Rating: 
Summary: A gem
Review: Of all of the films screaming for a DVD Special Edition, "Escape from New York" is at the top of the list. There must be 1,001 untold stories about the creation of this film...and the treatment on VHS and DVD to date has been spartan, at best.My feeling is that this film should be reedited a bit, particularly in the beginning. I'm not a big fan of exposition, but if you watch the film, there is an odd moment. When Snake is in the glider headed for the City, he asks Hauk what to do if he finds that the president has been killed. Hauk replies "Get 'em both back". Both of what? There's a snippet of dialog missing. (Hauk is clearly speaking of the President AND the tape, but it's not clear). If it were made by a lesser filmmaker, EFNY would be unrecoverably dated. But the film is so engaging that there is a timeless quality to it. Call him Snake.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Original Action Film!
Review: I titled my review, "A Very Original Action Film" because I've never seen a movie like this one. There is always a movie about the Vietnam war, or a cops & robbers flick, which I do like those kind of films, I'm simply just proving a point. Besides the Rambo series being my favorite line of films, 'Escape from New York' is one of my other favorite action films. This story is very original...Well, there are films about escaping from prison, but this one had a guy rescuing the president from the prison. If you haven't seen this film, then rent it. If you like it, then buy it. Because this film will guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
Rating:
Summary: snake is king
Review: snake is king of new york, carpenter is too cool
Rating: 
Summary: In 1988 the world goes to hell and NYC is a one-way prison
Review: Look, for $12-$15 you get a perfectly adequate DVD transfer that looks very clear and boasts good DVD quality sound to boot, for it's age. I have no real complaints, considering the price, about the DVD itself. For the average DVD owner/watcher Carpenter's "Escape From New York" is a classic dark, sci-fi action adventure story starring Kurt Russell before he went soft, co-starring in bad Goldie Hawn movies. Besides some of the cheesiness which is obvious, ("Snake" is Russell's character name) the story is very compelling and the suspense is believeable and effective. The dark, corrupt, sinister overtone of the film is delivered brilliantly for it's time, and on a grand scale involving Manhattan Island and a post-apocalyptic New York City. For half the price of most DVD's, this one is worth buying and watching more than once.
Rating:
Summary: A dark and cynical tale
Review: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, John Carpenter made good films. One of the better one's was 1981's Escape From New York. This was part of that series of dystopian films from the 80's (which includes The Road Warrior and Blade Runner) - and which rarely get made anymore (I refuse to mention Escape from LA). Although this film shows its age, it more than deserves its cult status. And that's because of Carpenter's smart direction, in which he took a seven million dollar budget and made it look like much more. Kudos to Carpenter's skill for giving a B-movie such a cool style. The underbelly of the film is composed of a cynicism that works wonders for this truly dark and nihilist world of 1997 where the national crime rate has demanded the extreme action of turning Manhattan into a maximum security prison. Although it is with great irony that America's city's are already starting to resemble Manhattan in this film; they just don't have a big wall surrounding them. Kurt Russell does his best Clint Eastwood and Harry Dean Stanton (Repo Man) is his typical good self as the the conniving Brain. Throw into the mix Ernest Borgnine as the doomed Cabbie and there is a serious mix of acting styles flying across the screen.
Rating: 
Summary: A new transfer on the way!
Review: DVD and John Carpenter fans (of which I consider myself both) - a new transfer "Special Edition" DVD of "Escape From New York" is due this fall, or at the latest, by early 2002. Refrain from buying this release; as one who owns Image's terrific 1996 laserdisc release of the film (with great commentary from both Carpenter and Kurt Russell), I can tell you that this DVD release by MGM is terrible in its quality. Whatever aged master elements they struck the print from are NOT what Image used. This transfer is terrible... hold onto your wallets and wait for the new release.
