John Carpenter: Did He Fail? - Blu-ray Forum

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 04:38 PM

Question: What film signaled the decline of John Carpenter? Or was their one?

When did he jump off the cliff? When did the trend start?

Blu-ray Neo · 01-26-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Question: What film signaled the decline of John Carpenter? Or was their one?

Ghosts of Mars.

Lame, lame, lame.

obiwopkenobi62 · 01-26-2009, 04:46 PM

Definitely Ghosts of Mars.

SDon1969 · 01-26-2009, 04:47 PM

Once he stopped directing and just added his name to the title somewhere, aka "John Carpenter Presents..." - beginning of the end, I say! He did a decent episode for Masters of Horror. Not sure what his last decent film was, though.

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 04:51 PM

Clarification:

What film led to a trend of failure? Some say after The Thing (1982), he was never the same.

SDon1969 · 01-26-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Clarification:

What film led to a trend of failure? Some say after The Thing (1982), he was never the same.

That's a tough one. After The Thing he still had some success (Christine & Starman come to mind). I'd go with Memoirs of An Invisible Man (1992) for starting the suckiness trend.

(Fe)Man · 01-26-2009, 05:05 PM

I haven't liked a film from him since They Live in 88'.

atomik kinder · 01-26-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Clarification:

What film led to a trend of failure? Some say after The Thing (1982), he was never the same.

I kind of agree with that.
Chistine wasn't so hot.
Starman bored me to tears.
Big Trouble in Little China - I know some people will disagree with this, but I thought it was really boring and just plain bad.
Prince of Darkness was another yawn fest. NOTHING HAPPENS IN IT!
They Live was another disappointment.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man, I don't think I even need to say anything about this one.
In the Mouth of Madness is another one of those movies where nothing happens.
Escape from LA? Just plain bad.
Vampires I actually thought was pretty good and that John Carpenter may be making a comeback, but then he made...
Ghost of Mars

I must say though, his Masters of Horror episodes were probably the best out of the bunch.

For me, John Carpenter has been failing for a long time.

Now, lets talk about Tobe Hooper...

Lyle_JP · 01-26-2009, 05:13 PM

I think all of John's work up to and including "They Live" is exemplary. I love it all. But "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" was a massive misstep. His next film after a 6 year absence made up for it ("In the Mouth of Madness" was excellent), but nothing since then has entirely worked.

Certainly, some of his later films have genuine Carpenter moments, enough to make "Village of the Damned", "Vampires", and even "Escape From LA" worth at least one viewing. But there is nothing worth watching in "Ghosts of Mars"; it's a pathetic sci-fi remake of "Assault on Precinct 13", but which strays into self-parody early and often, and the result is pure crap. It's not even entertaining on a so-bad-its-good level.

So I would have to say that "Memoirs" was the first in a string of disappointing films broken only by "Madness".

DetroitSportsFan · 01-26-2009, 05:21 PM

Ghost Of Mars.

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 05:33 PM

David Thomson:

"Carpenter did not advance. The Fog has some creepy moments. Escape from New York is not just a great title--it's a complete version of New York's dread of where it is going; The Thing is retread Hawks; and Starman is that rarity, a love story that grows out of sci-fi, with a fine performance by Jeff Bridges. There's not a lot to be said for the rest ... Since 1984, Carpenter has become terminally boyish in his pursuit of spooks, devils, and thrills."

Agree, disagree?

upswiseass · 01-26-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

I think all of John's work up to and including "They Live" is exemplary. I love it all. But "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" was a massive misstep. His next film after a 6 year absence made up for it ("In the Mouth of Madness" was excellent), but nothing since then has entirely worked.

Certainly, some of his later films have genuine Carpenter moments, enough to make "Village of the Damned", "Vampires", and even "Escape From LA" worth at least one viewing. But there is nothing worth watching in "Ghosts of Mars"; it's a pathetic sci-fi remake of "Assault on Precinct 13", but which strays into self-parody early and often, and the result is pure crap. It's not even entertaining on a so-bad-its-good level.

So I would have to say that "Memoirs" was the first in a string of disappointing films broken only by "Madness".

Wow. I was going to say about half of that, but there is no point now. Well said, and I agree wholeheartedly.

Blu-Runner · 01-26-2009, 07:15 PM

He's made three of my all time favorites: Halloween, The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China.

I don't care if he was involved in trainwrecks such as The Phantom Menace, The Matrix Revolutions or Indiana Jones IV -- I would still think he's a great director.

AKORIS · 01-26-2009, 07:36 PM

MEMOIRS OF INVISIBLE MAN was a giant misstep

I also was unimpressed with VAMPIRES--this was unlike Carpenter in the
sense that he replaced style, atmosphere, and scares with crude jokes
and gore. Very disappointing.

The last film he made that I would rate as "good" was IN THE MOUTH OF
MADNESS...

Belloche · 01-26-2009, 07:40 PM

I never understood all the hate for Ghosts of Mars. I'll take a silly Carpenter B-movie over most of what Hollywood churns out any day of the week.

thedarkangel1975 · 01-26-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Question: What film signaled the decline of John Carpenter? Or was their one?

When did he jump off the cliff? When did the trend start?

Halloween 3.....

Porkchop Express · 01-26-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-Runner

He's made three of my all time favorites: Halloween, The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China.

I don't care if he was involved in trainwrecks such as The Phantom Menace, The Matrix Revolutions or Indiana Jones IV -- I would still think he's a great director.

