What's your favorite John Carpenter film?

[jus_the_facts]

Poll question: What's your favorite John Carpenter film?

.....just watched THE FOG again...the DVD has some cool extras...I've enjoyed all of his work...was wantin' to see which ones you all enjoyed best!

Poll result (71 votes)
Halloween	(10 votes, 14%)	Vote
The Fog	(0 votes, 0%)	Vote
The Thing	(24 votes, 34%)	Vote
Escape From New York	(15 votes, 21%)	Vote
Prince of Darkness	(5 votes, 7%)	Vote
They Live	(9 votes, 13%)	Vote
Body Bags	(0 votes, 0%)	Vote
In The Mouth of Madness	(1 votes, 1%)	Vote
Vampires	(2 votes, 3%)	Vote
Other?	(5 votes, 7%)	Vote

[Fenris]

1. They Live!

[jus_the_facts]

17. Ya know I still haven't see that one.....

....guess it's high time I did!!

[Fenris]

24. You MUST!!!!!

It's political!

[jus_the_facts]

28. dammit........

...dunno why I never have...will most definitely see it for sure!!

[Fenris]

30. Carpenter says he wrote it as a reaction to Reaganism

You'll LOVE it!

[EstimatedProphet]

48. And it applies even better to *!

It's like the movie is a documentary almost!
Well, almost...

[LTR]

56. "Escape From LA"

Seems like a reaction to Bush II.

Only the movie came out in 1997. Did he know something we didn't?

Sure, it's a cheesy flick, and a blatant ripoff of EFNY, but I swear, the president in that movie seems like the spitting image of John Asscroft.

That, and it had some pretty humorous moments.

It's worth at least catching on Showtime or HBO when it comes on.

[bubblesby2002]

2. Escape from New York

I love Snake Pliskin Kurt Russell wow

[jus_the_facts]

3. I love that one too.....but love The Thing more......

[bubblesby2002]

10. The Thing was just so creepy

because the "thing" was really creepy.

[Duckiesplaything]

39. I thought he was dead.......

Gotta love an ass-kickin loner.....It's what I've always wanted to grow up to be.....LOL

[Enraged_Ape]

58. YEAH!!!

[Skip Intro]

4. Voted Halloween, but...

I liked The Fog and The Thing, Escape from NY and They Live as well.

Halloween was my first real "horror" flick experience. I was in HS at the time and saw that movie like five times, each time with a different date. Ahhh, those days.

But it scared the hell out of me. I really, really liked that flick, and still do. Liked The Fog for many of the same reasons. Plus it was just spooky.

[jus_the_facts]

6. I enjoyed it once again....

.....it freaked me out when I first saw it as a kid...have you seen the DVD yet?

[Skip Intro]

8. Nah, not yet

I'll have to check it out.

They ought to do a late 70s - mid 80s scream/horror flick box set. Have all the Carpenter classics and maybe throw in Phantasm, Terror Train, Prom Night...

[jus_the_facts]

11. That'd be cool indeed......

.....the movie Hell Night with Linda Blair really tripped me out too...saw it in the early 80's as well...frrrreeeaky!

[DrWeird]

5. I only saw the first half hour or so of They Live.

I got right to the point of where Rowdy Rod kidnaps that woman. It was actually getting really good. I'm guessing it goes down hill fast.

I saw an old black and white "The Thing" when I was a kid. Was the remake better?

[jus_the_facts]

7. Oh yeah.....it's really good.....

....the DVD's got great extras too!!

[redqueen]

37. It so does not go downhill from there!

It actually only gets better. Many people gripe about one scene in particular after that point, but IMO there's no reason to complain. Classic Sci-Fi flick!

And the fact that it's from a short story (what was the title? 8 O'Clock in the Morning or something weird like that? I gotta read that) makes it IMO even more impressive.

[LDS Jock]

9. Halloween

It's a classic. Even after all these years, still a great movie.

[jus_the_facts]

12. A classic indeed....and it does still hold up.....

.....that music always sends a chill down me spine...every time!!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. I've never seen any of those movies.

I saw the original 'The Thing' though...

