Movie Review: Escape From L.A.

Escape From L.A. 

Starring: Kurt Russell, Steve Buscemi, Peter Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Valeria Golino, Stacy Keach, Pam Grier, Bruce Campbell, Georges Corraface, Michelle Forbes, A.J. Langer, Ina Romeo, Peter Jason, Jordan Baker, Caroleen Feeney, Paul Bartel, Tom McNulty, Jeff Imada, Breckin Meyer, Robert Carradine, Shelly Desai, Leland Orser, Kathleen Blanchard, William Luduena, Gabriel Castillo, William Peña, David Perrone
Director: John Carpenter 

Paramount Pictures, Rysher Entertainment, USA, 1996. 

In 1997 cynical war-hero Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) rescued the president from New York. In 1998 crime and anarchy spreads in the USA. Religious fanatic president (Cliff Robertson) takes the power. In 2000 earthquake separates Los Angeles from the continent. Almost everything is banned and L.A. becomes a deportation place for those declared immoral. The city is ruled by gangs but still it is the only place having any freedom in the USA. 

Snake Plissken

The President

In 2013 Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is deported to the island. Police Commanders Malloy (Stacy Keach) and Brazen (Michelle Forbes) control the entrance to the island. As a peculiar detail their control room is decorated with cacti. President's daughter Utopia (A.J. Langer) rises against her father and steals a secret weapon. She then hides in L.A. She is allied with Peruvian terrorist Cuervo Jones (Georges Corraface) who is about to prepare invasion of USA. Snake is injected with deadly virus that will kill him after 10 hours. If Snake brings the weapon back he will be pardoned. If he declines, he will die. 

Police Commanders Malloy and Brazen

Utopia

Room with cacti

L.A. is a hostile place but some residents may be helpful or not. Surfer Pipeline (Peter Fonda) guides him to the town and teaches him how to surf. Snake meets Map to the Stars Eddie (Steve Buscemi) who tries to sell an useless map but he also knows the major power players. 

Cuervo Jones

Surfer Pipeline

Map to the Stars Eddie

Gang of plastic surgery failures led by Surgeon General (heavily masked Bruce Campbell) captures Snake and local resident Taslima (Valeria Golino). Snake and Taslima manage to escape but soon Snake is captured by Cuervo's men. Cuervo is like emperor of the city, having his own Roman circus style entertainment. Snake is forced to play basketball or he will die. Utopia becomes disillusioned of Cuervo, when she sees that he is not a romantic freedom fighter but a murderous dictator. There is also another gang led by Snake's old acquaintance Hershe Las Palmas (Pam Grier). Teaming up with her gang Snake assaults Cuervo's army but the clock is ticking.

Surgeon General

Taslima

Hershe Las Palmas

The story is almost identical to "Escape from New York" so if you liked the first movie you will probably enjoy this one too. Snake has not lost his attitude. Action scenes are good and fun. They have some spaghetti western influences, in one scene Snake battles even a cowboy riding a horse. There is also a surreal post-apocalyptic surfing scene. Heavy satire is thrown toward contempory America, also Hollywood gets its share with sunken and destroyed studio landmarks. The ending is properly badass. EFLA is a good 90s action movie and a nice sequel but not as ground-breaking as EFNA.

Almost everyone wants to kill Snake

Death from above

Rating: Good