MovieChat Forums > They Live (1988) Discussion > 7.1?? What a load of cr@p!!

7.1?? What a load of cr@p!!

posted 13 years ago by DawsonRoseDawson
66 replies | jump to latest

That said I totally love the concept.. I just think that so much more could have been done with this film given the ideas it covers..
The music.. Argh! at the half way mark I was actually getting frustrated, the fight scene, yes, great metaphor for how difficult it can be to make narrow minded people see what you want them to see but still..
Wouldn't you have legged it with the whole box of sunnies so that you could actually back up things you were trying to tell people?! And him climbing into the rubbish truck that just so happened to be doing it's rounds as he went back to find the glasses, then there being only one pair easily available from a whole box full!
The police beating people over the head with their truncheons when they raided the homeless ground.. The force they were using would have surely taken the recipients out with one blow.. Which made the truncheons look rubber to me..
The fight with the police in the side road but still totally in view of the busy traffic.. Again, surely would have attracted SOME attention?!
The trained forces/sniper types who continuously miss-fired but the civilians with guns got perfect shots every time..
So much wrong with this film in my opinion..
But like I said.. brilliant concept, some of the stuff I read about was briefly mentioned or portrayed, I think so much more could have been done with this material..
Bring on a re make!

[–] Phil_Cassidy 12 years ago

7.1? Is it really that low?

[–] ReasonlsOutToLunch 12 years ago

Yeah it should be an 8.5. This movie was part B horror, documentary, prophesy, and entertainment. It has stood up well to time. It is even more relevant today than the day it was released. I couldn't help but think of the police brutality against the occupy protesters. The fact that 1% of the people in this country are controlling nearly everything. That we now have a 50% rate of poverty and low-income people in this country. Our food supply is grossly contaminated, pink slime anyone? The list could go on and on and on. Sadly to few people ever bother to put on their sunglasses, they are too distracted by the rose colored ones.

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[–] loulou1992 12 years ago

Best thing about 80's movies was music, style of the director, setting. I finally watched to live and die in la and what a great film. Everything i love about a 80's movie, clothes, music ect...

[–] Rena_Mahone 12 years ago

Yeah, this movie is not a 7 in my book, neither.
The concept and message are remarkable, but I found the execution quite poor.
Actors were mediocre and music wasn't memorable. Some scenes were too dragged-on (see fight) and the finale was rushed and silly.

Boycott movies that involve real animal violence! (and their directors too)

[–] Rena_Mahone 12 years ago

I appreciate the main idea, but dislike the way it's done. The actors are quite bad, some sequences are dragged-on, and the finale is rushed and silly. Personally speaking, this film doesn't really deserve a 7.

Boycott movies that involve real animal violence! (and their directors too)

[–] Kuato_and_George 12 years ago

What you think is wrong with this movie was actually done on purpose.

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[–] MacDeth 12 years ago

They Live deserves a higher rating.

[–] joneslorna 12 years ago

I agree that this movie started out with a great concept, but slipped and fell. By the end, it had become total over-the-top camp. Could have been so much better. Shocking that the same guy directed the 1980s "The Thing", which is a classic.

I could see a remake of THEY LIVE, which is much more political and serious.

[–] Mr-Fusion 12 years ago

I could see a remake of THEY LIVE, which is much more political and serious.

Yeah, but that's what makes They Live great. It's not really serious. Carpenter was saying something in this movie, but he was doing it in such a way that it feels more like a playful jab. It's already a movie that resonates with people, so no additional "political" or "serious" needed.

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We're in the middle of a drought, and the water commissioner drowns. Only in L.A.

[–] alexindc108 12 years ago

As much as I love the movie and the ideas within, I agree with you that it was ultimately a missed opportunity; largely due to the tiny budget Carpenter was working with, but also due to the fact that, despite the tiny budget, he still tried to make the second half some kind of Rambo/hero/action flick. He should have had the foresight to realize that it just wouldn't work. I'd argue that the film is actually borderline brilliant all the way up until just before Roddy Piper starts shooting up the bank and the 'bubblegum' line. It's at this point that the movie begins to slowly implode on itself.