FIRST TIME WATCHING: The Running Man (1987) REACTION (Movie Commentary)

[@bronzewand]

Classic movie. The novel was actually written by Stephen King but he used the name "Richard Bachman" as a pseudonym

[@shawnrobertson844]

It's a great read but VERY bleak, like a lot of the stuff he wrote as Bachman

[@mauruhkatigaming4807]

@@shawnrobertson844 They could never film the novel properly, especially now with the way it ends.

[@JDelwynn]

@@mauruhkatigaming4807 Actually Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver) is currently adapting the book. It's set to start shooting this year.

[@w41duvernay]

@@JDelwynn OH, why Do we have to remake THIS?

[@iaincowell9747]

@@w41duvernay It's not a remake of this, it's more based on the book.

[@TheEMFB]

That guy from Predator was also governor of Minnesota for a while. That's Jesse Ventura bro lol

[@thomasdemay9805]

Gov of Minnesota as an Independent, WWF (WWE) Superstar In Ring and as Announcer and Navy Seal / Frogman and action movie star. Definitely a legend

[@neilsun2521]

I mainly know him as WWF commentator during the Hogan era.

[@TheEMFB]

@@neilsun2521 a man with many talents for sure.

[@markbrinton6790]

Jesse is the man!

[@neilsun2521]

@@TheEMFB For me, the most important thing he's ever done is promote Dr Judy Wood's book - 'Where Did The Towers Go?'.

[@orghanikproductions9293]

@ 4:26 - That's the ORIGINAL host of Family Fued (Richard Dawson)! @ 14:38 - He is Jesse "The Body" Ventura (WWF Wrestler) He was also Governor of Minnesota.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

And the leader of the resistance group is Mick Fleetwood founding member of Fleetwood Mac

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

He said he wouldn’t kill a “helpless human being, even one as sadistic as you.” The key word there is helpless.

[@CapedInformer]

Not sure I would define him as helpless since he killed his friend

[@Lucklaran]

@@CapedInformer Richards was doing double duty with that line. The dude was, in that moment, immobilized and could not defend himself. It's also a call back to the "Butcher of Bakersfield", where they accused him of killing unarmed civilians. A very poor attempt at exonerating himself from the massacre, since it would just be his word against the video "evidence" everyone has seen.

[@BoB-th8wm]

@@CapedInformer Christmas Tree, killed Bens friend because he had the ability to kill him. but he didn't have the ability to kill Richards. But I understand why you would think Ben should have killed him.

[@Lucklaran]

@Chad Vindly Buzzsaw was armed, and actively trying to kill him, so, yeah.

[@Lucklaran]

@Chad Vindly Whatever man, far as I'm concerned, all bets are off when you're trying to kill someone. As for enjoying it, I'd probably enjoy surviving in that situation myself.

[@dudee.4825]

I think you're the only person I seen reacting to this movie. Thanks dude!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Yeah, he’s the first one I’ve seen. Glad he could be first, since I dig his reactions.

[@dudee.4825]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 same here.

[@lynng9618]

Choreography by Paula Abdul. Mick Fleetwood and Dweezil Zappa have bit parts. All the Stalkers were played by WWF wrestling stars. Richard Dawson was a game show host.

[@kellyfehr3719]

The film is a who's who of huh?. Yaphet Kotto (Alien), Maria Conchito Alonzo(Predator 2) Jim Brown and Directed by Starsky?

[@jp3813]

Two were WWF wrestlers and one used to be a collegiate wrestler.

[@lloyddobler2227]

Richard Dawson, who played Killian was more known as the original Host of The Family Feud and not really a major silver screen actor.

[@nickmanzo8459]

He was excellent in this movie, though, using his on screen charisma in hosting that show and adding a truly malicious undertone.

[@lloyddobler2227]

@@nickmanzo8459 I absolutely agree! I still think that he was one of the best hosts ever. His kissing contestants was legendary. Haha. I like how they made fun of it in the movie

[@namelessjedi2242]

He had an acting career before he hosted Family Feud including a role on Hogan’s Heroes.

