Rating: 
Summary: 10k
Review: You'd think this is a movie about running but it isn't. It's about the way prisons will be in the future, game shows, reality shows, and it shows that these shows work and no one wants to go to prison. Sadly this will never happen b/c Liberals see prison as a place to put victims while they wait to get free lawyers to bail them out.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth for the last 5 minutes itself !
Review: Trashy looking and predictably fun Arnold vehicle based on a Stephen King novel (which he wrote under the name Richard Bachman) has Arnold as a cop turned into a scape goat for the government to pawn off the murder of protesting civilians who escapes prison, only to be recaptured and forced to play the ultimate reality TV show - "The Running Man", in which he must outwit and overpower a group of sadistic killers called "stalkers" who are armed with razor bladed hockey sticks, chainsaws, death rays and flame throwers. Will he survive?Professional Wrestler Jesse Ventura, who played one of Arnold's soldiers in "Predator", plays the one "stalker" who wants to fight Arnold hand to hand. Ironically, both men later wound up in politics. Dark lighting, a very 80s soundtrack and wardrobe, and ironically, a self mocking Richard Dawson provides a better foil to Arnold than any of the stalkers do, at least in terms of his personality. Arnold is fun to watch as usual, and somehow he looks better with a beard. If this movie were being made now, it would be called a comment on reality TV and the lengths networks will go to entertain the public, and in a way, it kind of was then. And like all women, Maria Conchita Alonso looks better with her hair down. - Ben Richards: a 40 years old, 6'2'', Arnold Schwarzenegger. - Amber Mendez: a 30 years old, Maria Conchita Alonso. - Damon Killian: a 54 years old, 5'9'', Richard Dawson.
Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Movie!
Review: The Running Man is awesome. Arnold basically gets teamed up with his former buddies and has to survive a sadistic gameshow. He runs into numerous villians and has to let everyone know that he isn't who they think he is. The film is great. The picture looks good and the DTS sound is well-worth the special edition. People are reviewing this movie based off the extras though. Here's my advice, "Always buy the movie for the movie." You will never be dissapointed if you just buy the movie for the actual movie and forget about the extras. Some movies have really interesting extras, but then again... most don't. This movie is really good and they did all they good for a special edition. 5 stars!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Movie Stunk, Always Did!
Review: This movie always stunk in my opinion. Only reason I bought it on DVD was for the soundtrack for the game show and to see those hot chicks dancing. I read Paula Abdul choreographed the dance sequences. It shows. Otherwise, don't waste your money. Arnold made better movies than this one!! Predator and True Lies come to mind, while never forgetting Terminator and T2. I'm out....
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the Bachman book but still entertaining.....
Review: Running Man was a story originally written by Stephen King (under the pen name Richard Bachman). The book focuses on a man who lives in an impoverished society who participates in a manhunt reality show to get money to care for his ill child. The story takes place over a variety of locations. The movie on the otherhand is somewhat different. It takes place in a closed location as a reality gameshow like Dog Eat Dog or Fear Factor. The main character is a helicopter pilot for the military who was wrongfully accused. Even though the book has more of a suspense drama feel to it than the action-based film, the film is not without its merits. It is almost a Nostradamus premonition to what we are seeing today. We are in the grip of reality. The reality show is now the bread and butter to TV. The best part about the film is that grip is there when you watch it. I recommend this film, its fun, its entertaining, and the best part is that it is not REAL. The new DVD version has great features on it and two feature length commentaries. The only thing I did not like is the documentary on privacy after 9/11. It was extremely politically biased. It was almost a propaganda film in my opinion. I myself see no problem in surveillance after 9/11, and I believe those who do see a problem probably have something to hide......
Rating:
Summary: The future IS the '80s.
