Invasion Los Angeles

I discovered very lately this legendary film, during an « UGC culte » evening, in Paris. Invasion Los Angeles (1988) has certainly aged a lot but the diatribe against the exacerbated consumerism of the 70s and 80s is sadly still relevant. A decade after the well-known La Nuit des masques (1978), John Carpenter delivered a smart and well-built movie. Nowadays, it's definitely cult and a must-see!

There's a world that is hidden and unseen, that manipulates although it's all been screened, imperceptibly subtle, will direct your every shuffle, it's a greedy and insatiable machine. All governed by those in the know, through foundations set down long ago, you're oblivious to it, though you support and pay forfeit, provide the toil, that helps it to grow. On occasion, it might let you join, to ensure there's a good flow of coin, keep up the façade, as they cheat and defraud, and continue their legal purloin.

Still a wonderful piece of observational filmmaking that seems to have grown more relevant, in more parts of the planet, as the years have regressed.

Often called 'The Citizen Kane of 'B' Movies,' They Live sees an ingenious premise coated in a seriously tacky shell.

The 'everyday aliens' are genuinely creepy and Roddy Piper is surprisingly compelling as our leading man, in spite of his more well known wrestling persona. Yet ridiculous scenes like the everlasting fight scene that would rival family guy's Peter and the giant chicken and lines like 'life's a bitch...and she's back in heat' will detract somewhat from the seriousness of the message.

The obvious social commentary about the dangers of consumerist society stand up just as well today as it did in the 'greed is good' decade; and although They Live would never win any awards for subtlety, it's an entertaining and at times thought provoking slice of 80's action that's well worth a watch.

I remember first seeing They Live when I was 10 and I totally fell in love with this film. How could a ten year old not? There's wrestlers, aliens and a plot to take over the world. My friends and I quoted this film for weeks on end with the Bubble gum and kicking @$$ line being a favourite among all. The only real complaint that I have about the film is that the aliens when finally revealed are far too human. They basically look like a skeleton with bug eyes. Not a whole lot of energy seemed to go into their design. While They Live will never be remembered as a film that redefined the way films were made, it still to this day holds a place in my heart as one of the films that just defines your youth. It is fun, action packed and has just enough cool storyline to keep you interested from start to finish.

I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs n enjoyed the film as an action entertainer. Read about the underlying themes as years passed on but revisited it today. This movie is very relevant for today's time too n it is still very entertaining. The alley fight scene stayed with me since the late 80s. Roddy Piper n Keith David gave memorable performances.