Escape From L.A.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Steve Buscemi, Michelle Forbes, Pam Grier, Cliff Robertson, Peter Fonda,
Directed by: John Carpenter
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
1996

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is once again forced into helping the government, this time, to retrieve a doomsday device lost in Los Angeles, which has been separated from the rest of the country as a location where criminals and other undesireables are sent.

Review:

Tim: Fifteen years later, Snake Plissken is back. This is a very long time between films, but the length of time doesn't feel quite as long. It is nice to see Snake back. He's such an incredible character, and Kurt Russell is so good in his role. He's so much fun to see on screen.

This sequel is a step down from the original. There are some really great scenes. I love the surfing scene, the helicopter battles, and the hang glider scenes. Especially impressive is the basketball scene. This is so absurd, but it is a ton of fun to watch, and stands out as quite memorable.

The film is pretty ridiculous in numerous places. We are asked to suspend a great deal of disbelief, and this does not always work. Various points of the film feature some weak special effects, which detract from the movie because they are so fake. The movie really needed a bigger budget to be a true success.

Escape From L.A. is a worthwhile movie because it represents the long-awaited (maybe) return of Snake Plissken. The film itself is pretty weak, and is fairly disappointing. The movie ends strongly, but it is too little, too late. Fans of the original should definitely see this, but if you didn't enjoy the first film, you certainly won't enjoy this subpar sequel.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 5


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Escape From New York, Grindhouse: Death Proof, Breakdown