Review: Of all Arnold's mid-'80s movies who would have thought that most relevant today would be The Running Man. A chilling and surprisingly realistic tale of reality TV gone mad. It may have been far-fetched back then but not so now. Not when you think about it. Currently, Reality TV shows are either scraping the bottom of the barrel or desperate to raise the bar. If the next one isn't more controversial as the last, it's a dud. How long will it be before we really do see shows like The Running Man? How long before we have 'court-appointed theatrical attorneys' or the entertainment division of the Justice Department? There is so much satire and intelligence in this movie that may have been missed back in 1987 that is desperate to be seen again considering the current state of TV shows. The biggest message of all is 'You are being lied to'. It's no secret that the Government and the media work in cahoots. And the masses believe what the media tells them to believe. It's a very scary state of affairs and unless more accurate representations of the truth emerge we may easily accept a brutal show like the Running Man in the near future. It's no secret that Reality TV is not very realistic. It's edited and reshaped before being aired and it's only what the networks want you to see. Usually it's far from the real truth. Although rather different than Stephen King's book (the ending is completely changed) the script does conform to the typical Arnie formula. Yes, he does have numerous and very corny one-liners and he does say 'I'll be back' (which he never REALLY said that often anyway, when you think about it) in the most ironic situation yet but he's still a zillion times better in the role then Christopher Reeve or Dolph Lundgren would have been (these two were considered BEFORE Arnie believe it or not). The director is none other than Dave Starsky himself (Paul Michael Glaser). It may not be artistic but it is still strong enough to generate excitement and his use of neon and flourescent colors gives each individual set a pretty cool look. Andrew Davis (not a director I particularly like) was attached before Glaser, though no matter who directs, the film is still marred by a very heavy 80's feel. First of all, Harold Faltermeyer's score (remember him?) is incredibly dated and robs the action scenes of any timeless integrity. And the fashion sense of the movie is far too excessive to be convincingly set in the future. Apart from the dated feel, the only other thing that bugs me is the poorly staged shoot-out that passes as the climax. This new DVD is a zillion times better than the original release. Gone is the horrid letterbox picture. In its place is a brand new hi-definition 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. The colors sparkle and literally pop from the screen. The new Dolby 5.1 EX and DTS ES soundtrack are also amazing. There constant use of the surround channels to great effect and the bass is strong and powerful. Definitely one of the best re-masters I've seen so far. Two intriguing documentaries, a trailer and a 'Meet the Stalkers' gimmick are included in this 2-disc set that comes in a rather neat slip case.
Rating:
Summary: You NEED to watch the documentary...
Review: For those of you wondering about this DVD...this is a good transfer of a good Arnold film. But what needs to be brought to everyone's attention is one of the two documentaries that are included in this DVD set. It is entitled "Lockdown On Main Street". It's a 30 minute documentary that examines in full detail the loss of civil rights within the U.S. post 9/11. It literally breaks down both the Patriot Act and the Patriot Act 2 and fully illustrates how it has utterly diminished the 4th Amendment. I'm sure, for many people, this will be the first real education they've ever had on these two Acts that supposedly "save us" from terrorism. It is of great merit that the producers of this DVD had the courage to include this documentary in the new release. So, whether you like this film or not, I highly reccomend either buying it or renting it just for this passionate and educational feature, no matter how disturbing it may be to watch. I'd also try watching it as soon as you can. Big Brother and the Firefighters might see to it that the distribution of this DVD is stopped once they realize how powerful "Lockdown On Main Street" really is.
Rating:
Summary: The Running Man (Special Edition) NOT
Review: Better luck Artisan Entertainment. Please remaster this title again. This has got to be the worst widescreen transfer on DVD. The print used for this SE looks like it was the same one used on the bare bones edition DVD. There is alot of pronounced grain and muddyness throughout. I think the person who had the two pan and scan discs had a defective version. There is a anamorphi widescreen version. But it is a really bad print. Also, Artisan, Please go back and put the DTS audio on this disc. There is no DTS there. When I selected the DTS option, there was no DTS trailer at the beginning of the feature. Having the DTS trailer there is a hallmark of quaility. Instead my player played the sound in Dolby SR stereo. This DVD falls below the DVD's you have put out in the past. This is a tranfer that falls short of expectations. This disc needs to be recalled. I fully intend to return this disc and get a refund.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the Widescreen Version?
Review: I purchased the Special Edition DVD precisely because I wanted a clean widescreen version of the Running Man for my movie collection.
Imagine my disappointment when playing the Widescreen DVD and seeing the full screen version. Wait, maybe they messed up the labeling and the full screen disc actually has the Widescreen version.
No.
Tried to find a Customer Service Number
No such thing.
So, if you want two identicle full screen discs of the Running Man, here you go!
Thanks for nothin' Artisian Home Entertainment! I'll be returning this DVD for a refund.
Rating:
Summary: Arnold's Fear Factor
Review: If you can imagine "Survivor" by way of "The Terminator", you'll probably get a movie like "The Running Man". It is about a former police officer falsely arrested and put on a rigged life or death game show. That's about the extent of the plot. I saw it many years ago and I liked it. And now with all the reality shows on TV, it seems strangly prophetic, dosn't it. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the usual every (super) man. "Family Fued"'s Richard Dawson plays the show's host, and he is funny as the scene chewing heavy. It also stars some of the days former sports stars (Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura, and so on). The violence is graphic but cartoonish. The plot, as already mentioned, is sparse to the action. It is more or less a non-offensive guilty pleasure.
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