Rating: 
Summary: A 'Fugitive' from logic
Review: In `The Fugitive', Andrew Davis chose to adapt a television icon into a vehicle for its star, Harrison Ford. Unfortunately, at the same time, Davis managed to provide an icon for a trend that has been plaguing films since, presumably, moviemakers began to run out of viable plot lines: the Dumbing Down of the American Audience Movie. Although numerous examples could be offered from the film to demonstrate this unfortunate trend, the four most vital ones should suffice:
1) Ford, a successful and wealthy doctor, presented as being obviously close to his wife (or was her strewing of rose blossoms strictly for therapeutic effect?), is convicted of her killing with only weak and highly dubious evidence and motive which any decent attorney, let alone the battery of them he should have hired, would have shredded in no time.
2) Since the crime was committed in Chicago, and Ford was remanded to the Illinois State prison for the carrying out of his sentence, a U.S. Marshal would not have had jurisdiction especially at the time the movie was made. Assuming Illinois was similar to most other states, their state police would be responsible for escaped state felons, and even if help was solicited from the federal government it would have been on a collaborative basis at best. Both Tommy Lee Jones's right in asserting control of the case, and the arrogance in which he conducted himself throughout the movie, were ridiculous.
3) The unjustly famous bus/train crash scene in fact, suffered from severe problems of continuity and logic. The bus clearly was not on any train tracks when it came to a rest; even if so given the nature of the terrain it rolled down it would have had to come to a rest along the tracks instead of across them; the entire scene shifted to an entirely different locale when the train did come along, including a large river below and beside the tracks; the second engine of the 2-engine train was obviously well beyond Ford instead of being behind him when it jumped the tracks; and in any event all he would have had to do was run a few yards at right angles to the engine's path instead of directly before it to escape it.
4) The one-armed man stated to Jones that he had been previously investigated by the police for the murder of Ford's wife. As a matter of course they would then have discovered that both his position in and the nature of the company he was working for should have been more than enough to arouse ample suspicion and lead them to the true guilty parties.
Given these crucial shortcomings, along with the usual number of absurdities films of this type seem to indulge in (the Chicago police virtually en masse were portrayed as immoral and inept thugs), and the usual number of minor problems (Ford would have had to jump at least 30 feet out to hit the dam's converging water plumes and avoid the concrete wall, and from a standing position to boot!) and coincidences necessary to further the flow of the script (in the enormous Cook County Hospital complex Jones conveniently finds himself at a crucial time right outside the one department that gives him an insight into the crime), one wonders if most of the other reviews at this site were about the same movie, especially after its appearance on DVD allows for repeated viewings. The shame of it is that, given more care in directing and continuity, many of the above problems could have been eliminated and `The Fugitive' might well indeed have been a good or even excellent movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing to criticize
Review: Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, a wealthy Chicago surgeon wrongfully accused of murdering his wife (Sela Ward). In truth, a one-armed man killed his wife. Kimble is convicted and sent to prison, Kimble escapes in a riveting bus/train crash. Pursued by U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones, in his famous Oscar-winning role), Kimble misses being captured numerous times, all involving spectacular chase sequences. But as he begins to do a little investigating of his own, Kimble discovers that his wife's murder was not random, and that there may be other conspirators.
This is, without a doubt, one of the finest thriller/adventure films ever made. "The Fugitive" hits all the right notes. Ford's performance is particularly impressive; it's beyond me why he didn't get an Oscar nomination. Jones superbly matched him. Every actor did an excellent job, and direction by Andrew Davis ("Under Siege") is great. A must-see for all movie lovers. But, who hasn't seen this movie?
Rating:
Summary: Harrison Ford at His Best
Review: Harrison Ford is better known for his roles as Han Solo or Indiana Jones, but he does an excellent job as Dr. Richard Kimble in this exciting movie based on the 1960s television series by the same name. Richard returns home from a fund-raiser to find that his wife has been brutally murdered, and a man is still in his house. Richard, who soon discovers that the assailant has a mechanical arm, struggle, but the man escapes. Meanwhile, as she lay dying, Helen Kimble (Sela Ward) makes a 911 phone call that appears to implicate Richard.
Richard is tried and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection. Richard is to be transferred to a maximum security prison along with three other inmates. Once on the prison bus, one inmate fakes a seizure and stabs a security guard. Another guard begins randomly firing a shotgun and hits the bus driver by mistake. The bus careens off the road, falls down a hill, and comes to rest on a set of railroad tracks. Battered and shaken, Richard tries to free the wounded guard, but an ominous noise makes him stop; a train is approaching!!
