I remember the VHS box in the video store (remember those?) and I was intrigued about it but due to the "R" rating I was never allowed to rent it. Time passed and I completely forgot about it and never saw it... until today.
The story is about a drifter, a man named John Nada and is played by none other than Roddy Piper (yeah, the guy from WWF who wore kilts.) He roams into town looking for work and ends up staying accross the street from a vigilante group that has discovered that the earth is actually in the process of being invaded by creatures that appear to be human but are not. Despite having overwhelming evidence and even some sunglasses that expose the aliens for who they are this group can not get their message out because most people in power are actually the aliens themselves.
John discovers these sunglasses by accident simply by being nosy and he, without hesitation upon determining that these creatures are taking over the planet, decides to start shooting and is going to take down the entire operation by himself. This is basically the theme of a lot of 80's movies so other than the aliens being involved i wouldn't say it is terribly inventive. It was shocking at the time though (I would imagine).
Things I liked
Roddy is actually a pretty decent actor. As I am sure you are aware a vast majority of WWE personas that have attempted to transition to films have failed, badly. I don't think he went on to do much more after this, which is surprising because action films of this sort were all the rage in the late 80's.
the story is actually pretty interesting in the sense that instead of invading our planet (which given their technological superiority that is revealed throughout the film they are quite capable of,) they decided to live among us and simply keep us placated with mindless entertainment. Kind of like a precursor to the Matrix films.
The special effects or costumes of the invaders are actually pretty good considering the time period in which this was made.
Things I didn't like
- There is a rather annoying continuous soundtrack that plays throughout the entire film
- there is a rioting scene where a commune is being torn down and the action is just absurd, the assaults on the police are so awful, it doesn't look like they were even trying to make it convincing
- Piper (John Nada) shoots two cops on a busy street, then enters a bank and kills several more people, then slides out a side door and quite easily eludes capture. I think there would be an absolutely massive manhunt going on. At one point he is walking down the street wearing the same clothes as he was wearing when he killed the cops and a window with 100 TV's that has his picture on it as "Wanted" ... and nobody notices anything
- He gets into a massive fist fight with his only friend because he refuses to put on the glasses that will show him the truth about the invaders. This goes on for a really long time. It seems to me that it would have been easier to just put on the glasses. It was also a bit annoying that his only friend has no trouble randomly finding him when the entire police force can not
- The wounds they both received from above fist fight completely heal in a day. I don't know if you've ever had someone put their knee into your head as hard as they can, but you don't walk that sort of thing off
- at one point in time there is a secret meeting of all the people who know about the invaders. The person watching the door does not wear the glasses. It seems as though it would be pretty essential to not let any actual invaders into the meeting
- ammo is unlimited and everyone other than the two heroes went to Stormtrooper rifle school apparently.
I did a story a few hours ago about how The Goonies has aged well, I do not feel the same way about this movie. It is, at moments, hard to watch. However it made money and I think it pretty accurately embodies how action movies of the late 90's were carried out for the most part. Therefore it got a few points for that.
Oh man, you are crushing my memories.
I haven't seen it in a decade, but this is a favorite B-movie of mine.
I agree that Roddy Piper is the most credible wrestler to appear in a movie, more so, even than The Rock.
And I agree the movie is full of plot holes.
And I agree that Meg Foster's piercing green eyes always make her look like an alien in every movie ever, even when she isn't lol.
But how can you criticize Carpenter for his pervasive music. It's like his signature. Remember that Halloween theme that spooked the world through every effin scene! Remember Kurt Russell's Snake Plisskin exploring apocalyptic New York accompanied by synths, or Kurt Russell again, as The Thing started bursting out of the belly of poor innocent dogs, while Carpenter spooked the ice station with musical motifs? Or crikey, Carpenter's "The Fog" theme, as the mists roll in from the sea?
John Carpenter and music are one of the wonders of movie history, similar to James Cameron's "The Terminator," in the way music memorably evokes a pervasive atmosphere like a blanket, around the films, from first to finish.
