Escape From L.A. (1996)

A Cheesy Sequel To Escape From N.Y.

ESCAPE FROM L.A. is a so-so movie, but was kind of a cheesy sequel to John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, even though ESCAPE FROM LA was more upgraded with more technology than ESCAPE FROM N.Y. was, plus ESCAPE FROM L.A. was less convincing than ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK was too.

In addition, something that didn't make a lot of sense to me in this movie was when one of the thugs is protesting at the L.A. Coliseum, he says "You may have been able to escape New York, but you wont be able to escape from LA", because I think New York City would actually be harder to escape from than Los Angeles would, since New York City is bigger, more congested, more overcrowded, and less concerned about crime than L.A. is along with the fact that LA is like heaven compared to New York City.

Therefore, having to accomplish a mission in L.A. would seem more like a downgrade of having to accomplish a mission in New York City, since things are usually quite a bit more challenging in New York City than they are in LA, despite the fact that it was kind of interesting seeing Snake Plisskin(Kurt Russell) go from being on the East Coast to the West Coast, plus it was kind of neat seeing them showing all those nice and interesting suburbs in the L.A. Area like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Downtown L.A., Chinatown, etc., but ESCAPE FROM LA still wasn't as impressive or as significant as ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK was.

What I don't understand is why did John Carpenter or Paramount took 15 years to make a sequel to ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK. December 12, 2008

A GREAT CULT CLASSIC MOVIE!

This movie follows Escape from New York, and it's just great. It's not meant to be taken too seriously. There are subtle jokes throughout the movie. A lot of it is tongue in cheek. So enjoy it for what it is. My favorite line is "This is LA, and this ****ing city can kill anyone!" There will be no Oscars, no awards given out for this movie... it's just mindless entertainment. You can tell Kurt Russell is having fun with the character. The whole movie is "over the top" and that's the point. Loads of fun, provided you don't take the movie, or yourself, too seriously. So lighten up, sit back, and enjoy! June 13, 2008

You cannot review this...

OK, this isn't Citizen Kane, you put this in and turn your brain off and giggle... I would be shocked if John Carpenter took this movie seriously... it's just not something I can wrap my brain around.


Anyway, it's a really fun movie, so bad its great. April 25, 2008

Escape From L.A.

still enjoy this movie. it's one of those that need's to be in your collection if you like kurk russell April 6, 2008

Land Of The Free

Snake: Got a smoke? Malloy: America is a no smoking nation, no smoking, no drinking, no foul language, no sex unless your married, no red meat. Snake: Land of the free.

There's not much new about Escape From LA, compared to its predecessor. It's pretty much the same story, set in a different place, and Kurt Russell once more in a race against the clock, in order to rescue a black box from the president's daughter.

This time, 2013, the prison is LA, after being separated from mainland by major earthquakes, and still suffering from the aftershocks. The president's daughter hijacks Air Force 3, and crash lands in LA, away from the restraints of daddy, and free to do what she wants. Which is get in with the wrong crowd and not wear very much. Of course, Snake is back and instantly recognisable to everyone, after his escapades in New York, and he has to be the one to go into LA.

Of course, there are a few similarities to the first movie: he gets a time limit on his life to get the mission done, the vehicle that he uses to get to the island is destroyed, the girl he briefly meets is killed, and he has to play a game to survive. Sure there's nothing new, but Kurt manages to pull it off.

The supporting cast, alongside Kurt, is excellent. Steve Buscemi, playing his usual eccentric character, Pam Grier, Michelle Forbes (who I knew from Kalifornia), Valeria Golino, and a shockingly different Bruce Campbell, were all excellent. Bruce Campbell I luckily managed to spot - he's not recognisable, a lot of prosthetics, but the chin is impossible to disguise!

Why was there never a third movie made? After the ending Escape From LA was given? Hell yeah, there should have been another movie made. Escape From Earth has been batted around for many years since this was made, but it's never been made up until ... soon hopefully. With Stallone coming back for Rocky & Rambo, and Ford coming back for another Indiana Jones, why not revisit this once more? The finale just left too many things hanging. It's a necessity. Hey, I think Kurt could still fit into that outfit. And get the hair long again. Easy. Do IT!!!
March 24, 2008

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