Welcome to one of the main features of 'Castle Dracula,' the movie reviews section.
The reviews placed here are from all around the world, from the USA to the UK Japan
and everything inbetween. The formats reviewed are video and DVD. I have included the
origin of the film reviewed so you can check your player for compatibility. You may
also notice that there are some DVD-R reviews. These are not 'bootlegs' or 'copies'
but official screeners that I have been sent containing an as yet unreleased film to 
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New reviews are normally placed here once a week, check my front page for under 'Castle
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- Escape From New York - US DVD -  

John Carpenter has done some great horror movies. "Escape From New York" is more of
an experimental project for Carpenter. It is a movie that borders on horror, science
fiction and fantasy but never embraces one particular genre. This movie was made while
Carpenter was at his peak and had not yet begun his slide into the realms of underachievement.
The movie is set in the future. Well, the future that is already the past. 'Escape From 
New York' takes place in 1997. Several years earlier Manhattan Island was turned into a 
fortress. This bastion is guarded by mined bridges, barbed wire, and patrolled by a militaristic
police force. These tactics are not to keep anyone out. Instead they are designed to keep 
undesirables in. Manhattan Island has become a new type of prison. Anyone dropped behind 
these walls will spend the rest of their lives trying to survive. 
'Air Force One' is hijacked by a group of terrorists at the beginning of the film. 'The 
President' (Donald Pleasence) is able to escape in a pod designed specifically for that 
purpose. Unfortunately the pod lands in the middle of Manhattan Island. The police know 
that it is useless to invade and search for the 'Commander in Chief.' 
'Snake Plissken' (Kurt Russell) is about to be cast from society and into the prison. Snake
is a war hero who was highly decorated during an attack of Leningrad. The hero turned to 
robbing banks. 
'Plissken' is offered a deal. If he can get into the Island, find and bring the President 
out alive within twenty-four hours, his sentence will be commuted. 'Plissken' will fly a 
glider onto one of the 'Twin Towers' to enter the compound.
This is a movie that could be picked to pieces. But there is no reason to do that. 
'Escape From New York' is actually quite a bit of fun to watch. It's not as scary as 'Halloween'
or as gripping as 'The Fog' or as suspenseful as 'The Thing.' It's not supposed to be. 
Carpenter is smart enough to not borrow from his better movies. If he had done so, this
film would not be worth the effort of driving to the video store. 
The cast is phenomenal. A fine bunch of actors is gathered for this film. Carpenter uses 
them to their fullest. Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Andienne Barbeau, Harry
Dean Stanton, and Isaac Hayes all give noteworthy performances. Kurt Russell may have given
us his best performance as the tough-guy 'Snake Plissken.' Russell's long hair and beard, 
eye patch, and cocky attitude are all blended to devise the perfect anti-hero. Ernest Borgnine
is another of the cast that gives a great performance. Borgnine plays 'Cabbie,' a jovial 
yet street savvy cab driver. 'Cabbie' and his boisterous personality make a fine sidekick
to the serious-natured 'Plissken.' 
Some great sets are created for the film. The darkest side of human nature comes out through 
these sets. Carpenter and his crew show a segment of society that has slipped into total 
deviance and flirts with absolute anarchy. Murderous thugs creep out of the sewers at night
to find food in the form of helpless humans. Violent gangs set up fiery road blocks. Those 
who fall out of favor of the powerful 'Duke of New York' maybe be forced to fight to the 
death in a wrestling match. But there is also some who want a sense of normality. They find
this in an offbeat vaudeville show. Those who wish to watch the show do so without fear of
reprisals. Nearby other convicts engage in various assaults and devious deeds. It is a 
strange world, but we do not question its feasibility. Carpenter does an excellent job of
keeping the movie on track. The plot has the potential to spend too much time on subplots.
Thankfully Carpenter stays away from that. We never get dragged into places that we do not
need to go. We are interested in everything that happens, but are able to focus on 'Plissken'
and his mission.
Strange and interesting characters infest the screen. We gawk at them, almost laugh at them, 
but would probably rather avoid them. Almost every imaginable human creep that could invade 
your darkest dreams lives in this bleak corner of the world. It is not a place for the weak.
These interesting characters keep a rather basic plot moving along. The audience is so captivated 
by countless and elaborate personalities that Carpenter creates, that we overlook any flaws 
in the plot. Rather then spending too much time trying to comprehend exactly what has brought 
society to take these drastic measures and how the prisoners developed this chaotic society 
with a hierarchy, we sit back and enjoy the show. 
There are only a few extras on this one. French and Spanish subtitles are available. 
A theatrical trailer is included. 
The DVD can be watched in either wide or full screen. 
I do recommend 'Escape From New York.'
It is a highly enjoyable movie that gives enough of 
thrills and excitement for just about anyone to enjoy.

Reviewed By Scal Williams

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