HackerTube

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK : SNAKE PLISSKEN FLIGHT ON TWIN TOWERS

Hacene Benmamar0 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
117K views · other · evergreen · Uploaded 2015-09-04

A scene from John Carpenter's 1981 film Escape from New York in which Snake Plissken glides in over Manhattan between the Twin Towers. It features the film's wireframe green laser-grid visuals built from miniatures.

HN uses it to illustrate how the film's wireframe skyline effect was made with practical miniatures and as an example of retro computer-display aesthetics.

Film & TV clipsAnimation & visual effects

Watch on YouTube

3 comments from Hacker News

@rkachowski2020 · in “It was more efficient to blow up a real 747 than to use miniatures or CGI”

It seems like we have come full circle, in Escape from New York (1981) it was cheaper to build a miniture New York skyline and attach fluorescent tape to the edges rather than create a CG wireframe model for the "computers" in the main characters glider.[1][2] [1] [LINK] [2] [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN
@JKCalhoun2020 · in “Real wireframe teapot mounted inside a Commodore Pet display (2004)”

"Some sources cite [James] Cameron as the brains behind the glider navigation sequence..." [LINK] Clip from the film: [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN
@morkalork2023 · in “Index of Aesthetics”

I don't have anything to add to the argument just that I happened to watch Escape from New York this weekend and there's an epic "green laser grid" sequence as he flies in to the city! [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN