Invasion Los Angeles

Ok, I will admit I have a soft spot for this movie. It's not Star Wars, or Raiders of the Lost Ark, or the Godfather. It's campy, cheesy, in places with laughably bad acting and dialogue (it come with starring wrestlers as main characters). However it has the infamous Rowdy Roddy Piper in the lead, and it has a surprisingly interesting hi-concept underlying story and plot. Aliens, Mind Control, Society enslaved to hidden powers and messages, everybody sleepwalking though life - this movie had all of these back in the 80's. Some of the concepts in this movie have seen reuse in much more recent projects, and with a little more polishing I think this movie could have made a far bigger splash.

If you like Dystopian, conspiracy, alien invasion movies then this movie is a great watch. I urge anyone who is a science fiction fan to give this movie a chance if you haven't seen it yet. Though it is helpful when watching if you try to see what it could have been, and look past the obvious shortcomings.

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.

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.

I discovered this movie when I was younger and fell in love. Rediscovering it now that I'm older makes me an appreciate the nuances in its meaning. It's a great tongue-in-cheek jab at consumerism and control.

John Carpenter does a great job at blending aliens living amongst us with the idea of governmental control and manipulation through advertisements. What would you do if you discovered you were being conditioned and manipulated by a non-human entity? Would you grab some bubble gum and kick some ass? Or would you give in to the powers that be and stay submissive? The decision is up to you.

A fun film with a serious message.

More relevant now with 'social media' than ever.

If only more people would put the glasses on.