Review of Escape from New York (1981) by Joon K — 25 Jan 2010
OK,... I do have a list of movies that I am embarrassed to admit I love because they are so cheesy. You would think this would be on that list, but you would be waaaayyyy off.
Cheesy? ...I guess. But there is something so great about this movie that "embarrassed to admit I love it" cannot be used here. I am so glad I had a much older brother who would let his punk sister watch his favorite movies that she probably was way too young for at the time. :).
The "future" of 1997 looked really messed up! I can pretty much point to this movie as to why I never ended up turning to a life of crime. :) (I don't want to be sent to Manhattan Island! No, Please! Anything but that!!).
The characters are great. Names like "Brain" and "The Duke" and even "Cabbie". But of course the best is left to the lead... "Snake Pliskin". Can you say baaaddd aaassss? :) The absolute scariest thing about this movie, besides figuring out how to survive the island especially at night would HAVE TO BE The Duke's ..um,.. friend? associate? side-kick? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING? That THING is one of scariest looking (and acting) characters on film. (... No No No... I'll be good. Just don't put me in a room with that thing PLEASE! I'll do my chores. I won't steal, lie, kill .. nothing. I promise.).
The dialogue is pretty well done and pretty funny in retrospect. And the whole dark pit that Manhattan becomes is so frightening. Just a lawless scavenger fest that would send a chill down anyone's back. And my love of the movie has nothing to do with the fact that (despite being a girl) I do a dead-on impression of Donald Pleasance shouting "YOU'RE THE DUKE! YOU'RE THE DUKE! You're.. ... you're A # 1...." :).
Great fun ride back in time. The synthesizer music for tension is priceless and Kurt Russell sleeveless before he became a grandpa is enjoyable for me. :) Of course for the guys there is the obligatory Adrienne Barbeau (before she became a Grandma lol) playing Dirty Harriet with a pretty hefty handgun so there is something for everyone.
A classic campy flick that you really should experience.
This review of Escape from New York (1981) was written by Joon K on 25 Jan 2010.
Escape from New York has generally received positive reviews.
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