Rating: 
Summary: The great John Carpenter of yore...
Review: A lean, taut action thriller from the once-great John Carpenter, this movie is an example of what great things can be accomplished on a shoestring budget.A loose adaptation of Rio Bravo, the film concerns a cop, some prisoners, and other civilians trapped in an abandoned police station while they face the onslaught of a seemingly endless army of gang members who seek one of the men inside. Somewhat simplistic, but Carpenter makes it work with great action and suspense, and getting the most from his actors, who all do a fine job here. There is also humor, and some very disturbing scenes. The villians are one-dimensionally evil, but that's the whole point: good versus evil, and redemption (even a convicted prisoner can rise above his own selfish motivations and become heroic. Or is it just a survival mechanism?). A worthy effort by John Carpenter, who has not made a decent film in years ("They Live" was probably his last great movie). Worth owning: I watch this movie at least once a year, and it always entertains.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Top Independent Films Ever
Review: Being a fanatic of John Carpenter, specifically the Halloween series, hearing about this movie made me eager to check it out. I read the raving reviews here on Amazon dot com and decided to take a slight risk and purchase the DVD. Well, I sure was blown away. Movies now a days are never made like this, especially in the way that the characters act. The portrayol of the evil gang members is superb along with the portrayol of the "good guys" in the movie, one in particular being Austin Stoker who plays the main role. This movie is action packed and many parts will leave you shocked. The soundtrack is another great aspect of this film, and way ahead of it's time considering that this movie was made in the 70's. The special features include a very comical interview with Carpenter and Stoker done very recently where some lucky fans got to ask the pair questions regarding this movie along with asking about other John Carpenter classics. Assault on Precinct 13 proves that John Carpenter can make a masterpiece out of a budget no matter how high or low that it is. If you like any work that Carpenter has done then I highly reccomend this film. This is only the second movie he released, but it's deffinatley one of his best.
Rating:
Summary: At my moment of dying.
Review: There are three reasons i don't like any of John Carpenters recent films, and this is one of them (the others being halloween and escape from New York). No name actors, no huge budget, just nail biting action and gripping suspense, Assault on Precint 13 is one for movie fans. there is some great dialogue, and good performances, and even a nice bit of post traumatic cynicism in the finale. even the silent prelude, backed by Carpenter's synthetic score, is a testament to shoestring filmmaking at it's best. if you are disappointed by any of his later efforts, use the SAVE ASS plan, and run to your nearest store and get this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Lucky 13
Review: Before he scared the heck out of us with the original Halloween, director John Carpenter tried his hand at the action genre, with Assault On Precinct 13. Like Halloween, this movie was made on a shooestring budget, but doesn't let that stop it from being darn good. A vicious Los Angeles gang called Street Thunder takes over an all but abandoned police station. This, as a group of convicts are being transnsported, awaiting time on death row. Now, a handful of cops must join forces with these criminals, to survive the seige. The action comes fast and furious. Carpenter makes the most of limited sets and really goes all out. The tension of the film is sustained throughout and played in favor of any real character development. Of course, the infamous, anti-establishment cynacism that Carpenter is known for is ever present. The movie is really like a modern day-in the 70's at least-western. Most of the characters are a tough hombre`s. Strong performances by Austin Stoker as Bishop, Darwin Joston as Wilson, Martin West as Lawson, Tony Burton as Wells, and Laurie Zimmer as Leigh, highlight the film. The climax rivals most gunplay scenes in any of the more recent actioners. Assault is dsated only by its wardrobe and hairstyles but holds up rather well--just the same. The special edition DVD has a fair amount of bonus material. Most of which, will provide enjoyable insight, into how it all came together. Carpenter provides another straight forward audio commentary for the film. He is low key about it all--but quite candid. The "new" video Q&A with Carpenter and star Austin Stoker at the American Cinematheque is also well done. I wish there could have been a few more participants though. The music score, written by Carpenter is a real treat and it's cool to have it isolated. Both behind the scenes stills and lobby card galleries are here, as is the theatrical trailer, and a couple of radio spots. Not bad if you ask me... Assault On Precinct 13 may not be my favorite Carpenter film. But it's still worth a look, especially for those keen on the action genre
Rating:
Summary: Da Da Da Da Da! Da Da Da Da Da!
Review: John Carpenter's reworking of the Rio Bravo concept is one of the best action films of the 70s. It's an action film, but it has the feel of a horror film, most obviously Night Of The Living Dead. Personally, I see this film as a sort of prequel to Escape From New York. It almost feels like the last few years before the whole New York prison deal. As in that film, the gang members attack in a silent, zombie-like swarm. Basically, a group of people stuck in an almost abandoned police station band together, putting all differences aside, to fight back against a siege on the station. Why this gang is attacking this prison is anyone's guess, but they hint early in the film that it's revenge for a gang massacre at the hands of the police. Still, why are they going after these particular people in a station obviously abandoned? And why blast an ice cream man to kingdom come(not to mention a little girl)? Who really cares why they're doing it coz it's fun all the way! Yeah, there's quite a bit of dated lines that make the film seem pretty corny; But bear in mind, these macheezmo lines are used in this film before they were a common action movie cliche. At one point our two criminal heroes decide who's gonna make an escape attempt by playing a game called "Potatoes". It's a wacky combination of Rock, Paper, Scissors and PaddyCake that's hilarious to watch. I only hope Carpenter intended that to be funny. In the interview section of the dvd, someone asks John Carpenter how you win this game. As many times as I watch it, I still can't figure out how he won("I told you I'd lose! Dammit, we're gonna do it again!"). Watching Assault On Precinct 13 is a very satisfying experience and makes you long for the days of good tough guy action flicks.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Delightful
Review: A cracker of a film from the start. Carpenter builds the atmosphere in a way that seems unique to his own personal style. Using actors which are unknown and therefore not stigmatised by expectancy from past performances works, and serves to enhance viewer empathy with the characters.
