They Live: Collector's Edition [Blu-ray] [1988] [US Import]

John (thee "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, WWF Wrestling Legend) is a drifter in a new town looking for Construction work and a place to stay. A work buddy offers him a spot at a close-knit homeless shelter, which is all well and good until he notices that when his new found friends are watching TV, wierd "preachy" Broadcasts about "They" dominating us as a society and making us watch TV and buy stuff we really don't need keep coming up in a static haze through the clean-cut, regularly broadcast programmes. After Johns suspicions are already aroused, John wanders over into the local Episcopalian Church to discover some seriously shady goings-on after one of the people in the shelter goes into the Church looking just a bit shifty! There is no-one except about 4 men in the church, and all the singing and praise that can be heard outside is all recorded. One of the men notices John and argues with him about being in the Church uninvited and as John goes to leave he bangs into a wall which becomes loose, uncovering Boxes upon Boxes of what appears to be just... Sunglasses!However, Johns life is changed forever when he puts these Sunglasses on, as they uncover what the Hacker TV Broadcasts have been saying all along, now John can see clearly that all the subliminal "Watch TV", "Obey" messages underneath all the clean-cut adverts and magazines. John also gets more than he bargained for when he notices some of the public are... ALIENS!! Will John get anybody to believe what he's seeing? Where will he go from here knowing what he now knows? Prepare for the kick-arse adventure that is They Live!This is a great Movie, written by none other than John Carpenter (msny of us know him for the Horror Classic "Halloween"!) It has a great message, and tackles issues that were happening at the time with wit, intelligence, humor and plenty of action! Roddy Piper is absolutely fantastic as John Nada, and is abley backed by an all round brilliant Cast. There are some brilliant fighting moments (one of the Longest Fist Fights in Cinema History takes place in this film) and John has some great one-liners!The Disc is great because it also has a fair-few special features, such as a Featurette: The Making Of, Cast Profiles and the Original Trailer, so you'll be suitably impressed with this! They Live, We Sleep.

A must watch film. Classic.

I perhaps naively expected this to a plain, no holds barred sci-fi / action flick, but as is always the case with John Carpenter films, there is always more than meets the and many layers to the film. Basically, the film follows the misadventures of out of work and out of luck labourer Nada, played quite brilliantly by WWF/E wrestler Roddy Piper, who, along with Carpenter regular Keith David, uncover a subversive alien plot to rule the human race by consumerism and subversion, accelerated by rich or greedy humans `selling out' and joining the conspiracy, simply to fuel their wealth. Sadly, this film is as relevant today as it was at the peak of yuppy culture that it was released!This being a John Carpenter film, events hardly ever follow the expected, tried and tested path. There are many really shocking twists that really catch you off guard and makes for a very edge of your seat experience. The film also manages the rare task of giving an acceptable and informative description of itself without giving the whole game away(something pretty every film being released now can learn from!!!), instead, you're not really quite sure what's going on or what's round the corner the first time you watch the film.The one-liners is this film have served video game character Duke Nukem well, and the 'All out of gum' line is one of the most ripped off in films history as well as one of the most distinctly recognisable.The film quality is great, and if weren't for Roddy Piper's 'very 80's' mullet you'd swear this was filmed in the 90's!There are a reasonable amount of extras as well. The fight scenes are great and as macho as you'd expect featuring a pro-wrestler in the lead role, although is a bit cringy seeing typical wrestling moves thrown in to the mix!Another great action / sci-fi film from the master John Carpenter with enugh outside the box thinking to make it interesting even to the most seasoned sci-fi or action film fan!

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubblegum."...One of the most underrated films of the 80's. Brilliant film! The disc is a head scratcher though...why on earth Studio Canal would not give you the option to access the audio commentary at any point during the film is beyond me. You have to watch the film with locked audio commentary separately. Most ridiculous thing I've ever encountered on a Blu-ray. That aside the extras are pretty good and the picture and audio quality are great. Recommended 👍

I seen that most reviews cover the film which is great.Just going to note that the version received is for UK/European Blu-ray players and arrived sealed and complete.

Great to see again. Classic!

This review is for the US Import of They Live Blu Ray.The Blu Ray is region "A" locked, which means it won't play on an ordinary European Blu Ray player.Very impressed with the sound and picture of the film, considering it's age and the fact it was a low budget feature.The picture is detailed and rich with some grain, as it should have.The new 5.1 sound mix sounds pretty good with rich bass especially when the plodding score kicks in.The disc also features the original stereo soundtrack and a commentary track, which I have not yet listened to.As far as the film goes, it is an entertaining sci-fi movie, which is really an unsubtle satire about corporate greed. consumerism and Reaganomics in particular.Notable for a particularly unconvincing but entertaining protracted fight scene between Roddy Piper and Keith Duke, a homage to the quiet man perhaps, as there seem to be some cinematic homages to John Ford in this film by the great John Carpenter.

Great movie and this bluray makes the film look new again. Really good extras too. And how good was Roddy Piper!