The Running Man

The Running Man

     The Running Man is a film that examines how television in the most extreme of circumstances can greatly affect a societies attitudes towards violence. In that regard the film was exceptionally prescient. Far from being a standard action film to showcase the talents of Arnold Schwarzenegger this film did an excellent job at examining the idea of reality television and  it's affect on a society long before the so called reality television craze officially began. The Hunger Games takes many cues from this underrated film as the basic plot centers a round a game show that has different bounty hunters hunt down and kill various criminals on live television. Schwarzenegger plays a man who has been framed and is considered to be amass murderer when he in fact refused a government order to fire upon innocent civilians. 

     It is amazing that this film hit upon how video footage as well as photography can be altered for various purposes and how people seem to blindly accept what they see on television as the truth. One of the most fascinating things about Arnold Schwarzenegger is that he his a big profile conservative who very much like the late Charlton Heston starred in a lot of action/sci-fi films that have very strong liberal messages and themes. One of the things that i admire about Arnold Schwarzenegger as a film star (not as a man because his womanizing destroyed his family) is that his films hold up much better over the years then his predecessors. It is hard to watch Steven Seagal movies now and appreciate their craft or appreciate how a pool stick is the most dangerous weapon known to man. 

     Arnold's films for the most part hold up because the films were excellent as was his acting in them. he played the role right and was the action hero icon of the 1980s and early 1990s. The Running Man is worth a look for how it portrays a culture fixated on television and reality television at that and on how the media manipulates information for it's own profit. Furthermore the films conclusion is very satisfying and in a way is truly epic for a science fiction/action film in that exposing the truth and bringing people together can get people to realize how they have been tricked and that society needs to change. Highly recommend this film!