The Running Man (Special Edition)

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

Customer Reviews:

When future governors collide.......2007-08-06

If there's another film out there featuring two future governors, I don't know what it could be. Ironically, both future politicians' characters actually reflect their future terms in office to some degree: Arnold is the independent tough guy determined to do what he thinks is right, while Jesse Ventura is a washed-up buffoon who can't be taken seriously. Then, of course, there's Richard Dawson, who funnels all those years of game show hosting into the role of Damon Killian, host of futuristic America's most popular game show, The Running Man.

There's really nothing complicated about The Running Man. Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) wrote the original short novel over the course of three days and published it pretty much as it was, with little editing to speak of. This is entertainment, not a deep psychological study of tyranny or a cinematic lament of 21st century American society. While the film does deviate from King's original novel (especially in terms of the ending), it does capture the adrenaline and animalistic frenzy that defines King's original vision. In the futuristic plot, America has become one big police state, a totalitarian society that controls the thoughts and actions of all citizens - and keeps them happy through such wildly popular state-run broadcasts as The Running Man. Like the gladiator fights and slaughters of Christians inside the Roman Coliseum of old, this reality show stirs up the blood lust of all members of society, displacing the woes of their everyday life with the thrill of a deadly hunt for hardened criminals. It's The Most Dangerous Game on a societal level - strip the victim of all humanity in your own eyes, give him a head start, hunt him down like an animal, and kill him.

Everyone wants to see Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) die. Government lies have labeled him the Butcher of Bakersville, the monster responsible for a vicious aerial attack on unarmed protestors at a food riot. In reality, it was the fact that he refused to kill innocent women and children that turned this ex-cop into America's most-wanted criminal in the first place. All the notoriety associated with him makes Richards the perfect contestant for ratings-obsessed Killian - until, that is, Richards starts demonstrating the remarkably annoying habit of staying alive. (It really isn't all that difficult to outwit such over-the-top "stalkers" as an opera-singing dude wearing Christmas tree lights all over his body and a killer who can only do his stalking on an ice hockey surface.)

The Special Edition release comes with two DVDs, featuring newly remastered widescreen and full-screen versions of the film. Frankly, given the lackluster look of the film, I see no evidence of remastering. Then there are two audio commentaries included (which I haven't bothered to listen to) - no Arnold, just director, producer, and executive producer. And then there are the other special features, none of which are at all special. The "Meet the Stalkers" feature is trivial and boring, the "Game Theory" documentary commenting on the state of reality television is tangential and bland, and the documentary on privacy in post-9/11 America is a bad addition any which way you look at it. A ridiculous piece of liberal propaganda, "Lockdown on Main Street" features twenty-five minutes of hysterical liberals bemoaning the fact that our government is actually doing all it can to stop future terrorists before they can kill and maim ordinary citizens such as themselves. Whether you agree with this tripe or not, it's pretty sad that an entertainment DVD should be politicized with such a one-sided diatribe (although it's hardly a surprise, given Hollywood's unabashedly leftist agenda).

Such a Hot Head.......2007-05-21

Excellent film & 6.1 ex surround sound, but passable picture quality. yeah I know it's an old film & very dated, but to state "remastered in HD" and have black spots all over the film is a let down, the soundtrack kicks and the packaging is nice plus all the classic Arnie 1 liners are here and worth the purchse price alone...
Fingers crossed if it's released on Blu-ray it will be remastered correctly...

Been there, done that............2007-02-05

I would have to agree with the person below. I've just finished wathing the movie "The Game" with Michael Douglas & Sean Penn, and it reminds me very much of this movie which I saw back when it first came out.

Let me state that I love Stephen King and this book when I first read it, then I heard of the movie and had to see it for myself. Like "the Game" and most movies these days it was too needlessly graphic and also like "the Game" it had a person trying to run literally for his life in what was basically a reality game show, some sort of twisted "Survivor".