And for once, a wrestler, whose whole game is unrealistic macho fighting, gets to do just that, against aliens and collaborators, while otherwise acting credibly.
My great affection for this movie is slightly scarred by your review (lol), but I hope I still love it when I check it out again this month! :)
as always and expected, you followed up wonderfully. I enjoyed your response more that the film. :)
Aww, I love your blog.
It's entertaining, opinionated, addresses diverse topics, and like Forest Gump, we never know what we're going to get! :)
"They Live" is one of the most original and underrated sci-fi action movies i've ever seen. Eventhough the acting isn't spectacular, and by the end turns into a down right urban action movie, "They Live" is one of the most entertaining ever.
The plot is quite simple, Nada(Roddy Piper) a homeless drifter stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses through which you can see the world for what it really is, a communist type environment controlled by aliens, and then joins up with his buddy Frank(Keith David) to stop them. In the middle of all this there a lot of great one liners, a lot of harebrained action and one of the longest, and best, fist fights ever filmed.
The way John Carpenter directs really makes the film work. Everything seems downbeat and realistic. The acting of ex-pro wrestler Roddy Piper is better than expected but not too spectacular and Keith David isn't at all convincing. But none of that matters, the real reason to see this movie is just to be entertained and on that level is suceeds.
@gooddream, Some say that They Live movie is based on the some facts, means not the all which showed to us but the message was true, and we don't know what is true and what is not but i have to say one thing that, in these type of concepts we have to carefully understand.
And next point is, as we know that there are many galaxies so like we have life on earth then possibly their could be life on some planets, and as we are trying to search for the Extraterrestrial Life may be other other beings also trying to search life in other planets.
And some Conspiracy Theorists say that we are living in an matrix and may be this Matrix is created by the higher beings and these higher beings can be the Ancient Creatures.
And in my opinion our life is mystery and sometimes it's reflects as the History is not that which is showcased to us may be we are showcased that much which was useful to control us or History is changed.
And in this world few people dominates everyone so these kind of dominations can showcase that something is not right and we have to understand the clues which is available in bits and pieces.
Wishing you an great day and stay blessed. 🙂
thanks for the interesting follow-up buddy. Some good stuff there. You have a gift with the words and I am now following you. I hope you write some stuff.
Yes, words help me to find myself, and i post in Series like, Positive Words Series, Quote Of The Video Series (Dlive), Random Photography Series, Original Poetry Series, Quote Series Writing and i post all these series Alternatively. And recently I've started one daily series as, 4LINES Poetry video series.
Thank you so much for your kind appreciation and warm words. Wishing you an great day and stay blessed. 🙂
Hiii... Gooddream
Good Morning.
Have A Great Day.
I want to know how we get upvote from botes by paying money...
Plzzzzzzz... If you have time. Give short reply on this.
nice flim story
Like all movies, it has its good and bad side.
I also saw this film very late, a couple years ago. I agree, it hasn't aged well hahaha. But all I can say is that I enjoyed it because it was interesting and ridiculous and the same time
Lovely movie this seems to me. Some of the scenes and soundtracks are terrible but that isnt an issue for a movie so old. One of the finest Oldies i would say. Roddy gets on with the mission of killing the invader aliens on his own( werent the Aliens supposed to be powerful than humans). Certain things were really good too. Keep up the good work.
You are a good critic.everyone have different point of view as far as I am concerned after watching trailer I will not watch this movie. but yes, you keep on inspiring and writing!
"They live ". Never heard of the movie. Perhaps I wasn't yet present at the time. The plot you just mentioned about it was great. I like the story. Though it has some of the ups and downs like Roddy taking such a huge mission alone on his shoulders. Sounds stupid. Still I like the idea of the aliens in the face if humans and not even recognisable unless u use those special glasses.
I love They Lie,my only complaint is the fight in the alley goes on way too long
It was probably to highlight the fact that Roddy Piper was a wrestler.
Love that film btw.
Love John Carpenter, one of the few directors who can write, direct and compose the score of their films. Also enjoy how most of his film have some kind of open end.