I second that.

Blu-Ron · 02-02-2009, 12:18 AM

As you all know, I became a fan of Carpenter as soon as I walked out of the theatre in '78 after seeing HALLOWEEN.
I believe that he started to go downhill with STARMAN (IMO). His soundtracks still are top notch.

Blu-Ron · 02-02-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

Halloween 3.....

He didn't direct H3.

ZatoichiX1 · 02-02-2009, 12:29 AM

This is tough... I don't think he's failed per se. His style of filmmaking just isn't what Hollywood is making these days, so he's adapted some, using flashcuts and editing styles that he didn't in his past movies...

Ghosts of Mars wasn't his best, but for me, even mediocre Carpenter is better than some of the directors out there...

He just needs some money to make a movie and be left alone... no studio interference... then we'll see Carpenter back in top form...

01-26-2009, 04:38 PM	#1
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	John Carpenter: Did He Fail? Question: What film signaled the decline of John Carpenter? Or was their one? When did he jump off the cliff? When did the trend start? Last edited by bruce_pullen; 01-26-2009 at 05:04 PM.

01-26-2009, 04:51 PM	#5
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Clarification Clarification: What film led to a trend of failure? Some say after The Thing (1982), he was never the same.

01-26-2009, 05:33 PM	#11
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Something to Think About. David Thomson: "Carpenter did not advance. The Fog has some creepy moments. Escape from New York is not just a great title--it's a complete version of New York's dread of where it is going; The Thing is retread Hawks; and Starman is that rarity, a love story that grows out of sci-fi, with a fine performance by Jeff Bridges. There's not a lot to be said for the rest ... Since 1984, Carpenter has become terminally boyish in his pursuit of spooks, devils, and thrills." Agree, disagree?

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01-26-2009, 04:46 PM	#3
obiwopkenobi62 Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Deatsville, Al Home Theater Gallery:531 Blu-ray collection:1143 DVD collection:62 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:6	Definitely Ghosts of Mars.

01-26-2009, 04:47 PM	#4
SDon1969 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Massachusetts Home Theater Gallery:32 Blu-ray collection:745 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Once he stopped directing and just added his name to the title somewhere, aka "John Carpenter Presents..." - beginning of the end, I say! He did a decent episode for Masters of Horror. Not sure what his last decent film was, though.

01-26-2009, 05:05 PM	#7
(Fe)Man Senior Member Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:42 Blu-ray collection:627 DVD collection:111	I haven't liked a film from him since They Live in 88'.

01-26-2009, 05:13 PM	#9
Lyle_JP Blu-ray Guru Member since:Apr 2008 Blu-ray collection:1094 Blu-ray reviews: 6	I think all of John's work up to and including "They Live" is exemplary. I love it all. But "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" was a massive misstep. His next film after a 6 year absence made up for it ("In the Mouth of Madness" was excellent), but nothing since then has entirely worked. Certainly, some of his later films have genuine Carpenter moments, enough to make "Village of the Damned", "Vampires", and even "Escape From LA" worth at least one viewing. But there is nothing worth watching in "Ghosts of Mars"; it's a pathetic sci-fi remake of "Assault on Precinct 13", but which strays into self-parody early and often, and the result is pure crap. It's not even entertaining on a so-bad-its-good level. So I would have to say that "Memoirs" was the first in a string of disappointing films broken only by "Madness".

01-26-2009, 05:21 PM	#10
DetroitSportsFan Hot Deals Moderator Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Michigan 4K collection:439 Blu-ray collection:2226 Trading Score:93	Ghost Of Mars.

01-26-2009, 07:15 PM	#13
Blu-Runner Expert Member Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:85 Blu-ray collection:203 DVD collection:3 Trading Score:16	He's made three of my all time favorites: Halloween, The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China. I don't care if he was involved in trainwrecks such as The Phantom Menace, The Matrix Revolutions or Indiana Jones IV -- I would still think he's a great director.

01-26-2009, 07:36 PM	#14
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:662 Blu-ray collection:3655 Blu-ray reviews:19	MEMOIRS OF INVISIBLE MAN was a giant misstep I also was unimpressed with VAMPIRES--this was unlike Carpenter in the sense that he replaced style, atmosphere, and scares with crude jokes and gore. Very disappointing. The last film he made that I would rate as "good" was IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS...

01-26-2009, 07:40 PM	#15
Belloche Blu-ray Guru Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Nova Scotia, Canada Blu-ray collection:403 DVD collection:11 Trading Score:3	I never understood all the hate for Ghosts of Mars. I'll take a silly Carpenter B-movie over most of what Hollywood churns out any day of the week.

02-02-2009, 12:18 AM	#18
Blu-Ron Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2008 Blu-ray collection:40 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	As you all know, I became a fan of Carpenter as soon as I walked out of the theatre in '78 after seeing HALLOWEEN. I believe that he started to go downhill with STARMAN (IMO). His soundtracks still are top notch.

02-02-2009, 12:29 AM	#20
ZatoichiX1 Member Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:746 Blu-ray collection:4603 DVD collection:610	This is tough... I don't think he's failed per se. His style of filmmaking just isn't what Hollywood is making these days, so he's adapted some, using flashcuts and editing styles that he didn't in his past movies... Ghosts of Mars wasn't his best, but for me, even mediocre Carpenter is better than some of the directors out there... He just needs some money to make a movie and be left alone... no studio interference... then we'll see Carpenter back in top form...

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