It left me with an empty feeling in the end and all I could think about was the waste of $15.00 to buy the ticket. But most of all it wasn't even a plausable ending, I never did like any of the Arnie movies, perhaps with the only exception being "true lies" with Jamie Lee-Curtis. Though that said truth can be stranger than fiction. Especially in a place where a ex-actor can became both the President of America and the Governor of California.

They couldn't have known how funny this was. . ........2006-11-18

I just read an advance copy of a very funny,
comically gory novel called THE GAME. It's
about a game show that ends up being about
murder. Almost twenty years ago, in this movie,
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the guest of honor
on a game show where the contestants are hunted
down by celebrity killers and dispatched
before your very eyes. This provides the
setting for the stuff that packs 'em in to
Schwarzenegger movies: high-tech special
effects, killing and general mayhem.

It also provides director Paul Michael Glaser
with the chance for a wicked sendup of
television and its place in the moral universe.
He and screenwriter Steven de Souza have
created a burlesque of telehype that is
both marvelously comic and uncomfortably
apt. The movie is a little too long and it's
a pity that the restored version wasn't
trimmed a bit. Some of the dialog is wooden
and predictable, but the calculated excesses
of the game show host (Richard Dawson
who emceed Family Feud) are the perfect
frame for the physical excesses of Arnold
the Giant.

That the same target should be available
after twenty years is a tribute to the
persistence of televised cheap thrills.
I guess we should all be grateful.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE
and the forthcoming novel bang-BANG from Kunati Books.

A true classic!.......2006-07-25

I used to love this movie. This movie is such a great mixture of enormous plot holes, ultraviolence and phenomenally bad Schwarzenegggerjokes, that it is just pure fun to see all actors take things so serious! In the future criminals are being punished live on television during the Running Man game show by sadistic scum (one of Schwarzenegger's quotes during the movie) Of course the big former Austrian is also put on the show as a criminal contester and guess what happens? This truly is a classic! (SARR)

Average customer rating:

When future governors collide
Such a Hot Head
Been there, done that.....
They couldn't have known how funny this was. . .
A true classic!

The Running Man
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Maria Conchita Alonso , Yaphet Kotto , Jim Brown , and Jesse Ventura
Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000JMOJ
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

When future governors collide.......2007-08-06

Such a Hot Head.......2007-05-21

Been there, done that............2007-02-05

They couldn't have known how funny this was. . ........2006-11-18

A true classic!.......2006-07-25

Average customer rating:

Running out of Time...
A Good Action/Thriller Film From The East!
Great movie, but BEWARE, AUDIO IS IN MONO
An almost perfect Hong Kong movie
Dying Criminal Decides to Go Out in a Crime Spree

Running Out of Time
Starring: Andy Lau , Ching Wan Lau , Shiu Hung Hui , Waise Lee , and Ruby Wong
Director: Johnny To
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000056BRW
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Amazon.com

Johnny To, whose cool, precise gangster thriller The Mission is one of the best Hong Kong films since the Chinese takeover, brings a stylish flair to Running Out of Time, an absurdly plotted but compelling cat-and-mouse crime drama that became a box-office smash in Hong Kong. Criminal genius Wah (pop star Andy Lau) is given only a few weeks to live by his doctor, so he embarks on an elaborate heist and strings along hostage negotiator and unconventional supercop Sang (Lau Ching Wan) as part of the fun. "I just want to play a game with you for 72 hours," Wah confesses. "Great," responds Sang's blustery boss, "it's lunatic against lunatic." The elaborate scheme has something to do with a bald badass mobster (an almost unrecognizable Waise Lee, of John Woo's Bullet in the Head and A Better Tomorrow), a priceless gem, and a debt of honor. There's a hint of Woo's warrior bonding as cop and crook develop a respectful adversarial friendship in their running battle of wits: "If you can get me to the police station, you win." It all hinges on some far-fetched twists and the Hong Kong cops are little more than buffoons for most of the film, but To's steely seriousness, sleek style, and runaway pacing keep the film flying through most of the improbabilities. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Running out of Time..........2007-02-03

You're a burglar, and you have 72 hours to live...what would do? That's the premise of this action movie...I found it decent (story, acting, etc...). Three stars!

