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Escape from L.A. (1996)

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173 comments in total

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48 out of 76 people found the following comment useful :-
THE BEST SATIRE ON America EVER FILMED BY AN American!!!, 18 January 2005

Author: Thespin from United States

I don't think there's a better movie describing today's atmosphere in America and you can easily forget Escape From New York cause its political themes are pretty much restrained. Also Escape From L.A. is kind of timeless in a way that it satirizes all what America is known for, from motorcycle gangs, hookers, Hollywood agents, face-lifts, politics, freedom, violence TO implied peculiar American (created) all movie genres (sci-fi, action, comedy, western) to movie characters (typical US movies bad guys/good guys), music (typical western score, typical US orchestrated score), dialogues, typical US action movie scenes and especially parodying Hollywood stupid copycat sequels. You can find so much about America through this film, you just have to know how to watch it.

Also i think the fact that the story of this film is only borrowed from EFNY is done partially on purpose because Russell & Carpenter wanted to do it with familiar story and highlight especially those aspects only characteristic to contemporary America and make fun of them. Carpenter did surely one of his best films ever that already no doubt surpassed his inferior classic Escape From New York. Gee what amazing piece of work Carpenter created do you even realize that? And personally i think Escape From L.A. over time will definitely gain well-deserved status as one of the greatest master-pieces in American movie history!

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33 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
one of the most audacious films of the 90's, 27 August 2004

Author: chambara8112 from Europe

At first i love both Escape films but this film is the real proof what Carpenter movies are really about and that's the story. It reminds me the fact that those who constantly complains about EFLA didn't get even Escape From New York – this visual style, atmosphere and other great surrounding stuff, as everyone praising these days, doesn't make a good movie, it was, is and will be the story, and as for the richness of this Escape From L.A. is definitely far better including that it's the most personal Carpenter movie ever that is kind of philosophy on the freedom and also today's real problem in modern America. For these elements it‘s unforgettable and only waiting for its time to be reevaluated again.

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24 out of 33 people found the following comment useful :-
Better than the First, 2 September 2004

Author: Party-Boy

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is one of my favorite movies ever. The political and social commentary is great and Kurt Russell as Snake is just the best anti-hero in cinema history. This movie is less gritty and more fun than the first and thats o.k., it plays out nicely. People who give this movie low scores obviously are film snobs, turn off your brain, open up a cold beer, sit back and enjoy. The ending of this movie is seriously one the greatest ever, it is just too cool. If you're looking for a good popcorn flick with social commentary and sarcasm, this is it.

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.

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49 out of 84 people found the following comment useful :-
greatest movie ever, 6 June 2004
Author: from NJ

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

When I saw escape from New York starring Kurt Russel I thought that they could never begin to make a better movie than what i had just seen. The amazing special effects were exhilarating and got my heart racing. When a friend told me about Escape From LA i was going crazy. I must have watched it 10 times in that one day and every time it got better. When Snake hits the three pointer hook shot from half court my jaw dropped. When he got shot in the leg, stood up, got on a surf board, road the tsunami, and jumped off the tsunami to catch someone, it was as if my life was complete. WELCOME TO THE HUMAN RACE was the perfect end to a perfect movie. Thank you Kurt, and everyone who was a part of insanely incredible movie.

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10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
snake's back, 9 October 2004

Author: anandblr from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

SNAKE'S BACK!!!!! in the real world, its been almost a generation since snake got out of new york... but some things just don't change... snake's still the meanest baddest dude out there.

i don't know why this film was received as poorly as it was... because it is- quite simply- the greatest movie ever... there has never been any movie ever with so much attitude!

!!!SPOILERS!!!

firstly... if you've seen escape from new york, then you know what's going to happen in this movie... almost. ... but that's not the point... this movie is neither a rip-off nor a remake of the original movie... its just that snake's been updated for the 90's. the ending of the movie is a comment on the dependency on electronics that we are faced with. this movie is intelligence disguised in pure testosterone.

the most amazing thing about this movie is its attitude.... just watch the scene where snake has a gunfight with the bad guy's goons and see what i mean.