[@lloyddobler2227]

@@namelessjedi2242 Yes, but not as a major actor like his main co-star in this movie.

[@d.-_-.b]

Richard was also the "regular" guest star on Match Game before getting his own gig on Family Feud, a kind of evolved version of Match Game.

[@davidmeir9348]

Richard Dawson really brought his real host charisma to the role. In that sense, he's this movie version of R Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket who was a real life drill sergeant. There's nothing like an original to do the best impression of a role and while he was not a proffessional movie star, Dawson definitely 'stole the show' (litterally) in this movie. He is absolutely awesome.

[@davidyoungsr753]

Then you are to young to remember him from Hogan's Heros tv show. He's also in the WW2 movie Devils Brigade....

[@Yugioh420]

He was in Predator, he was also Jessy the Body Ventura in WWE wrestling he was also Governor of Minnesota

[@jp3813]

Another action film from that era w/ the same tone is Demolition Man (1993) starring Stallone & Snipes.

[@CapedInformer]

Have that one on Patreon currently

[@neilsun2521]

Although only 6 years apart I think of them as being from different eras. Running Man - '80s. Demolition Man - '90s. Seemed a big difference at the time.

[@jp3813]

​@@neilsun2521 Same gap between A New Hope & Return of the Jedi.

[@minnesotajones261]

Captain Freedom was Jesse Ventura (former wrestler and Navy Seal) who became governor of Minnesota. He starred in two movies with Arnold, who became governor of California! :o) Oh, you want an Arnold 80's movie on Steroids?!? You HAVE to watch COMMANDO!!! 'nuff said!

[@MichaelJohnson-ln1in]

🤘🤘🤘Red Heat too.

[@inuyashason81]

Jesse Ventura was also in Batman and robin as the guard at Arkham asylum, as Arnold is mr freeze

[@michaelsuk5782]

Sub-Zero’s been packing on the pounds since his last appearance in Mortal Kombat 😂

[@jasonasdecker]

SMH LOL

[@adamw.p.6287]

Another great 80's action flick is Bloodsport with Van Damme. You can't get anymore 80's than that one.

[@CapedInformer]

Very strange that you suggested that one JUST now... 😉

[@CrocodilePile]

The novella features a very different story and a far less buff Ben Richards, he's supposed to be short and scrawny and a little too old for the game. Richard Dawson is a LEGEND. One of the stars of Hogan's Heroes (classic TV comedy set in a German prisoner of war camp during WW2), to the long time host of Family Feud (a skipped-school traditional watch). He kissed ALL the women who came on the show - which is why the "no tongue" joke is in the movie. And finally, the kid who says "Don't touch that dial" (a tv trope thrown out by late night hosts before a commercial break) is Dewizel Zappa, son of the great, great Frank Zappa. I guess I should also mention that this movie and Predator both feature two Governors. Arnold repped CA as the 38th Governor from 03 - 11 and Jesse Ventura was 38th Governor of Minnesota 99 - 03. If Carl Weathers ever runs for office I'm voting for him just to give Predator the lead.

[@namelessjedi2242]

Sonny Landam “Billy” from Predator ran for Governor too but didn’t get his party nomination.

[@CrocodilePile]

Died in 2017 or I’d vote for him too.

[@CapedInformer]

I guess that makes sense why Dawson played such a great host!

[@Sara_Feingold]

"The 80s had no hope for our future" But were they wrong, though? ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°) A few pop culture faces that you didn't seem to recognize: Richard Dawson (Killian) was the host of the original Family Feud gameshow. Jim Brown (Fireball) was arguably the best running back in NFL history.

[@Drawkcabi]

Also, the old man resistance leader was Mick Fleetwood and the "don't touch that dial" kid was Dweezil Zappa. FYI, "Don't touch that dial" was a common phrase heard back in the day when TV programs went to commercial. TV's had dials you used to turn channels.

[@CapedInformer]

Good point lol

[@MGower4465]

@@Drawkcabi and back then, the youngest child was the remote control. Mom or dad ordered the kid to change channels or turn the volume up. Course, you had only 4 channels back then.

[@KW-gb9cd]

Also, Jesse Ventura (who played Captain Freedom) was a professional wrestler who was usually billed as Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

[@MiketheCabbie]

Fireball is played by Jim Brown, legendary football player and legendary Blaxploitation film star.

[@kirk1701]

I don't know if the commenters mentioned it yet, but you might want to check out the Japanese film _Battle Royale,_ which has the same 'games to the death'/'survival of the fittest' trope.

[@Reggie2000]

"Don't touch that dial!" 18:05 This joke is lost on all young people. It comes from the days when your TV set changed channels by a knob, called a dial, and a popular thing for shows to say before the commercial break was "Don't touch that dial, such and such will be right back!" I remember watching this in 1985, and everyone laughing at that joke.

[@chiefsteps-in-poo8447]

I can remember sitting by the TV and my dad saying "alright...alright...alright..." and each time he'd say it meant I had to click that dial up one channel. We thought we were big wigs when we got our first remote control TV.

[@Reggie2000]

@@chiefsteps-in-poo8447 and by clicking that dial, you mean from NBC, to ABC, to CBS, to PBS.... and we're out of channels! 🤣

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

Pretty sure this phrase started with radio 📻

[@Reggie2000]

@@DanceySteveYNWA Could be. More sources said TV, but a few said radio. No one had any hard facts. I could see it being from radio first though. I can't find any fault in that.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

@@Reggie2000Radio or the 'Wireless' as my grandparents used to call it. 😂 Wireless means something totally different today to us, (even if it is all based on the same electromagnetic frequencies, and manipulation of such). I do remember my old black and white TV with makeshift metal coathanger used as an aerial! (that had the rotational dial) The VHS feed was around 35-40 on it I think. The good old days..

[@Cobalt-Jester]

Commando is the most 80's film you'll ever see. lol.

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

Hilarious movie. Criminally underrated.

[@CapedInformer]

Truth

[@DaniBlazin]

“I’ll be back.” in almost every Arnold movie lol 💪

[@YouMeTheMovies]

Love this movie, the one-liners are epic. Great reaction, my dude. Keep it up!

[@CapedInformer]

Thanks!

[@richwilliams7787]

That was the great Richard Dawson. Host of Family Feud and one of the greatest game show hosts of all time.

[@brandonhardin2609]

Not with him being a perv and kissing on the women. No

[@juliell2139]

FYIi. The gameshow host Damon Killian was playing by Richard Dawson, the super popular host of Family Feud in the 80s. He is basically playing himself. Part of the 80s charm to this one.

[@w1975b]

yes, and before he was the host of Family Feud, he was also an actor

[@nickmanzo8459]

He said he wouldn’t kill a helpless human being. Not just a human being in general. Basically, he refused to kill him when he couldn’t defend himself.

[@CapedInformer]

Yeaaaa but he still killed his friend so wouldn’t call him helpless lol

[@nickmanzo8459]

@@CapedInformer in that moment he was. I get what you mean, he does deserve death, but as Lord of the Rings taught us, “Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Do not be so quick to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

[@chrisleebowers]

The original "televised gladiator" science fiction movie was "The 10th Victim" (1965) based on the short story "Seventh Victim" by Robert Sheckley (1953) After this movie came out, someone figured out that it would be a no-brainer that a non-lethal version of The Running Man would be a hit show and "American Gladiators" premiered shortly after. See also: Battle Royal (2000) Series 7: The Contender (2001) The Condemned (2007) Gamer (2009) The Tournament (2009)

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Richard Dawson who played Killian wasn’t acting, he was being Richard Dawson from Family Feud. That’s why he was so great. One of the best casting decisions in Hollywood history.

[@cinemarchaeologist]

Arnold took that "I'll be back" line into other movies for years--for a very long time, it was something people waited to hear. Richard Dawson, who played Killian, was a longtime actor but probably got this part because he was the original--and very good--host of Family Feud, which he did for about 10 years leading up to this movie.

[@notjimmystewart]

“What’s wrong, Pac Man?”

[@Timmah73]

This movie is another example of a film the devs of Mortal Kombat clearly watched the shit out of as inspiration for the game.

[@samanthabarby489]

Literally found this channel this morning and I’ve been on a binge watch. Great work. Also kinda feel like they was telling us back then about media manipulation.

[@jasondermack7485]

Paul Michael Glaser was the OG Starsky on Starsky and Hutch. He also directed Kazaam with Shaq which is quite a surreal and wild ride of a ‘90s kids movie

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Didn’t his wife die from AIDS, back near the early days of the disease? Iirc, she got it from a blood transfusion.

[@ckobo84]

He also had a #1 song: Don't give up on me baby.

[@CapedInformer]

Oh wow I remember Kazaam!

[@80srule39]

yes yes yes, good to see someone reacting to this....fantastic, i love the soundtrack to this as well..

[@briangoodie3420]

I'll be back, only in a rerun.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

It's great to see all of your reactions to this, mayne. The gent who portrayed 'Killian' was Richard Dawson, who... unfortunately... took his own life. 😓 R.I.P. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@iaincowell9747]

What are you talking about? Where did you pull this shit from? He didn't take his own life, he died from complications of esophageal cancer.

[@rwd76]

Paul Michael Glaser was Starsky in the 'Starsky and Hutch' TV series which you may have heard of.

[@Equint77]

Richard Bachman is a pen name for stephen king.

[@mauruhkatigaming4807]

"Here is Buzzsaw! Now PLAIN saw! Wait, no, that one doesn't work."

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Here is fireball!!! Now just plain fire!!!!!

[@tomhood7343]

The Hunger games can't hold a candle to this! This movie is so much better and entertaining plus great action. It's an 80s classic

[@LordVolkov]

Commando is also full of one liners.

[@namelessjedi2242]

It also seems to be where the movie full of one-liners tradition truly started for Arnie (not counting the dry and simply honest “Ill be back” thing). It’s also my personal favorite Arnold movie... waiting anxiously for someone to react to it. 😁

[@blopblop7311]

If you haven’t done COMMANDO yet please give us that treat another classic with sooo many awesome one liners. Also a little older Arnold but actually a great movie that I love, END OF DAYS. ✌️❤️

[@mcmc4120]

Vote for End of Days ✌

[@mscolli3]

Now that you've seen a few Arnold movies... you HAVE to review 'Last Action Hero'

[@shainewhite2781]

"Hey, Killian! Here's Sub Zero! Now Plain Zero!"

[@rrmenton8016]

"He's a good host" Yeah, thats Richard Dawson, Iconic long time host of "The Family Feud". It was kind of a weird meta moment when this movie come out! .

[@ToABrighterFuture]

Worth noting, if you stay for the end credits: "Restless Heart" was sung by John Parr, not far removed from his chart-topping "St. Elmo's Fire." The credits then wrap with an in-universe outro.

[@BomberMonkAssassin32]

The running Man is a good movie what even makes it better was the late great Richard Dawson was in this and this was 7 years before his return to family feud as host in september 1994

[@jbooker7099]

Richard Dawson was the MAN!! You should watch some old Match Game episodes when he was on the show. And a TOTAL ladies man in Family Fued.

[@kelseydortch797]

Fireball is NFL Great Jim Brown

[@ohiopower]

The big body guard is Sven Ole Thorsen. One of Arnolds bodybuilding buddies. Been in a few movies with him. And had bit parts or did stunts in many other movies.

