Favorite John Carpenter movie(s). by OPPYH

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Favorite John Carpenter movie(s).

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 16:48
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Sunday, May 3, 2009 11:10 AM

Of course the Carpenter films with the most traffic always make me happy(Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, and Big trouble in Little China).

But honestly I'd have to say "The Fog" from 1979 is my favorite.
I just watched it again, and the atmosphere, location, actors, and music are just fantastic.
It's like a very good slasher film mixed with old time spooky sea stories. Amazing.

And an extra hell yeah to Carpenter himself for the music on this one. It's nearly wall to wall, and perfect for every scene. Creepy stuff.

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Sunday, May 3, 2009 11:18 AM

CHRISISALL

My favourite, no lie, is Escape From LA.

Best. Ending. Evah.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Sunday, May 3, 2009 11:52 AM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
My favourite, no lie, is Escape From LA.

Best. Ending. Evah.

I liked it better than Escape from New York.

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Sunday, May 3, 2009 12:42 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

The Thing

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Monday, May 4, 2009 4:44 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

I liked it better than Escape from New York.

I thought I was the the only one...

The Plutoxin 7 Chrisisall

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Monday, May 4, 2009 5:11 AM

WASHNWEAR

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

I liked it better than Escape from New York.
I thought I was the the only one...

I've been running for years from an awful truth: Someday I will have to break down and watch EfLA. "Better than EfNY"...I just always assumed it would be the exact opposite. So I've made an ass out of me and...who? Kurt Russell? Seems unlikely...

The Thing, hands down and with feeling.

Not widely known is the fact that in the late 90s they put out a sequel of sorts to The Thing...The Thong. Basically this space vessel piloted by alien lingerie crash-lands in remotest Hollywood and starts replicating every item of personal apparel in (or out of) sight, from long-johns to crotchless panties to men's ever-so-slightly-padded briefs. At the end they try to destroy the UberThong by way of a particularly harsh laundering (hot/cold, sturdy/cotton, high heat, etc). This appears to be successful, 'til someone discovers that the lint screen was not properly inserted...

W W M D ?
What would MacReady do?

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Monday, May 4, 2009 5:19 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by WASHnwear:

"Better than EfNY"...I just always assumed it would be the exact opposite.

NY was cold, cruel, & serious to a fault, LA is over the top outrageous, and deliciously satirical. Some peeps had trouble with the change in tone, but I love 'em both- I just find LA to be more endlessly re-watchable.
Your mileage may vary.

I also like The Thing, Halloween 1 & 2, They Live, Village of the Damned...oh crap, I'm gonna list EVERY film he made except In The Mouth Of Madness & Ghosts Of Mars...

The laughing Chrisisall

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Monday, May 4, 2009 5:44 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

Very hard choice. Strongest of his in my mind are Assault on Precinct 13 and They Live.

All the rest live in a sort of standard Carpenter film for me. Not at all a bad thing, they have just been favorites since I was a kid.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn

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Monday, May 4, 2009 6:21 AM

RIPWASH

Okay . . . I'll be the first to say it.

Hands down it's Big Trouble in Little China. Perfect blend of over the top kung fu action and loads of humor.

But now that it's got the seal of approval from my "Chuck" and "Burn Notice" buddy, I just might have to give Escape from LA a shot. I was excited about it, but it got horrible reviews, so I never bothered watching it.

Mal: You think she'll hold together?
Zoë: She's torn up plenty, but she'll fly true.
Mal: Could be bumpy.
Zoë: Always is

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Monday, May 4, 2009 6:24 AM

SINGATE

I'll toss Prince of Darkness into the ring. Obviously not his most well known work and I'm not going to say its the best but it is very effective. I really like the idea that the ultimate being is not the good guy.

Also In the Mouth of Madness seems to get short changed by everyone not familiar with H.P. Lovercraft's writings. Though the film isn't a direct adaptation of any single story it does capture the flavor of his writing better than any film I've seen based on his work.

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We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

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Monday, May 4, 2009 7:05 AM

OUT2THEBLACK

DARK STAR .

http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/movies/dark_star_000718.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Star_%28film%29

'...In the middle of the 22nd century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. Armed with intelligent "Exponential Thermostellar Bombs", the scout ship DARK STAR and its crew have been in space alone for twenty years on a mission to destroy "unstable planets" which might threaten future colonization. Meanwhile, the ship's crew, consisting of Lt. Doolittle, Sgt. Pinback, Boiler and Talby (their Commander, Powell, has died and exists only via cryogenic supports) perform their jobs in a state of abject boredom as the tedium of their task has driven the crew up the wall.

...The computer has become dysfunctional, with parts of the ship burnt out and others simply blown up. Due to damage suffered in an asteroid storm, thermostellar Bomb #20 threatens to detonate while still in the ship's bomb bay. The other crew members attempt to talk the bomb out of blowing up ("'Wouldn't you consider waiting around awhile for another course of action?'...'No.' ").

...Commander Powell is fired off into space encased in a large block of ice, Talby drifts off into the Phoenix Asteroids to die and circle the universe, and Doolittle surfs down to the unstable planet on a piece of debris to burn up in the atmosphere.'

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dark_star/

"...Consensus: A loopy 2001 satire, Dark Star may not be the most consistent sci-fi comedy, but its portrayal of human eccentricity is a welcome addition to the genre."

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Monday, May 4, 2009 8:11 AM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by nvghostrider:
Very hard choice. Strongest of his in my mind are Assault on Precinct 13 and They Live.