The next scenes are some of the best movie footage I've seen as Richard barely escapes before the train slams into the bus. The engine comes uncoupled from the train and hurtles out of control, while Richard can barely move in his leg shakles. He manages to get out of the way as the train flys past.
U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard, played superbly by Tommy Lee Jones, soon has his men hunting for Richard. aided by his sidekick Cosmo Renfro (Joe Pantoliano), Sam is determined to find Richard and bring him to justice.
Richard eludes the Marshalls for the time being, but Sam soon catches up to him on a dam of all places. Cornered, Richard does the only thing he can think of; he jumps. Dumbfounded, Sam can only watch as Richard plummets over the side of the dam. Sam doesn't believe that Richard died during the fall, so he sets out on his chase again.
This is one of the best action/thrillers that I've seen. Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford give Oscar-caliber performances, and the supporting cast of Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, and Jereen Krabbe turn in fine performances as well. The special effects, including the eye-popping train scene and Ford's plunge from the dam are excellent as well.
I highly recommend this film. The acting is first rate, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing throughout. Watch and see Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones at their absolute best.
Rating:
Summary: Gut-wrenching
Review:
The Fugitive is one of the best action/crime movies out there. The story itself is gripping - a man wrongly accused, breaking loose and trying to prove his innocence while being doggedly pursued by ruthless law enforcement officers. The movie doesn't waste a single moment; you're constantly propelled from one scene to the next, each scene linked tautly to the others, and you really feel that you're in the middle of the chase. You become deeply involved in the fugitive's desperate actions.
He's Dr. Richard Kimble, a prominent doctor convicted of murdering his wife. He is played by Harrison Ford in what is one of Ford's most memorable screen roles. The performance is wonderfully understated, and that's why it's so powerful; we sense Kimble's quiet despair, quiet determination, his single-minded, all-consuming mission to clear his name and bring the real killers to light. Tommy Lee Jones plays his pursuer, U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard, and he is chilling - a cool, calculating, ruthless machine. Even after it seems to dawn on him that Kimble is innocent, you're not sure what he'll do, or whether he'll refrain from shooting the fugitive doctor. What's also so amazing about this film is how the relationship between Ford and Jones subtly changes over the course of the movie. At first they're pure opponents, with no room for dialogue between them ("I don't care," Gerard says at one point, when Kimble protests his innocence). Then, as Kimble starts leaving clues that point to the real murderers, the two are not merely opponents, but are also partners; Kimble must trust that Gerard's agile mind will pick up on the clues and form doubts about the doctor's guilt. And at the end, Gerard reveals a new side of himself in one simple act of courtesy that moves you unexpectedly and makes you let out a sigh of relief.
The Fugitive is definitely worth owning. It doesn't matter how many times you watch it - you will always be gripped, you will always be caught up regardless of whether you know what happens or not.
Rating:
Summary: A classic action thriller
Review: What makes "The Fugitive" such a successful and superior film is that it knows what it is: an action/mystery film. It makes no attempt to make itself bigger or more intellectual than it is (as did the American version of "The Vanishing"). Harrison Ford, surprisingly underplaying the role of Dr. Kimball--others might have overworked his grief and angst--turns in a brilliant performance. And the always reliable Tommy Lee Jones does an icy, sparkling job as Kimball's persuer, US Marshal Sam Gerard. So good a performance that he earned a well-deserved Oscar for it.The other key to the movie's success is Andrew Davis' dazzling direction. He keeps the pace frenetic for a good deal of the film, and the pot is always kept boiling. Close calls and intense chases keep the tension and suspense at fever pitch. "The Fugitive" will endure for a long time as a classic action thriller.
Rating:
Summary: I did not kill my wife
Review: That is well known sentence from this action hit which put an Oscar in hands of Tommy Lee Jones. Somebody killed dr. Richard Kimble's (Ford) wife, but all clues are against him. After all, who can be stupid enough to say that - One arm man did it?! His escape after bus accident will be his second chance to proove his innocents. But, that will be damn hard. Especially because after him is federal marshal who "doesn't care" about anything, except to bring the fugitive back (by any costs). Kimble will discover that he was in strong net made of lies and conspiracy, and that his only way out is to find proofes to clear his name and bring killer in front of justice. Jones supposed to be a good guy, but you'll hate him all the movie (well, it's not his falt, he's just good actor). Harrison is great, older, but still in good shape. Since Indiana Jones, he never has better role than this. You'll be right next to him, trying to solve the puzzle, hoping that he will succeed to find who ruined his life. Excellent story, good locations and ideas. Definetly collection material.
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