[@Yugioh420]

Need to do last action hero now.

[@krono5el]

"Hey Chrsitmas tree!" or " just plain zero!" would yell that shit at people when i was a kid always outta context : P

[@CapedInformer]

Lol great quotes

[@just2coolkk]

watching this the 3rd time from start to finish... so still the best reaction video to this movie on YT. Thank u sir

[@CapedInformer]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@richardjakubiszak1139]

Don't know if it was mentioned; but before Family Feud, Richard Dawson was a cast member on Hogan's Heroes.

[@Evoldog]

"I'll be Back!" Only in reruns. Great line by Killian. Matter of fact, Killian was played by Richard Dawson, who was the original host of the Family Feud. He can work a crowd.

[@baronvg]

VERY cool how this movie had deepfaking as part of the plot, in 1987, decades before it was even a real thing lol

[@jazzx251]

Killian was played by the genuine gameshow host of Family Feud - so that's why he was brilliant!

[@jamaul1391]

Last action hero is a great Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, and a movie about being in his movies 😂

[@15blackshirt]

This had the bad luck of competing with Predator at the box office; you should definitely watch Commando

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Hey, good ol’ Mick Fleetwood. Saw Dweezil Zappa in there too..

[@Tehui1974]

I first watched this movie 30+ years ago. But I only just found out that Fireball was a real life NFL legend. I also found out he got himself into some trouble...

[@briefcaseblues6061]

The special features on the dvd is awesome. Like this movie pretty much predicted a lot of things that are going on today

[@ejtappan1802]

The guy playing the game show host was so good in his role because he actually WAS a world-renowned game show host, also known to be very sassy and schmoozy with all the ladies, young and old. So, you just watched Richard Dawson being "Richard Dawson on steroids" LOL.

[@J-S.P]

Paul Michael Glaser was best known for his portrayal of Detective Dave Starsky in the original Starsky and Hutch

[@wfly81]

Richard Dawson is the perfect creepy gameshow host villain...he just plays himself.

[@GreenBeanGreenBean]

Commando is Arnies most 80s movie haha. 'Remember when I said I'd kill you last????? I lied!!!!' also, unlimited ammo cheats enabled!

[@namelessjedi2242]

The score to this movie is by Harold Faltermeyer who is much better known for Beverly Hills Cop (another great series... well, the first two anyway).

[@CapedInformer]

Something else on the list

[@coreyhendricks9490]

One of Schwarzenegger's underrated films

[@Luckydraw4me]

If you haven't seen it Berry Gordy's the last dragon is a perfect eighties classic movie

[@Drawkcabi]

This x 100!

[@Luckydraw4me]

@@Drawkcabi ShoNuff!

[@fitzgivesfits1]

Bruce LeRoy

[@BoB-th8wm]

second reaction I've seen, still no comment on the ending song from John Parr.

[@Beerman111980]

How did you not know that was Jim Brown as last season’s “number one rusher?”

[@randallflagg5984]

It's Running Man! Hallejulah! It's Running Man! Hey, hey, hey! )))

[@LeviAckerman-cb5ji]

Killian was played by Richard Dawson, the host of Family feud. That was the gameshow host Lois grabbed and tongued on Family guy.

[@thisithis]

The funny thing was when they put the Based on a book it said Richard Bachman witch was really a pin name for Stephen King.

[@bigredtlc1828]

I believe the director was Hutch on the original Starsky and Hutch TV show. Pretty cool.

[@Scallycowell]

Yaphet Kotto as Laughlin, that dude was pure class. Check him out as the villain Harvard Blue in the Isaac Hayes action film 'Truck Turner' some time. While he did at one point play a henchman in a James Bond film, his portrayal of Blue in that movie is straight up like a legit full-on proper James Bond level villain in how cold and calculated he is. One of the best bad guys ever put to screen.

[@davidyoungsr753]

He wasn't a henchman in Live and Let Die. He was the Bad guy.