A Good Action/Thriller Film From The East!.......2007-01-17

While this film is not as good as "Internal Affairs," [in my opinion], it is above average. And although it is not a brilliant film, it does deliver in that it is highly entertaining. I guess part of my rationale is that there are so many bad American action flicks, that something from the east must somehow be more palattable. Moreover, I have seen quite a number of mindless Hong Kong triad films, and this one was refreshing. [Except the great 'SPL' known as "Kill Zone" here in the west]. Anyway, if you're familiar with director Johnny To, then you'll know what to expect: The bad guys and the cops. In the film, (Cheung) Andy Lau, portrays a man who has only a little time left to live: due to the fact that he is dying from an incurable illness.

Therefore, to take revenge for his father, he decides to rob an insurance company. The hostage negotiator is portrayed by Inspector Ho Sheung-sang (Ching-Wan Lau). The film is a cat-and-mouse type of action/thriller, where the dying Cheung and the Inspector play a sort of game of chess with wits. Ho Sheung-sang is hot on the trail of Cheung, all the while Cheung leaves the Inspector certain types of up clues which the Inspector must follow in order to catch him. This film has been called a departure from the genre of violent triad films, and I agree. It is much more of an intelligent crime drama film than one usually sees in HK cinema. [However, these films are getting much better all the time, and are even better than American action films]

Whatever your opinions are of this film, however, it is a very clever film: With (Andy Lau) as a criminal bent on revenge of certain members of a triad, and his clever use of the Inspector in pursuit. However, he must first convince the Inspector to become a part of his crusade against these criminals. And I liked the way the film showed how Cheung must manuever the Inspector into this plan of his. This is a very clever and tautly directed film from director Johnny To. Which brings me back to the begining of my review. Compared to many of the action films here in America, this one is brilliant. It's a fun film, enjoy it, and moreover, it is well worth your time spent viewing it. I own it.

Great movie, but BEWARE, AUDIO IS IN MONO.......2006-09-23

the movie is great....not quite infernal affairs, but it's still good. however, i just bought the "special edition" (nothing really special about it) and it does have a cantonese, mandarian, and english track. along with the commentary track that's listed in amazon. however the audio is NOT in 5.1. each audio track is presented in glorious MONO!! The video transfer is not clean and the mono track isn't even clear. Try to stay clear of this DVD, i am sure there is a dvd of this movie out there that is better. This is the "special edition" released by tai seng. bar code on the back of the dvd is 01643 85624

An almost perfect Hong Kong movie.......2006-05-09

Running Out of Time is probably as close to a perfect film as you're ever likely to see out of Hong Kong. All the elements click: a terrific script (by French writers Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud) that even manages to subvert the odd clich?, reliably imaginative direction by Johnnie To, and excellent central performances by Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan, the latter displaying his great comic timing to wonderful effect without ever crossing the line into parody (especially in his exasperated reactions to his superior's abysmal negotiating skills). The supporting cast is fine too, with Yo Yo Mung making a strong impression in a tiny role, and even the often histrionic Waise Lee (looking remarkably, and very aptly, like a bald Andy Lau) reining it in to good effect. It's best not to know too much about the plot going in beyond the basic set-up - with only a few weeks to live, Lau engages in a criminal game with Wan's cop with no easily apparent motive - and just sit back and enjoy the ride: it's certainly worth the fare. It also has one of the most perfect love stories in recent movies, and played in a mere three scenes (the second bus ride is one of the most magical moments of filmmaking I've seen in ages). There's also a fine score by Raymond Wong as well. The most fun playing cat and mouse at the movies in years.

Dying Criminal Decides to Go Out in a Crime Spree.......2005-05-30

1999 Unrated Hong Kong crime thriller. Caution: profanity. Also known as "Aau chin." First in, I believe, 2 movie series. (second one is called "Aau Chin 2," or "Running Out of Time 2").

