Friday Flashbacks: Escape From L.A.

Escape From L.A. 1996
Director: John Carpenter
Writers: John Carpenter, Debra Hill and Kurt Russell
Starring Kurt Russell, Steve Buscemi, Peter Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Valeria Golino, Stacy Keach, Pam Grier, Bruce Campbell, George Corraface, Michelle Forbes, A. J. Langer and Peter Jason
After 15 years Carpenter returns to one of his most popular creations with Escape From L.A. This is really more an understated remake than a sequel though. It has some outlandish sequences but Russell plays Plissken with the same panache he did in the original film. This film is much more a satire that the first film was and that really works to its benefit. The film is nicely paced with some great action sequences, though it does have some poor ones like the surfing sequence. The story is smart and witty and is held together by a solid cast of actors. The cinematography and set design of the film is pulled off tremendously well too. All in all this is a great science fiction satire film that ages very well I think.
The plot basics are this, the year is 2013 and Snake Plissken (Russell) is back. A earthquakes has separated Los Angeles from the New Moral America led by their new President (Robertson) who feels as if he speaks for God. His daughter (Langer) has absconded with a nuclear device to L.A. and united with the island’s de facto leader Cuervo Jones (Corraface). The President has injected Snake with a virus which will kill him in 9 hours and he will only get the antidote if he brings back his daughter and the device. The odds are stacked against Snake and he has little time to complete this mission. Will he be able to do it?
This is a fun and energetic film. Carpenter’s direction as always is solid. The chase sequences are really done very well. The sets look very authentic and you believe that this could be a downtrodden Los Angeles. The script is very witty and smart, I especially liked the Surgeon General of Beverly Hills part quite a bit. Snake is characterized very well and you root for him very easily. The cast is quite good too. Russell as Plissken gives a great sardonic and laconic performance. Buscemi gives a great comedic performance. I really enjoyed Keach playing the Van Cleef role in this film too. The brief cameo by Campbell is also quite a treat and a delight to watch. The SDX in the film can be somewhat cheesy but worjs in that the film is very campy. The score by Carpenter and Shirley Walker is reminiscent of the original film while still giving the film its own spin. This is a solidly entertaining SF action film and well worth a second look.
This one get 4 out of 5