Film Review - Escape From L.A.

Snake. Why did it have to be Snake?

OK, there are sequels and there are re-makes. This is a re-make. Kurt Russell is back as Snake Plissken, professional mercenary and smartass. This was enough to drive us back into the theater like lambs to the slaughter. Someone took us too literally.

Snake is ... Snake. He's no different. Rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated. He still hates authority. If he can pee in someone's pool, he will. So he's recruited for the same lame tired old scenario of rescuing not the president, but the president's jail-bait daughter. If he doesn't make it out in time, Snake bites the big one.

Yawn!

John Carpenter and Kurt Russell wrote this movie. I think they dusted off the old script and changed a couple items and that's that. Carpenter is directing and writing music again, but jeez, think of something new!

This movie breaks no new ground. We saw this scenario in Escape from New York. Granted, the Peter Fonda surfer-dude cameo was funny, and the amusement park in Anaheim no one would name was the same layout as Disneyland, but BFD!

So what are Russell and Carpenter trying to say? Or maybe the question is, are they trying to say anything? Is it that the world still sucks? Or maybe it's "We need to make more house payments."

Dust Bag Full

Film Facts

Directed by John Carpenter

Released in 1996

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewed by Mongo