bikerpaul68 This film has at last been released on Blu-Ray, though apparently only in Australia. It was a good excuse to see it again, I remember how much I liked it when I first saw it many years ago. It's a prescient vision of a horrible future (but only four years away now!) when prisons are run by private firms for profit and recalcitrant prisoners are sent to the island of Absolom to finish each other off. The plot, such as it is, provides lots of opportunities for gory scenes and exuberant special effects, and the landscapes look even lusher in high definition. There are some great performances, but my favourite has to be Ian McNeice as the hypochondriac and finicky Tom King, who more than makes up for the total absence of women in the film. Enjoy.

Spikeopath It's 2022 and Captain John Robbins is convicted of murder and sent to a maximum security prison. Refusing to accept the brutal regime, Robbins rebels and promptly gets sent to a secret place where only the toughest can survive. Absolom, a jungle island inhabited by two groups, The Outsiders and The Insiders. Will John pick a side,? or will he merely go it alone, carrying his anger along the way?.Directed by Martin Campbell {Goldeneye/Casino Royale} and starring Ray Liotta {Robbins}, Lance Henriksen, Kevin Dillon, Ernie Hudson and Stuart Wilson. No Escape is adapted from the novel written by Richard Herley. Naturally it's all complete nonsense, and it for sure feels like a blending of all the other prison/sci-fi/apocalyptic films that have come our way over the years {think Mad Max in Alcatraz type thing}. But it has such an adventurous fun about it, the familiarity of it all is quickly forgotten. The cast appear to be having a great time, Liotta looks like, and acts like he's the hardest man on the planet, Henriksen is smooth in a peaceful role, while Stuart Wilson is revelling in bad guy duties. Campbell knows how to direct action sequences, and here he delivers well within the relatively small budget {it was shot on location in parts of Australia}. For those inclined it's suitably violent, while the story and vision of the future itself is certainly of interest to the discerning sci-fi fan.Not one to remotely take serious of course, but check the brain in at the door and run with it. Because then you may just enjoy its trashy splendour. 6/10

xredgarnetx Martin Campbell, whose name is synonymous with action movies, directed the action-driven and often-violent NO ESCAPE in 1994, with Ray Liotta as a new arrival on an island penal colony. Prisoners have divided themselves into two factions: a jungle-dwelling cluster of cannibals, led by versatile Brit thespian Stuart (LETHAL WEAPON 3) Wilson, and a fortress-building group of basically civilized souls led by the one and only Lance Henricksen. The cannibals not surprisingly keep attacking the gentler souls, which the island's warden (Michael Lerner) does nothing to stop. Liotta, a disgraced special ops, doesn't care about either faction, he just wants off the island. And while he waits to get off the island, he fights. Liotta may seem an unlikely action hero, but being a terrific actor, we never once doubt his ability to defend himself and make bloody mincemeat of his enemies. Wilson makes for a loud, pop-eyed killer and literal eater of men while Liotta is a quiet but extremely deadly individual. They make for an interesting match at the end. The film is not always on the money and gets pretty preachy at times, but it is quite colorful, mostly believable in a "Lord of the Flies" way and was beautifully photographed Down Under. See it for Liotta and Wilson.

Jakethemuss I've seen this film many times over the years, as it has great re watch value. It is actually surprisingly good for a reasonably unheard of movie, and would be fair to say this is one of those gems your lucky to find.John Robbins (Liotta) is a decorated marine sent to a ultra strict maximum security prison for killing his superior officer. He does not stay there for long however, as he is banished to 'Absolum' a monitored island in a guarded stretch of water. Here, prisoners are no longer really prisoners, as there are no rules, no bars, no guards, just you and them. By them I mean "the outsiders", a bunch of savages desperately struggling for survival under the leadership of the vicious dread-locked Walter Marrik (Wilson).Then there are "the insiders", a society of former and somewhat rehabilitated inmates who live a peaceful and structured life, in a makeshift but well guarded fortress. They live under rules and respect each other, unlike the feral outsiders who have no code of honour.Classic lines, likable characters and solid action make this a film in its own right. The film boasts many good combat/battle scenes, and the gripping feel of the film sets in early and stays till the end.