In a low budget shot ‘em up, John Carpenter (Ghosts of Mars) re-invents the wheel and reintroduces a brand new generation to the gunslinger, outlaw, and all around bad ass, Snake Pliskin (Kurt Russell, Dark Blue), who prefers to be addressed as just ‘Snake’. This is one bad outlaw, and the U.S. has gone through some major changes since his act of redemption that brought him a full pardon and saved the former president (Escape from New York).
Now the new U.S. has gone through major changes, including a catastrophic earthquake that separated Los Angeles from the mainland, and transformed it into the new Maximum Security Island Prison. The principle leader, and head of all the gangs is Cuervo Jones, another bad dude, and the U.S. is in real trouble.
Not only has Cuervo united the entire third world against the new Moral U.S. (All moral offenses are punished by a choice between banishment or death), but he has also seduced the presidents daughter into stealing and delivering a doomsday device that could shut down the entire free world.
Replete with the ongoing discussion of what true freedom is, along with Carpenters sadistic and amazing ability to fabricate future dystopian society, this movie packs a punch, and is pretty good for a clearly low budget flick. Cameo’s shine through like in all Carpenter’s works, including Steve Buschemi (Con Air), Peter Fonda (Easy Rider), Pam Greer (Coffy), and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead).
What makes this movie a 2 is the ending. You just have to watch it. The last 20 minutes is pure gold, and quintessential Pliskin.
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