When The Running Man came out in the 80's, I'm sure it was just a run-of-the-mill Schwarzenegger film. Many may still look at it like that. I however believe it to be a scathing satire on the entertainment world in 2001.

Today we live in an age where game-shows dominate. We have Survivor, and Who Want's To Be A Millionaire. We also have people who are obsessed with WWF superstars. Right now we have people who want to televise the execution of Timmothy McVeigh. Is it really so hard to believe that The Running Man is in fact possible. I see it happening in 15 years.

How could they take Survivor up a level. Well, they could make it so you actually have to survive. That's where The Running Man comes into place. For those who aren't familiar with the film, it's about a game-show that prisoners play. Not by choice of course, they are forced into it by greedy capitalist television producers. Now, I don't want to sound like a pig, but I think this is a great idea. So much money is wasted on keeping these animals behind bars. Execution is easy, but costly. Plus I'm one of those people who thinks some criminals on death row are getting off too easy. Timmothy McVeigh is getting off easy in my opinion. Why not kill these monsters with style, that's where The Running Man comes into play.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Ben Richards, a man falsely accused of killing hundreds of innocent people who were rioting. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but they are innocent, and so is Richards! He refused to obey his order to drop the bombs on the crowd from his helicopter, and in turn he is thrown into a maximum security prison. Luckily for Ben, he meets some friends on the inside, and breaks out.

The Running Man is a weekly television series. It puts prisoners in a game where they must survive killer "stalkers." The stalkers seem to have the same appeal to the people in this world, as pro-wrestlers do today. There is Fireball, played by Jim Brown. He has a rocket-pack and flame-thrower. Buzzsaw, a white trash redneck with a chain saw and a motorcycle. Dynamo, a fat man who sings opera while he shoots electricity out of his hands. Subzero a sumo wrestler on ice-skates and hockey stick with a real blade. It's cheesy yes, but unbelievably fun once they throw Schwarzenegger in the middle.

The action in the film is good, not great. What keeps the film going is it's clever premise. I also think the movie works better today than it did in the eighties. The way people worship the stalkers is similar to hard-core wrestling fans. Also, the evil game-show host played by Richard Dawson brings Regis Philbin to mind.

The film has great one-liners, including the infamous "I'll Be Back." A good soundtrack, one of the catchiest movie tunes I can think of. The action is entertaining, not mind blowing, but what Schwarzenegger film has mind blowing action? The Running Man is worth checking out if you haven't seen it before. It also has Jesse Ventura in it!




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older