The Running Man review
The year 2025 is the year of adapting Stephen King books, where in one it’s people walking, “The Long Walk” and in another they’re running, this episode’s movie, “The Running Man.” If this movie sounds familiar, Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the first movie, “The Running Man”, made in 1988. In this remake, it’s Glen Powell taking the lead role of Ben Richards. A man who finds himself thrust into a game, called “The Running Man”, where people are hunted down to the death, but if you survive for 30 days you get to live a life of luxury. Of course you have to survive being hunted down by professional killers with endless technology and weapons on their side. Also, any citizen who recognizes you can record and report you or just plain kill you on the spot. Is the game rigged? Can Ben survive? Is it worth a trip to the theater to find out? Check out this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “The Running Man” also stars Jayme Lawson, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Katy O’Brian, David Zayas, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones and Sean Hayes.
True Lies review
I go back to 1994 for this week’s review. Specifically the epic, action-packed Arnold Schwarzenegger spy thriller True Lies. This was James Cameron teaming up again with his Terminator for this big budget, eye-popping spectacle. Schwarzenegger plays Harry Tasker who has his wife and daughter convinced that he’s just a dull to the bone computer salesman. In reality he’s a spy for the covert Omega Sector hunting down and stopping threats. Things get dicey when he hears something that makes him think his wife is having an affair and he investigates. Some terrorists really end up spoiling his investigation, just to launch a nuclear attack plot on the United States. Schwarzenegger is joined by Jamie Lee Curtis as his wife, Eliza Dushku as his daughter, Tom Arnold as his partner and the late, great Bill Paxton as “super spy” Simon. If, amazingly you haven’t seen this, is it worth checking out? Watch my retro review of True Lies to find out. True Lies co-stars Tia Carrere, Art Malik, Grant Heslov and Charlton Heston.
Commando review
In this episode, I’m going Commando. The 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic bullets and bodies action extravaganza, that is! I’m going retro this week since there’s nothing good enough at the theaters to review for my beloved movie maniacs and fellow freedom-fueled film fanatics. Commando is about ex-Special Forces soldier John Matrix trying to save his daughter after she’s kidnapped to force him to assassinate a president. Matrix escapes the baddies tasked with escorting him to the country to kill the president, and the action blows up from there. He’s joined by Rae Dawn Chong, as Cindy, who involuntarily at first, becomes his valuable ally. Will he get his daughter, played by Alyssa Milano, back in time? Of course he will! Commando also stars the late great Bill Paxton in a small role, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells, David Patrick Kelly, James Olson, Bill Duke, Drew Snyder, Sharon Wyatt, Michael DeLano and Bob Minor.