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40 out of 71 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Ending Ever ! ! !, 16 May 2004
Author: Gibdos from Erlangen

So, recently if seen this amazing movie again, sitting on my couch and listening to this incredible genius made music. I really don't know, why most of the people prefer Escape from N.Y. When I first saw N.Y. it really didn't get me. But one must be said for sure: ESCAPE FROM L.A. DO HAVE THE BEST ENDING I'VE EVER SEEN IN A MOVIE MADE UNTIL NOW! So all of you, who haven't seen it yet, go get it!

PS: Sorry, if there are some gramatical errors, but my English isn't that good.

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13 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
Entertaining Follow Up, 21 July 2004

Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

Escape from LA follows almost exactly the same plotline as Escape from New York; A city has become a colony for criminals, something gets lost in the city, the government don't have anyone but Snake Plissken that is able to get it back, so he goes in, has a few misadventures with the locals and eventually brings it back.

This film very much lacks in originality, mostly due to it completely ripping off its predecessor. In fact; it could be said that this film is a remake of the first. However, what it lacks in originality is made up for with a great cast of support characters, which includes Steve Buscemi, Pam Grier, Peter Fonda and a great little turn from the god of B-Movie, Bruce Campbell himself. Kurt Russell returns of course, as the film's anti-hero; Snake Plissken, complete with a very cool new look; courtesy of a long black leather coat and leather trousers. Kurt Russell's performance in this film is pretty much the same as in the first movie, whereby he is only required to look cool for the duration; and that is something he does well. The support characters, however, are this film's main asset. Obviously Kurt Russell is the star of the show, but it's the colourful characters around that really make the film interesting.

The effects in Escape From LA, considering it was made in 1996, are awful. Whether or not the effects are bad on purpose as a tribute Escape From New York, I don't know; but I really felt that they could have done more regarding the effects. Escape from LA is a very silly film that many people will find hard to take seriously, however if all you want is to enjoy yourself for 100 minutes or so, and not use your brain too much; Escape From LA is your movie. Originality aside, I would say that this film is on par with Escape From New York.

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Snake is Back, baby, 24 January 1999

Author: Shawn Watson (gator_macready@yahoo.com) from The Underverse

This movie is very unfairly under-rated. Just because when it came out America was in a feel good phase with the 1996 Olympics and the release of Independence Day. A lot of people have criticized the visual effects but the surfing scene ain't that bad and are far superior to that of the flames in the tunnel in ID4.

Kurt Russell is brilliant as Snake, his most iconic character and the whole movie is kind of lighthearted. The music especially. I have also never seen a film with an ending quite like this. Now for the announced Escape from Earth, it may not happen due to the dark nature of the series and studio reluctance to not do anything but kiddie crap, but it would be a wonderful finale.

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46 out of 85 people found the following comment useful :-
Better than Escape from New York, 16 June 2004

Author: Party-Boy

This movie was superior to Escape from New York in almost every way. Snake is more badass in this sequel, it's more up to date and believable. The social commentary is astounding and the ending...wow, one of the best endings ever in a movie. People who say Escape from New York is superior are living in the past. Escape from N.Y. had a darker atmosphere but L.A. fit it's atmosphere as more light and campy similar to L.A. itself. Kurt Russell utilizes his character here more than Escape from N.Y. Snake is the ultimate badass. The special effects were good for their time and everything from the 1st one has improved. The social commentary is great. No smoking , no alcohol, no swearing, no sex-unless your married, no red meat, no foul language in which Snake replies. "Land of the free" it doesn't seem far off from our current society.

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9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
A real good movie, 5 August 2003

Author: sharifi14 from UK

I'm not sure how many may agree with me, but I think that this film is really good. I bought it for £5 on some special offer sale, and this movie is well worth the price.

First time I saw it, I laughed quite a lot at it, but then after a second viewing I really enjoyed watching it, and the third time watching it had me really interested in it.

I have never seen the previous movie, although I intend to soon, so I think I missed some of the plot for 'Snakes' one-liners, and some of the characters were all new to me, whereas they had apparently appeared in the first movie.

I personally thought the ending was also really good and it had me humming along to the soundtrack in triumph as it played at the end scene.

Overall I think this film is great, but it may require a second (or maybe even third) viewing to get the full idea of it and that.

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