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Special Features
- "Lockdown on Main Street": a documentary about the current state of privacy and criminal issues in a post-9/11 society
- "Game Theory": an inside look at reality-TV programming and its cultural impact on society
- "Meet the Stalkers": obtain inside information about the deadliest foes in The Running Man
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In this action thriller based on an early story by Stephen King, Los Angeles in the year 2017 has become a police state in the wake of the global economy's total collapse. All forms of entertainment are government controlled, and the most popular show on television is an elaborate game show in which convicted criminals are given a chance to escape by running through a gauntlet of brutal killers known as "Stalkers." Anyone who survives is given their freedom and a condominium in Hawaii, so when a wrongly accused citizen (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is chosen as a contestant, all hell breaks loose. Cheesy sets and a slimy role for game-show host Richard Dawson make this violent mess of mayhem a candidate for guilty pleasure; it is the kind of movie that truly devoted Arnold fans will want to watch more than once. And check those credits--choreography by Paula Abdul! --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
The Running Man is the top-rated TV show in the future, where condemned criminals fight for survival. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a military pilot, wrongly accused of the massacre of innocent civilians, who finds himself its latest contestant. Can he defeat a series of bizarre adversaries, clear his name, and take down the show's smarmy emcee (Richard Dawson)? With Maria Conchita Alonso, Jesse Ventura, and Yaphet Kotto; based on a story by Stephen King. 101 min. Standard and Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, 6.1 DTS-ES Surround; audio commentary; featurettes; documentary; more. Two-disc set.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In this wry and entertaining take on a world gone crazy, where corporate rulers routinely engage popular sport activities to distill public anger and frustration and to try to distract common people from civic unrest, we find perpetual everyman Arnold Schwarzenegger caught in the vise-grip of official lies when he escapes from maximum security prison only to be caught and selected as the latest "contestant" (read `intended victim' here) for the overwhelmingly popular television program called, appropriately enough, "Running Man". The point of the game is for the contestant to survive being hunted down by a sewerful of villains while trying to make his way through a nightmarish maze. The villains are a bit campy, ranging from an outrageously garbed electric man who dispatches virtual lightning bolts to fry his prey out of existence to a chainsaw freak who attempts to hack his victims to death while riding his motorcycle.
Yet the action sequences more than make up for the sometimes-silly dialogue. The supporting cast is composed of veterans like Richard Dawson as the venomous game-show host and producer, who manipulates every aspect of the game to reach the storyline he has laid out. There are also a lot of cameos here, from Mick Fleetwood as a revolutionary to Jessie "The Body" Ventura as a sports commentator to Jim Brown as one of the slayers. The special effects are well done, and the action sequences provide plenty of vicarious violence for the moviegoer. Of course, Arnie has a waft of throwaway one-liners, and we know we are in the hands of experience when he tells Dawson the "he'll be back". Dawson, of course, not knowing whom he is dealing with, blows off the threat.
But the moviegoer knows Arnie will be back, and that he will win the day.
... Read more ›53 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By Jon
Format:DVD
You know the movie, so I'll cut to the details of this particular release...
The newly-remastered picture is so much clearer and more vivid than the original release and the DTS soundtrack is an awesome addition. After having heard it, I would've bought it for the DTS, alone. Who knew that a 17-year-old, stereo movie could be remastered to DTS quality and 6.1 surround so well (including very targeted use of the rear channels).
The extras are another story, as many people have stated. The "Lockdown on Main Street" is a thoroughly one-sided political statement. Regardless of anyone's beliefs, it doesn't belong on an action movie DVD. It feels like execs at Artisan were determined to put this documentary out there and picked "The Running Man" from their upcoming catalog as the best suitor.
The "Game Theory" documentary is just a piece in which creators and participants of early reality TV shows pat themselves on the back for their popularity. Perhaps fans of Survivor and other early reality TV will find it interesting, but I didn't.
In summary, the new remastering of the movie is "special," but nothing else on either of the discs is. As someone else said, buy it for the movie. It really is one of the best remastering jobs that I've ever seen (or heard).
The newly-remastered picture is so much clearer and more vivid than the original release and the DTS soundtrack is an awesome addition. After having heard it, I would've bought it for the DTS, alone. Who knew that a 17-year-old, stereo movie could be remastered to DTS quality and 6.1 surround so well (including very targeted use of the rear channels).
The extras are another story, as many people have stated. The "Lockdown on Main Street" is a thoroughly one-sided political statement. Regardless of anyone's beliefs, it doesn't belong on an action movie DVD. It feels like execs at Artisan were determined to put this documentary out there and picked "The Running Man" from their upcoming catalog as the best suitor.
The "Game Theory" documentary is just a piece in which creators and participants of early reality TV shows pat themselves on the back for their popularity. Perhaps fans of Survivor and other early reality TV will find it interesting, but I didn't.
In summary, the new remastering of the movie is "special," but nothing else on either of the discs is. As someone else said, buy it for the movie. It really is one of the best remastering jobs that I've ever seen (or heard).
