The Fugitive [Blu-ray] Reviews

• A Great Thriller for your DVD Collection!

  
  By A31I3HXMD5H1EL on 2003-09-11
  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 and VHS, 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 convicted 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.

  There is magic, here!
  
  

• Perfection

  
  By A1WGF3DAX2WUV0 on 2000-05-18
  One of the greatest thrillers of all time, The Fugitive is a textbook example of a thriller that keeps its audience glued without insulting their intelligence. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), a Chicago surgeon, is wrongly convicted of killing his wife (Sela Ward), escapes from prison and heads back to his hometown in search of the real killer, a mysterious one-armed man that Kimble struggled with in his house after his wife's murder. U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones, in his Oscar-winning role) and his deputies relentlessly pursue Kimble in and around Chicago, always staying a few steps behind.

  This movie works on so many levels, but it begins with the actors. Harrison Ford, is one of his best roles, perfectly portrays the dignity and righteous indignation that Kimble feels. He should have received an Oscar nomination for the sheer physical and emotional effort that he put into this character. Jones is a perfect choice for Gerard: He is relentless, shrewd and sarcastic in his quest to track down Kimble. He always projects a smarmy, superior quality that attracts the viewer, yet makes us want him to lose his prey. The terrific supporting cast includes Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, Daniel Roebuck, and Jeroen Krabbe.

  Director Andrew Davis takes the audience along for the chase, and uses Chicago as his landscape, including a busy St. Patrick's Day Parade for one scene. These locations enhance the film by using the city as a maze through which this chase occurs. Another terrific feature is James Newton Howard's score, which manages to add color and tension to scenes, even when there is no dialogue. Perfect all around, from acting, directing, composing and screenplay, The Fugitive should remain a classic.

  Vote: 10
  
  

• Not a fugitive from logic

  
  By AK81WLVD5KGUX on 2004-12-13
  The reviewer two reviews down who thinks a U.S. Marshal wouldn't have had 'jurisdiction' apparently doesn't know that the United States Marshal Service maintains many regional Fugitive Task Forces that do what Tommy Lee Jones does in this film.
  
  There are three such offices in Illinois.
  
  

• An Intelligent Adventure

  
  By A35NG9S2ODTS8I on 1999-12-02
  "The Fugitive" is what many adventure films wish they could be: Well-directed, finely casted, intelligently written. Never have I sat through a film that engulfs its viewer on a manhunt while the pursued voraciously searches for evidence to prove his innocence in the shadow of his beautiful wife's murder. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones are stunning and captivating in their respective roles. Though they are on the opposite ends of the law, you root for them nevertheless because somewhere in the film the real criminal basks in his "perfect" crime.

  Thank goodness Harrison Ford was casted into this role as the wrongly-accused Dr. Richard Kimble. He should've been the first choice considered over conceited and self-absorbed Alec Baldwin. Baldwin was originally casted before Ford, but ostentatiously withdrew believing "The Fugitive" was a go-nowhere role for his so-called career. Shows how much he knows. Ford has far more appeal and true connection with a film going audience and succeeds at gaining sympathy and respect in his hunt of the real culprit.

  "The Fugitive" was deservedly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and though it did not garner the prestigious award, the film is a masterfully well-crafted film only intelligent director Andrew Davis could weave together. Could he be our next Alfred Hitchcock? Hopefully so. "The Fugitive" is a worthy and excellent addition to your video/DVD collection!
  
  

• A 'Fugitive' from logic

  
  By A2ED6TMGB6O8DT on 2004-09-18
  In `The Fugitive', Andrew Davis chose to adapt a television icon into a vehicle for its star, Harrison Ford. Unfortunately, at the same time, Davis managed to provide an icon for a trend that has been plaguing films since, presumably, moviemakers began to run out of viable plot lines: the Dumbing Down of the American Audience Movie. Although numerous examples could be offered from the film to demonstrate this unfortunate trend, the four most vital ones should suffice:
  
  1) Ford, a successful and wealthy doctor, presented as being obviously close to his wife (or was her strewing of rose blossoms strictly for therapeutic effect?), is convicted of her killing with only weak and highly dubious evidence and motive which any decent attorney, let alone the battery of them he should have hired, would have shredded in no time.
  