All the rest live in a sort of standard Carpenter film for me. Not at all a bad thing, they have just been favorites since I was a kid.

They Live is an awesome movie. Roddy Piper wasting aliens with a shotgun for a couple hours is always good

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Monday, May 4, 2009 8:13 AM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by singate:
I'll toss Prince of Darkness into the ring. Obviously not his most well known work and I'm not going to say its the best but it is very effective. I really like the idea that the ultimate being is not the good guy.

The only Carpenter movie I have never seen is Prince of Darkness. It sort of slipped through the cracks of the other half dozen movies he was making in the 80's.

I will buy the dvd soon.

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Monday, May 4, 2009 8:18 AM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
NY was cold, cruel, & serious to a fault, LA is over the top outrageous, and deliciously satirical. Some peeps had trouble with the change in tone, but I love 'em both- I just find LA to be more endlessly re-watchable.
Your mileage may vary.

But that's what gives LA it's charm. Carpenter, and Russel I'm sure had a hell of a good time making it, and that transfers over to the film itself. You feel good just watching it.
Justafeelgoodcarpentermovieisall

(sorry, couldn't help myself).

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Monday, May 4, 2009 8:28 AM

STORYMARK

I absolutely adore The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. Looove those two movies.

The rest of his work I can take or leave.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Monday, May 4, 2009 10:43 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:

Hands down it's Big Trouble in Little China.

Okay, that's tops for me too. THEN Escape From LA.

The name's Plisskin.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Monday, May 4, 2009 10:47 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
I just might have to give Escape from LA a shot.

One notable fair criticism of it, it does re-hash many elements from the first flick. But in a very original way I felt.

Carjack Chrisisall

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:09 AM

MOOSE

I gotta go with The Thing. I still get chills thinking about that guys head sprouting legs and scurrying away...

BUT...I think I've watched Big Trouble in Little China more times, though. Fun movie!

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:20 AM

PIRATECAT

Moose, dito.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:32 AM

RALLEM

Dark Star! It was John's college thesis with Dan O'Bannon. You'll see where George Lucas (whom went to school with these two) got his ideas for Star Wars.

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:43 AM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

John Carpenter apparently lived for some time in the town I was born in in Kentucky. In his earlier films, a lot of the street names, places, etc. are from Bowling Green KY.

I have to say, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Starman. This being a science fiction fansite and all.

While my gut instinct is to say Big Trouble in Little China, I'm going to have to go with Halloween. Love the steadicam shots, love the anamorphic widescreen, love Donald Pleasance, love the music. When you watch it, you get the sense that it was made by people who loved movies.

That being said, The Thing is a close second. You can tell it was made by someone who dearly loved the original, but had their own story to tell.

Oh, and all the people touting Twilight as a good film, need to watch Vampires. Jack Crow dispatches vampires with EXTREME prejudice, but he's always careful of them. You get the sense that the vampires as depicted in the film are the most dangerous things ever. As it should be! Plus, James Woods improvised one liners in the movies are great!

There...Halloween my favorite. Big Trouble most entertaining. The Thing is STILL one of the best horror films ever made. (Also, there's an early appearance of the Dr. Horrible goggles in the film. Check it out!)

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

http://manwithpez.livejournal.com

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 5:40 AM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

They Live, for its political commentary and predictive deprogramming. Great fight scene by a pro rasler, great monologs vs mind control, elite conspiracies and the police state.

The black actor is now hired by the Pentagon to do recruiting ads on TV. Creepy to hear him brag how robots are now replacing soldiers.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 6:05 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

Keith David was the voice of Goliath in the Gargoyles cartoon and the voice of Spawn in the animated Spawn. I loved him in Marked For Death, Men At Work, and Dead Presidents. He really added to the ending for The Thing.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:10 PM

MOOSE

Quote:
Originally posted by manwithpez:

I have to say, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Starman. This being a science fiction fansite and all.
....

Oh, and all the people touting Twilight as a good film, need to watch Vampires.

Hell, I had totally forgotten Starman was a Carpenter flick... Good movie!

When my GF "forced" me to watch Twilight, my condition was to watch Vampires right after it...

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:46 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Big trouble in little china does it for me.

Second in line is a back to back NY/LA escapefest - who but Kurt Russel can make solo basketball look so badass ?

And They Live deserves spot three for 2 reasons.
1. The fight over the sunglasses.
2. "And I'm allll outta bubblegum."

-F

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 4:05 PM

KIRKULES

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
Quote:
Originally posted by nvghostrider:
Very hard choice. Strongest of his in my mind are Assault on Precinct 13 and They Live.

All the rest live in a sort of standard Carpenter film for me. Not at all a bad thing, they have just been favorites since I was a kid.

They Live is an awesome movie. Roddy Piper wasting aliens with a shotgun for a couple hours is always good

I can't believe I didn't know that They Live is a Carpenter movie. That movie kicks ass (because they're all out of bubble gum).

My tops would be The Fog and The Thing. Halloween 1 was a awesome movie in it's time, but it just doesn't have the impact today because we've all been desensitized to violence.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009 4:48 PM

DROCCULARI

I can't believe no one's mentioned it yet, The Army of Darkness! Oh, wait, wrong director. Cr*p!
OK. How about Ghost World. No duh!
Hah! Serenity! No, Frak! Ah... frak? No, no. D*mn senility.

John, make another movie will you!!?

I will not consult IMDb.
I will not consult IMDb.
I will no... THE REMAKE OF THE VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED! Yes! yes? YES!

Although my favorite is Big Trouble in Little China.

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