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Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger Maria Conchita Alonso Richard Dawson
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Running Man |
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This movie is loosely based on a book written by Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. It stars Arnold (do you really need his last name? there is only one Arnold) as Ben Richards a cop wrongly accused of a crime. It's set in Los Angeles in the year 2017 and it has become a police state in wake of a complete collapse of the global economy. Entertainment is now controlled by the government and the most popular game show on television is an elaborate game show where criminals are given a chance to escape by running through a guantlet of brutal killers known as "Stalkers."
--Bobby Blades, Resident Scholar
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A falsely accused helicopter pilot (played by Arnold), is sent to prison for his "crime". He is forced to go on a gameshow where gladiators combat against convicted felons who either die or win their freedom. The game, however, is fixed, evetyone dies, then they say that some of them won. Arnold has to defeat the gladiators, get intelligence information for an underground resistance group, and make people realize the truth.
--Indy Sams, Resident Scholar
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A defiant military man unjustly becomes the scapegoat for a massacre of civilians, and is forced to become a contestant on a deadly "reality" television game-show to repay his dept to a bloodthirsty society.
--Blamer, Resident Scholar
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Falsely accused of the helicopter gun-ship massacre of protesting civilians, the prisoner, Ben Richards, is forced to take part in a hit TV show, The Running Man. The prize for Richards and his running partners is freedom and a new life. But the game is fixed. Richards and his team-mates are left with no alternative but get through as best they can, and provide vital information to a group of freedom fighters out to overthrow the corrupt government.
--Charles Smyth, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Running Man |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 57.5%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 40%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Powerplays
Yes
Plotlets:
- overthrowing bad govt (sci-fi)/claiming throne (fantasy)
Repressive Society
Yes
Game where people get killed?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
- wild
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Body type
- muscular (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- Bulging muscles
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Setting
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
- Polluted
- Over controlled society
- Post-disaster
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Kind of city
- Dirty, crime-ridden (like NY)
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Tone of movie
- upbeat
Comedy or somewhat funny movie?
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Kinds of F/X
- exploding vehicles
- exploding bombs
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Bobby Blades
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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