Rating:
Summary: Dark race against time
Review: Kurt Russell plays Snake Plissken, a decorated soldier who's become disillusioned and cynical, with a disdain for authority. When he's caught robbing the Federal gold reserve he gets sentenced to incarceration in the maximum security prison of Manhatten island (that's the whole island, walled off on all sides). Just before he's shipped over, terrorists attack Airforce One, causing the President to crash land within the prison. The President is due to give a speech in 24 hours, which will prevent world war 3, so in light of his record, Plissken is offered his freedom if he goes in and rescues the President. To ensure his cooperation the police force embed explosive charges with a 24 hour timer in Snake's neck and he's thrust into the scrabbling dark hell that New York has become. Like the best John Carpenter films, Escape from New York is vividly atmospheric and quirky, with an excellent musical score that enhances the oppressive, claustrophobic mood of the film. From the start Snake is forced into action against his will and - unlike the classic movie heroes - really resents it, giving everyone he meets the sharp edge of his tongue (with some great moments of dry humour). His only interest is his own survival, and when the President seems to slip away from him at every turn, his world-weary bitterness slowly becomes an angry desperation. A hugely enjoyable film I first saw in the darkness of the early hours of the morning and no other time fits the sombre mood of the film better.
Rating:
Summary: "Escape" Rocks Again!
Review: John Carpenter's "Escape From New York" is a true classic,and at the time of it's release was a very daring and hard to define movie,It was one of the first ex military anti-hero movie(OK,it probably spawned Rambo/Chuck Norris/and Steven Seagal,but don't hold that against Carpenter),one of the first post-Apocolyptic-warriors movies,and had a serious attitude and dark humour few got on it's initial release.Carpenter really was a true breath of fresh air in the seventies and early eighties,unfortuneatly he has been a wildly uneven director since "Escape".The DVD is breath taking,for years the only video available was a terribly murky pan&scan VHS version,a widescreen "special edition"came a few years ago.The DVD blows both out of the water,the video and sound are crystal clear,it's like seeing a new movie if you didn't see "Escape' in a theater on it's initial run.Unfortuneatly,that's all you get is the movie,and tailer,the outakes and excellent commentary on the LD version is missing.Still,Kurt Russell's performance holds up with time,Capenter's score is drivng and suspensefull.and Adrienne Barbeau never looked better in lingerie(Carpenter must have thought so too,he married her),and the suporting cast is a real hoot,watch for Ernest Borgnine,Season Hubley,Harry Dean Stanton,lee Van Cleef,Donald Pleasence,and an uncredited Jamie Lee Curtis(she's the computer voice)all make memorable impressions.And it cast about half of what I payed for the VHS special edition<g>
Rating: 
Summary: Why do people like this movie?
Review: I rented Escape from New York because I had never seen it and I heard it was a good sci-fi action flick. But this really isn't a good sci-fi action flick. In fact there's hardly any action it it! Kurt Russell get's chased by some crazies and a crazy shoots the "Duke" but other than that this movie suffers from a huge case of poor pacing, or lack of pacing period. I guess this movie could have gotten one more star from me if i had seen it when it came out in the early 80's but now with so may other action and sci-fi movies that have tons of action and on whole are just a lot better (T-2:Judgement Day, The Matrix) I can't say I even really enjoyed this movie. I don't recommend it. If you want sci fi infused with action rent saomething by James Cameron. I will give Carpenter credit though for coming up with a cool premise. But the whole idea was not fully realized. Also Carpenter is a god-awful composer and should defintely stick to directing. The movie is pulled off with style, and Snake is one of the coolest characters ever created in an action movie but other than that there's not much else that's good that can be said of this desloate wasteland of a movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Name's Plissken
Review: I have to say, I wait anxiously for an SE of EFNY. Having the LD (Dir's Spec. Ed., indeed!), and having had the tape of the same, I must say I sure get my fill of SD Bob Plissken. I own the book, 1st ed., which covers all the missing stuff, including the Blackbellies capturing Snake after he and his partner rob the Fed Depository. (Blackbellies, in the book, are the Fed Police in the film, by the way). There's also a bit where they gas and beat him once they have him at Liberty Island, immed. after the security chief says "Hold It!", and fade to black. As the book's an adaptation, there's sure to be other stuff missing, as well, and I hope to someday see it, as do we all. If you can find the 1st ed., it's a strange red cover, with red-and-yellow vertical lines with black filler, making out Plissken's face. I happened on it accidentally. The 2nd ed. has an illo of Snake doing something, but I can't remember what. The abortive comic was kind of silly, Snake looked nothing like Kurt Russell, Escape From Earth is stillborn, and the proposed series is apparently dead as well... The action figure is nice, though I wish they'd make Star Wars figure-sized ones of all the characters. As far as EFLA, it's not terrible, but not great, either. The soundtracks for both are cool, though. Keep on the alert for ANYthing about an SE (that's Special Edition for you neonates). Keep it real. Jake Plissken (Don't pliss me off!)
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