The Fugitive [Blu-ray]
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Run time: 117 minutes Rating: RDo you know anyone who hasn’t seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer’s identity, while a tenacious U.S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-winning role) remains hot on his trail. Director Andrew Davis hit the big time with this expert display of polished style and escalating suspense, but it’s the antagonistic chemistry between Jones and Ford that keeps this thriller cooking to the very end. In roles that seem custom-fit to their screen personas, the two stars maintain a sharply human focus to the grand-scale manhunt, and the intelligent screenplay never resorts to convenient escapes or narrative shortcuts. Equally effective as a thriller and a character study, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that truly deserves its ongoing popularity. –Jeff ShannonDo you know anyone who hasn’t seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer’s identity, while a tenacious U.S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-winning role) remains hot on his trail. Director Andrew Davis hit the big time with this expert display of polished style and escalating suspense, but it’s the antagonistic chemistry between Jones and Ford that keeps this thriller cooking to the very end. In roles that seem custom-fit to their screen personas, the two stars maintain a sharply human focus to the grand-scale manhunt, and the intelligent screenplay never resorts to convenient escapes or narrative shortcuts. Equally effective as a thriller and a character study, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that truly deserves its ongoing popularity. –Jeff Shannon
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars I love this movie. It should go down in history as one of the best action films of all time.
Wow. I recently picked this up and I must have seen a hundred times. It never gets old. Harrison Ford is outstanding. I think this was his best movie. As to the picture quality it is lacking somewhat, but I kind of like the grainy look it had. They don’t make em’ like this anymore. What is trully awesome about this movie is the way all the action scenes were shot. All of them out in the Chicago cold, both actors doing their own stunts, real locations, and in some cases real cops (Chicago Police-two detectives), All the movies I have seen in the last five years just lack what this film had.
5 Stars A Return
- The Fugitive -
Once in a lifetime, when I was a kid of 10 years, I would find a program on TV that the whole family - 3 generations - could enjoy. Well, Amazon has brought back the joy of reliving the past with The Fugitive (the original with David Janssen). I invited my 90-year-old mom to my room to view it with me. There was Richard Kimball in all his hyper-vigilant glory, ducking into alleys and hiding out in bus terminals, constantly running from “the law,” police detective Gerard. I’m told the series is based on the great French nover, Le Miserables, by Victor Hugo. I read it and sure enough, The Fugitive brings out the essence of predator vs prey.
A real return-to-the-past - the good old days! I recommend it for all fans and invite good thriller audiences to take the adventure. It’s well worth it!
5 Stars Well paced and characterized
This is a great movie with action, drama and mystery as Richard Kimbal (Ford) escapes from legal custody and must figure out not only who has stolen his life, but why.
The action and direction are very well done here, but the real achievement is the characterization. The people inhabiting this world feel real and identifiable. We understand the reasoning behind their actions, “good” or “bad”. If that were not the case (as in the sequel, “U.S. Marshals”) we couldn’t care what happened.
Ford is perfect. He is appropriately intense and sympathetic.
Jones is excellent. Appropriately acerbic, sarcastic and caring.
Jones’ team of marshals is perfect. The characters are distinct and fleshed out. No unnecessary redundancies in characterization.
One satisfying twist on the “chase movie” cliche is that the antagonist, Gerard, is not actually the bad guy. He’s after an escaped convict, but he’s not the one who murdered Kimball’s wife or framed him for the murder. More than anything, he wants justice. Even if it means he may have to change his mind about what that entails.
Great movie. A must have for any complete library.
4 Stars Classic action flick
Wrongly accused of his wife’s murder, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) hunts for the true killer, a mysterious one-armed man (Andreas Katsulas), with a U.S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team hot on his heels.
Director Andrew Davis keeps things moving and Ford and Jones are both riveting in their roles. A few of Dr. Kimble’s escapes strain credulity, but the film never fails to entertain and the finale is very satisfying.
1 Stars The Fugitive - Blu-ray Info
Version: U.S.A / Warner / Region Free
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
VC-1 Advanced Profile 3
Running time: 2:10:14
Movie size: 22,76 GB
Disc size: 24,82 GB
Total bit rate: 23.31 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 20.96 Mbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Number of chapters: 42
#Introduction by the Film’s Stars and Creators (2 min)
#Audio Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones
#On the Run with The Fugitive (23 min)
#Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck (9 min)
#Theatrical Trailer
* 1080i to 1080p deinterlaced
* Old Blu-ray release was MPEG-2 encoded accompanied by DD audio at 640 Kbps
Filed under: Blue Ray Movie Reviews