They Live

Rating:
Summary: See Through their Control
Review: This movie is GREAT. I've always liked the films of John Carpenter and this one blew me away. This film is about subtle control and manipulation of the human race. A man gains the power to see through the lies and stupidity of his world. He eventually sacrifices himself to save everyone.

Movies of this caliber are quite simply not made anymore. While watching it, it will not only entertain you it will MAKE YOU THINK. If you liked The Matrix, you will love this. The thing about this movie is that even though its context is outlandish, its message is close to home. The "aliens" in this case become an intense metaphor for those who seek to completely control a population through brain washing and lies. The population becomes willing cattle for their slave masters, some humans even going so far in their brainwashed zeal as to side with the "aliens." MONEY IS YOUR GOD.

Wake up from their mind control. Use your mind and think dangerous THOUGHTS (very similar to the "thought police" of Orwell's 1984) that will bring about goodness in the world. If you like this look into:

reading George Orwell's "1984"
reading Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"
or just watching "The Matrix" again.

Rating:
Summary: You look like your face fell in the cheese dip back in 1956.
Review: Wondering what you world would be like if it were run by aliens that were trying to control your minds through subliminal messaging? Well, look no further than John Carpenter's cult classic They Live. Wresting superstar Roddy Piper stars as Nada, a drifter that stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that show him the truth about his society and the world he inhabits. He discovers that humans are not the only beings to be living on the planet Earth. Nada also knows what he must do to save the human race from complete invasion of these creatures. Does he have enough time and manpower to stop these culprits of communication or will Nada only help them enslave the human race? It will all teeter on the amount of "bubblegum" that he carries with him!

Visionary director John Carpenter creates this world that is not unlike today's society. Glued to the television and void of independent thought, he shows us a human race that resembles cattle in the fields waiting for the farmer's next decision. Created well before The Matrix, Carpenter uses aliens to demonstrate the power of the media and the superpowers behind the scenes. In a world where we gather our truth from others and in the comfort of our own home, this film carries themes that are still relevant today. Carpenter shows us that we can live in a world, even a city, and not realize what is happening around us. How hidden are those subliminal messages in our culture? He also prods at the notion that only the wealthy can create the supposed truth, and that eventually the lines between wealthy and homeless with be much defined. There will be an elimination of the middle-class and humans would be at the bottom of the social order.

This was a beautiful film that carries with it a heavy burden of showing us the truth of our world. While we may giggle and laugh at this "created" society, there are some truths to what Carpenter is showing. He gives us warnings and answers if we choose to listen. I was not expecting such a high caliber of emotion to go into a film like this, and was utterly surprised by the experience. Perhaps it is the packaging, perhaps it is because our culture has not adapted well to the horror/sci-fi genre yet, but everyone should experience this film once. I recommend it for anyone that enjoyed The Matrix and want to see more about the structure of our society.

Grade: **** out of ****

Rating:
Summary: DAWN OF THE ALIEN
Review: They Live had a definite Dawn of the Dead feel to it but was definitely not a Dawn rip off.Rowdy Roddy Piper finds a pair of "special" sunglasses that gives him the ability to see yuppies for what they really are; aliens out to take over the world. Unfortunately he is the only one with these special shades so he tries to convince his buddy to put the glasses on, and the fight scene that insues is easily one of the best fight scenes in movie history.For all of you out there who think that proffessional wrestlers can't act, get either They Live or the Rundown and you will probably have a change of heart.

Rating:
Summary: 'Put on the glasses!'
Review: Action packed sci-fi satire by John Carpenter about the woes of capitalism. Although not too different in quality to Carpenter's other works such as 'Attack on Precinct 13' and 'Prince of Darkness', the story's Orwellian plot and theme keeps it above the par of your regular 'B' sci-fi/horror genre.

Piper plays an out-of-luck blue collar worker looking for employment in L.A. and he seems to not be the only one. The economy is bad and the rich are just getting richer. What is the cause of this social malaise? Piper is ignorant of these mysteries until he stumbles upon an eerie conspiracy to take over the world. Revealed to the truth by a resistance movement and their special sunglasses, Piper seeks new converts to bring down the alien capitalist establishment.

I give the movie 4 stars for its originality but it is still a B-movie. The plot is clever and the satire is rich. If you like this movie, I would also recommend 'Repo Man' with Emilio Estevez.