I realized this weekend that I've been missing out on one of the best things about 80's cinema my entire life...and that is Kurt Russell!! and even better, his work with John Carpenter! Yes until this weekend, believe it or not, I had never seen Escape from New York...or Big Trouble in Little China and now I finally understand...Jack Burton...Snake Plissken...RJ MacReady...Kurt Russell was the MAN!!!!!!!!!!
Escape from New York - absolutely loved this movie, John Carpenter is one hell of a versatile director, and Kurt Rusell was unbelievably bad-ass as Snake Plissken (no wonder Snake from the metal gear solid video games were based off him) Also starring Adrienne Barbeau, Isaac Hayes, and Donald Pleasance who all give great performances. Great music, great visuals, this is a movie that can be watched over and over and I have a feeling if I watched it years ago I probably would have seen it a hundred times by now - 9.5/10
Big Trouble in Little China - Ever since I started playing Mortal Kombat in 1992 I read about this Big Trouble in Little China movie being a huge influence on the video game, but I never realized just how huge until I finally watched it after 30 years lol the creators of MK really took a lot from this movie, so much im surprised they weren't sued! this movie again proves how versatile Carpenter is as a director, he can do horror, action, suspense, comedy, hes got it all. This movie is a fantasy/comedy/kung fu mashup and it works on so many levels. Starring Kurt Russell of course, as the wise-cracking semi-truck driving Jack Burton! This was such a fun movie, pure 80's magic that could not be replicated today - 8.5/10
Dazed and Confused - Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, Jason London, Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck, Renee Zellweger, Joey Lauren Adams, Adam Goldberg, it was a lot of fun seeing all of these actors together in this teen comedy from the early 90's, it was clear they were having a blast making the movie, and I had a blast watching it! as far as high school teen movies go, this is one of the all time best, and they did a great job with the 70's setting, everything seemed very natural and organic, nothing seemed forced, and it all just worked so well, one of those movies that just clicked on all levels, and the soundtrack was phenomenal - 8.5/10
The Wind (a.k.a Edge of Terror) - what do you do when you travel to a beautiful Greek villa...but going outside means getting torn apart by supernaturally violent winds, while staying inside means having to face-off with a sickle wielding maniac? well Meg Foster (Evil Lyn from Masters of the Universe, Holly from They Live, Stepfather 2, Rob Zombies 31, Legend of Sleepy Hollow) who plays a struggling author trying to find some peace and quiet to finish her book has to answer this question one way or another! Suprisingly light on the gore considering this movie is from Nico Mastorakis who also did "island of death" which was banned as a video nasty in the UK, but the imagery and music were both great. It is more of a survival/suspense movie as opposed to horror, but it was very entertaining and beautiful, and kept my attention throughout - 8/10
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