[jus_the_facts]

15. You should definitely see John's remake......

....he did an excellent job!!

[Enraged_Ape]

62. Carpenter's "Thing" makes the original look like "Green Acres"

I heartily recommend it to you. It features great performances by a stellar cast that really make you feel the terror.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. The Fog has to be the most suspenseful movie ever made

I watched it on TV, which meant it had commercials, and I've never watched a movie in which I was actually glad for commercial breaks except for The Fog. Every commercial was a chance to breath again. It's not a scary movie, IMO, but VERY suspenseful, and Carpenter is such a genius that he how to set up the audience by bringing in the typical "something is gonna happen" music, and then not have something happen.

But, I had to vote for The Thing, because it's one of my top ten best films ever. Brilliant film-making and incredible script and acting. All around an excellently made film, very suspenseful, the shape-shifting scenes are PHENOMENAL and gross and extraordinary but never gratuitous or overdone, and I love the nihilistic attitude of the entire movie.

I remember some of the reviews of that movie, dissing it, and saying that the nihilism and lack of hope got in the way of the story. i can only shake my head at those reviewers and say "You just didn't get it. That's what the story WAS - the nihilism and loss of hope and ambiguity of the ending IS THE STORY. Idiots."

I love the movie!

[jus_the_facts]

16. The Thing is really great...and they did wonders with the special fx....

....considering when it was made....and yeah one of the DVD extras on The Fog..John explains how they had to go back and add the *ghosts* because originally they'd only went with the suspense of what was in the fog...to leave it up to your imagination....but the audiences weren't as pleased with those early previews!!

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. I *must* get The Fog on DVD!

I don't have that one yet.

I love The Thing DVD with all the extras. An absolutely amazing procedure for making a movie. And it was all guys, except for one woman who made the spaceship model. But I'm really amazed at the amount of real stuff in that movie - like the flamethrower scenes are really the actors burning real stuff with real flamethrowers. And in the end, when they're running around blowing up the base with dynamite, that's the actors really running around with real dynamite really blowing up the set. Incredible!

[jus_the_facts]

21. Yeah the commentary with John and Kurt is awesome on The Thing.......

....I've watched those extras several times m'self!!

I do recommend you add The Fog to your collection...the extras include the original documentary from the 80's and another one made especially for this DVD release! Janet Leigh talks about Psycho and gettin' to make a movie with her daughter Jamie...and Jamie's thoughts about workin' with her mom...it's really cool!!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

19. They Live...Best.Fight.Scene.Ever.

Roddy Piper and Keith David deserved an Oscar for that fight scene. It went on for like 3 minutes or something. Not to mention that Piper's character takes a takes an almost constant beating the whole movie.

[jus_the_facts]

23. Ahhh the spice....some o'that flow would be rather nice....

.....another DUNE fan I see!! Gotta go rent They Live....I've never seen it!

[DS1]

51. South Park did a shot-for-shot homage to it with Timmy and Jimmy

Pu pu puuhhh Put the hat on T T T Timmy

[The Traveler]

20. Four way tie

They Live
The Thing
The Prince of Darkness
Escape from New York

Carpenter rocks.

[jus_the_facts]

22. I went to see Prince o' Darkness on Halloween!!

...and looooved it! ...and that was Alice Coopers film debute I believe....in fact I'd just seen him in concert around that time as well!!

[The Traveler]

25. Great flick

Definitely a thinking person's horror flick.

[jus_the_facts]

27. It's been awhile since I've watched it....gotta add it to my collection...

...that's definitely goin' on my *must have* list!!

[chrisesq]

26. No mention yet of Assault on Precinct 13? It's one of his best.

[jus_the_facts]

29. Never knew that existed untill I googled all his movies....

....another one I gotta see!!

[chrisesq]

31. Think of it as Rio Bravo in 1970s Los Angeles.

The acting leaves a bit to be desired, but it's pure action.

[jus_the_facts]

32. kickin' and signin' off for now...g'night and have a pleasant tomorrow!

[rabid_nerd]

33. Who's John Carpenter

and I've never heard of a single on of those movies...

Are they old?

