Julian RuncanThey Live: Potential Dies
March 31st 2010 21:01
Everything about They Live is tacky and lame. The acting is wooden at best; the special effects don’t withstand the test of time; and although the science-fiction elements are interesting, they get glossed over far too quickly. The movie does have some fantastic lines and memorable scenes, but the nostalgia is much more fun than sitting through the movie again.
Yet again Carpenter presents an interesting concept, but it feels like he focuses on the wrong elements. The entire alien premise could be successfully executed as television mini-series, or an episode of The Twilight Zone. Instead, we’re left with a movie that tells us too much, or not enough, depending on why you’re actually watching the movie. Tons of information about the aliens was glossed over quickly, while we spent far too long learning the inner-workings of a shantytown.
As with a lot of Carpenter movies, you’ll find that people only really refer to a couple moments of the movie when talking about it fondly: the bubblegum line, the long street fight, the finger scene, and the final shot of the film. There are a couple other charming moments throughout, but for the most part these are the only reasons the movie gets recommended. It’s probably not a good sign when people keep talking about the same twenty minutes out of an entire film.
Much like Carpenter’s other films, the movie has a specific voice that will certainly appeal to fans of other Carpenter works. Science fiction fans may find it interesting, but will probably be disappointed that the most intriguing parts happen so quickly. While it’s cool to see all of the scenes that are so famous, the rest of the movie can be a little hard to sit through unless you have something specifically invested in it.
5.5/10
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