  2) Since the crime was committed in Chicago, and Ford was remanded to the Illinois State prison for the carrying out of his sentence, a U.S. Marshal would not have had jurisdiction especially at the time the movie was made. Assuming Illinois was similar to most other states, their state police would be responsible for escaped state felons, and even if help was solicited from the federal government it would have been on a collaborative basis at best. Both Tommy Lee Jones's right in asserting control of the case, and the arrogance in which he conducted himself throughout the movie, were ridiculous.
  
  3) The unjustly famous bus/train crash scene in fact, suffered from severe problems of continuity and logic. The bus clearly was not on any train tracks when it came to a rest; even if so given the nature of the terrain it rolled down it would have had to come to a rest along the tracks instead of across them; the entire scene shifted to an entirely different locale when the train did come along, including a large river below and beside the tracks; the second engine of the 2-engine train was obviously well beyond Ford instead of being behind him when it jumped the tracks; and in any event all he would have had to do was run a few yards at right angles to the engine's path instead of directly before it to escape it.
  
  4) The one-armed man stated to Jones that he had been previously investigated by the police for the murder of Ford's wife. As a matter of course they would then have discovered that both his position in and the nature of the company he was working for should have been more than enough to arouse ample suspicion and lead them to the true guilty parties.
  
  Given these crucial shortcomings, along with the usual number of absurdities films of this type seem to indulge in (the Chicago police virtually en masse were portrayed as immoral and inept thugs), and the usual number of minor problems (Ford would have had to jump at least 30 feet out to hit the dam's converging water plumes and avoid the concrete wall, and from a standing position to boot!) and coincidences necessary to further the flow of the script (in the enormous Cook County Hospital complex Jones conveniently finds himself at a crucial time right outside the one department that gives him an insight into the crime), one wonders if most of the other reviews at this site were about the same movie, especially after its appearance on DVD allows for repeated viewings. The shame of it is that, given more care in directing and continuity, many of the above problems could have been eliminated and `The Fugitive' might well indeed have been a good or even excellent movie.
  
  
  
• Great movie now in beautiful HD
  By A2UN5UY8Q6YMOF on 2006-06-07
  Although this movie is fantastic, sadly it is one of Harrison Ford's last good performances (other than perhaps "Clear and Present Danger" in 1994). Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, a man wrongly accused of killing his wife. He escapes prison and then sets out to not only avoid recapture, but also prove his innocence. As good as Ford's performance is, this movie is really carried by Tommy Lee Jones who plays Marshall Samual Gerard. His humor and intensity are outstanding. The plot is intriguing with lots of action. This is the first movie I've had the pleasure to see in the theater, on laserdisc, on DVD, and now on HD DVD. The HD DVD transfer is quite good and the sound is improved over the DVD version as well. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Great movie, but Special Edition extras only so-so
  By A3OI841P5R6FCH on 2001-09-04
  When I first saw 'The Fugitive', I was hoping that it didn't fall into the trap of silliness that most TV-show based feature films have fallen into (remember 'Car 54', or 'Wild Wild West'?). Needless to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that it went WAY beyond my low expectations! Great moments of suspense, action, and plot twists galore!
  
  Harrison Ford's been knocked for not putting much 'feeling' into some of his roles. But if there are emotions he does do well, it's desperation and determined stoicism with a touch of sarcasm... a perfect fit for a fugitive out to clear his name. As well, Tommy Lee Jones is a lock as U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard- he plays the character's somewhat cocky and no-nonsense attitude to perfection. He also gets the best lines, and a pretty good supporting cast playing his U.S. Marshal Service cohorts (including the recently- recognized Joe Pantoliano). It's scenery-chewing at it's best, and definitely an Oscar-worthy perfomance.
  
  Their performances of the two main characters and antagonists is so compelling that, like my fellow reviewers have stated before, I was rooting for the both of them throughout the presentation. It's two 'good guys' against each other, with one helping lead the other to the same end!
  
  When I heard about the Special Edition DVD release, I was kinda bummed. I'd already spent a few bucks on the original release, and never anticipated the possibility of an enhanced version. But, thanks to those wonderful buyers on eBay, I got a good return on my original disc at a minimal loss, and grabbed a copy of the new one.
  
  The new disc isn't half-bad, but doesn't quite match up to the standards of other fully-loaded DVD fare as `T2 Ultimate Edition' or `The Abyss'. It features teasers, trailers, and a few behind-the-scenes bits, including the setup & shooting of the train wreck. Davis even discusses a `flub' following the wreck that was cut out of the original video version, but was then digitally corrected and restored in this DVD release! And no, I'm not gonna tell you about it- you'll have to see it for yourself!
  
