THEY LIVE

Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David

Directed by: John Carpenter

review by Damon

"I'm here to chew bubble-gum and kick ass, and I'm all outta bubble-gum."

And so we come to one of the most confusing and funny films of all time, They Live.

They Live is an early film by famous director John Carpenter, and while it is quite well directed, this movie doesn't seem to have anything to do with anything. Then again, maybe its about everything. Meant to be satirical expose on the politics of the late eighties, They Live tells the story of Nada (Rowdy Roddy Piper) and his discovery of a secret alien plot to subverse the human race. Finding a pair of sunglasses left by a resistance group on the brink of annhialation, Nada begins to see what he was never meant to see. All around him are subliminal messages hidden in billboards, television ads and the like, only revealed by his special sunglasses. Worst of all, the aliens (disguised as humans) are revealed to be ugly, bug-eyed creatures, suspicious of this sunglasses-wearing pro-wrestler-turned-actor.

Of course the classic scene of this movie, as anybody who has seen it will tell you, is when Nada attempts to reveal his discovery to his black friend, who happens to be built much the same as Nada himself. The friend does not WANT to put on the sunglasses, and so a fight ensues. And ensues. And then ensues again. Every stinkin' time you think it has to be over and one begins to walk away, the other gets up and the fight starts all over again. I didn't time it, but I'd say their beating each other lasts a minimum of fifteen minutes, and that's no exaggeration. While you're watching this spectacular street-match, don't forget why they're fighting. Nada wants his friend to try on the sunglasses. The friend doesn't want to. Enough said.

Eventually the restance force is betrayed and swarmed by alien-led swat teams. Nada escapes and makes his way to the alien headquarters. And wouldn't you know, his friend is not far behind him. Yes, he finally did try on the sunglasses.

Of course I skipped Nada's obviously justified kidnappings, carjackings, and other spectacular fist-fights. They're all there. John Carpenter style.

After Nada arrives at the alien headquarters, pretty much nothing makes sense. Watch it if you want to. I don't know what the hell happened, but there was lots of...well, weird stuff, then I think somebody won. Or not. Who gives a damn. Watch the movie; the rediculousness of it gives it an aura of being incredible.

Incredibly stupid.

(back to the bmovies)