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Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: R
Release Date: 23-SEP-2003
Media Type: DVDAn economic crisis brings unemployed Nada (Roddy Piper) to L.A. in search of work. What he finds instead is that the ruling elite of the world are aliens in disguise, their aim being to keep humans in a state of mindless consumerism. His discovery comes when he dons a pair of special sunglasses made by a resistance group and sees for the first time reality unadorned. Billboards, store signs, magazine covers–all bear subliminal messages to OBEY, to CONSUME, to have NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. Money itself says THIS IS YOUR GOD. But worst of all, with these glasses you see which of us are really hideous, bug-eyed aliens. The conceptual breakthrough is hilarious while keeping its roots in darker matters. Although some fault the film for settling into its action plot, the ending has a great payoff. And the direction by John Carpenter is handled with superb workmanlike aplomb. One unforgettable set piece has Piper in a back-alley fistfight with a friend who won’t put on the glasses that goes on and on, and just when you think it’s over it goes another round. One of the most subversive films ever made in Hollywood, They Live was released on the eve of the 1988 elections. The first TV ads had two hideous alien politicians debating, then one accusing the other of being “No John Kennedy!” –Jim Gay
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March 24, 2008
#1
So you start off with stupid 80s lame music, which is in every single john carpentar film. I hate it, and it ruins the movie right away. The glasses, they see another world, woth corny messages and aliens. Its cool for about 5 mins, then you realize thats all the movie is about. Roddy Piper is the worst actor since vandame. Hes a frickin wrestler! Dont waste your money on this movie. If you want scfi and john carpentar, get escape from new york.
March 24, 2008
#2
Something about this movie is so endearing that when I watch it, I do get hooked, but just to watch for the obvious anti-capitalist/anti-profit/pro-communist bludgeoning. I guess that speaks to the skill of film maker who alas, would make Marx and Lenin proud.
Seriously… you have two uneducated characters (one white, one black because capitalists oppress all races) stereotyped as union factory workers (complete with boots and flannel shirts) who take on the evil alien Capitalists that are running the world and making profit (gasp!). These aliens have advanced technology to travel the galaxy, but somehow can’t shoot very well. You can tell who’s a good guy or a bad guy by their attire: good guys all have flannel and jeans; bad buys wear ties or uniforms. It’s hilarious. Seriously. I give it the 2nd star because it’s laughable.
Fortunately for our commie lackies, there is guidance on how to overthrow the capitalist swine: The proletariat merely use violent force. Lenin called using a militant few to bring about the revolution his vanguard, and this movie demonstrates what the Romanov’s discovered 80 years ago: simply murder a lot of innocent people (and aliens) and blow up some profit-producing machines. In some places, we’d call that terrorism. Communists call them freedom-fighters, I guess.
See, if our heroes were really smart, they’d start a business to make money off these alien “oppressors”. Instead, they ended up (spoiler alert)… well, never mind…wouldn’t want to give the satire’s ending away. But it ain’t good how they ended up.
March 24, 2008
#3
I guess I thought it would be better. The aliens are laughable, the plot is silly, and the whole thing looks cheap. The little injections of topical humor are occassionally witty but that’s about it. How is one supposed to obey commands to both “sleep” and “marry and reproduce”? Oh wait, maybe that’s humor, too. It creeped out my 11 year old daughter, and I guess that about the level it works on.
March 24, 2008
#4
Following John Carpenters very good ‘Prince of Darkness’ comes this heavy handed political piece called ‘They Live’. The movie moves very slowly and the movies descends into the completely ridiculous with his depiction of the homeless. THe fight scene between Keith David and Roddy Piper is memorable only because it runs for about ten excruciatingly boring minutes.
Carpenter later admitted that he made this movie in some sort of attempt to attack the Reagan Adminstration. Movie makers should stick to entertainment and keep their juvenile views of politics to themselves. Carpenters movies have been crap since he started to take himself seriously. He should go back to what he’s good at.
Rent this is you can’t sleep. It will cure the worst insomia.
March 24, 2008
#5
great movie to base a video game on, such as it did with Duke Nukem, one of the top sellers for a long time. soon there is a Duke Nukem movie coming out in theatres, I wonder if it will have tie ins with the original They Live. but I love this movie, I never get tired of seeing it, and I think it was clever to get that dumb lookin guy to be Duke.