  The commentary track by director Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones was not one of the better feature-length commentaries I've experienced. There are parts where neither of them speak for a couple minutes on end, almost like they didn't have that much to say about the movie in the first place. Jones' commentary was minimal, with mostly throwaway-type observations that didn't really add much to the track.
  
  And now, my biggest gripe: Warner is STILL using cardboard snap cases for their digital discs! You'd think they'd've gotten out of the DVD Stone Age by now...
  
  'Late
  
  
• TRUE HIGH DEFINITION - amazing, amazing, amazing!!!
  By A1PL8JA0TEHBVN on 2006-07-15
  I love this film. And it is great to see its debut in HD-DVD. This is what HDTV is all about. I loved how this film looked on my HDTV.
  
  I just hope they'll keep releasing great films on HD-DVD.
  
  Check the reviews... and go HD-DVD.
  
  
• A top notch mystery and amazing picture and sound quality.
  By AERIJNYQUNB5F on 2006-12-05
  One of the greatest mystery films of the last decade. Chock full of so much suspense, it can be easily mistaken for a thriller.
  
  As far as the Blu-ray edition goes, 5 out 5 stars for picture and sound. The skin tones are well rendered and the blacks almost never clip. The sound is house shaking without an ounce of distortion. The picture is sharper then I remember even from the theatrical presentation.
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  
• The Fugitive (Blu-Ray)
  By A1ATESY0CJAUWT on 2007-02-22
  I have both a blu ray and HD dvd... Purchased each version
  to see differences. Good movie and Blu Ray was slightly
  better because of uncompressed sound
  
  
  
• The most horrible Blu-Ray
  By A3AEN6JWPGUWFM on 2008-03-05
  First, Night scenes, the video is bleeding and spots are everywhere almost like VHS tape.
  Day scenes are pretty good but not sharp enough to say wow it's blu-ray!
  Most of all worst then previously released normal DVDs.
  
  Sound. Also is the worst. Don't say that because this movie is old. Think about the movie 'Blade runner'.
  
  This doesn't has true HD Sound or PCM uncompressed Dolby Digital 5.1.
  
  I don't know why I bought this after reading other peoples' comments in this website.
  
  Trust me, just don't waste your money.
  
  
• review of the DVD
  By on 1999-07-13
  although this is truly one of the greatest action movies ever I have to admit that the DVD leaves ALOT to be desired. Once again Warner Brothers has put absolutely no time into releasing the DVD's true capabilities. It seems that they are so busy trying to get DVD's out that they forgot that people want better quality than they probably already own on a copy of the movie on VHS. I for one feel that I have paid twice for the same quality movie...once on VHS and once on DVD. If you are considering purchasing the DVD go back and watch the VHS it is exactly the same thing! Warner Brothers you should truly be ashamed. (word to the wise: bladerunner and the unforgiven are equally as disappointing)
  
  
• Stunning HD quality. Purchased 5 Blu-Ray disks. Fugitive stole the show!
  By A2IZ5X87DRZGL4 on 2007-01-09
  I purchased a PS3 when it came out. One of the reasons I was hot for one was for Blu-Ray playback. I have a rear projection Mitsubishi HD set from a few years back. It has no DVI or HDMI, just standard Component HD inputs. I got home with my new PS3 and Blu-Ray disks and set it all up. I watched a few fantastic looking Blu-Ray movies: Fifth Element, Last Samurai, and Enemy of the State. But when I finally put Fugitive in, I was blown away. I can't believe how this older film scanned to HD so well! It was like watching it for the first time. My whole family stopped what they were doing and sat down and watched this movie. Now I have enjoyed the quality of all the Blu-Ray disks I have spun up in my PS3 as they have all finally made my Mitsubishi 48 inch HDTV show me what I paid for when I bought it. But this disk made my Mitsubishi look like a 55 inch movie theater. I swear, the picture was bigger and more in-my-face than other Blu-Ray disks I have watched. I don't know what Warner Bros. is doing to re-master their movies to HDTV, but keep it up!
  
  P.S. - I knew Tommy Lee Jones's face was messed up, but HDTV shows it all! DAMN!!
  
