The Fugitive [Blu-ray] [1993]

There is a kind of magic when a superb cast, a truly gifted director, and a literate script with equal parts 'over-the-top' action, riveting suspense, and rich characterization, come together. The end result attains a luster that only grows through the years, as new audiences, through DVD,VHS,and BLU RAY, experience the same excitement we felt, viewing it on a theater screen. In the last decade, only a handful of suspense films could be called 'great'...and on top of the list is THE FUGITIVE. Based on the popular David Janssen TV series, the film faithfully follows the same premise; a doctor is accused of his wife's death, but escapes before his execution, and tracks down the 'one-armed man' responsible for the murder, as a driven law officer attempts to recapture him. Being a big-budget film, however, the scale of everything is expanded...Dr. Richard Kimble is now a brilliant vascular surgeon, at a major Chicago hospital; the handicapped killer is a dirty ex-cop working on orders from crooked board members of a billion-dollar pharmaceutical firm; and the lawman is no longer a solitary police lieutenant, but a deputy United States Marshal, and his team of agents! While some fans of the original series complained that the 'intimacy' the series had was lost, director Andrew Davis only used the 'bigger' aspects as plot elements, placing the focus, wisely, on the dual stories of Kimble's search, and Gerard's pursuit. Despite the esteem the film has achieved over the years, Harrison Ford has gotten a bad rap for his very understated performance as Richard Kimble. While Tommy Lee Jones certainly had a far flashier role (earning him an Oscar as 'Best Supporting Actor'), Ford's intent wasn't to play 'Indiana Jones', but a man whose whole life was dedicated to his career as a surgeon, and his wife (played, in flashbacks, by the lovely Sela Ward). Seeing his wife brutally murdered devastated him (his scene in the police interrogation room, going to pieces, was largely improvised on the set, and displays some of his finest acting). His search for the killer was not the confident quest of an action hero, but based on uncertain, spur-of-the-moment decisions made by a desperate man, whose medical background was his only tool. Fear does not lend itself to flashy theatrics... Jones, as Marshal Sam Gerard, on the other hand, was a seasoned veteran, the best at what he did, and pursuing a fugitive was 'old hat' for him. With a confidence bordering on arrogance, he ordered people about like chess pieces, multi-tasked without breaking a sweat, and still could charm with a wicked smile and sarcastic remark. Of COURSE he wins the audience's heart! Featuring some of the most spectacular action scenes ever recorded on film (the train/bus wreck that frees Kimble, the dive off a dam into the churning maelstrom of the reservoir), as well as two slam-bang fistfights when Kimble finally gets 'justice', THE FUGITIVE still is remembered primarily for the suspenseful Jones/Ford 'cat-and-mouse' chase, cross-country, and the grudging respect that grows between them...which, ultimately, was what the TV series was best remembered for, as well.

The Fugitive is an engaging action thriller released in the early 90's that capitalized on the star power of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. While it isn't exactly the kind of film that will long be remembered as a bona fide classic from that time like Pulp Fiction or Forrest Gump, it's certainly engaging enough to have stood the test of time these past 20 or so years. This fast paced film with it's stunning set pieces (including a massive train wreck) seem like a great fit for high def, and they would be, if it weren't for an A/V presentation that doesn't exactly impress. The image is soft and at times grainy. The sound doesn't offer the same punch as other films from the time presented with lossless audio. That said it's still an upgrade from the DVD and can be had for a really low price.

I started a Blu-ray collection a few years ago, and one of the movies on top of my "wanted" list, was the Fugitive. It was the first blu-ray release of the Fugitive that I purchased, and at the time, it was the only release out. Some time later, a supposed new & improved Fugitive was released on blu-ray. I'd come across the newer release often but didn't bother buying it until recently. I am glad I did, because the pic quality is significantly better. IMO, better quality pic & sound make for a much better viewing experience. Great film, great quality and great price.

I grew up watching the TV series The Fugitive. I was a very interesting premise for a series at that time. Each week the main character would encounter a new situation involving many different aspects of life. I was afraid that limiting the story to the time limit of one movie would not be as successful. I was very wrong. This was an excellent script and matched with a cast that went to the extremes of great acting. So very happy they now have released it on Blu-ray.

Like The Untouchables & Maverick, The Fugitive is even better than the TV series it's based on. Ford is perfect as the falsely accused Dr. Kimble, who takes advantage of a mishap that prevents his prison transfer by going on the lam in the hopes of finding the one who really killed his wife. Jones is his match as the fed who is tracking Kimble and trying to piece together his motivations. The great acting from this duo is complemented by James Newton Howard's great score and first-rate editing.

This is a Great Movie, Especially if you are a fan of the original series. Buy it on Blu Ray, watch it on your big screen and turn up your surround sound and you'll enjoy a great movie. I think the others who reviewed it are too young to remeber the original or never saw it. Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford do a great job in this Movie. The scense arond Chicago are great! Great Action, acting, and directing!

I saw The Fugitive in 1993 at the local cinema. Now, over twenty years later, this film has not lost any of its appeal and remains as watchable and enjoyable as it ever has. Video and Audio are delivered in HD in this remastered version. I can't imagine this film looking or sounding better than it does here. WB knocks it out of the park with this video and audio transfer. Highly Recommended!!

Price for this film was extraordinary. I owned the original Fugitive BR for a long while. Heard pic quality was significantly better on the re-released BD, so I purchased it w/out hesitation when I saw price. Glad I did, cause pic/sound quality was dramatically improved.