Product Details

• Actors: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower, Peter Jason
• Directors: John Carpenter
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Goodtimes Home Video
• VHS Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (200 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000JX1B
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,511 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MEN IN BLACK : THE SEARCH FOR THE GLASSES, January 9, 2002

By	wdanthemanw "wdanthemanw" (Geneva, Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: They Live (DVD)

Produced by Larry Franco and directed by John Carpenter in 1988, THEY LIVE never appears on the list of the best movies of the american master. I don't understand why. The carpenterian theme by excellence, the rebellion against the establishment, is the central theme of THEY LIVE, and, as far as it concerns action, the movie features one of the most impressing bare hand fights ever presented on screen.

Furthermore THEY LIVE presents a good sci-fi cliché à la Philip K. Dick - they're among us and I'm the only one who sees them -, a theme treated with intelligence by John Carpenter who does have a lot of fun to criticize our contemporary society. One will recognize some of the ideas of the movie in another Carpenter opus directed 10 years later : ESCAPE FROM L.A.

If you're a Carpenter fan, this DVD will soon be in your library but be aware that there isn't even a menu and that you're just allowed to surf into a scene access department. Shame on Image for their lack of respect. Great images and sound though.

A DVD zone rebellion.

38 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars See Through their Control, October 24, 2004

By	SystemStructure "System uses Meditate! A goo... (town, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: They Live (DVD)

This movie is GREAT. I've always liked the films of John Carpenter and this one blew me away. This film is about subtle control and manipulation of the human race. A man gains the power to see through the lies and stupidity of his world. He eventually sacrifices himself to save everyone.

Movies of this caliber are quite simply not made anymore. While watching it, it will not only entertain you it will MAKE YOU THINK. If you liked The Matrix, you will love this. The thing about this movie is that even though its context is outlandish, its message is close to home. The "aliens" in this case become an intense metaphor for those who seek to completely control a population through brain washing and lies. The population becomes willing cattle for their slave masters, some humans even going so far in their brainwashed zeal as to side with the "aliens." MONEY IS YOUR GOD.

Wake up from their mind control. Use your mind and think dangerous THOUGHTS (very similar to the "thought police" of Orwell's 1984) that will bring about goodness in the world. If you like this look into:

reading George Orwell's "1984"
reading Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"
or just watching "The Matrix" again.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can we say new age CULT CLASSIC!, December 6, 1999

By A Customer

It's hard to write about this movie to those who haven't seen it. It's one of those films you either love, or you look at with an odd expression and say "huh?" to. Yes, it's sci fi, and yes, it's comedy. There are lots of little political and social jokes that run through the plot, but there's also a great deal of amusement. I'm not going to say that everyone will love this movie, but if you are a fan of sci-fi/comedy, pro wrestler 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, alien conspiracies,and a slow-heavy blues bassline theme music kinda movies, see They Live. Packed with a hefty supply of cult classic one-liners like "I've come here to chew bubble gum and kick ---, and I'm all outta bubble gum", They Live is a great film.