DVD Features: The DVD contains just the movie (which can be heard in Cantonese, Mandarin or English with or without subtitles), some commentary hidden under the "set-up" feature (which is also the language feature), and some trailers (three trailers for this movie (2 Hong Kong, 1 USA), a trailer for Dragon Inn (remake of classic Kung Fu movie) and one for Armageddon (supernatural thriller, not the Hollywood movie)).

Credits: Staring Andy Lau (Cheung; "Infernal Affairs"), Lau Ching Wan (Inpector Ho Sheung-Sang; also known as Sean Lau; "The Attractive One"), Shiu Hung Hui (Chief Inspector Wong; "Hidden Heroes"), and Yoyo Mung (Leung Yuen Ting; "My Crazy Mother"). Directed by Johnny To ("Election"). Written by Yau Nai Hoi, Laurent Courtiaud & Julien Carbon.

Plot: A criminal mastermind is told that he only has two to four weeks to live (last stages of cancer). This criminal, Cheung, decides to go out in style and goes on a crime spree. He battles the police and a specific police officer (Inspector Ho Sheung-Sang) who is very good at his job.

Review: Interesting music, somewhat scratchy film (might just be the DVD), dubbing is a little off, but only if you pay close attention (though it can be quite bad). Intriguing film, we learn in the very first few moments that the criminal has nothing to lose because he is dying which adds a different layer to the normal police-criminal dynamic.

There's a neat scene where Inspector Sheung-Sang figures out that Cheung will leave the scene in a taxi, and becomes the taxi driver. Cheung gets in the back and the Inspector drives off, toward the nearest police station. The unarmed cop notes that the criminal won't shoot him because then the car will crash. What does Cheung do? He starts firing out the window of the taxi until the cop stops and Cheung flees. I'm not sure how realistic that scenario is, but it is an interesting method (later the roles are reversed, with the cop with a gun in the back and the criminal driving, the method used this time is also good). While the criminal plays with the police, the police fight each other (political in-fighting).

While this "cat and mouse" game is going on, a third criminal group is working the city. This group's connection to the main players is hard, at first, to figure out (but it is directly tied to Cheung's actions).

The movie is somewhat tense, but it is also somewhat harder to care about the action, as the film audience already knows that the main bad guy is dying anyway. Once again, it is harder to determine acting ability when watching a dubbed movie, though the acting seemed to be high quality. The music is good and helps add to the tension. The plot is interesting (what would you do if you were a criminal mastermind and know you are dying?) and solid. There even is some humor. Overall, I would give the movie 4.32 stars.

Average customer rating:

Impressive star power.
Not as Bad as I Was Hoping For
1 star for Anna's "talents"
Do not buy
Bad

To the Limit
Starring: Anna Nicole Smith , Joey Travolta , and Jack Bannon
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000E6XIZ
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Customer Reviews:

Impressive star power........2007-05-07

Whilst "Skyscraper" (1995) proved that Smith could effortlessly carry a big budget action film with enormous star presence and charisma, in "To the Limit" (1994) she impresses with her range as an actress. As undercover agent "Collette", Smith goes deep undercover, infiltrating two different sides in a bloody war for an enigmatic compact disc holding sensitive state secrets. Balancing a range of aliases is no easy task in this fast moving film, but Smith achieves it effortlessly. Whilst the film itself is overambitious at times, Smith's presence makes for highly satisfying viewing.

Not as Bad as I Was Hoping For.......2007-03-20

To be perfectly honest, I bought this movie because I expected it to be horrifically bad. You know, bad acting, bad dialog, bad plot? The whole works. For the most part it succeeded in all of these areas, but it's missing something from making it the camp classic it could be. I watched it once, laughed hysterically when Anna Nicole started screaming about making babies or something, but barely chuckled through the rest of it. I'll probably watch it again while having a six pack or something just to see if I missed anything, but so far the camp value is minimal at best. Maybe this is a B rate B movie?