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Meesha
Format:DVD
It was between this or the second (but technically the first) Indiana Jones movie or this. I was surprised at myself, wanting to watch Indiana Jones, but it was too long. So this went on instead. I was forewarned about it being too eighties, but I think after you get warned about these things, they're don't jump out as much at you. Only the terrible hair & outfits, but they're only really the noticable things.
Stephne King movies have a habit of not being very good. Carrie & The Green Mile are exceptions, along with this. This film is loosely based on a novel written by Stephen King that he penned under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. He wrote the story in 72 hours, and it was published with virtually no changes.
Like 1984, this book/movie was way ahead of its time, and is much more relevant now, than it was then. The ending from the book to movie as changed, and I'm quite curious to find out what happened originally.
There are some great lines in this, mainly spoken by Arnie himself and some of the best are:
Ben Richards: Killian! I'll be back!
Damon Killian: Only in a rerun.
Damon Killian: You b*****d! Drop dead!
Ben Richards: I don't do requests.
Ben Richards: Uplink underground, uplink underground. If you say that one more time, I'll uplink your uplink your ass, and you'll be underground!
Ben Richards: [after strangling Sub-Zero with barbed wire)] What a pain in the neck.
Amber: [after Richards cut Buzzsaw in half with a chain saw] What happened to Buzzsaw?
Ben Richards: He had to split.... Read more ›
Stephne King movies have a habit of not being very good. Carrie & The Green Mile are exceptions, along with this. This film is loosely based on a novel written by Stephen King that he penned under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. He wrote the story in 72 hours, and it was published with virtually no changes.
Like 1984, this book/movie was way ahead of its time, and is much more relevant now, than it was then. The ending from the book to movie as changed, and I'm quite curious to find out what happened originally.
There are some great lines in this, mainly spoken by Arnie himself and some of the best are:
Ben Richards: Killian! I'll be back!
Damon Killian: Only in a rerun.
Damon Killian: You b*****d! Drop dead!
Ben Richards: I don't do requests.
Ben Richards: Uplink underground, uplink underground. If you say that one more time, I'll uplink your uplink your ass, and you'll be underground!
Ben Richards: [after strangling Sub-Zero with barbed wire)] What a pain in the neck.
Amber: [after Richards cut Buzzsaw in half with a chain saw] What happened to Buzzsaw?
Ben Richards: He had to split.... Read more ›
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This one is definitely a keeper! Schwarzenegger makes this film both Action packed (so much that the action was seeping out of my VCR!!! ) as well as chaotically fun! Forget about "I'll be back" this one has got some of his best ever one liners! As well as some great action scenes which make you think that maybe this time he doesn't make it! The host of the game show, Richard Dawson, who was the ex-Family Feud host as well, played a great part in being the Devilish Host of the sadistic mayhem that they call a game show! The supporting cast is also a treat with Maria Conchita Alonso and Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Overall, this was one Action packed movie right from the get go! This one will thrill both Arnold fans as well as Action thrill seekers alike! 5 Stars!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best Arnold movie
I thought this movie was great when I saw it as a teenager, now it seems dated and cheesy. But it's worth watching at least once if you haven't seen it before.
Published 5 days ago by C. Brauer
5.0 out of 5 stars
cheesy 80's classic, but a true favorite!
80's Arnold at his best! I used to watch this movie with my dad and I loved it. Sub Zero, Fireball, man these names bring me back. Man, I love this movie!!!!
Published 17 days ago by Brett Pulliam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arnold
If you don't like Arnold Schwarzenegger movies then you don't deserve to like his movies at all and that's the truth.
Published 1 month ago by Derek Morrow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray movies
This is one of his first Science fiction movies that probably could become reality in about 1000 years, thank God i won't be here to see it come to fruition, but Arnold really... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jack Zaccaro
3.0 out of 5 stars
Olive Films release: no captions/subtitles
Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers: This version of "Running Man", released by Olive Films, has NO captions or subtitles whatsoever, in spite of the fact that it has been previously... Read more
Published 2 months ago by MrSandman29
4.0 out of 5 stars
Husbands choice.
Husband enjoyed this one. Again, another one for his collection. Might have to start up my own collection, with movies I love.
Published 2 months ago by Raewyn O'Brien
5.0 out of 5 stars
very pleased
Thank you very much for a great movie at a great price. I am very happy with my purchase. I have rated this at a definite 5 star.
Published 2 months ago by omar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still five stars after all these years.
This movie still rates five stars for a whole new generation. We were sad that the movie was not available for streaming as we really did not need to own it.
Published 2 months ago by VVGrossman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
This is totally a precursor to the present day hit "The Hunger Games". While the storyline isn't identical, it's still similar enough to appreciate.
Published 3 months ago by Jennifer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Arnie
This a classic for those who love the 80's action hay days! I love me some Ahnold and this one is still good after all these years!
Published 3 months ago by Chance C. Michaels
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