

Perfect audio accompaniment to some of the more ominous visuals (like the scene where the craziesĮmerge from the New York underground to close in on Snake, recalling George Romero's Night Carpenter's simple score, which is electronically synthesized, is the

Matte artists, set designers, model makers,Īnd animators all deserve credit for creating a believably futuristic, decadent cityscape.Ĭinematographer Dean Cundey gets a lot of nice, atmospheric shots that go a long way towardsĪtoning for the film's faults. Skyline scenes of 1997 New York are very impressive. Million, Escape from New York has the appearance of a more expensive picture. One area that doesn't merit criticism is the film's look. Trying to be funny than it is to actually unearth those few moments of comedy that appear more In fact, it's easier to recognize that Escape from New York is Infused the film with elements of irony and wit, his sense of humor is so dour that it rarely sparks And, while it's certainly true that Carpenter has Is as much a comedy as it is an action film. Standpoint, describing this film as anything better than adequate would be an unwarrantedĪpologists for Escape (and there are mass legions of devoted fans) point out that the film Even the big finale, which involves a chaseĪcross a mined bridge, doesn't really get the adrenaline pumping. Much tension, and, when it does, it fails to sustain it. Also, surprisingly (sinceĬarpenter is known as a "master of suspense"), Escape from New York rarely generates Carpenter peppers the film with bursts of action, but there are long, sometimes sluggish, pauses in between. In comparison to a Die Hard, Escape from New York has such a low level of excitement that it could almost be considered plodding. Potential for a masterful, gripping tale is abandoned in favor of cheap thrills.Īction films have certainly come along way in the last fifteen years. Escapeįrom New York isn't really science fiction - it's an action flick set in a futuristic setting. Unfortunately, too much of the film's promise goes unfulfilled. For this, if nothing else, director John Carpenter ( Halloween, Starman)ĭeserves some credit. So, left without options, he dons a James Bond wristband, hops in a glider, and heads for the top ofĮscape from New York has one of the most ingenious premises of any film releasedĭuring the 1980s. If Snake hasn't done his job by then, his head will explode. To insure his cooperation, he is injected with tablets York, rescue the President, and get out again. Personality traits are a dry wit and an unrivaled sense of self-preservation, is chosen to enter New Master criminal Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), whose chief President's plane, hijacked by terrorists, goes down in the Ominous, like the fledgling society growing in its streets, alleyways, and sewers.

Liberty Island, is familiar, but, without electricity to light up the nights, it has become dark and The city's world-renowned silhouette, gazed upon from the shores of
#Escape from new york free#
Those confined within the city are free to live and die as they please,Ĭreating their own form of government, choosing their leaders, and using guile, brutality, andĬriminal ingenuity to survive. Uncontrolled prison, with the inmates prevented from escaping by armed guards who man the walls New York City, overrun by crime, is walled in.
