Review of Escape from L.A. (1996) by John W — 15 Oct 2013

A rather polarizing film, even for fans of the original film and Plissken himself. And it really is really one where you have to be able to accept a premise that won't appeal to everybody. It is in terms of story essentially the same film as the original, but done in a more large scale and over the top fashion.

But there is a self-awareness to it and it's all done in a pretty cheeky way. Essentially being a light satire on Hollywood, pop culture, and the big action films of the time (particularly also with the idea of sequels) while "Escape from New York" was a more subtle and darker satire on humanity as a whole.

(I guess you could say it feels in tone more like another John Carpenter/Kurt Russell collaboration, the more kitsch yet fun "Big Trouble in Little China" than it does the original EFNY.) If you can run with that idea there's a lot to enjoy here.

And personally, I think the film is enjoyable. I don't know if it deserves a 4 on objective merit (as said before it's a really hard film to judge on that level) but I just find it to be entertaining and the fun it has with itself to be infectuous.

It's not as good of a film as EFNY, though I actually did see it first by a number of years, but if you can get on board the ride it wants to take you on than you should be entertained. If I were to make a comparison I'd say it's very much akin to Wes Craven's "Scream" (which came out the same year ironically enough) in that it straddles the line between a serious entry into its genre (in this case an action film while scream it was a slasher film) whist also having a strong satirical edge, yet (IMO) manages to balance the two very well.

Though I can still understand how that comparison may not sit well for everybody. Seeing as "Scream" was not the sequel to "Halloween", if I could make an analogy. (If it had been I'm sure it wouldn't have gone over as well as it did) But again, if you can except the change in tone as well as the different intent from the original I do think you can have a blast with it.

Heck in my opinion bits like the "Bangkok Rules" scene, the basketball challenge, and the ending (one of my favorites for any film) all make it worth the price of admission alone.