Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Escape from New York

I am watching the 1981 movie Escape from New York. The premise is that in 1988 New York City became a walled penitentiary, and in 1997 the President of the United States becomes trapped there, and has to be rescued. It's a really bad movie.

The only reason I mention it, is that it features an aviatrix. Or possibly she's a hijacker, it's not quite clear. She's not wearing a pilot uniform. From an exterior shot of Air Force One, we cut to the cockpit, where a woman (did everyone have Farrah Fawcett hair in 1981?) is ranting on the intercom, reading from a written statement about the International Federation of Socialist something or other and declares that the president will perish in the penitentiary. There's no explanation given for why the president's pilot has wigged out to this degree.

I do not suggest you ever rent this movie. In fact, if you have a choice between cleaning the basement and watching this movie on cable, put on your coveralls and head downstairs.

7 comments:

Avimentor said...

Oh, contraire!

Kurt Russell as Snake Pliskin. I mean that name alone is worth the price of admission! But he also has an eye patch! Ernest Borgnine as a Cabbie who loves big band music.

And what B movie would be complete without Lee Van Cleff? Isaac Hayes as the Duke of New York. Harry Dean Stanton as "Brain" Helman.

Sure, the motives of the wacked-out woman pilot are never explained, but that's true of most of the movie. John Carptenter was never one to let a plot, character development, or story get in the way.

This movie is so bad, it's a must see.

Anonymous said...

but i don't have cable tv in the basement (much less any tv anywhere)... and i never watch tv in coveralls... i'm confused.

--aas

sweavo said...

heheh. I agree with John. The one you have to avoid is
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000059H22/202-9861981-6318264

:-)

Aviatrix said...

Oh my. Escape fron New York has a sequel?!

Anoynmous said...

Hey, who would have guessed that we'd ever see a hijacked airliner being deliberately crashed into New York City? An airplane hitting the World Trade Center on purpose?

It kind of makes me wonder if someone will eventually surf a tsunami along the California coast.

Greybeard said...

From my point of view, any movie with Adrienne Barbeau in it is worth watching,
even if you have to mute it, (which is a good idea with this one.)

Nicolas said...

Yeah there is escape from New York and Escape from LA. Every time I drive through LA i pretend I'm in the latter. I have heard that both movies are good bad movies if that makes sense to anyonelse.