+3
I used to really like Carpenter a lot up until about the time of They Live. Once that movie hit, I was thinking "Well, that's it then. Good run". They Live definitely had elements that made it a potentially great film but, even at age 11 I could spot the dullness to it. It didn't utilize the B movie feel like Escape from New York did. It had zero atmosphere. The only good things about it were the premise and the casting. Carpenter had usually given his actors good stuff to chew on. Good dialog, natural actors were cast. JC kind of took a tv star approach to his casting and for every supporting role in They Live, it just felt like it sunk the ship. It was his most ambitious but most misdirected opportunity at a film. I've tried In the Mouth of Madness 3 times and each time I walk away with the same feeling: boring. Sam Neill just isn't that engaging as an actor. On any level.
I forgive and actually enjoy Vampires because Woods is great as usual and Baldwin is a laugh riot. It was staged poorly and was too sluggish for the action sequences, which made it kind of odd, and that showed Carpenter's aging sensibility as to what a modern action kind of requires (competent action editing). I've liked slowly staged action scenes in the past, just not so much here. Still a decent enough time waster. Certainly better than Ghost of Mars.
Prince of Darkness I just liked the mood of it. Definitely a tv movie of the week casting job once again but it worked for me, mostly due to Cundey's tight photography and Carpenter's brooding score. Some of the effect shots were great and genuinely creepy like the voice gargling bug man and the insert shot of the hand dagger stabbing down. Has a twice repeated "Ca-Ca" after thought that should be given it's own holiday as best random movie line ever.
I think his best work is Escape from New York, The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13. Assault had the power of good actors on its side. It was just as much fun hanging out with pre Tarantino-esque caliber 70's actors who delivered believability, as it was watching zombie-like street hoods try and infiltrate a blackout moment of a soon to be abandoned police station in the middle of the night. Heavy, heavy atmosphere and grisly scenes of unexpected violence. I really enjoyed this film. Dated but still a strong thriller.
Christine is a classic. It's not his very best work because it doesn't quite appeal in all facets. Cunningham's character is very screwy and funny. Buddy Repperton is also a real hoot. JC's score is again very freaked out, especially when he does his bell dive synth cue as a pair of headlights suddenly beam on in the dark as a fat bully awaits his final jog. I think the ending is what made this movie miss the mark of being a classic. It all felt very routine and underwhelming. Everything leading up to it, though-was great. Serious character arc for a talented actor/director Keith Gordon.
The Fog at least had some atmosphere and allowed the badassery of Tom Atkins to take Jamie Lee Curtis to bed.
Halloween was pioneering but not a favorite of mine. It's rather dull and only scary or exciting the first few times. Doesn't hold up for me, though I appreciate it's status and game changing reputation.
Starman was another marginal film that showcased Carpenter's knack for drama. Good casting and performances but not a very memorable movie to me. I was actually more curious about his Memoirs of an Invisible Man, which turned out to be very interesting as a commercial misfire that had some great effects as well as Chevy Chase moments.
Big Trouble in Little China was tons of fun and never gets very old for me. It's Carpenter's most feel good movie and deserves it's cult status. "Huh? Where'd you get that?"
The Thing is just incredible, and not for the effects (which are intense and innovative). The mood of that movie. Ennio Morricone basically takes cue from Carpenter's usual score and actually does less. Great pacing. Nice and slow..anticipatory..shocking and what an ending! Superb film!
Escape From New York is fun but still offers heavy mood and a nice collab with Alan Howarth on some of the more percussive elements of the soundtrack, like the wood block cue as the gang first spies on The Duke out on the streets after meeting up with Brain. Love this movie. The gliding plane scene is one of pure poetry. Such good matte work. We can thank James Cameron for some of that. He helped flesh that all out before he was a working director. Love the ending of this film, as well.
The Ward is pure garbage. Basically The Ward is John Carpenter going back to work so he can hang out with some young chicks. I'm sure he loved punching in every morning but his soul is nowhere near this film. This might have just as well been directed by Rob Zombie or some other wanna be mooch of lesser talent and maybe it would've even been better if it had been. What a crap way to end a career.
Escape from L.A. I did not like at all the first time I saw it. Once I accepted that it was a very loose, jazzy piece of ***** film that JC was just having fun with, I relaxed a bit and kind of enjoyed it. It's still damn shame standing next to the original, but at least as a standalone film it kind of harkens back to Big Trouble in Little China with a slightly meaner sense of mischief.
Dark Star has always felt too dated and dull for me to truly be able to kick back and enjoy it. Maybe one day...when I'm fiddy.
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