tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post5993610978172127090..comments2024-02-18T08:45:16.295-08:00Comments on The Film Connoisseur: The Running Man (1987)Franco Macabrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-72761896277436809832011-01-15T09:23:29.664-08:002011-01-15T09:23:29.664-08:00I have only seen this one in bits and pieces, but ...I have only seen this one in bits and pieces, but from what I remember, I dug it! RUNNING MAN actually needs to jump back on my list, after just seeing DEATH RACE 2000 for the first time, I could use a little RUNNING MAN. Thanks for another great review Franco!I Like Horror Movieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15851268002582984544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-87877661697319803342011-01-13T09:30:49.546-08:002011-01-13T09:30:49.546-08:00Another good example of a film adaptation that stu...Another good example of a film adaptation that stuck pretty close to its source material is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, the film is the book almost word for word.<br /><br />Im going to be reading more Phillip K. Dick novels this year, I need to check out the one for TOTAL RECALL (We can remember it for you wholesale) and the one for A SCANNER DARKLY.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-77259166788271859802011-01-13T07:49:12.856-08:002011-01-13T07:49:12.856-08:00I thought that both RUMBLE FISH and SCANNER DARKLY...I thought that both RUMBLE FISH and SCANNER DARKLY were very faithful to their respective sources. In the case of SCANNER, I like that the end scroll just like the end of Dick's book where he lists all the friends, etc. who died from drugs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-882325299254372642011-01-13T06:01:13.501-08:002011-01-13T06:01:13.501-08:00Agree about Starship Troopers film, vastly differe...Agree about Starship Troopers film, vastly different from the book. I especially missed those super suits that the soldiers have in the book, they were a big part of the novel, and would have made an awesome visual, I dont know why it was left out, but I would have loved to see those suits in action!<br /><br />I always mention Phillip K. Dick's Do Android's Dream of Electrick Sheep as an example of how a film can be completely different then the novel. Blade Runner is a cinematic triumph, but it aint Phillip K. Dicks book!<br /><br /> I worship Ridley Scott's film, but the novel is a whole other creature! If they would make a film that stuck closely to the book, it would be a very different movie then the one we've seen. <br /><br />Havent seen Freejack in years! I wouldnt mind giving it a re-watch.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-17454163143701402652011-01-12T21:24:50.494-08:002011-01-12T21:24:50.494-08:00There are many sf novels that were made into films...There are many sf novels that were made into films, but there are two that I’ve read the novels before seeing the movies that I was bitterly disappointed in.<br /><br />Starship Troopers (1997) was an okay satire with some amazing effects work as directed by Paul Verhooven, but the novel of the same name (1959) by Robert E . Heinlein is a much more serious look at the military and how war affects world politics.<br /><br />Freejack (1992) is an awful future action flick as directed by Geoff Murphy, which wastes a solid supporting cast of Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo on the leaden hero Emilio Estevez and the lumbering villain Mick Jagger. The much superior, if somewhat dated novel on which it is based on, Immortality, Inc. (1958) by Robert Sheckley is a deeper examination of human consciousness and social commentary.Fritz "Doc" Freakensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209589620766485745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-70052461987510748992011-01-12T16:26:21.142-08:002011-01-12T16:26:21.142-08:00I read the outline for what the novel is like and ...I read the outline for what the novel is like and it really is very different, I mean the Runner can travel across the freaking world, he is not supposed to be confined to an obstacle course/wasteland like in the movie. <br /><br />Agree, a remake that would stick more to the book would be interesting. This is something that can be done with a lot of films that deviate way to far from their source material like Blade Runner and Total Recall.<br /><br />Hey, you can add Paul Veerhoven to the list of directors that would make interesting choices for a remake! He has that affinity for violence that would be great for a movie like this one. <br /><br />Gerard Butler would make a good Ben Richards too, me thinks.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-47084645670363423472011-01-12T14:48:08.620-08:002011-01-12T14:48:08.620-08:00The casting of Dawson aside, I just can't get ...The casting of Dawson aside, I just can't get behind this film and was bitterly disappointed by it when I saw it. I think that may come down to the fact that I read King's novella first and already had a pretty strong idea of what Ben and the world he inhabited should look like and the film WASN'T it! Man, what a bummer. I'd love to see this novella remade right. I could see someone like Russell Crowe as Ben and have either Michael Mann or Christopher Nolan direct. Actually, now that I think about it, Frank Darabont would be good also as he obviously has a real affinity for King's work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-14533730338297582232011-01-12T10:47:09.777-08:002011-01-12T10:47:09.777-08:00@Direct to Video Connoisseur: Yeah, Family Feud la...@Direct to Video Connoisseur: Yeah, Family Feud lasted up until 1985, when it was canceled. Everyone still knew who Dawson was back then. Agree with ya, he was one of the coolest things about the movie. Him and those awesome sleds they put the convicts in! I loved that. <br /><br />@Shaun: Yeah, stupid fun with a modicum of social commentary. Gotta give it at least that.