| The Running Man [Region 2] |  | Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $31.93
Used (2) from $31.93
Rating:  129 reviews
Sales Rank: 238259
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 044007823026
EAN: 0044007823026
ASIN: B00005JSGU
Theatrical Release Date: November 13, 1987
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
In this action thriller based on an early story by Stephen King, Los Angeles in the year 2017 has become a police state in the wake of the global economy's total collapse. All forms of entertainment are government controlled, and the most popular show on television is an elaborate game show in which convicted criminals are given a chance to escape by running through a gauntlet of brutal killers known as "Stalkers." Anyone who survives is given their freedom and a condominium in Hawaii, so when a wrongly accused citizen (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is chosen as a contestant, all hell breaks loose. Cheesy sets and a slimy role for game-show host Richard Dawson make this violent mess of mayhem a candidate for guilty pleasure; it is the kind of movie that truly devoted Arnold fans will want to watch more than once. And check those credits--choreography by Paula Abdul! --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...
 Run! Ben Richards! Run! February 4, 2009
Yendor (Gilroy, CA United States)
THE RUNNING MAN was a precursor to Arnold Schwarzenngger's work in the 1990's (i.e. TOTAL RECALL and TERMINATOR 2). Looking back on the film, it looks low-budget and a little cheesey but it works based on the uncomplicated script, interesting casting, and some tounge-in-cheek dialogue. Based loosely on the novel of Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King), the film is somewhat of a commentary of the society and the media(mainly television) and its intrusion and manipulation of the masses. The main plot is participants are forced to escape designated assassins on live tv while the public bets on who is going to oft who. All in the name of tv ratings. Off the bat, the movie was directed by Paul Micheal Glaser of tv's STARSKY & HUTCH fame. Listening to the audio-commentary, Glaser was brought in as a last-minute replacement to direct with only a few days of preparation, so he did a great job under the circumstances. The casting of Richard Dawson as game show host Damon Killian was a stroke of genius based on his stint as an actual game show host on tv's FAMILY FEUD. Many people forget that Dawson was an actor before he was a game show host (i.e. THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE and tv's HOGAN'S HEROES). Dawson/Killian almost steals the movie with a villian to rival Darth Vader. The cameo's are interesting as well. Mick Fleetwood of rock band Fleetwood Mac plays a leader of underground rebels with right-hand-man Dweezel Zappa (who gets to say one of the defining lines near the end of the film). Then there is NFL legend Jim Brown and wrestler Jesse Ventura to round out the casting. Schwarzenngger plays the patented "Schwarzenngger" character with comic one liners and action tailored for his persona. The movie has humor, action, well defined characters, and it resonates somewhat of today's reality-based televsion.
 Interesting use of operatic music January 16, 2009
Theodore Shulman (NYC)
There are two bits of music from opera, both used by Dynamo the stalker. The one he plays, the Ride of the Walkures, is conventionally used as tough-guy-going-into-combat music. But the other, the one he sings, is from the aria "Vedro mentr'io sospiro" from THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. It's originally a villian's blustering confession to the audience of his secret weakness, a sexually frustrated Count raging at being outwitted by his servants. When he sings the line Dynamo actually sings "... quest'anima consola, e jubilar mi fa!", he's resolving to avenge himself by forcing one of the servants to marry a woman old enough to be his mother. Whoever chose it for a stalker's war-cry was very clever.
 Naff, but Engaging January 11, 2009
N. Davies (Melbourne, Victoria)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
PLOT
In a pessimistic future, an innocent man is captured whilst on the run from questionable authorities and forced to participate in a deadly gameshow.
REVIEW
The vision of the future is similar to that conveyed in "Robocop" (1987). The all-powerful corporations have taken over, and the gap between rich and poor has reached maximum.
While "The Running Man" is more dated and naff than its hugely successful counterpart, it takes itself less seriously. The violence is far more bearable and there is considerable fun to be had during the tame but exciting action sequences. It's as if the "The Running Man" wasn't trying as hard as "Robocop" to show the audience where capitalism is headed, yet it achieves equally convincing social commentary.
