RUNAWAY

US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes, Kirstie Alley, Gene Simmons, G.W.Bailey, Stan Shaw.
Directed by Michael Crichton.

Runaway is an entertaining futuristic science fiction police action story. It was written and directed by Michael Crichton who has shown continued interest in machines and robots. He wrote the novel The Terminal Man and directed films like Westworld, Pursuit, Looker. This film has overtones of Blade Runner and The Terminator - the police in confrontation with machines which menace humans. However, this is not a bleak and dismal-looking future but rather a suburban mechanised future where, while everything seems to go wrong, everything could go right - especially with the hero's action.

The film was also a vehicle for Magnum P.I. star Tom Selleck (High Road to China, Lasseter). The rest of the cast seem to be generally stereotypes from Cynthia Modes (Flashdance, Staying Alive) as Selleck's police sidekick to Stan Shaw as the black buddy. However, Gene Simmons from the group, Kiss,
is certainly a menacing and startling villain.

Plenty of glossy action sequences, attractive photography by John A. Alonzo and Jerry Fielding musical score.

1. An entertaining science fiction story? story? A vehicle for Tom Selleck? Police thriller? Futuristic

2. The importance of the technical qualities: Panavision photography, sets, action sequences and stunts? Editing and pace for shock and suspense? The special effects - for the robots, their chasing and the bullet honing in on heat patterns? The use of machines menacing? The musical score for effect and atmosphere?

3. The title and the reference to the rogue robots? A police thriller with police concerned about robots and their menace? into the more important human area of the evil mind behind the robots?

4. The picture of the future: a recognisable city, homes, buildings, offices? The technology of the future, especially the robots, weapons? The audience identifying with present style characters and situations in the future?

5. Tom Selleck as Jack Ramsay? His presence and style? His work in the Runaway Squad? His relationship with Karen Thompson? Their working together? The importance of his fear of heights? The cases and his skill in disarming the robots? The domestic robot with the gun? The robots and their murders? His examination of the robots? Their discussions with Johnson? Johnson's death by the mysterious projectile? The visit to the Vectrocon building? The robot terrorising the secretary? The investigations about Dr Luther? Ramsay's discovery about the murderous robots? The pursuit of Luther? The projectile hitting Karen? Ramsay extracting the projectile from her, the fear of explosion? The friendship with Marvin, Marvin and his technical abilities, the discovery of Luther's plan? The dealings with Jackie, her giving part of the plan to Ramsay? Her death? Luther's kidnapping of Bobby? Ramsay's devotion to his son? Luther on the construction site, the killer robots, Ramsay having to go to the top of the building, his warding off the robots - and the technical excitement? His fear of heights? The rescue of Bobby and the defeat of Luther? Reunited with Karen (and the literal sparks flying)? A familiar type - but an enjoyable performance?

5. Dr Luther and his evil presence, his company, his plans, the homicidal robots, the technology behind them? His financial deals? Relationship with Jackie, her betrayal of him, her death? Setting the projectiles on enemies? Hitting Karen? Luther and his sinister presence, moving around the city? Hunted by Ramsay? The kidnapping of Bobby? The melodrama at the top of the construction site? The murderous robots? His death?

6. Karen and the picture of the policewoman? The male-female team? Working well together? Ramsay's fear of heights, her trying to help? The buddy system in the police? Her liking for Bobby? Her being wounded, the desperate extraction of the projectile? Happy reuniting at the end? Karen with Bobby?

7. Marvin and his work on the police force, technical division, examination of the technology, discovery of the truth collaboration with Ramsey?

8. Jackie and her being terrorised by the robot, her betraying Luther, giving part of the plan to Ramsay, her being murdered by Luther?

9. The Police Chief, the members of the police force? The familiar styles from many police films?

10. The precinct? The domestic sequences, Ramsay and his devotion to Bobby, the kidnapping?

11. The robots as characters - like villainous human beings, murderers? The deaths? The projectiles - and the death of Johnson? The pursuit of Karen? The small robots - technological poisonous insects and animals? Audience enjoyment of this creative use of technology?

12. Themes of the future: independence? Manipulation? to build? The need for heroes? human beings, machines? Dependence? The criminals and new empires?