[@Scallycowell]

@@davidyoungsr753 James Bond is totally alien to me. Even better then, dude was grade-A.

[@nicolesaunders2964]

Fun fact the company WCW took the concept of girls dancing live in-between matches from this movie

[@-NOCAP-]

Wow I remember this was one of my favorite movies as a kid, now that I'm a adult I can't help but realize how cheesy this movie actually is 🤣.

[@OldSchoolCurt]

The running man is an underrated classic

[@nicolesaunders2964]

Fun fact the guy who Arnold stabbed in the back with a pen played the father of Geoff Schwartz on the ABC tv show the Goldbergs

[@44excalibur]

Fun Fact: Paula Abdul choreographed the dance sequences.

[@CapedInformer]

She choreographed everything in the 80s lol

[@44excalibur]

@@CapedInformer Just about. lol

[@kickstart_1.3]

Richard Dawson used to be the host of Family Feud.

[@Andy2481]

haha ... you took my advice then for watching the Running Man lol. This is one of my fav Arny films, along with Predator, T1, T2, Total Recall. Last action hero is good, True Lies and also 6th Day and End of Days.

[@HulkTrekker]

Great reaction. You have to react to Conan the Barbarian. My favorite Arnold movie. Also has James Earl Jones as the iconic Thulsa Doom.

[@ChristIan-cl7ik]

In the book it didn't take place in an arena. It took place on the entire planet as a manhunt, That King wrote under a pseudonym. Much like "I am Legend" The protagonist is actually black.

[@RC99_Productions]

Nice to see this movie get a reaction. New subscriber here. Also, you ever noticed how the 80s thought of more futuristic stuff that what actually happened? Running Man is set in 2017, but IRL 2017 was just another year gone by. No future tech or anything.

[@JohnCollins]

"Save it for the written test" 🤣

[@papa_xan]

There actually was a Running Man video game in 1989 that was available on the Commodore 64, Atari ST, and a few other systems. I played it back then, and it wasn't very good from what I remember.

[@nikolasnathanielalexander6080]

Richard Dawson was the original host of "Family Feud"

[@olegnacim]

Another solid reaction! Please consider Last Action Hero if you’ve never watched it before. I think you’d enjoy it. Either way keep doing your thing!

[@Rensune]

The Security Guard is exactly what happens when you Don't treat your Employees well.

[@Pizmak01]

Biggest regret is that we cannot and probably will not ever get to hear clean version of so called “Paula’s Theme” (music when dancers dance at the beginning of the show). Also one of my favorite movies ever.

[@lynng9618]

Named after Paula Abdul who choreographed the dances. Music was composed by Jackie Jackson and named in her honor.

[@Pizmak01]

@@lynng9618 True. As for Paula herself, she had some cool songs of her own back in the day.

[@specialsauce5290]

How ironic that both Arnold and Jesse Ventura (Captain Freedom) both became governors

[@DominusLuna]

Paul Michael Glasier was the Original O.G. "Starsky" in the 70's.

[@w1975b]

You should react to Conan the Barbarian (1982).

[@w1975b]

The bodyguard on steroids in this was a foe in Conan. He's a friend of Arnold and has been in many of his movies.

[@ReymundoCortez]

I just realized this movie takes place in 2017 😂🤣😂

[@juliell2139]

I've been waiting for someone to react to this. Plus I'm a sub anyhow.

[@ikeyasector]

This one is my cheezy favorite. The soundtrack is awesome. Here's a little trivia for you. This film inspired a few arcade games like Smash TV and MegaRace on the PC. It's a fun film.

[@brigidtheirish]

He won't kill a *helpless* human being. It's the same thing he said in the helicopter at the beginning of the movie.

[@Overlord0011]

In terms of one-liners, Arnold's older ones certainly had some great ones, but my favorite movie in terms of one-liners is still the movie Lockout from 2012.

[@patinho5589]

The Latina actress is this is so hot. Never forget her.