"I'm not into politics; I'm into survival." - Ben Richards
It's rather funny – well, scary – how ahead of its time "The Running Man" was when it came out 22 years ago. Since its release, reality TV has become the norm, as audiences tune in week by week to watch people humiliating and sometimes endangering themselves for a payday. In the film, it's convicts and the outcasts of society who are thrust into the game, given a chance to earn their freedom that almost always ends in death. A bit skewed from the reality-TV of today, but as our culture progresses, it can't help but feel like this is what we are building towards. The film seems to stumble upon these themes by accident, though, inadvertently becoming relevant to today's times.
At its core, "The Running Man" is less of a socially conscious techno-thriller and more of a prototypical 80's Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle. All the trademarks are there -- from the one-liners and puns to the over-the-top action and stunts-- to make it an Arnie classic. Everyone's favorite Austrian is in top form, and is matched by the lovely Maria Conchita Alonso as a love-interest who is thrust into the game when she makes enemies with the government. Arnie's "Predator" co-star and also-future-politician Jesse Ventura has a bit part as one of the bad guys and hams it up appropriately and while it's nice to see Yaphet Kotto in another sci-fi classic, he isn't given much to do. The direction by Paul Michael Glaser is adequate and captures the zany action nicely, but the film can't help but look and feel dated, especially when it comes to wardrobe choices and the music in the film. This can be forgiven, though, as many 80's flicks have fallen victim to the same things.
Even though the imagery and technology within the movie doesn't exactly resemble the future we are living in today, its themes sure do, and that's what makes "The Running Man" worth coming back to time and time again. It's more intelligent than the average bear, and aside from having Arnie in his prime, has enough social commentary to stimulate the brain and keep it feeling fresh. Hopefully reality-TV doesn't go this far South, but if it does, Arnold Scwarzenegger and company will be there to say "I told you so." As for me, I'm betting on a remake sometime in the next few years.
It's rather funny – well, scary – how ahead of its time "The Running Man" was when it came out 22 years ago. Since its release, reality TV has become the norm, as audiences tune in week by week to watch people humiliating and sometimes endangering themselves for a payday. In the film, it's convicts and the outcasts of society who are thrust into the game, given a chance to earn their freedom that almost always ends in death. A bit skewed from the reality-TV of today, but as our culture progresses, it can't help but feel like this is what we are building towards. The film seems to stumble upon these themes by accident, though, inadvertently becoming relevant to today's times.
At its core, "The Running Man" is less of a socially conscious techno-thriller and more of a prototypical 80's Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle. All the trademarks are there -- from the one-liners and puns to the over-the-top action and stunts-- to make it an Arnie classic. Everyone's favorite Austrian is in top form, and is matched by the lovely Maria Conchita Alonso as a love-interest who is thrust into the game when she makes enemies with the government. Arnie's "Predator" co-star and also-future-politician Jesse Ventura has a bit part as one of the bad guys and hams it up appropriately and while it's nice to see Yaphet Kotto in another sci-fi classic, he isn't given much to do. The direction by Paul Michael Glaser is adequate and captures the zany action nicely, but the film can't help but look and feel dated, especially when it comes to wardrobe choices and the music in the film. This can be forgiven, though, as many 80's flicks have fallen victim to the same things.
Even though the imagery and technology within the movie doesn't exactly resemble the future we are living in today, its themes sure do, and that's what makes "The Running Man" worth coming back to time and time again. It's more intelligent than the average bear, and aside from having Arnie in his prime, has enough social commentary to stimulate the brain and keep it feeling fresh. Hopefully reality-TV doesn't go this far South, but if it does, Arnold Scwarzenegger and company will be there to say "I told you so." As for me, I'm betting on a remake sometime in the next few years.