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. Ack!

Choke, gasp. I'm surprised you don't know - but then, we can't know everything and every one, can we?

Carpenter was real active and popular in the 80s, though he's still making movies. He had a string of big movies, like The Thing, The Fog, the Two Escape From movies, and some others.

He's been kinda lying low lately, which is sad, since he's a brilliant director and story teller.

Go rent any of these movies, especially The Thing and The Fog and Halloween, and get a feel for how good horror/science-fiction can be when directed by an artistic and thinking director. Amazing stuff.

[Paragon]

34. STARMAN

Shame on you for leaving that one out, it's his best...followed by They Live.

[redqueen]

38. OK I change my vote to Starman as well

I forgot that was his! D'oh!

Awesome movie. Thanks for mentioning it!

[proud patriot]

54. yes Starman gets my vote n/t

[jus_the_facts]

42. There aren't enough spaces to list 'em all.....s'why *other* is an option.

....I loved Starman as well...but forgot that was his. Here's his official website where several of his other movies I'd forgotten about are listed as well.

http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/pages/themovies...

[Tom_Foolery]

49. Ditto on Starman...

A great performance from the most underrated actor, Jeff Bridges.

[redqueen]

36. I watch They Live every time it comes on

and The Thing is one of my all time faves, but In The Mouth of Madness had no votes, and I absolutely ADORE Clive Barker, so that got my vote.

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. Mouth of Madness is a wild ride of a movie, isn't it?

Not at all what I expected, and like the Fog, quite suspenseful.

[redqueen]

41. I think so, yes

But then IMO Carpenter is a genius, and Barker is one of my very favorite authors / artists, so I would probably love any collaboration between these two.

[absyntheNsugar]

63. Yes - Mouth of Madness was excellent

Every animal can smell their own extinction...

[jus_the_facts]

43. For all the fans here....look it....THE JOHN CARPENTER WEBSITE!!

http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/pages/themovies...

[Rabrrrrrr]

50. Great website! Thanks!

I've downloaded a bunch of sound clips. Some people collect things - me, I'm obsessed with sound clips from movies. Oh, well, at least they only take up harddrive space.

(I like to link them with friend's emails, so that every friend has his/her own sound associated with an incoming email - tres cool, so I always know who's emailing me, even if I'm away from the computer)

[jus_the_facts]

60. You're most welcome.....

....that's an extremely cool and original idea...color me impressed!!

[TheMightyFavog]

44. Big Trouble in Little China

Whe the HELL wasn't this put on the list?

[ForrestGump]

64. I agree with my brother - "Big Trouble..."

Though I LOVE They Live beyond all reason, as well. And I rate some of his other films among my fasvorites, though I've yet to see classics like The Thing. The dude was great, and Kurt Russell's an excellent collaborator. Kurt also did the best Elvis yet seen on film, other than the real one, in their first joint venture.

[Gildor Inglorion]

45. "Christine"

an overlooked gem, in my opinion.

[jus_the_facts]

46. Yes.....great read and well adapted to film......

[Blue_Tires]

55. another vote for christine

if you love cars, you love that movie..simple as that

[jus_the_facts]

47. kick

[Beware the Beast Man]

52. They Live

"I came to chew gum and kick ass....and I'm all out of gum!"

You really can't deny a 20 minute fistfight over sunglasses.

[rppper]

53. "i don't know whats in there, but it's weird and pissed off !!!......"

palmer during the attack on the sled dogs......used to be my sig line as well......" the thing " without a doubt, and i am a huge carpenter fan.....creepy...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

57. The scene where they're all tied together and they test the blood

classic. I don't usually scare for these flicks but that one was gut wrenchingly frightening.

[Enraged_Ape]

59. That is the scariest scene in any movie EVER

I've seen that movie about a dozen times and that scene never fails to scare the hell out of me. I almost can't stand to watch it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

61. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life

tied TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!"

Love that scene - and when the guy chanegs into a thing while others are still tied in their chairs - frightening. The look on Childs is great!

And of course, Carpenter wanted realism, so they really were in a room with a live flamethrower, so it actually was pretty dangerous.