Escape from L.A. - 3/5

This movie is more of a comedy that its predecessor, though it still has plenty of fun action as well. It’s a bit of a cash grab, trying to recreate the success of the first one with no better ideas than “what if it were in a different city?” But Kurt Russell and John Carpenter are so good at their jobs that the end result is engaging and enjoyable right to the end.

Closest comparison: It’s like Escape from New York by way of Die Another Day.

Setting: Action
Plot: Suicide Mission
Tone: Action

The Ninth Configuration - 4/5

This movie is a philosophical drama that never achieved well-known cult status, but is good enough to warrant it. It’s a cerebral exploration of the nature of mental illness and personal sacrifice, being thought-provoking without falling into the open-endedness trap that so many of its peers relish. Its main flaw is esotericism, not ambiguity.

Closest comparison: It’s like M*A*S*H by way of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Setting: Psychiatric
Plot: Drama
Tone: Philosophy