117K views · Sep 4, 2015 · 2:55 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2020–2023
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.
Why Hacker News points people here: 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.
“it was cheaper to build a miniture New York skyline and attach fluorescent tape to the edges”HN comment, 2020
“it was cheaper to build a miniture New York skyline and attach fluorescent tape to the edges”
Clip showing miniature skyline with wireframe effect.
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] this video
“Clip from the film”
Clip of the glider navigation sequence.
"Some sources cite [James] Cameron as the brains behind the glider navigation sequence..." link Clip from the film: this video
“there's an epic "green laser grid" sequence as he flies in to the city!”
Green laser grid sequence from the film.
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! this video
