7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In 2019, television is now ruling people's lives. The most popular reality show is called "The Running Man" featuring convicts who compete to defeat murderous henchmen.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse VenturaThriller | 100% |
Action | 87% |
Sci-Fi | 38% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
1987 was a busy year for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Given his meteoric rise into the ranks of Hollywood’s action elite, he accepted the opportunity to play the leading role in two science fiction films within the same year (Predator and The Running Man). The themes and setting couldn’t have been more distant, yet they both garnered widespread acclaim, and helped bolster the former bodybuilder’s career. I’ve always felt Predator is a superior picture to The Running Man (and imagine most sci-fi fans would agree), but when it comes to pure mindless entertainment, this is the disc to reach for.
Thank goodness he has the protective layer of padding on the jumpsuit.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 28Mbps), The Running Man is a bit of a mixed bag on Blu-ray. On the one hand, the picture offers a noticeable improvement over the prior standard definition release. However, compared with other films from the same era (Red Heat, Big Trouble in Little China), the 1987 production seems a bit underwhelming. There's a good chance this is a direct result of the soft film style that plagued several action entries of the mid-80's (Predator, Robocop), so I'm willing to attribute the lack of fine texturing to the source material, but that still doesn't rectify the situation. Moving past the marginal level of clarity, this version of the film incorporates skin tones and coloring that still demonstrate a push toward yellow and red, but move the spectrum a bit closer to natural territory. Black levels remain appropriately dark through the duration of the film, and contrast appears a touch stronger than I remember on prior versions (revealing a greater level of shadow detail in the nighttime footage). Rounding out the assessment, I never detected the presence of edge enhancement, DNR was a non-issue (film grain is apparent), and artifacting remained entirely absent. As a minor side-note, I detected a slight video stutter at the 29:04 mark, which I don't recall on the prior DVD release. This could simply be a problem with the copy I received, but is still worth mentioning.
In the end, this is enough of an improvement over the DVD to warrant an upgrade if you're a long-time fan, but all others should complete a cost/benefit analysis and decide accordingly.
Similar to the visual presentation, the audio offering generates varying levels of proficiency. One minute you'll find yourself frowning at the dismal reproduction of a gunshot, and the next you'll marvel at the wonderful sense of immersion during the tube slide. As with any raucous action/adventure film, we're given plenty of opportunity for creative sound use, and the film rarely passes up the opportunity. In most cases, the end result is as good as we can expect from a mid-80's production, meaning fans should appreciate the limitations in special effect sound design 23 years ago. Despite sending elements of the mix throughout the surround field, there's still an uphill battle to be fought, which can't be rectified through an upgrade to 7.1. On the positive side, the newly minted track exhibits excellent clarity from start to finish, never suffers from one element overpowering another, and occasionally incorporates subtle use of the LFE signal. Beyond those value-added elements of the mix, I never detected hiss or dropout throughout the duration of the film, leaving no reason to complain about the lossless audio upgrade on this release.
Lockdown on Main Street (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 24:37 min): This supplement focuses on the government's "repression" of American society since the 9/11 attacks. The Patriot Act is the primary focus, but the various interviews with civil liberties experts also evaluate the creation of internment camps, the erosion of privacy, and the use of technology to keep a watchful eye on the American public. I can appreciate the subject matter, but it seemed an odd inclusion with an 80's action film.
Game Theory (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 20:15 min): Introduced as an examination of reality television, this featurette looks back on the subject matter in The Running Man, and how it served as a precursor to the modern day reality TV craze. There's nothing eye-opening about the discussions, but it's still somewhat entertaining to look back on the history of America's favorite television category.
Rounding out the extras, we have a standard definition trailer for The Running Man and two feature-length audio commentaries. The first commentary features producer Tim Zinnemann and Director Paul Michael Glaser, while the second features executive producer Rob Cohen. If you only have time to take in one of the tracks, I'd recommend the first offering with Glaser and Zinneman, who talk at length about Glaser's late entry in the director's chair, and discuss some of the production difficulties they ran into. Cohen's track is also informative, but he focuses more on the themes of the story, and the pre-production efforts he undertook.
The Running Man may not be the greatest 80's action flick, but it's still a relevant entry in the genre and well worth your time. I wish the technical upgrades on this Blu-ray release were a bit more pronounced, but considering the limitations of the source material and the affordable price point at which it's being offered, this is a no-brainer addition to the collection of any long-time fan. Head to your closet, grab the first spandex jumpsuit you can find, and run to your favorite retailer for a copy of The Running Man.
1987
1987
35th Anniversary Edition
1987
1987
35th Anniversary Edition
1987
1987
Unrated Edition
2012
1990
2007
40th Anniversary Edition
1984
2009
2008
PG-13 Theatrical Cut
2006
2008
2015
1996
Collector's Edition
1988
Replacement Disc issued by Paramount
1996
2009
3 Disc Edition
2012
1996
2010
2000
1985
2014
1988