  
• The Fugitive
  By A1GBWH9L47FU82 on 2000-04-10
  This is a great and action-packed runaway thriller about an innocent Chicago surgeon named Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) accused of murdering his loving wife (Sela Ward) and now on the run from the F.B.I. and the police. Fleeing through forests and sewers, jumping from dams and braving the worst conditions ever, Kimble attempts to prove to F.B.I. deputy Samuel Gerrard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team (one played by Joe Pantoliano) that he's innocent, and discovering his friend (Jereon Krabbe) was the actual killer. A must-see thriller and a good movie from director Andrew Davis, with an appearance by Julianne Moore.
  
  
• One of the best films ever made!
  By A3MNKFDC906IRD on 2003-02-19
  Loosely based on the 1954 murder case of Sam Sheppard - whose son fights to clear his father's name to this day - 1960s television created an added dose of drama by allowing The Fugitive (the late David Janssen) to escape from prison, and hunt down the man who murdered his wife in cold blood.

  Perhaps never in the history of TV was a plotline so ripe for the treatment (and budget) afforded by the big screen - and, perhaps, never has it been done so well.

  Harrison Ford plays Doctor Richard Kimble, a Chicago-area vascular surgeon ("What the hell is that?" asks one of his pursuers. "Someone who makes a lot more money than you," answers another in the easy, natural humor of two people who've worked together for years) who seems, at first, too good to be true. A philanthropist respected by the community, loved by his colleagues and adored by his wife, you can't help but wonder if there's trouble in paradise, despite the shadowy presence of Helen Kimble's (Sela Ward, bringing remarkable life to a dead woman, thanks to flashbacks) killer.

  Chicago's finest quickly come to the same conclusion, and a damning 911 phone call by the dying victim seals Kimble's fate - a death sentence!

  Fate, however, has other ideas. One of four survivors of the most spectacular - and controversial - train wreck ever captured on film, Kimble sets off to blend in to the Windy City's skyline long enough to find the man who took Helen from him. He has plenty of clues to start him on the trail; his biggest enemy not so much his pursuers as time itself.

  Deputy United States Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), meantime, is as dogged as his prey; so determined to capture "my man" that, when confronted by the fugitive Kimble and his professed innocence, snaps back, "I don't care!"

  Though Gerard isn't "out to solve a puzzle here," Kimble is, and with equal persistence. The plot that led to the death of his wife is revealed in tense, dramatic fashion to the audience as Kimble himself learns it - and learns who has betrayed him.

  What remains, of course, is whether his time has run out.

  Ford's Kimble is what many people would consider an oxymoron: A truly benevolent, honest doctor. Best known as the almost-reckless Indiana Jones, Ford plays Kimble as a highly intelligent man who uses his wits and a level head to keep one step in front of not one, but two groups of adversaries.

  Hot on Kimble's heels, Jones' Gerard does Ford one better by creating a lawman walking the thin line between pursuit and obsession. "Never argue with the big dog," Gerard admonishes his team, when Kimble shows up "not dead yet" - proof, yet again, that "the big dog is always right."

  Hunter and prey, cat and mouse, Jones and Ford present real people trapped in a deadly game. The viewer quickly bonds with Kimble and roots for his success, while not quite able to root against Gerard. "It's alright if you catch him," we seem to be saying, "just, not yet!"

  A supporting cast including Joe Pantoliano, Jeroen Krabbe and Julianne Moore (in a small, but pivotal role) is equally up to the task; never did anyone's performance feel like they were acting, and the rich range of emotions coupled with crisp pacing, a riveting storyline and a properly brassy soundtrack adds up to one of the finest films ever made.

  Virtually every person on Earth has seen The Fugitive; buy the DVD, and you'll never forget why.
  
  

• In search of the one-armed man......
  By A1A87TUBBDPMF0 on 2003-11-08
  The Fugitive, director Andrew Davis' (Under Siege) feature film adaptation of the classic 1960s television series, was one of 1993's biggest hits, thanks to the talents of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard.

  Ford plays Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble (the late David Jansen's TV role), whose life is turned upside down when he is falsely accused of murdering his wife Helen (the luminous Sela Ward). Taken to the Area Six police station, he undergoes the standard investigative process but can't convince the skeptical detectived that a one-armed intruder is the killer. Arrrested, convicted and sentenced to death, Kimble is given a sudden and unexpected reprieve when a failed escape attempt causes the prison bus he's aboard to run off the road and land on a railroad track -- and in the path of an oncoming train. Kimble escapes, but not before saving an injured corrections officer from certain death.

