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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Running Scared (2006)

Running Scared (2006)

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Released 21-Feb-2007

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Action Main Menu Audio & Animation
Audio Commentary-with writer/director Wayne Kramer
Featurette-Making Of-"Through The Looking Glass: Making Of Documentary"
Storyboard Comparisons-Hotel Room Shootout and Hockey Rink Shootout
Theatrical Trailer
Rating Rated MA
Year Of Production 2006
Running Time 116:41 (Case: 122)
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Wayne Kramer
Studio
Distributor
Media 8
Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Paul Walker
Cameron Bright
Vera Farmiga
Chazz Palminteri
Karel Roden
Johnny Messner
Ivana Milicevic
Case Amaray-Transparent
RPI $34.95 Music Mark Isham


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

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Plot Synopsis

The less said about Wayne Kramer’s latest film Running Scared (2006), the better, so as to avoid spoiling it. The film is best described as an adult fairytale as Kramer blends conventional action adventure genre aesthetics with the fantastic and mythic. South African director Kramer is perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed drama The Cooler (2003), which also depicted conventional melodrama within an extraordinary universe. Both films share much in common as they have a strong depiction of brutal violence, an emphasis on sexuality and reveal unconventional relationships. However Running Scared perhaps best exhibits Kramer’s distinctive vision as it has a relentless emphasis on the dark and disturbing. There are some particularly difficult scenes in the film but they seem to exist with purpose in the sinister underworld Kramer has are created. Running Scared is a well crafted film and incredibly creative and inspired. The film boasts an impressive cast including Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Vera Farmiga and Chazz Palminteri. This is a film unlike anything you have seen and it is in vein of the cinema of Walter Hill, Brian De Palma, and Sam Peckinpah.

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Transfer Quality

Video

The film is preserved in its original theatrical aspect ratio in 2.35:1 16x9 enhanced widescreen. The transfer is pleasing with excellent black levels and exhibits Kramer’s unique stylised vision of dark grainy image contrasted with bright neon lights. The transfer has been encoded at an average bit rate of 5.68 Mb/s and there are no incidents of MPEG compression artefacts. The transfer remains sharp with excellent shadow detail and pleasing colour. The optional subtitles for the hard of hearing are true to the onscreen dialogue and action.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The English 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is also pleasing as it exhibits the ambience and atmosphere of the film. Dialogue remains clear and audible while Oscar and Grammy nominated composer Mark Isham’s score emotionally drives the onscreen action. Isham’s score is expressive and contrasts well against Kramer’s dark vision. The usage of the subwoofer is modest. An English 2.0 Dolby Digital soundtrack is also optional.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Main Menu Audio & Animation

The main menu is well themed to the feature film and features still images of the cast animated against an urban gritty setting. The image and design of the menu is similar to the DVD artwork and features a section of Mark Isham’s score.

Audio Commentary

Kramer is a director who already has a unique and distinctive filmic vision and in this audio commentary he speaks of his influences which include Tony Scott and he speaks of the production in depth. Kramer also speaks about the cast and in particular casting Paul Walker in a role which sheds his teen idol status. This is an enlightening audio commentary which reveals the nuances of the film in great detail.

Through The Looking Glass (18:48)

This feature also opens up the catalyst for this unique film as it focuses on Kramer’s adaptation of Brothers Grimm fairytales in the script. The feature also includes behind the scenes interviews with the cast and crew and focuses on the main set pieces of the film.

Storyboards (5:43)

The original storyboards drawn by Wayne Kramer for the two extravagant action scenes which precede and end the film are compared to the final realised version of the film

Theatrical Trailer (1:57)

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

Region 1 NTSC DVD is the best release on the DVD market as it includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:


Other releases include:

France R2 2 Disc Set which includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:


German R2 Single DVD release includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:


R2 Holland Single DVD release includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:

Summary

Running Scared is a well crafted film and incredibly creative and inspired. This is a film unlike anything you have seen and it is in vain of the cinema of Walter Hill, Brian De Palma, and Sam Peckinpah.

The DVD is well produced but unfortunately pales in comparison to the other DVD releases on the worldwide DVD market.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Vanessa Appassamy (Biography)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Review Equipment
DVDDenon DVD-1910, using DVI output
DisplayPanasonic PT-AE 700. Calibrated with THX Optimizer. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with THX Optimizer.
AmplificationYamaha DSP-A595a - 5.1 DTS
Speakers(Front) DB Dynamics Polaris AC688F loudspeakers,(Centre) DB Dynamics Polaris Mk3 Model CC030,(Rear) Polaris Mk3 Model SSD425,(Subwoofer) Jensen JPS12

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