Year: 1987
Director: Paul Glaser
Country: US
Language: English
I would not say The Running Man was "one of the first" movies to predict the reality television epidemic that would have taken over TV schedules within 20 years of its release, but I'll certainly say that it's one of the most violent. It makes The Hunger Games series look like I Love Lucy. Made during a time when Arnold Schwarzenegger's influence over pop culture was close to tipping the scales, its rather interesting that the most daring decision in this movie was his choice to wear bright yellow spandex.
In this film, a wrongly convicted man must try to survive a public execution gauntlet staged as a game show.
I find it strange that The Running Man is one of Schwarzenegger's least talked about pictures of the 80's. It's every bit as good as The Terminator, but no silver screen big whip seems to be running at the chance to make a sequel or reboot. It's an ode to 80's action cinema, with a dash of science fiction for good measure. A gloriously bloody picture, Running Man manages to balance humor and pure muscle.
Schwarzenneger plays a convincing hero, an innocent man who's only crime is PUMPING TOO MUCH IRON. He is upstaged by the antagonists of the movie, gladiators like Subzero who wield a hockey stick/sword combination. Buzzsaw, the character who obviously carries a chainsaw, is by far the most deadly foe.
Given a modest budget for 1987, the special effects unfortunately look quite dated compared to what we see in more recent cinema. Even though it's futuristic setting seems off, one can't deny that Running Man has a great script and is still incredibly entertaining. This is my favourite Schwarzenegger movie.
No comments:
Post a Comment