"Call me Snake," Kurt Russell utters to legendary Spaghetti Western actor Lee Van Cleef, as the latter attempts to make a deal with Kurt Russell's character, Lt. Snake Plissken, a decorated war hero-turned-anarchist. Van Cleef's character, another former war hero named Bob Hauk, tells Plissken that only a few hours earlier the President of the United States (Donald Pleasance) was the victim of a terrorist plane hijacking, forcing the President to abandon the plane in an escape vessel destined to crash land in New York City-now the nation's largest, and most dangerous, federal penitentiary.Hauk tells Plissken that, unless he wants to spend the rest of his life behind bars, he better get his ass in there and save the President. "The name's Plissken!" Kurt Russel utters rebelliously. The rest of the movie is pretty much exactly what you'd want out of a stylized sci-fi action piece set in a year that now, in 2018, is already 20 years in the dust. Kurt Russell delivers a 110% Kurt Russell performance, but plays a much grittier character in relation to Big Trouble in Little China's Jack Burton or even his role in The Thing. Carpenter's soundtrack kicks major ass, riding one long synth motif straight through the movie. Isaac Hayes delivers as The Bad Guy, and Donald Pleasance plays a unique version of the hostage, let alone the President of the United States. What can be said...if you love John Carpenter, you should have already seen this movie! And if you love 80s action gems, pop this baby in and enjoy the ride.

This is a classic 80's movie! Definitely worth watching if you like sci-fi movies! They don't make movies like this anymore, that's for sure... It doesn't have all those special effects and CGI nonsense. It's how movies still should be made. With actors not overacting and not all the computer generated crap. A bare bones sci-fi flick. If your looking for something different and are tired of all the crap out there check out this movie!

Snake Plissken is known as one of the most iconic sci-fi characters in film history, but why? Kurt Russell is a fine actor in just about everything he does, but Escape From New York never gives him anything to do besides hold a gun which he uses maybe once the entire film? It's safe to say I wasn't impressed with this film.Manhattan is now a security prison for criminals of all variety and after the President crash lands in the middle of the city, Plissken is hired to rescue him. Apparently Plissken is like the boogeyman for these Manhattan criminals, since they all know who he is but didn't seem to know he actually existed or where he's been. The weirdest part, however, is we never get to see him to anything of value. Even in criminals past references, they never mentioned anything specifically which would warrant him a spot to save the President.It's one thing if the film embraces its silliness and makes all of the dialogue, action, and performances cheesy, but they don't. The tone is never truly set. On one hand, you have Plissken taking on dozens of criminals who look like they are wearing Mad Max cosplay, but then you have the issue of the President's life being on the line. Those are two opposing tones butting heads, and you never get a grasp on the type of film John Carpenter wants to make. I think Carpenter is a masterful director, but Escape From New York felt kind of like a cheap side project for him. Though, I will say Carpenter's original score made for this film is brilliant.I think a lot of my frustration comes from the fact that this film was made close to 40 years ago, and therefore, there's plenty of dated qualities to it. CGI was young in 1981, and it shows. That and the green screen effects were difficult to watch. Of course, these aren't necessarily the film's fault, but sometimes the reach shouldn't exceed the grasp by that much of a margin. It's not the fault of the film, but I've seen plenty that are better since. Donald Pleasance doesn't get much to do, and neither does anybody in a supporting role. And most of all, I just didn't care for any of the characters or the story they were in.+Great score-Why is Plissken so revered?-Dated4.2/10

It's the future New York has been turned into a cut throat prison Isolated from the rest of the world When Air Force One is high jacked It crashes in New York The President is held hostage by criminals In the cut throat hell that is now New York City And only one man has any chance to enter this hell on earth And escape alive from New York it's the hardened Criminal Snake Plissken This is without a doubt a movie that showed how good actions could be This is an absolute classic it must be seen by all genuine movie fans There is a reason this movie has stood the test of time and always will It's truly one of the greatest films ever to be made at the end of the day to be honest It's how action films should be so do your self a favour watch this movie Watch and enjoy