Running Scared (2006) |
BUY IT |
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 | |||
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 |
|
||
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 |
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.
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.
Sharpness | |
Shadow Detail | |
Colour | |
Grain/Pixelization | |
Film-To-Video Artefacts | |
Film Artefacts | |
Overall |
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.
Dialogue | |
Audio Sync | |
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts | |
Surround Channel Use | |
Subwoofer | |
Overall |
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
English DTS-ES 6.1
Optional English and Spanish subtitles
DVD-Rom Features - Enhanced Script-to-Screen and Weblinks
‘Running Scared' comic book
The DVD release also includes a variety of trailers such as Blade: The Series, Cyber Wars, Firewall, The Year of the Yao, Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, A History of Violence and Final Destination 3.
Other releases include:
France R2 2 Disc Set which includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:
French DTS and French 5.1 Dolby Digital
Optional French Subtitles
“Around the Film” featurette
Interviews with Wayne Kramer and Paul Walker.
Filmographies
French Teaser and Theatrical trailer.
Photo Gallery
Production Notes
German R2 Single DVD release includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:
German DTS and German 5.1 Dolby Digital
Optional German subtitles
Interviews with Paul Walker, Vera Farmiga, Chazz Palminteri, Johnny Messner and Wayne Kramer.
Behind the Scenes B-Roll Footage
TV Spots
Photo Gallery
‘Running Scared' comic book
Special ‘Steelbook’ packaging.
R2 Holland Single DVD release includes the following extras absent from the R4 release:
Cropped 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
English DTS
Optional Dutch subtitles
Liner Notes (in Dutch)
Photo Gallery
Film Clips
Interview Soundbites
Behind the Scenes B-Roll Footage
The DVD release also includes a variety of trailers such as Slither, 16 Blocks, Tristan & Isolde, Chaos, and Minotaur.
Special ‘Steelbook’ packaging.
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.
Video | |
Audio | |
Extras | |
Plot | |
Overall |
Review Equipment | |
DVD | Denon DVD-1910, using DVI output |
Display | Panasonic PT-AE 700. Calibrated with THX Optimizer. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with THX Optimizer. |
Amplification | Yamaha 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 |