Because his films are the essence of badass - John Carpenter

[on:]

Why not have a "best films of John Carpenter" poll? Sure his films lack psychological complexity or moral amibuity, but that's their charm. Carpenter was a B filmmaker who knew he was B, and perfectly happy that way. Not only that, but his film define eighties cinema for me: techno music, grittiness, apocalyptic scenarios, evil punks, and badass heroes.

That being said, my personal favorite (having not seen everything on the list) is The Thing, probably his single most suspenseful film, it's a great remake of the Agathie Christie mystery genre (much like his second greatest film Assault on Precinct 13 was a western remake) and it is, in my humble opinion, a better film than the overrated piece of shit Alien, which only got by on the merits of the artist who designed the sets and the creature.

[Reply #1 on:]

I'll have to chuck a vote for The Thing as well. Pretty damn cool. And, as anyone who's heard the commentary knows, it's all about the hat.

Big Trouble was pretty good, and had some pretty damn awesome moments, but I don't think it quite suceeded as the action/adventure/chopsocky/buddy-comedy/shameless parody thing that it was going for. Jack being constantly cluesless was a highlight, though. It just could have been cleverer...

I'm probably going to get mobbed for saying this, but I preferred L.A. to N.Y. The surfing bit was cataclysmically stupud, true, but over all, I enjoyed it a fair bit more than the first. Bangkok rules! Bruce Campell! Lots of pro-smoking!

Assault was okay, if a bit... well, pointless. See, I don't mind pointless films at all, if there's something else to distract the eye, or ear. This one didn't have either, really.

Dark Star was amusing, in a stoner/student film sort of way...

Ghosts of Mars, while not on the list, got a couple of points from me for being the film most likely centred entirely on ROCKING OUT. Besides Wild Zero, of course.

That's all the Carepenter films I HAVE seen. The only one I'm still interested in catching is They Live!

[Reply #2 on:]

Dark Star! Fuck yes!

The Fog was pretty sweet, too. Otherwise, Carpenter sucks...

[Reply #3 on:]

Big Trouble gets my vote.

[Reply #4 on:]

It was between Big Trouble in Little China and the thing for me i decided to go with Big Trouble

[Reply #5 on:]

Escape from LA. It has Steve Buscemi.

[Reply #6 on:]

NOBODY MENTIONED VAMPIRES YET?!

That's an outrage! Seriously. 

Anyway, he has made a number of great films so far, and even his no so great ones are fun to watch.
Mostly because these are still better than what most of the Hollywood directors call a good movie.

Also, I voted for The Thing. I have to admit it's a tiny bit better than Vampires. 

[Reply #7 on:]

I chose They Live for one and only one reason: "Cripple Fight"

[Reply #8 on:]

I've had "The Thing" on DVD for a couple of years.  Love it.

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by Wooter:
Escape from LA. It has Steve Buscemi.

So does Armageddon.

[Reply #10 on:]

That's not the point! Steve Buscemi make anything better, as does Bruce Campbell. It's a proven fact.