  When Gerard and his team of deputies arrive at the crash scene, the other surviving corrections officer, in an attempt to cover up his incompetence and to take credit for saving his wounded colleague's life, at first claims all the passengers on board the bus were killed, but when sets of leg irons "without legs in 'em" are found, Gerard deduces that Kimble has survived and become a fugitive from the law.

  The Fugitive compresses several seasons of Roy Huggins' suspense/morality play TV series, following Kimble's attempts to solve the mystery of the one-armed man while simultaneously evading Gerard's dogged pursuit. Along the way, however, Ford's version of Kimble follows in his television counterpart's footsteps as he changes his appearance and name to keep out of his pursuer's sight. Yet, even as he risks life and liberty in his own investigation into who and why Helen was murdered, Kimble is true to his kind nature and his oath as a medical doctor, saving several people even at the risk of being discovered. And as the good doctor closes in on the one-armed man, Gerard gets closer and closer to Kimble as the movie nears its revealing conclusion.

  Davis and screenwriters Jeb Stuart and David Twohy tweak with the television series a bit, telling the entire story in a briskly paced 130-minute-long film, making Gerard a U.S. Marshal instead of a local police lieutenant. Yet, despite the focus on action and the added conspiracy motive behind Helen Kimble's murder, The Fugitive stays true to the spirit of the TV show. Like David Jansen, Ford is an actor most audiences genuinely like and love to cheer for, and Kimble's predicament and preserverance suit him well in this movie. Jones, too, gives his Gerard both a steely determination to fulfill his mission and a mixture of humor and compassion that surfaces at unexpected moments.

  The 2001 Special Edition DVD presents The Fugitive in its original widescreen format. Its extra features include interactive menus, commentary by director Davis and Tommy Lee Jones, two documentaries, a theatrical trailer, and subtitles/language tracks in English and French.
  
  

• I'd give it a much higher rating, but this one's on the Blu...
  By A3E975KR2HRERX on 2008-08-09
  warner continues to issue all of their products with the Nasty, NASTY VC-1 codec because it was easy for them to do it both in Blu-ray and hd-dud. And I can see the differences in their releases and other companies who use the FAR more superior AVC. They even stick only to the antiqued douby-digital! Never have I seen a release with a DTS track in any of warners stuff, and it rubs me raw because I usual see the DTS mark at the end of the credits in most of the movies!!!
  
  
• Seven Years On and still The BEST!
  By A1TWRSW3DZF7L8 on 2000-01-03
  Ok so maybe my opinion is biased because I think Harrison Ford is the greatest actor ever. But on the other hand, before I saw "The Fugitive", I had no idea who Mr. Ford was (I saw the original 3 Star Wars only 2 years ago.)

  So whilst this movie is definitely getting old, it is still one of the few Great films of all time, and really, should be a classic.

  Into the New Millenium, we may see more and more movies full of action and daring but in seven years, no one has topped Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in the one movie I know of that you never tire of watching!
  
  

• Extremely Good!
  By A49PCEL8CJAFA on 1999-12-31
  I thought that this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. It was really suspenseful and it kept me on the egde of my seat. Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford work really well together and are great actors. You should definetly buy The Fugitive.
  
  
• An excellent thriller...
  By A2TV6SBCWT7P8S on 2002-08-01
  This movie kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire time and was great fun! It is a clever, well-directed thriller that also features great performances, especially from Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

  The Fugitive, which is based on a TV series, is the story of a Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), a man wrongly convicted of brutally murdering his wife. After the bus carrying him to prison manages to crash into a train (impressive special effects on the crash scene), Kimble escapes then attempts to solve the mystery of who actually killed his wife. At the same time, however, he has to keep on the run from an obsessive detective (Tommy Lee Jones) who is as determined to find him as he is to stay free.

  There are many exciting twists and turns in the plot, which involves a one-armed man and a medical fraud...and to say any more about it would be to give too much away. Anyhow, this is one of the best recent thrillers - it has some great scenes, good action sequences, some comic moments, great acting (Ford and Jones are perfect...you simply root for whoever is on screen at the time), and is not TOO violent (although some of the initial scenes which show the wife being murdered are pretty grusome). This is one of the few recent Hollywood blockbusters that actually deserves its popularity - see it and enjoy!
  
