MovieChat Forums > The Running Man (1987) Discussion > Let it die ... one of the worst of Schwa...

Let it die ... one of the worst of Schwarzenegger's action movies


Ugh, I saw this movie when it came out, and after Terminator, Arnold was making so many action movies, each one a little lower a little worse. He was lucky with Terminator, and just tried to push his luck too far.

reply

I disagree, it's better than Raw Deal.

reply

I said one of the worst. Don't really want to sink to arguing about which is worse, any more than I care which is the best.

reply

Arr ok didn't read properly👍

*wasn't arguing by the way*

reply

No prob .... I tried my best to be as clear as possible.

reply

Shut the hell up. This is nowhere near one of the worst Schwarzenegger action movies. Try almost anything he made from the mid 90's onwards.

reply

Somebody got triggered and blew off and has to clean the underside of his computer desk.

reply

More like you made a dumb comment and can't back it up.

reply

It's my opinion troll-tardo, why should I need to back it? If you cannot understand that I'm sure your logical argumentation is not really up to snuff either.

reply

If you can't back it up then be prepared to be called out on it you tard muffin. Stop being sensitive.

reply

[deleted]

Lord that one was awful. Arnold as a midwestern, small town sheriff, lol! That was silly enough but the whole movie was just terrible.

My favorite early Arnold action films are The Terminator, T2, Predator, True Lies, Commando, and Total Recall :)

reply

Yeah only one good part in the film....you should never drink and bake.

reply

That was a good line but I was too distracted by that delicious looking cake being destroyed :(

reply

Oh I don't remember the cake I'll have to re-watch, maybe.

Another one of his films I didn't like was, Red Heat could never get into it.

reply

Yes, that was awful. Even Jim Belushi couldn't help with that mess.

reply

Yeah so Arnie beats the shit out of a couple of mob thugs, and throws one out the store window, then they make their getaway and people in the background are just walking back and forth like nothing happened. WTF? Not to mention what did he say to his wife at the end “yeah sorry honey I kind of convinced you that I was dead and put you through all kinds of emotional trauma but guess what, I’m with the FBI again and we can move back to New York”

We did get a pretty good (albeit silly) shootout at the end so there’s that at least, but honestly I’m better off just watching Commando.

reply

Actually it’s one of his best.

Granted, it doesn’t reach the heights of Predator, the Terminators, Total Recall or True Lies but it’s top of the B-tier Schwarz actioners.

reply

Actually ... not

reply

Actually yes. It’s objectively one of the better films from Arnie’s career, and a solid example from his golden era.

reply

I thought it was pretty good, about as good as Commando.

reply

Commando is a joy to watch but largely to laugh at, it’s objectively terrible but gets by on Arnie’s charm, a strong simple plot, and some memorable quips.

Running Man is a much better written film based on a genius concept by Stephen King. Arnie’s acting is much better and meets the sillier tone of the satirical material. Killian is a brilliantly written and acted villain - compare him to the unintentional gut-busting laughing stock that is ‘Bennet’ 🤣

reply

I agree, running man had a lot going for it. Even the music score of the film was great.

Killian: "Do you know who I am"?
Ben Richards: "Yea, youre the ASSHOLE on TV".
Killian: "Thats funny, I was about to say the same thing about you".

or one of the best replies to Arnolds "I'll be back".
Killian: "Only in the reruns..."

reply

Literal gut-busting, since Bennet gets a frickin' PIPE in his chest!

reply

You see, it all comes together.

reply

I tried to re-watch it a few years ago, but couldn't get past the first 30 minutes. It's almost like a satire of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. It was made at height of his little quips. They used so many that they stopped making sense. Especially that one, "Killian, here's your Sub-Zero, now plain zero."

The way the whole movie looks so dated with '80s style and atmosphere makes it look cheap today.

reply

Not one of his best....But surely not one of his worst, either. Though, it appears you're not much of an Arnold fan in general. So I'm curious..why make your "Let it die" plea for The Running Man, in particular? (As opposed to any other movie of his you dislike)

reply

Yeah. Though I like Raw Deal more than most it is inferior to this. So is Red Sonja and Junior.

reply

IT IS HANDS DOWN TOP FIVE SCHWARZENNEGER FLICKS IN MY BOOK...NO DOUBT.

reply

Is your book in ALL CAPS, dimbulb?

reply

YES...AS ARE MY LETTERBOXD REVIEWS,EMAILS AND EVERYTHING ELSE...I AM AWESOME & CONSISTANT.

reply

I disagree. Also, Arnold didn't direct those movies, he just acted in them.

reply

That's a nice try at deflection.

reply

Where did I imply that Arnold ever directed a movie?

reply

Its not one of his absolute greatest but I overall thought it was pretty good and rate it 7/10. Its almost like an 80s Arnie version of the cheesy but fun and satisfying Sly Stallone flick "Death Race 2000" (1975).

reply

It was not as quite bad as "Death Race 2000", true.

reply

I thought both were pretty good. And I imagine if you thought Death Race 2000 was bad, you probably wouldn't like its modern 2000s remake of it with Jason Statham and its sequels either.

reply

Well, most stuff with Statham in it is at least worth a peek for some laughs, but no, Death Race is not for me.

reply