What is the world coming to when the film community is remaking John Carpenter movies? Admittedly, Assault on Precinct 13 isn't the best example of Carpenter's expert craftsmanship, but it was the picture that got him noticed, and that notice enabled him to subsequently film Halloween, Escape from New York, and a chilling re-make of The Thing. Nevertheless, in part because of the non-existent budget Carpenter was working with and in part because the original was kind of cheesy, there was room for improvement. The 2005 edition of the film takes advantage of that gap, and the result is an engaging action thriller. The new Assault on Precinct 13 takes Carpenter's idea (which was, in turn, adapted from the 1959 Western, Rio Bravo) and re-imagines it for the 2000s. The result boasts better acting, slicker direction, and less laughable dialogue, all without a noticeable reduction in tension and suspense. Although fans of the original will probably view this statement as heresy, I will admit to liking the 2005 movie better than its 1976 ancestor.
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