1 star for Anna's "talents".......2003-12-08

Dare I need tell you how greatly this softcore, action thriller sucks? Ok. You might think there are two reasons (besides those two) to rent this: Nudity and Hilariously bad acting. Well, there is nudity, but not as much as you think. If you're getting it for Anna's naked flesh, be prepared to be more acquainted with your fast forward button. She's nude, don't get me wrong, in the shower, in the bed, etc., but after that first scene, she is clothed and trying to act for a loooong time before the next scene. Her "acting" is probably good if you compare to how she acts on her TV show. she at least doesn't seem stoned. There is a plot that involves...just kidding, I have no idea! There are some actual actors and a Travolta sibling playing your typical mobsters found in these movies. The movie only still exists because of Anna being naked in it and there is nowhere near enough of it to make "To the Limit" more than a free rental, if that. I should mention that this is a review for the R rated version. I don't know if there is an unrated version, but it would have to be better than this. For more nudity, bad acting, and a less coherent Anna, go rent "Skyscraper".

Do not buy.......2000-05-10

This is her pre-Skyscraper direct-to-video attempt at becoming a Hollywood film star. Acting and writing are poor. Lighting, sound, editing are professionally done.

Bad.......1999-07-23

This trash can't be shown on the Tv

Average customer rating:

Meh.
Outstanding!!!!!
Gritty and real

Running Out of Time
Starring: Carmelo Gómez , Ruth Gabriel , Javier Bardem , Karra Elejalde , and Candela Peña
Director: Imanol Uribe
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
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ASIN: B00005AAF5
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Amazon.com

A reckless Basque terrorist and a junkie prostitute fall in lust in the petty criminal underworld of Madrid in Imanol Uribe's loose update of Prosper Merimée's classic Carmen (by way of Juan Madrid's novel Dias Contados). Antonio (Carmelo Gómez, star of Julio Medem's The Red Squirrel and Lovers of the Arctic Circle) is a soldier in the violent guerrilla organization ETA, laying low in a crummy apartment until his next mission. His sexy neighbor Charo (Ruth Gabriel) invites herself into his place, shoots up in his bathroom, takes a bath, and then vamps her naked body in an impromptu photo shoot. Talk about meeting cute.

Gabriel's aimless Charo survives her world of bullying cops, violent drug dealers, and mercenary opportunists by simply floating along and flirting her way through. Antonio is hardly a sympathetic hero, an insolent member of a hated and feared terrorist organization (it's an affiliation that carries quite a wallop in Spain), and Gomez gives a simmering performance full of anger and frustration, a self-destructive man numb from violence. After a life of cheap sexual encounters, Charo is his salvation. For all the violence, sordid underworld scheming, and hothouse eroticism, Running Out of Time carries a passionately romantic twist to a volatile, violent tragedy.

The DVD also features a Spanish-language (English-subtitled) featurette with interviews and film clips, and a longer interview with Ruth Gabriel (who became a breakout star in the wake of her performance) discussing the edgy politics and rampant eroticism of the picture. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Meh........2007-08-01

Running Out of Time (Imanol Uribe, 1994)

You know, as much as I love Javier Bardem, and I do love Javier Bardem, sometimes the force of his acting ability simply isn't enough to carry a movie. When you combine Javier Bardem with a good amount of nudity, and you're still checking your watch every five minutes, there's something very wrong.

The plot concerns a Basque separatist (Carmelo Gomez) involved in a scheme to blow up a police station in Madrid. Once he gets to the city and moves into a tenement house, he finds himself attracted to his next door neighbor Charo (Ruth Gabriel). Through Charo, he is exposed to the underbelly of life in Madrid-- drugs, prostitution, gangs, police harassment-- and finds it more fascinating than his terrorist activities, much to the chagrin of his partner and sometime lover Lourdes (Elvira Minguez), who's also involved in the plot.

