Sci-Fi The Running Man Remake with Edgar Wright!

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

nobody does one liners like Ahnold nobody!

And he'll never be beat!

 

[kguillou]

I just watched Arnold’s Running Man last night for the first time in years and man that movie is a f***ing blast man. It is just pure 80s in the best sense of the word. I’m shocked this movie bombed back in the day at the box office. This would have been so much fun to watch on the big screen.

And lawd Faltemeyer’s soundtrack for this is just

 

[TheVileOne]

I saw it on Monday. I found it to be Edgar Wright's most "workman-like" film ever. That might be good to some people, but I think it lacked his trademark style, wit, and effervescence that he brings to his movies.

Also, while I generally like Glen Powell, I couldn't really buy into him as this working-class, blue-collar everyman. He's decently charismatic, has good presence, and looks like a movie star, looks good in action scenes, but I think that's a bit of a problem. To me this role would've fit someone more like Michael Biehn in the 1980s.

A lot of things about the movie don't make sense if you think too hard about it, but I suppose every movie has things like that.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The Running Man is what happens when when a good filmmaker doesn't have a story to tell. The movie has no sauce. None. Never more emphasized then when they recreate a famous moment from the far superior 1987 adaptation.

Let's start with the good. Performances are strong. Pace doesn't get much until the final act, but he eats once he does. Cera is awesome. Domingo is his usual fun self. Jones is the surprise. Asked to play it straight she delivers. The only one who doesn't get a real chance is O'Brian which genuinely sucks. Because they setup like she's gonna be something and then nothing. She's not the only character like this either. Crumbs placed on the ground with multiple characters that go nowhere.

The movie is fugly. I don't think it would've solved the overall problem but the way it looks does it no favors. Blown away that Wright made a movie that looks like the scene where Cap chases Bucky across rooftops. It all looks so clean and fake, even when it's suppose to have the grit and grim. Blah.

The script is not good. The opening is so cliched it feels written by chat GPT and the ending is the worst thing Wright has ever done. A lot of telling, not showing. There is a moment with Macy that made me genuinely annoyed because it felt like Wright thought he was making this movie for idiots (more on that later). The movie also loves to preach. Which isn't inherently a bad thing to me of all people. But that's all the movie is able to muster. None of the actual revolutionary ideas it blurts out. The satire doesn't have much impact and I blame how lacking in sauce this movie is. The original is so potent because it's always set to 11. This movie feels like it's simmering the majority of the time. Only really cooking during some of the fun action and Ezra's characters rather engaging subplot that has some trademark Wright to it.

The ending is horrific. It plays out like the worst fanfiction. If they wanted that ending, you can't have Powell as the lead. But even with someone else, it feels like such a cheap ending that refuses the price of the revolution it's arguing for.

I think the most surprising thing to me was how poor the comedy was. Because the movie definitely goes for it, but outside of Cera it never really landed for me.

Powell was a big mistake. He's fine in the movie. Enjoyable. The issue is he emphasizes the overall problem. They want to tell a story of revolution by centering a white man and have the characters of color around him to emphasize the struggle. And the obvious unfortunate reality of that is that makes this feel written for a crowd it's clearly not trying to speak to. You're not starting a leftist evolution with middle America. But that's why it's a white dude who looks like a movie star, telling us he's down on his luck and living on a prayer, while looking like he's been getting ready for a Men's Fitness photoshoot.

So yeah, not good. I'm really curious where Wright goes from here. I like Soho a lot, but I still found it his weakest film up to that point. This is much worse then that. Baby Driver was his baby. Something he clearly poured his being into. He didn't need that for Pilgrim or the trilogy, as he had the source material and a co-creator that were able to match him. To elevate. I really hope he's able to find something he really wants to make.

TLDR: Go watch the original. It's much better.

 

[kguillou]

Oof i keep hearing that the movie’s third act and ending completely torpedo the whole film. Ugh i was looking forward to watching this.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Oof i keep hearing that the movie’s third act and ending completely torpedo the whole film. Ugh i was looking forward to watching this.

I was going to say the third act didn't torpedo the film, but thinking about it, it takes it from mediocre to arguably bad territory. Though I'd argue it's less the third act and more the straight up ending. The last five minutes are a nightmare.

 

[BatLobster]

Damn, bummed to be hearing a lot of negative. I'm in that awkward moment where I already have plans set to see it tomorrow with a friend and it's a bit of a buzzkill, but too late to change plans.

Admittedly didn't really love the trailers, but was just trusting it would be good based on Wright alone. I really did love Baby Driver and was curious to see his next swing at the "American action flick". Guess tempered expectations never hurt.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Damn, bummed to be hearing a lot of negative. I'm in that awkward moment where I already have plans set to see it tomorrow with a friend and it's a bit of a buzzkill, but too late to change plans.

Admittedly didn't really love the trailers, but was just trusting it would be good based on Wright alone. I really did love Baby Driver and was curious to see his next swing at the "American action flick". Guess tempered expectations never hurt.

Hey, maybe you'll like it. Even if you don't, there is something interesting about it from a film fan perspective imo.

 

[BatLobster]

Hey, maybe you'll like it. Even if you don't, there is something interesting about it from a film fan perspective imo.

Cool. Yeah, I'll go into it more for that I guess than expecting something deeper. I'm not like a diehard Wright fan but he also hasn't really missed yet for me in terms of just making a fun, snappy movie. We'll see!

 

[Zantera]

I'll probably wait until it hits streaming because the trailers haven't fully sold me and the reviews have been very lukewarm. I want to root for Edgar Wright but in reality i like the first half of his filmography (shaun, hot fuzz, scott pilgrim) a lot more than the second half (worlds end, baby driver, last night in soho).