John Carpenter

[kiddo]

To ask for a new ice-cream can be disastrous. Kim Richards experience this on a sunny day, in John Carpenters brilliant moody Assault on Precinct 13. It may be the directors most famous scene, and for many, probably their favorite.

Carpenter is, for me, a great artist when it comes to creating a particular mood and setting, usually creating stories with much entertainment value and just cinematic fun. He's no Tarkovsky or anything, but I must say I like him to a pretty high degree. Assault on Precinct 13 and The Thing has to be my favorites, but I also have a great fondness for Escape From New York, Halloween and Darkstar. I think They Live is somwhat poor, but I admire some of the ideas put into the creating of that film. You know, it's so easy to see that Carpenter and the crew must have had a hell of a lot of fun making this film. It's so full of funny elements, and although it didn't all function that great on screen, it's a good enough effort.Ghosts of Mars are pretty lame, but the setting is just how I like it. Too sad it was so poorly made. Further thought about his films later...

Discuss John Carpenter.

[PTAhole]

One of my favorite directors.

1. Halloween
2. The Thing
3. Big Trouble in Little China
4. Escape From New York
5. Assault on Precinct 13
6. The Fog
7. Starman
8. Dark Star
9. They Live
10. Escape From L.A.
11. Ghosts of Mars

[kiddo]

Some thoughts would have been very welcome...

I'm looking forward to watch Starman and, espesially, The Fog. From what I've seen until now, this is my list:


1. Assault on Precinct 13/The Thing
I'm watching The Thing tonight, so we'll see if it's still as amazing as I remember it. Assault on Precinct 13 has so much charm, suspense and attitude, I couldn't ask for a film with more style. It has this incredibly nice setting, and Carpenter just know so well how to fill the frame with mood. Awesome cult movie. The Thing is one of my favorite "pure" horror films, and I guess it's Carpenters' best film. As said, I'll probably watch it again tonight, so (updated) thoughts will come...

2. Escape From New York/Halloween
I rewatched Escape from New York this other day, as you can see in "rate the last film..."-thread. Still an excellent film with a great dose of cheese and charm. Again, such a cool setting for a film. This is basically how I like my films when it comes to more or less pure entertainment. I think Carpenter manage to add certain interesting aspects in some of his films (most notably in The Thing), which youd don't get in your ordinary "action film", but Escape From New York is basically just a fun, well-made adventure of a movie. Halloween is such a brilliant horror-film. As purely straight-forward-horror-film you'll get. Carpenter directs here with a style he certainly handle well, and in Halloween, he's definitively on correct ground for his filmmaking (if you understand what I mean. That last sentence was a little foggy, I guess).

3. Dark Star
I admire this film. It's quite a well-made, smart little sci-fi film with many interesting aspects worth paying attention to; the camera work is pretty nice and the dialogue often funny, a bit cheesy maybe, but somehow never banal or bad. Just to mention two of the interesting elements of the film. Dark Star is basically for fans of Carpenter, I guess, but it has also much else to offer. If you'r a film buff and not too concerned with the size of the budget, this film is definitively worth checking out. Also, it can inspire you to go out filming for yourself. This, along with a great amount of cheesy b-films from the 50s and 60s, has inspired me, at least. I'm planning to make a "monster film" this summer, with some of my friends as zombies and whatnot. ;D

4. They Live!
Somewhat enjoyble, but only in small doses. And too much of this film is so corny, and not that well-made. As I've said many times, I guess the men behind this cheesy dish from the late 80s had a lot of fun while filming it. For the audience, or at least for me, it's too unsatifying as a final product. An ok film, for sure, but far away from particularly good.

5. Ghosts of Mars
Too long since I saw the whole film, but it seems like a piece of horror/sci-fi done with half motivations. Or, I don't know, but something doesn't seem right here. Too many clishès, maybe. Or no, that can't be it. I don't know. Ghosts of Mars is, maybe, somwhat sloppy, like They Live!, and is a pretty poor film from Carpenter. Need to see it again to fully comment on it, but don't particularly feel the need to, either.

I've also seen In the Mouth of Madness, but sadly didn't pay much attention to it. I'll probably see it again later sometime, but until then, I will not further comment on it. Other than that I remember it as pretty poor. Same with Escape from LA.

[criterionmaster]

kiddo said:

Some thoughts would have been very welcome...

I'm looking forward to watch Starman and, espesially, The Fog. From what I've seen until now, this is my list:


1. Assault on Precinct 13/The Thing
I'm watching The Thing tonight, so we'll see if it's still as amazing as I remember it. Assault on Precinct 13 has so much charm, suspense and attitude, I couldn't ask for a film with more style. It has this incredibly nice setting, and Carpenter just know so well how to fill the frame with mood. Awesome cult movie. The Thing is one of my favorite "pure" horror films, and I guess it's Carpenters' best film. As said, I'll probably watch it again tonight, so (updated) thoughts will come...

2. Escape From New York/Halloween
I rewatched Escape from New York this other day, as you can see in "rate the last film..."-thread. Still an excellent film with a great dose of cheese and charm. Again, such a cool setting for a film. This is basically how I like my films when it comes to more or less pure entertainment. I think Carpenter manage to add certain interesting aspects in some of his films (most notably in The Thing), which youd don't get in your ordinary "action film", but Escape From New York is basically just a fun, well-made adventure of a movie. Halloween is such a brilliant horror-film. As purely straight-forward-horror-film you'll get. Carpenter directs here with a style he certainly handle well, and in Halloween, he's definitively on correct ground for his filmmaking (if you understand what I mean. That last sentence was a little foggy, I guess).

