Runaway (1984)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A very under-rated actor and performance in this movie. You hardly hear about it, but his voice, his demeanor, etc Gene is a fantastic bad guy. Selleck of course is great as always. I really enjoyed this movie! If you've never seen it, you'll likely enjoy the suspense. A young Kirstie Alley is in this movie as well.

Set in undetermined future society where robotics are a major part of everyday life, from performing household chores to construction and more, Runaway follows Officer Jack Ramsay (Tom Selleck), head of the so-called 'Runaway Squad'. His hi-tech unit deals with out of control robots, intervening where humans may be endangered by the machines' malfunctions. When Ramsay discovers a plot by criminal genius Luther (Gene Simmons) to sell advanced microchips and cutting edge weaponry to the highest bidder, he finds himself taking on not only Luther, but also the dangerous killer's deadly robotic creations.Written and directed by the late Michael Crichton, Runaway continues the theme of the dangers of technology affecting the lives of humans that had been previously visited in his previous works Westworld and Looker. Reviewing Runaway now, thirty years after it's original release, is a real eye opener to Crichton's foresight. Although the appearance of the technology in the movie is dated, being all microchips, clunky robots, switches and video tapes, there are things that have equivalents today. These include flying drones ('floaters'), tablet-like devices, the ease of gaining information through computer profiles of individuals, nannying by technology and the rapacious pervasiveness of the media. These features are integrated subtly and skilfully into the fabric of the film, helping Runaway maintain a surprising degree of relevance so far down the line. The movie is also notable for it's 'bullet-eye view' scenes, which were ground breaking in it's day and much imitated thereafter.There's plenty to enjoy here as proceedings are quick and unfussy, the plot is purposeful and the action comes thick and fast, with Crichton really building up the tension and thrills during several standout scenes. Although some of the effects are a trifle creaky looking nowadays, the robotics are imaginative and well constructed. The performances are as equally enjoyable, with Selleck and Cynthia Rhodes (as Jack's partner) working well together. The underrated G.W. Bailey (of Police Academy infamy) also does a great turn as Jack's Chief and even a sizzling Kirstie Alley makes an appearance. The only letdown is from KISS legend Simmons, as although can he certainly deliver menacing looks and thousand yard stares, his overall acting ability is somewhat lacking. A much better rock star than actor, that's for sure.While the movie is dated in parts, it's fast pace and inventiveness, along with Crichton's skillful direction helps Runaway stand up very well when viewed in the modern day. Whether revisiting or seeing it for the first time, Runaway is an oft-overlooked pulp thriller that's well worth catching.

It's fair to say that Michael Crichton's RUNAWAY is not one of the best of his sci-fi efforts. Although the presence of then-futuristic technology is heavy throughout the movie, this turns out to be an incredibly dated piece of film-making that gets completely blown away in comparison to the same year's THE TERMINATOR.The story isn't up to much either. The plot sees cop Tom Selleck on the track of some malfunctioning robots that have been killing people, although people hoping for some WESTWORLD-style android action will be disappointed; the robots are seldom seen, and either look like VHS players or little spiders. Instead, bad guy duties are handed to the creepy Gene Simmons (KISS singer) who seems to have some grudge against humanity.The main problem with RUNAWAY isn't that it's dated - lots of the older sci-fi films I watch are dated - but that it's dull. The characters are one-dimensional and even the big players, like Selleck, give performances lacking in passion. Kirstie Alley seems to be around purely for the purpose of stripping down to her smalls which must have been humiliating for the actress, while Cynthia Rhodes barely registers. It's left to reliable stars like G. W. Bailey and particularly Stan Shaw to shine in much smaller parts.I love Crichton as both a writer and director, but RUNAWAY remains one of his forgotten films and when you watch it you quickly realise why. It's no WESTWORLD, nor does it come close to the calibre of COMA or even Spielberg's JURASSIC PARK. An interesting misfire, then, with occasional hints of greatness bubbling beneath the surface.

Tom Selleck, Gene Simmons and Cynthia Rhodes star in this 1984 sci-fi film. A cop must stop a madman and his killer robots. Jack Ramsay (Selleck) is a veteran cop who works a robotics shift and has a son. He meets his new partner, Karen Thompson (Rhodes) and shows her the ropes. They begin hunting runaway robots discovering they're created by madman, Charles Luther (Simmons) that begin killing people. Jack stops at nothing to hunt Luther which becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse. I've always liked this film and Gene is a great villain. I also like Jerry Goldsmith's excellent score and recommend this good, underrated 80's sci-fi flick.