Here we go. The last movie that I am reviewing by John Carpenter for #Johnuary. Escape from L.A.
Obviously this is revisiting the first film that was actually 15 years prior to this one. But to be honest Kurt Russell looks pretty much the same and does a great job of reprising the role.
Here are my thoughts whilst watching the film…
- I like how it was co-written and co-produced by Kurt Russell. Shows he was really invested in the role, or perhaps he just wanted to make sure he had partial control over how good the film was going to be
- I found it funny that he’s wearing exactly the same outfit as in the first film when we see him for the first time. Like he hasn’t washed his trousers for 15 years. He does get some nice new clobber when he starts his new ‘mission’ though
- I did, however, think that he gets dressed very slowly for some who only has 9.5 hours to live
- There was some nice VR video stuff, and the hologram idea is pretty cool. All very very 90s. I liked the bit about shooting blanks at the hologram
- His snake tattoo seemed to have faded? I’m sure it was completely filled in in the first film and now it seemed like it was just the outline<. I could be wrong though/li>
- It’s pretty cool seeing Universal Studios signs underwater, and the burning Hollywood sign etc. I bet the Hollywood executives all had fun making this film
- There is some pretty bad 90s CG in several bits. Bless the 90s
- Great to see the car from Christine!
- Now, onto the surfing bit. This gets A LOT of stick from people, that it’s a ‘jumping the shark’ moment etc. And yes, it is pretty ridiculous, but I still loved it. It’s so ridiculous but so is a lot of what Snake Plissken does
- Al Leong again! What a legend
- The basketball game is great. First of all it looks like Kurt Russell might have some serious basketball skills. He looks very comfortable on the ball. And that final throw landing in the net is just fantastic. I’d love to know if that was CG or just the result of a lot of takes
- The two military people who coerce Snake into the mission (the warden from Prison Break and the girl from Next Generation) have extremely stereotypical 90s sci-fi uniforms and haircuts. But again it’s done in a style which is cool to watch now and is testament to their skills as actors to pull it off.
There were so many similarities to the first film. Including the injury in the leg, Snake knowing the bad guy who screwed him over in the past, the challenge on the basketball court (similar to the fight in the ring in the first movie), the time limit on him to complete the mission but also to stay alive himself from a virus. It really was a carbon copy and they just changed a few of the parameters. It’s interesting that they choose to go down completely the same route. I’m actually not complaining though as I think it’s a great formula and it almost highlights how these films are ever so slightly tongue in cheek.
It really does get a lot of stick, this film. But I for one thoroughly enjoyed it. I reckon they should make a third. Escape from Las Vegas or Escape from the USA or something, maybe?