They Live (1988)

An economic crisis brings unemployed Nada (Roddy Piper) to L.A. in search of work. What he finds instead is that the ruling elite of the world are aliens in disguise, their aim being to keep humans in a state of mindless consumerism. His discovery comes when he dons a pair of special sunglasses made by a resistance group and sees for the first time reality unadorned. Billboards, store signs, magazine covers--all bear subliminal messages to OBEY, to CONSUME, to have NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. Money itself says THIS IS YOUR GOD. But worst of all, with these glasses you see which of us are really hideous, bug-eyed aliens. The conceptual breakthrough is hilarious while keeping its roots in darker matters. Although some fault the film for settling into its action plot, the ending has a great payoff. And the direction by John Carpenter is handled with superb workmanlike aplomb. One unforgettable set piece has Piper in a back-alley fistfight with a friend who won't put on the glasses that goes on and on, and just when you think it's over it goes another round. One of the most subversive films ever made in Hollywood, They Live was released on the eve of the 1988 elections. The first TV ads had two hideous alien politicians debating, then one accusing the other of being "No John Kennedy!" --Jim Gay Amazon.com

Great Movie!

This is a great movie, because the action is non-stop and the visuals were ahead of their time. It has the longest fight scene between Roddy Piper and Keith David. It mixes seriousness and humor. It also has one of the most famous quotes "I have come to chew bubble gum and kick a$$, and I'm all out of bubble gum". June 4, 2008

I remeber seeing this movie years ago and enjoing it.

If you like Rowdy Roddy Piper. He was on WWF. He was the wrestler and one of the bad guys that wore a kilt. There is a segment in the movie where he and this black guy do what would be a WWF wrestling match. Fun to watch. This stunt is over a pair of sunglasses and the alien's. June 1, 2008

Great old B movie.

This is a great old movie from John Carpenter. I'm glad they had the wide screen version. Good deal. May 30, 2008

Fantastic

This movie is truely wonderful. And amazing of how things could work if it was true. I suggest anyone too watch this movie, because Roddy Piper is truely a wonderful actor.
And does excellent in this movie. Plus you really dont know if our government could really be hiding things from us, and we dont know. Its something too think about. May 17, 2008

Classic

This is a B movie with a cool concept: If you put on a special pair of sun-glasses you can see the secret world of the aliens controlling our lives!

Roddy Piper is fantastic in this flick, and the aliens are pretty odd looking. He plays a vagabond looking for work, and then stumbles upon a secret society located in an old church next to his food shelter, that has discovered the formula for unmasking our world. April 3, 2008

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