Escape from New York / L.A.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (15)

D: John Carpenter

Avco Embassy/IFI/Goldcrest (Larry Franco & Debra Hill)

USA 🇺🇸 1981

99 mins

Action/Science Fiction

W: John Carpenter & Nick Castle

DP: Jim Lucas

Ed: Todd Ramsay

Mus: John Carpenter

PD: Joe Alves

Kurt Russell (Snake Plissken), Lee Van Cleef (Bob Hauk), Ernest Borgnine (Cabbie), Donald Pleasance (President of the USA), Isaac Hayes (Duke of New York City)

Dystopian action movie, set in the 1997 (so unfortunately the year of its prophecy is already dated).

When the island of Manhattan has become a high security prison, the president of the USA is taken hostage within the walls and it's down to one man to break him out... the eye-patch wearing vigilante Snake Plissken.

Kurt Russell delivers one of his most memorable performances as Plissken, bringing just the right attitude and rebellious sneer to the role.

The film has a huge cult following, but isn't quite director John Carpenter's best work. Good fun though.

6/10

ESCAPE FROM L. A. (15)

D: John Carpenter

Paramount/Rysher (Kurt Russell & Debra Hill)

USA 🇺🇸 1996

100 mins

Action/Science Fiction

W: John Carpenter, Debra Hill & Kurt Russell

DP: Gary B. Kibbe

Ed: Edward Warschilka

Mus: Shirley Walker & John Carpenter

PD: Lawrence G. Paull

Kurt Russell (Snake Plissken), Stacy Keach (Cmdr. Malloy), Steve Buscemi (Eddie), Peter Fonda (Pipeline), Cliff Robertson (The President)

Sequel to Escape From New York which follows the exact same formula and doesn't bring anything new into the mix.

Kurt Russell reprises his role as Snake Plissken but his best efforts can't make up for a stale screenplay, uninspiring direction and terrible special effects.

Made 15 years too late after the original film and really not worth wasting time with.

4/10