Run Man Run

Rating:
Summary: Close to 5 stars (tech specs below) PLUS EASTER EGGS!
Review: Only a smudge of oil would spoil whipping egg whites, so I can't give Run Man Run 5 stars. It's either perfect or not so, but I can rate it a strong 4/5.

Tomas Milian is one of my favorite actors in the European Western category, along with Cleef, Eastwood, Strode, and other notables. Milian always packs a strong punch when he delivers his performances. Milian's character Cuchillo grabbed me from the opening scene when he walked into trouble. That's a classic moment that I thoroughly enjoyed, and Milian held his character throughout the film. Donal O'Brien seemed just a bit too reserved. And the voice seemed pretty muddled. I feel Milian deserves much more credit for his work, ad I see that he is still going strong in the movie business.

Director Sergio Sollima (one of two other Sergios, the other being Corbucci) kept this on a lighter and somewhat faster pace than Corbucci's more solemn films.

The film transfer to DVD is terrific, with a fine mono audio and video track presented by Blue Underground. I don't know if I've done the right thing since no one else has mentioned it (like a Sixth Sense secret) but I've discovered that this DVD also has at least 3 Easter Eggs hidden. A review of the DVD If You Live, Shoot! also has 3 Easter Eggs, so if you ever get a Blue Underground DVD, look closer and you may find some presents.

I really enjoyed the script that was followed. It wasn't too heavy but wasn't too funny, like at least one film, "My Name is Nobody," if I can recall it correctly. One really hilarious moment happens when Cuchillo is strung up and has words with one of his oppressors. Talk about insulting! If I were the military official, I would have pulled an Indiana Jones on Cuchillo.

This DVD was part of the Spaghetti Western Collection I purchased, and of the four (Django, Mannaja, Run Man Run, and If You Live, Shoot!), I enjoyed this one the most. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this again, and it would help round out a fine collection of films for the lover of macaroni flicks. Tomas Milian fans would really love this (I think it's one of his best roles), and I think Donal O'Brien fans might be a bit disappointed. I would not compare this to the Leone classics, as the format is so different. Like comparing apples and grapes. They're both similar in very basic ways but fly into different directions as European Westerns. I wouldn't call the violence "shocking" by today's standards, at all. This isn't nearly as shocking as If You Live, Shoot! was.

Tech Specs and EASTER EGGS: A region- free NTSC DVD of 121 minutes in a nice transfer from original stock in its original theatrical release of 2.35:1 (widescreen only) and enhanced for 16X9; English and Italian mono tracks; optional English subtitles; poster and production stills gallery; a 1960s documentary on filming spaghetti westerns; Run Man Run: 35 Years Running documentary with video interviews of Sollima and Milian; trailer. There are also 3 Easter Eggs I found. The knife that Donal O'Brien holds on the main menu page can be highlighted scroll over Play but scroll LEFT); an invisible knife can be highlighted across Cuchillo's face in the chapters page (scroll to Main Menu then push UP); an extra trailers selection can be highlighted in the extras page (scroll to Main Menu and scroll LEFT). All of these can be gained by computer or DVD remote to access deeper information.

Rating:
Summary: A long run
Review: Run Man Run is a sequel to one of the great Spaghetti Westerns "The Big Gundown" unfortunately The Big Gundown isn't released on any format here in the US,so unless you've seen it on Cinemax or purchased an import,this movie might not appeal to you as much.
This is basically the continuing story of Cuchillo (Tomas Milian) the Mexican knife-throwing bandit,and his search for lost gold,with a Mexican Revolution spin thrown in.
This movie is a wannabe Leone type epic that comes off being episodic.At times this is a very good film but at others it drags on.Sorely missed is Lee Van Cleef who would have greatly improved this film,Donald O'Brien's character is a good one,but the chemistry was much better with Van Cleef.A decent Spaghetti,but way too long.