I wouldn't call Escape from New York early Carpenter, as that was when he had money. You have to go back to Dark Star,  Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween, etc. for what starting web filmmakers should be striving for.

I must admit, my irrational hatred mostly comes from the magazine Video Games and Computer Entertainment. It was a great read, aimed at the more, if not intelligent, then at least non 8 year old market. Gore comes in as editor, and suddenly it's all cheat codes, big print, and even dropping all coverage of computers. Makes you cry.

Film Threat was fun, when I was a teen, but I soured on it about the time The Crow came out. The magazine had done a review of the work print of the film shown just after Brandon Lee's death, trashing it... then, when the actual movie came out (you know, the thing that wasn't just an assemblage of rough footage) it got praised to high heaven with no mention of the previous review. I gave up on the magazine not long after that.

I have to say, I have more irrational hatred for Chris Gore than for Lucas, so hearing his name come up as one of those in the documentary was a bit jarring Not just did Film Threat magazine get on my nerves, but then Gore becomes editor of the best computer and video game magazine and runs it into the ground! At least Lucas only ruined his own stuff!

Another podcast mentioned there's a Japanese character in the film (sub captain?), making the point that this was an obvious attempt to create interest in the Asian market, similar to how Toho would put B-grade Americans in its monster movies.

I can almost forgive that, if the movie went into Yamato/Star Blazers mode. In that classic anime series, humans turn the rusting hulk of the Battleship Yamato into a spaceship to save humanity. So, have the Missouri decked out with all the latest Area 47 gear and ready to go.
(a Disney remake of Star Blazers was going to use the Arizona. That was wrong in so many ways...)

This does remind me of how some animation is done, particularly a Pixar film or some anime. Pixar constantly pulls their movies apart and starts over, while if you watch anime you sometimes notice a complete change in plot half way through as the director realizes the thing isn't working (not recording dialog until after animation is done helps cover this kind of thing).

It's the more frequently seen species of Tary. I personally find the Raretary more interesting... or, at the very least, more tasty.

Turning short films into features is always risky. As for Burton, I honestly don't think I've seen one of his films since Sleepy Hollow.