``They Live'' Cult Why is this masterpiece of science fiction film still respected and quoted?

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2018.06.16Tetsuya Inagaki

legendary pro wrestling fight scene

The wrestling fight scene in the middle of the film symbolizes Carpenter's "lack of balance."

The main character, Neida, was played by WWF professional wrestler Roddy Piper. Carpenter, who loved professional wrestling, suggested that he be cast as the lead actor, even though he had little acting experience, after writing the script. Despite the confusion surrounding her, she easily got Piper's consent. A wrestling fight scene in the middle was prepared for him. Naida, played by Piper, tries to get her co-worker Frank (Keith David) to wear sunglasses that show Alien, but he refuses. The back-and-forth of "Put your sunglasses on and look at the Alien!" and "I don't like it!" turned into a fight. It was a strangely persistent and sticky fight that lasted over five minutes, with backdrops and suplexes exploding. Carpenter shot this scene, which clearly had nothing to do with the story, in two precious days on a low-budget film (and even rehearsed for a month and a half).

Furthermore, the lack of balance can be seen in the film's most famous line. Neida says this before shooting the Alien in the bank.

"I came here to chew bubble gum and go wild. But the bubble gum is gone."

This was a memo that Piper, who starred in the movie, wrote to record an interview for a professional wrestling show, but Carpenter liked it and adopted it. However, the staff could not understand this line at all. Why this line? When asked, Carpenter replied:

“I don’t know what that means, but it’s cool, isn’t it?”

Reagan and professional wrestling...this work is overflowing with a certain kind of campiness that is very 80's-esque, and somehow the genius John Carpenter's anger and mischievousness are somehow unbalanced and blended together perfectly. This gives the work a unique impact and feeling after reading it, and is probably why it continues to be respected by artists.

Carpenter's works, not just ``They Live,'' are full of charm that attracts many creators. The reason is also clear. Around the same time as the production of ``They Live,'' Carpenter was approached by major studios to direct `` Top Gun '' (1986) and `` A Fatal Attraction '' (1987), but he turned them down.

"I've discovered who I am as a film director. At one point, I wanted to be a director for a famous Hollywood studio and make a lot of money. I don't think that way anymore. It's completely stupid. I don't believe in authority. Because I hate it.”

It is this spirit that gives Carpenter's films their special charm. Creators continue to respect his indie spirit, which never defies authority.

References

" Movie Treasure Director's File John Carpenter Ethics of Fear " (Supervised by Yoshiaki Washizu/Yosensha)

“ A Filmmaker Talks About Himself: Poetics of Fear: John Carpenter ” (edited by Gilles Boulanger/translated by Masaaki Inoue/Film Art Publishing)

https://www.wired.com/2017/01/they-live-theory-debunked/

Text: Tetsuya Inagaki

TV director. My personal goal is to realize a documentary project that depicts the obsessions of manga and movie creators. Programs he has directed in the past include ``Gekiga The Godfather : The Man Who Revolutionized Manga'' (WOWOW) and ``Takeshi's Birth: Master of Oira and Asakusa'' (NHK). Currently, he is planning a documentary about a famous manga artist.

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To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the production of "They Live," a ``30th Anniversary HD Remastered Version'' will be released!

“They Live<30th Anniversary HD Remastered Version>” will be released on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Shinjuku Cinema Karite (Late Show) and other locations.

*Information at the time of article publication in June 2018.

"They Live"

Publisher: TC Entertainment/Zekora

Distributor: TC Entertainment

Blu-ray, DVD 3,800 yen + tax on sale now

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