Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Escape from New York’

Written by Scott Edwards

Anytime you are really good at doing something, good or bad, you are always asked to use those skills to help someone in need. As special situations come up, you would be surprised how often you are asked to perform these duties and most of the time, you would not even think twice about doing them. But if you are known for having skills in something that is less than legal, would you think twice about using your skills, especially if you are asked to use them by someone of the government? It is a question that you may be left asking yourself when the situation arises, since they are the ones that are generally trying to stop you from performing them.

The year is 1997 and the island of Manhattan is a now a maximum security prison where there is only one rule, once you go in, you never come out. Once on the island, you are left to fend for yourself since the outside world could care less about what happens to you. Creating a kill or be killed civilization, the convicts have created their own utopia within their confines and do not want to be bothered with any problems from the outside world, unless of course it can benefit them in a positive way.  Receiving a special delivery from the National Liberation Front of America, the island prison now has a new inmate, the President of the United States.

After attempting a rescue mission to bring back the Commander-In-Chief, the rescue team finds out that they are up against a group that is much more powerful than they could have ever imagined. Being told to leave before the President is killed, the police commissioner has a new recruit that might be able to get the job done. Snake Plissken is in the middle of being processed at Liberty Island when he is asked to go into the old city to find the President. Although Snake was once a decorated Special Forces soldier, he has turned his sights on more illegal activities since the country has been falling down drastically. Being promised a full pardon for the return of the President and his briefcase, Snake decides that since he is going to the island one way or another, he might as well try the way that leaves him with a way off of the rock.

Getting injected with two micro bombs, Snake is now put on a deadline to return the President to the outside world. In twenty-two hours, the summit between China, Russia and America will be over and Snake's life will end as well. Since the President has something very important in his briefcase it is vital that the information make it to the summit before it ends. Snake is able to make it into the city but following the technology that he is given; he finds that the initial intel is less than promising. Running into an old friend, Brain, Snake is able to find the mastermind behind the plot of utilizing the President to get off of the island. The Duke of New York is holding him and will navigate his way across the bridge to the mainland with the President as his hood ordainment. After promising everyone that helps him safe passage back to the real world, Snake finds that his survival is in question as well when he is brought before The Duke for trying to compromise the leader's plan. Battling for his life may not be enough as the clock continues ticking on the summit and Snake will have to work his magic to get the President and his tape out of New York before the clock strikes zero.

If you ever wanted to see what the United States would look like if it became a major police state, this is a movie that gives you a solid idea. Turning some of the greatest cities into prisons is the wave of the future here since half of the population is deemed guilty of living outside of the rules on a daily basis.  Being given a chance to repent one’s crimes does not seem to be the priority in this new nation shown on the screen, but it does come into play and with his skill set, Snake is the only one that can make a difference. I like how untrusting he is of the government, even when everything is laid on the table for him to complete his mission and it is shown that it is well deserved. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Snake is the reluctant hero that everyone would want to be, especially since he plays by his own set of rules and no matter what happens, he will be in charge of his own destiny. Happy Viewing.

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