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-40096068754673510602011-01-12T08:32:48.810-08:002011-01-12T08:32:48.810-08:00but Shaun, but, but, i really like this movie. It ...but Shaun, but, but, i really like this movie. It may be stupid but i like watched it. Oh no, i'm dumb :)odenathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16101175561103761095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-30598845675234187202011-01-12T06:07:53.744-08:002011-01-12T06:07:53.744-08:00An interesting novella from Stephen King, but an u...An interesting novella from Stephen King, but an utterly abysmal and utterly stupid film. And people think movie audiences are dumb now? Great review though Franco :-)Shaun Anderson [The Celluloid Highway]https://www.blogger.com/profile/18066744649878418309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-43086062079754612972011-01-12T05:53:30.853-08:002011-01-12T05:53:30.853-08:00You can't go wrong with Arnold. Like The Pred...You can't go wrong with Arnold. Like The Predator, this film boasts two US State Governors, Schwarzenegger, and Jesse the Body.<br /><br />Richard Dawson was more iconic at the time this film was made than any of the other actors. The Family Feud was made specifically as a spin-off for him, because he was so popular on the Match Game. Women just love an English accent. Some of the luster was wearing of his 70s fame, but if you look at the release date, 1987, most of the film's consumers would have grown up in the 70s, and remembered him vividly. It would be like Pat Sajak as a game show villain today, only not quite as cool. Dawson was one of my favorite aspects of The Running Man.Direct to Video Connoisseurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-84055234500245892602011-01-12T04:19:38.211-08:002011-01-12T04:19:38.211-08:00@Andrew: I bought this film precisely because all ...@Andrew: I bought this film precisely because all my friends kept bugging me that they wanted to see it, but also because I remember loving it when I was a kid, so yeah, this is definetly not one of his lesser known films like 'The Villain' (1979).<br /><br />@Fred: Agreed, I believe it was Richard Dawson who delivered the most memorable performance in the film. A despicable villain. <br /><br />@Fritz: On the dvd extras they mentioned that they changed the story around to fit Arnolds limited acting capabilities, this is why he is no longer a guy without a job or a parent in the film. He is known a soldier wrongly accused and encarcerated. <br /><br />Totally agree, Glasers weak direction is part of the what brings the movie down a bit, theres no style to it. Robocop is far superior, though similar in tone.<br /><br />Interesting how you mentioned that he is forced to deal with corporate villainy, its true, its not in him to become a rebel, but circumstances force him to become one. <br /><br />Totally agree about Total Recall, my friends and I were discussing which was the best Arnold film, and The Running Man didnt turn up in the list. Like you say, its a fun watch, but Total Recall and many others in Arnold's repertoire surpass it. <br /><br />By the way, I hear they are remaking Total Recall with Colin Farrell playing Arnolds role and that it wont be taking place on Mars! Which kind of sucks...Total Recall without Mars? But the producers are saying that it will stick closer to the book (which I havent read) so maybe it will turn out to be a whole other kind of films. <br /><br />Should be interesting. It is being directed by Len Wiseman, the guy behind the first two Underworld movies and Live Free or Die Hard. Im curious to see how this film will turn out.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-85927193455128310262011-01-11T19:44:06.294-08:002011-01-11T19:44:06.294-08:00The Running Man was another film with an interesti...The Running Man was another film with an interesting premise and good source material, which was obviously tailored to Arnold Schwarznegger’s limited acting talents. Your observation that “In a movie that is supposed to be filled with violence, and we are supposed to be repelled by how violent people have turned, there is not much of it” is spot on. The fun cartoon-like villains are indeed dispatched far too quickly and with little visual flair.<br /><br />It’s interesting that you bring up Robocop in your review. Robocop was released just four months after The Running Man in 1987 and they both explored similar themes concerning government, corporations and the media. Robocop is a far superior to The Running Man is every way. I’m sure much of this is due to Paul Verhoeen’s direction. Compare this with Paul Michael Glaser’s weak direction of The Running Man. There is good reason that Glaser’s last theatrical film was the deplorable Kazaam (1996) before he went back to directing for television.<br /><br />You’re correct that for a film that is “all about rebellion, but in the film Arnold’s character isn’t much of a rebel”, because Arnold’s portrayal of Ben Richards is that of a man who is forced by circumstances to confront corporate villainy and not by his own personal chose.<br /><br />Taken as light entertainment, The Running Man is good for some low-cal fun. Still, I prefer Arnold in Verhoveen’s Total Recall (1990), which still allowed the governator to crack heads and crack wise, but also portray a character with a modicum of depth.Fritz "Doc" Freakensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209589620766485745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-39535482644208160292011-01-11T17:09:05.911-08:002011-01-11T17:09:05.911-08:00I f'n love this movie. Ever since the VHS days...I f'n love this movie. Ever since the VHS days of the late 1980s when my mom rented this one. I was a huge Schwarzenegger fan back in the day. He was my favorite action star of the 1980s. Not his greatest film, I agree, but it's definitely a memorable one. Excellent review. I really need to see this one again.<br /><br />P.S. Richard Dawson is the MAN in this film. Just awesome in every way.Fred [The Wolf]https://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-74355906975964353492011-01-11T14:15:29.608-08:002011-01-11T14:15:29.608-08:00Great movie....
One of the pictures Schwarzenegge...Great movie....<br /> One of the pictures Schwarzenegger should be remembered for.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517857978576422454noreply@blogger.com