It wouldn't be stretching too much to call this the Titanic of Spanish movies; it won nine Goyas (including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actor for Bardem, who plays Charo's drug connection) and was nominated for ten more. (To give you a comparison, last year's universally-praised Almodovar film Volver won five and was nominated for nine others.) And, lest I be accused of same, with that comparison I'm certainly not putting Running Out of Time into the same category as the bloated, hideous Titanic in any respect but the almost hero-worship status bestowed on it by critics in its native country. Running Out of Time is not a bad movie (like Titanic), it's just not an especially good movie (like, for example, 2001 Goya Best Picture winner The Others). As many others have noted, the performances are, in fact, quite good from all the principal characters, and even a number of the minor characters. But great characterization can only take a film so far when they don't have that much to play against, and that's the case here. Perhaps it's a case of looking at this material thirteen years later, when the basic plot elements have become so hackneyed as to produce such bloated monstrosities as United 93, but as I watched this movie, I got the feeling there wasn't anything here I hadn't seen before. (To be fair, a good number of the films to which I found myself comparing it did, in fact, come after it; the exceptions were movies that dealt with one piece of the puzzle, rather than the whole overview; at two or three points, I find myself thinking "this is an odd cross between Damage and Black Sunday.")

All that said, there are far worse ways to spend an hour and a half. Javier Bardem is always a pleasure to watch onscreen, and Ruth Gabriel spends more time out of her clothing than in it, I think. Had this been an entirely character-driven movie, it'd be brilliant; what it is, however, is a character-driven movie that wants to be plot-driven, a characteristic it shares with Grande Ecole, and in many ways it suffers the same shortcomings. ** ½

Outstanding!!!!!.......2005-05-25

This is a great film. The writing is very clever and the production is outstanding. This simply shows how beautiful Spain is and that it also (like the rest of the world) has its darkness. The situations with drug addicts and prostitutes are a tragedy no matter where you go but this is actually very well done. It also shows how absolutely no one can be trusted in that kind of world. The sex is beautiful but the it is not the focus of the film. It seems there are three different stories going on at once and they connect very well. Spanish cinema is by far better than what is produced anywhere else. Also, you get to see a great shot of Candela Peña in the tub topless. She is a hottie as well as Charo (not the cookie blonde from the seventies)who has an affair with Carmelo Gomez's character who is a terrorist in this story. This was very enjoyable and definately a film that can be seen over and over.

Gritty and real.......2001-06-20

Imanol Uribe created quite a stir when he debuted this film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, which is held in the Basque country of Spain, for this film deals with the ETA, a Basque terrorist organization responsible for many acts of violence throughout Spain. Winning several Goya awards including best actor, best new actress, best film, best supporting actor, and best director, the film traces the gradual disillusionment of Antonio with his mission and his life, spurred on by his increasing involvement with Charo, a prostitute and junkie. Javier Bardem does a wonderful turn as a junkie/dealer/pimp. The DVD also includes an interview with actress Ruth Gabriel as well as a documentary on the making of the film with interviews from all the actors and a trailer of the film, which points out the similarity of the story to the classic tale of Carmen. The film is a gritty and realistic approach to the subject matter.

Average customer rating:

Nice
sweaty, nauseating, lovely
Not "The Rope," But That's Good
An interesting curiosity...remember ROPE?
Well Done!

Running Time
Starring: Anita Barone , Butch (III) , Bruce Campbell , Jorenz Campo , and Patrick Campo
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00002RASJ
Release Date: 1999-12-14