3. Dark Star
I admire this film. It's quite a well-made, smart little sci-fi film with many interesting aspects worth paying attention to; the camera work is pretty nice and the dialogue often funny, a bit cheesy maybe, but somehow never banal or bad. Just to mention two of the interesting elements of the film. Dark Star is basically for fans of Carpenter, I guess, but it has also much else to offer. If you'r a film buff and not too concerned with the size of the budget, this film is definitively worth checking out. Also, it can inspire you to go out filming for yourself. This, along with a great amount of cheesy b-films from the 50s and 60s, has inspired me, at least. I'm planning to make a "monster film" this summer, with some of my friends as zombies and whatnot. ;D

4. They Live!
Somewhat enjoyble, but only in small doses. And too much of this film is so corny, and not that well-made. As I've said many times, I guess the men behind this cheesy dish from the late 80s had a lot of fun while filming it. For the audience, or at least for me, it's too unsatifying as a final product. An ok film, for sure, but far away from particularly good.

5. Ghosts of Mars
Too long since I saw the whole film, but it seems like a piece of horror/sci-fi done with half motivations. Or, I don't know, but something doesn't seem right here. Too many clishès, maybe. Or no, that can't be it. I don't know. Ghosts of Mars is, maybe, somwhat sloppy, like They Live!, and is a pretty poor film from Carpenter. Need to see it again to fully comment on it, but don't particularly feel the need to, either.

I've also seen In the Mouth of Madness, but sadly didn't pay much attention to it. I'll probably see it again later sometime, but until then, I will not further comment on it. Other than that I remember it as pretty poor. Same with Escape from LA.

I make myself sick not having seen Assault on Precinct 13; I will seriously have to see it soon. I can't believe there wasn't a thread for this man already, he is just amazing.

You haven't seen Big Trouble in Little China, kiddo? Don't expect it to be like his other films much, other than the badass element. It is so much fun though, definitely a major cult classic, in fact, when I think of that term this is one of the major films that comes to mind. I have so much fun watching it, for the dialogue, the crazy characters, the out-of-date special effects, it is all so fun.



That still doesn't even begin to do the film justice, but it was the best I could find on the first page of my Google search.

I think Ghosts of Mars is horrible because of all the horror movie clichés, it feels so much like a new horror film, it has all the problems and things I hate about new horror films, not to mention mediocre acting, from people that take you completely out of the film, Ice Cube anyone? There are some elements I like, but it was just a very weak effort from him.

[lordofdance]

Prince of Darkness is his weirdest one, I think. It used to freak me out when I was young, but now it's kind of funny. Big Trouble in Little China is one of my favorites of all time, but I like They Live and The Thing a lot as well. Not a fan of his later stuff.

[kiddo]

Sorry cm, haven't seen Big Trouble... yet. My plan is to watch all of his films in not too long time. Maybe I'll write a text about him or something. It have been in my mind the last few days. But I don't know how much there really is to say about him. I mean, he makes incredibly entertaining films, but how much is there to explore? Maybe it's more to dig out than first expected. Maybe there isn't. We'll see...

I pretty much agree in what you say abot Ghosts of Mars, btw. Most of the actors are awfully bad, and this "new-film-syndrome" may be somewhat relevant to point out. Maybe.

lordofdance: You haven't seen Assault on Precinct 13, or is it just that you'r not that big of a fan?

Also, Prince of Darkness looks quite interesting. I have this strange feelings it's pretty similar with the style and tone of In the Mouth of Madness, but maybe I'm far off. I mean, I have no clue...

[lordofdance]

Prince of Darkness is a science fiction/horror combination. I haven't seen In The Mouuth of Madness, but it doesn't appear to be similar at all. In Prince of Darkness, a group of scientists set up in a church to prevent the return of Satan, who is an alien. A mob of possessed homeless people surround the church and attempt to kill them off. There are a few genuinely creepy moments, but it often gets really silly.

Somehow, I haven't got around to seeing Assault on Precinct 13, but I will soon.

[criterionmaster]

kiddo said:

Sorry cm, haven't seen Big Trouble... yet. My plan is to watch all of his films in not too long time. Maybe I'll write a text about him or something. It have been in my mind the last few days. But I don't know how much there really is to say about him. I mean, he makes incredibly entertaining films, but how much is there to explore? Maybe it's more to dig out than first expected. Maybe there isn't. We'll see...

I wouldn’t put Carpenter down so fast, he really knew, or knows [maybe!], how people get scared. I mean study Halloween alone and you can see all the little things that he does, that create terror, everything about it is just done perfectly. I mean, the film can actually BE SCARY at some points, which is almost impossible for most films. Also, his blending of score into his films is so perfect, and it always enhances the images, too. His films may seem like just entertainment, but when you dissect them, and look at them more carefully, I think it goes even further. He is actually a genuinely good director, who way knows how everything works.

[PTAhole]

I think Carpenter's main motivation is certainly to entertain, but you can't say that that doesn't take talent, or makes him unworthy of discussion. He knows how to make a film, and while his movies don't have much to "think" about, is that the only criteria for whether or not a film is great? Halloween is an excellent film, as are Escape from New York, Assault on Precinct 13, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. Pretty much all just entertainment, but is that a bad thing? My answer is a strong NO. Carpenter is an entertainer, and he's the best at what he does.

[kiddo]

Please do not misunderstand. I think Carpenter is a genuinly good director myself. He makes entertainment, and that's fine, since he does it so brilliantly. What I questioned, was how much there is to dig out of his films, besides the many incredibly creative and colourful aspects that concerns the form of the film. There is much to say, I guess, about his language of cinema, but is there really a great amount of nutritious things coming out of his films, that are worth exploring page after page? Maybe there is. I only question Carpenter's role as an artist trying to express something profound. Could have been a fruitful discussion...