Also, "The Running Man" is one of the better Arnie films. His physical acting abilities are in top form, while some of his greatest one-liners can be found here.
This DVD version contains both newly remastered widescreen and original full screen versions. There are also some interesting and rather humorous documentaries, though they are not directly related to the film. This is NOT a DVD for lovers of extras.
[3.5] Killian is lying to you September 14, 2008
dominion_ruler (Carolina, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Picture this. Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) is on chopper patrol when an order comes through to fire into an area where inoccent citizens stand. The order of course is obsured, and Richards declines, aborting the mission when his superior passes on orders to Richards' co-pilots to take control of the craft and resume the mission. In a struggle to do what is right, Richards attempts to to keep his co-pilots away from the controls, but fails in doing so as he is simply outmaned. About a year or two later, enter the game show "The Running Man." On the screen in front of a large live audience, we see the events that night of Richards aboard the chopper. The order comes through to not fire, as there are simply too many innocents in the area. Richards defies orders and proceeds to shoot down a number of innocents and destroy that particular area of town. This is just one of the twisted setups for the most famous form of televised entertainment in the year 2017, hosted by David Killian (Richard Dawson).
Running Man was released in 1987, taking place in 2017. It's pretty much an established fact that any 80's film taking place in the future usually looks like an even more 80's future. No different here, Running Man is filled with cheesy costumes, lots of neon flashly lights, and a dowtown Los Angeles that looks nothing like the city today. And like many movies set in the future, it's not a happy place. The economy is bust, and the living conditions we see are pretty downright nasty. Unless you are Richard Killian, who's gameshow has probably made him the most famous (and a very rich) man in America. Little does the majority know that "He is lying to you". Killian's choice of contestants are whoever he can get his hands on, however, his audience thinks these are scumbag criminals who deserve to die at the hands of the "Stalkers" - the guys who chase those contestants down and do the killing, in style of course. Richards catches Killian's eye, and he has no difficulty getting ahold of him. Along with his two buddies and a girl he meets along the way (Maria Conchita Alonso), Richards is caught in the deadly game show dueling it out with all types of Stalkers.
The story is almost non-existent, but the idea behind the film is rather entertaining. The game show scenes are packed with excitement and screaming fans, and Richard Dawson given his real life experience makes an excellent host (though he's a bit more evil in the movie's role). The dialouge and acting, as expected, is well below par, but the Arnie one-liners just keep on coming. "Hey Christmas Tree. Follow me light bulb." I mean, only Arnold could say something like that. The action scenes are fun too, with Stalkers dressed up in ridiculous costumes (the guy really does look like a Christmas tree) they also each have their own abilities, such as being armed with a chainsaw, a deadly hockey stick, or even the ability to shoot electricity (huh?) Yes you heard right, but I'm telling you, it's fun. Especially when we get to see the battle of the govenors. Though it's not an actual fight (you'll see what I mean) Arnold takes on Jesse Ventura aka Captain Freedom...."No pain, no gain!"
It's a downright guilty pleasure. Arnold fans must add to their collection. It has all the weaknesses of a B-movie, but carries all the positives as well. As silly as it is, Running Man is a good hour and half of mindless fun.
Acting - 2.5
Action - 4
Characters - 3.5
Story - 3
Overall - 3.5
The running man DVD September 12, 2008
Rajdeep Singh (SIngapore)
i have been wanting to get hold of the this copy of the DVD starring Arnold Schwarzenegger since i was a young boy.However, where I am staying I cant find this dvd at all and I have been searching for this movie for years.Finally,i came across this website and I found what I was looking for.I purchased it immediately.I eventually arrived at my doorstep.
The only issue was the dvd case had cracks on it,must be due to the ship handling but the 2 disc edition dvds were perfectly fine.
I watched the movie and I was amazed at it special features,extras.So i decided to purchase for 2 other movies from amazon.I am now waiting for them to arrive and I am a happy customer wanting to buy more from amazon again.The one stop place for the huge database of movies.The Running Man (Special Edition)
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