Amazon.com

The selling point of Josh Becker's high-concept heist picture is a gimmick: the film is shot in one long, (seemingly) unbroken take à la Hitchcock's Rope. The necessary cuts are actually hidden in whip pans and covered in darkness, but for all intents and purposes it looks like a real-time You Are There thriller, and Becker has obviously put a lot of thought into making it look smooth and effortless. Would that he put that much energy into the collection of neo-noir clichés that make up the script. Bruce Campbell (from Sam Raimi's Evil Dead films) stars as the square-jawed street-smart crook sprung from jail only to heist the warden's illegal skim from the prison laundry. His plan is plotted down to the minute but, naturally, begins to unravel almost immediately. If a junkie getaway driver, a stolen van, and a crime scene cased by proxy isn't bad enough, the bickering criminals blow their cover in front of hostages with a juvenile case of name calling, hardly the work of a criminal mastermind. Played for comedy it might have worked, but Becker presents the improbable escapes and a hokey romantic subplot in all seriousness. With only Campbell's disarming tough-guy performance and Becker's technical bravura to carry the film, Running Time comes off as an adolescent's idea of a Tarantino movie: naive, implausible, and contrived, a neat idea undone by a bad script. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Nice.......2007-04-11

This is a cool little film here. It is a under 90 minute film that takes place in real time and achieves the effect of being all one continuous take, which is impressive. To the sharp eye, I believe there are actually 2-3 cuts in the film that are well hidden and take nothing away from the enormity of the project undertaken on a small budget. Bruce Campbell turns in a good performance, Anita Barone is hot, and the film moves along in an interesting way. Fans of unique cinema and Bruce Campbell will have fun with this.

sweaty, nauseating, lovely.......2004-01-31

"Running Time" was Becker's take on Hitchcock's 1948 "Rope." Becker's film is a technically more difficult shoot as it proceeds in real time and in a 360 degree on-set world, requiring the coordination and excessive efforts of actors, director, cameraman, sound crew, etc...I am amazed at how well it turned out. From the cumbersome love scene to the display of ineptitude within the Laundromat, everything about the film was geared to put the viewer on edge. With hidden cuts and genius camera work, the action was relentless and the viewer was never able to predict where the movie and/or characters were headed. I highly recommend watching the film and then immediately listening to the commentary-you'd be amazed at how much went into making the story/editing seamless.

Briefly, the film begins with Carl's (Bruce Campbell) release from prison 5 years early for good behavior. He is met by Patrick (Jeremy Roberts), a high school chum and raging idiot with whom he plans to steal the dirty warden's money. As a gift, Patrick brings a local prostitute (and Carl's ex-girlfriend) along for the ride-Janie (played by Michigan chum, Anita Barone) quickly rekindles their old flame...so to speak. After dropping Janie off, they pick up their new driver (the ever irresponsible junkie-genius) and their safe man, Carl's old cell mate. The adventures in suspense, failure, frustration, and life lessons ensue.

DVD extras include hilarious commentary by writer/director/producer Josh Becker and star, Bruce Campbell. Score by Jo LoDuca (as usual). "Running Time" is a wonderful addition to any Bruce Campbell or Josh Becker collection and for anyone who loves the continued efforts of independent filmmakers.

Not "The Rope," But That's Good.......2003-07-25

You may remember the Hitchcock's movie, "The Rope" that was shot using one camera and uninterrupted real-time filming technique. Unlike the "The Rope" which was more of a stage play, "Running Time" actually runs. The main character played by Bruce Campbell, is released from prison, picked up by friend, has sex with a prostitute (later revealed to be his high school girlfriend), pulls off a heist, is shot, and runs from the law. Great chemistry between all the actors propels this unique film. Shot in black and white, this film is known in the Indie world as a classic. Written and directed by Josh Becker, one of the Detroit gang. To read the script and find out more about Josh Becker and the business of filmmaking visit [their website] or simply Google "Running Time".

An interesting curiosity...remember ROPE?.......2002-04-02

Like Hitchcock's ROPE, running time is told in real time and was designed to look as though it were all created with a single, stunning shot.

Also like ROPE, it gets tangled up in its own device.

I can understand why someone would want to make (or act in) a film like this--the technical and performance challenges require one to be at his sharpest during principle photography. At the other end, well, there's almost no editing to do: you shoot the thing, pick the reels that work best together, and get to work on the soundtrack.

Between my curiosity about the technique and my fondness for star Bruce Campbell, I picked this one up at a local used DVD shop.

