) John Carpenter's films, with "The Thing" being the best example. However, "Escape From New York" is a cheapie production, and it shows in every possible way. What things the movie does have going for it can't...

Pros: good performances and directing, excellent score, cult status
Cons: looses its way at the end, a bit dated by todays standards.

'One man against 3 million criminals in a bid to rescue the president from Manhatten high security prison'

The above tagline for Carpenter's hit 1981 movie is basically a plot summary condensed into one sentence.
The one man being former...

Pros: Tons of fun
Cons: Slightly dated

The name's Snake. I wish I could just say that to a woman and see what happens. This is one of the coolest, most interesting action movies I have ever seen. Kurt Russell is so cool in this movie, perhaps he's the main reason this works so well for me....

Pros: Tries to get the most out of a small budget
Cons: It's just your typical action movie, nothing new

To call John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York' an average action movie would be something of a misstatement. 'Escape' manages to equal your average action movie, but only cost a fraction of the price to make.
'Escape' stars Kurt Russell as...