This has got to be one of my favourite movies set in the “not to distant future” genre. Where the film lets you know in some discreet or indiscreet fashion that this tale takes place roughly ten or twenty years from now. That kind of film that makes you pause for a moment, do some simple arithmetic in your head and wonder if this bleak outlook of our future could become reality. Well considering the fact that John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York” takes place in the year 1997, I think we can all breathe a heavy sigh of relief. But even though Carpenter’s Nostradamus-like abilities are a bit questionable, it still doesn’t dispute the fact that he’s made one cool friggin’ movie.

The year is 1997. The world is in turmoil. The President of the United States is returning to Washington with important information that could keep his country from entering what might possibly be the war to end all wars. En route, Air Force one is taken over by terrorists forcing the President to eject from the aircraft and lands in New York City. Now if this was 1981, it wouldn’t have been a problem. He could have gotten a hot dog and gone to the top of the Empire State Building before catching another flight back to the White House, but this the dark, distant future. New York City has been cordoned off and converted into a giant prison. A desolate wasteland where criminals are deposited and left to fend for themselves with no hope of escape. But how do you rescue a single person within a giant metropolis run by criminals? You send in one man. Snake Plissken. One man versus a city of convicts. Given only 24 hours, Snake must save the President and any hope for the future of the planet or literally die trying.

This movie is so great on so many levels. The very setting of the film is so very, very cool. New York City is now a giant inescapable prison? Neat. The very thought that crime has become such a gigantic problem in the future that the only rational solution is to close down an entire city and just dump all criminals into it is a very intriguing concept. Kind of makes “Oz” look like Disneyland.

Snake Plissken. I’m sorry but that’s a pretty cool name for a hero. The very name itself just screams, “Hello. I’m a bitter pissed of bad ass. Get out of my way or I’ll break your neck. Please.” Kurt Russell plays this role to the hilt and does a fantastic job of it. He’s right up there on my top ten list of movie bad asses. Great one liners, permanent five o’clock shadow, eye patch and big cobra tattoo on his gut. Can’t get much cooler than that I’m afraid.

If I’m going to be overly critical of this movie, the only complaint I would have would be the production values. It’s not exactly the most polished piece of cinema. But that is a minor, minor complaint. John Carpenter does a masterful job of keeping this a dark, gritty, intense adventure from beginning to end.