The plot's pretty standard crime fare--the most interesting twist is that Campbell's character, who starts the film in prison, is back on a job before the ink on his parole papers has dried (it's real time, remember). But the technique is the real star of this show--it's a guarantee that the unblinking camera, wandering and watching, will draw your attention away from the story. In my world, though, camerawork is supposed to support the story, not distract you from it.

The performances are good all around and suitable to the format (no exceptional gaffes or line flubs), but in the end, I think the average viewer will simply write this off as an interesting way to burn an hour and fifteen minutes.

Well Done!.......2001-06-29

You could definitely do worse with 70 minutes than watch this fun Bruce Campbell film. While all the cuts are not nearly as seamless as you may have been led to believe, you don't notice the majority of them. The pace is consistent and well-suited to the plot, and the acting is generally pretty good. If you're a fan of Bruce Campbell, this is definitely a must-see. If you're not, it's still worth a look.

Average customer rating:

the final movie to come out

Lupin the 3rd - Missed by a Dollar
Starring: Masaki Tonokatsu , and Kan'ichi Kurita
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CNGBTY
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Product Description

Internationally notorious super-thief, Lupin the Third, is back and this time it's not just an adventure--it's the fate of the world hanging in the balance!

Lupin's hot on the trail of another priceless piece of art, when an unassuming antique becomes the key to world domination. Jigen, Fujiko and Goemon are at Lupin's side once again as he goes head-to-head with a ruthless vixen and her former KGB thug. A sinister plot awaits Lupin and the gang as they race against time to solve a riddle inscribed in an ancient Mayan language!

From the bustle of Wall Street to the tranquility of the Caribbean--an exotic island becomes the backdrop for an international scheme to thrust the world into war and exploit the vast petroleum resources of the planet. Disguises, decoys and dastardly deeds are the norm in this explosive adventure!

Will Lupin crack the code before it's too late? Or will the superpowers of the world be forced to bow to the will of one tyrannical femme fatale? Only one man stands in her way--Lupin the Third.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 95 minutes

Format: LUPIN

Customer Reviews:

the final movie to come out.......2006-03-01

Lupin is on the trail for another priceless piece of art. As if he doesn't get enough of stealing. This happens when an unassuming antique becomes the key to world domination.

A former KGB thug is in this movie

Average customer rating:

Disappointing but not disastrous by any means

Running Out of Time 2
Starring: Andy Lau , Lau Ching-Wan , Hui Shiu-hung , Ruby Wong , and Yo Yo Mung
Director: Johnny To
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Full Contact

ASIN: B000BKDOAM
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing but not disastrous by any means.......2006-09-01

It was inevitable that after setting the benchmark so high with the first film that Running Out of Time 2 would be a disappointment, and it is, though it's still an above average Hong Kong thriller. Once again it's a game of cat and mouse rather than a collection of action scenes, but this time round new writers Kin Yee Au and Nai-Hoi Yau give Ching Wan Lau much less to work with and the film seriously suffers from the lack of genuine emotional involvement of the original. It's almost a film of incidental pleasures - a couple of playful nods to the original in rooftop and taxi scenes, a nice part for Johnnie To regular Lam Suet as a phenomenally unlucky compulsive gambler, a chase that drags on so long both pursuer and pursued stop for a drink of water and an ice cream and one terrific twist over the location of a ransom drop that the film is never able to top. It also has the best CGI effects I've ever seen in a Hong Kong film, with some remarkably well-integrated shots of an eagle flying through the streets of Hong Kong. But Ekin Cheung's mastermind just isn't interesting enough and the ending is too far fetched to work.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 12: A Taste of Armageddon/Space Seed

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Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 12: A Taste of Armageddon/Space Seed
Starring: Star Trek Original Series
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Dias Contados (Running Out Of Time) [PAL/REGION 2 DVD. Import-Spain]

Average customer rating:

Dias Contados (Running Out Of Time) [PAL/REGION 2 DVD. Import-Spain]
Director: Imanol Uribe
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD:

DVD

DVD