The plot is simple enough, the Precinct in question is a Police Station which is being closed down, the people within it are a few staff and prisoners, awaiting final closure for transfer, and the assaultees are a gang of callous youths, down on the system, and up on the chance to show it.
It's the coldness and calculated methodology behind the building attack which makes the film so dark. What's more, it's believable, which only adds to the effect. The musical accompaniment too, parallels this, giving the impression of impending attack, and then respite, albeit a brief one. As films go, especially considering the budget, this is as good as you'll see in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: GOTTA SMOKE?
Review: One of Carpenter's earliest films 'Assault on Precinct 13' is an early attempt of a future going crazy story like 'Mad Max' or 'Escape From New York.' Set in the not so distant future, (the film was made in '76) all the gangs of L.A. have united into a huge organization and stolen a large supply of weapons. With the police on red alert, a soon to be shut down station comes under siege and a single cop, some death row prisoners, and a secretary are forced to defend the building from seemingly countless gangsters. The plot is paper thin, but fast paced, gun toting action and an intense score by Carpenter compensate well. Casting was done well though I only found one character (Wilson) truely relatable. But 'Assault on Precinct 13' is a story meant to be just enjoyed, not intensively dwelt on. So if your looking for a good time without having to strain your brain, this flick is definitely worth a check.
Rating:
Summary: CULT CLASSIC!
Review: Low budget movies don't get much better than this. For John Carpenter fans, this movie is a must-see. The same goes for anyone who enjoys action film, cult classics or independant movies. Full of action, good dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humor, "Assault on Precinct 13" is a fun movie. Carpenter's direction sometimes mirrors that of his hero Howard Hawks (this movie was based on Hawk's classic "Rio Bravo"). The acting is about what you would expect for such a low budget film, but once the movie really gets going, you tend to forget all of that and just enjoy the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Hard Core Action
Review: See, this is an action movie. This action movie does not need space aliens, robots, super heroes and gattling guns. Assault on Precinct 13 is straight up action, desperate people versus even more desperate people in a fight to the finish. It is gritty, with little humor or any kind of relaxation between scenes. Every image is tense and unpredictable, with clever twists occurring throughout the movie. Besides a few technical and plot problems, Assault on Precinct 13 is low budget shoot em up in its finest. John Carpenter's early work pays homage, admittedly, to such siege classics as Zulu and Fort Apache. The basic story is just transported to a dreary dilapidated urban setting, in this case, south central LA. An isolated police precinct is being deactivated, leaving just a skeleton crew of police and clerks to watch over the building for the last night. Of course, in these movies, everything goes wrong. A horrible, bone chilling murder happens near by, bringing conflict to the station itself. On top of that, 2 prisoners are transported to the precinct that very night (the good guys don't get any breaks in this movie). While chaos reigns inside as the police realize they are totally cut off from the outside world, a large group of heavily armed gang members descends on the outpost. A great movie watching experience ensues. Carpenter gives this movie what action movies need to work. A really evil group of bad guys, and a great bunch of heroes. Add in the really interesting dilemma they are all in, and you have a great story. Of course, there are some problems, namely the street gangs strange penchant for suicide attacks, but, who cares, they're just bad guys getting shot. Oh, and a lot of people get shot in this movie. The soundtrack is great too, it has a very strange tone to it, one that always knows when to pour on the electronic tension music. It is just a fun movie to watch, a great little entertainment device designed by Carpenter in the early days of his career.
Rating:
Summary: "Anybody got a smoke?"
Review: Merely one of the best B-movies ever, though it required a cabal of British and French film critics to point this out to us. Well, they were right. *Assault on Precinct 13* is pure, unalloyed entertainment, shot by John Carpenter back in 1976 with utmost dedication to frisson and convulsive action, all on a miniscule budget. There's much to admire here, starting with the magnificently ugly location shots (South Central L.A. and Compton). What a desolate place this is, and it contributes to the uncanny impression that the movie gives us, which is that it's set in some not-too-distant, dystopian future in which the cops and the gangs have declared all-out war on each other. (As such, it's rather prescient, too.) It's a world where a little girl with blond pigtails gets blown away while noshing up an ice-cream cone . . . and the ice-cream man packs heat for self-protection. The nihilist tone finds its corollary in the main action sequences, in which a dilapidated police station is put under siege by wordless hooligans who scurry around its environs during the night like a pack of malicious cockroaches. The police station is manned by your typical B-movie existentialist heroes, starting with Austin Stoker as the urbane African-American sergeant (a clear nod to the movie's prime inspiration, *Night of the Living Dead*), a laconic death-row convict who's always asking people for cigarettes, and a stone-face tough-chick detective. Watch for the scene wherein the gang outside shoots up the police station: because they're using silencers on their guns, all you hear are the windows elegantly popping apart from the bullets. Classic stuff. [The DVD is generous, with goodies ranging from Carpenter's electronic score to a badly-filmed live interview with the director and star Austin Stoker (who looks unutterably bored by it all).]
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