  

• Good film update of old series
  By A26TSW6AI59ZCV on 2006-07-15
  Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) and his wife, Helen (Sela Ward) seem to have it all, until she is murdered. The police believe that Richard killed her, and there is enough evidence to convict him, and a serious miscarriage of justice results in Richard being on a train on his way to prison. But, there is a train accident, Richard escapes, and he goes on a quest for his wife's true killer, while trying to keep one step ahead of the police, led by Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones).
  
  The television series from the 1960's, where David Janssen had the role of Dr. Kimble, was an ongoing drama, where Dr. Kimble sought the one-armed killer of his wife while trying to figure out why she was killed, and while keeping ahead of the police and helping people along the way. My father was a fan of David Janssen and of the original series, and was not thrilled with this movie. He went into it with the idea: How can they condense an entire series into one movie? I did not watch the series as a small child, and I really liked this film, with a few reservations. By the way, the television series finale for "The Fugitive" was one of the most-watched episodes in television history.
  
  Why did I like this film? First of all, while the story is not that complex, it is a riveting tale that the film tells quite well. There are even hints that the police knew, all along, that Dr. Kimble might not be guilty. Secondly, there is a lot of action to blend in with the well-told story, and some excellent cinematography (for which Michael Chapman was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award) really enhances the suspense factor.
  
  The main reason that I liked this film, though, was the Oscar-winning performance of Tommy Lee Jones. He could have portrayed Marshal Sam Gerard in several ways, but chose the best way, giving us a Gerard who was intelligent, dogged in his pursuit of Kimble, honorable, and dedicated to doing his job to the best of his ability. Harrison Ford was the wrongly-accused Good Guy, but Tommy Lee Jones was not the Bad Guy. He was a Good Guy who just happened to be wrong. Tommy Lee Jones is a very intense actor, and that fit this role perfectly. Even as he (and Don Cheadle) rescued "Volcano" from an absurd premise, Jones manages to outshine Harrison Ford here.
  
  Ah, that brings me to my one reservation about this film: Harrison Ford. I want to quickly say that Mr. Ford did a good job in portraying Dr. Richard Kimble. But, that role in this movie had the potential to be an Academy-Award winning performance, but Harrison Ford did not give us that. What we saw was, instead, a well-executed portrayal of a well-known character, with no stamp of individualism on it. If you asked me to name Harrison Ford movies, I would likely forget this one, as it just as well could have been several other actors, (e.g., Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson). Whereas Tommy Lee Jones gave us an A+ performance, Harrison Ford probably earned a respectable but unspectacular A- or B+. That's not bad, but it could've been better.
  
  Well, now that I've finished my little rant, which will likely tick some people off, I will conclude by saying that this is a very good action-suspense film with good cinematography and a wonderful performance by Tommy Lee Jones, and it is a very enjoyable viewing experience.
  
  
• A DVD review
  By A12A8LU93A132U on 2000-07-17
  This seems like a movie that is ripe for a special edition DVD. This DVD has no extras, not even a trailer, other than some notes on the insert. DVD collectors may want to wait for a special edition unless you absolutely have to have this in your collection.
  
  
• A lot of fun!
  By A3B8Q8RK9EDBEA on 2001-02-05
  Roy Huggin's '60s TV series is successfully updated to the big screen. Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble as a surgeon wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, and thanks to an incredible bus crash/train wreck scene, goes on the lam. However, make no mistake about it, the real acting draw for this film is Tommy Lee Jones as Sam Girard, the half-boiled U.S. marshall. When Girard and his team arrive at the accident scene and he delivers the line, "My, my, my, my, my. What a mess," you know immediately that Jones is going to steal the show. I also liked Kimble's level-headed intelligence. Instead of simply evading the law, he's trying to clear his name. As he learns the truth about the crime, so do we - the script is not overt in revealing plot threads. Together, Jones and Ford form an intriguing cat-and-mouse game that will keep you engrossed. All in all, the movie is loads of fun!
  
  
• Top-Notch
  By A13H2JJ3GEMJN1 on 2001-05-20
  "The Fugitive" is a first-rate movie. Harrison Ford plays a surgeon who has been framed for the murder of his wife. Convicted, he escapes in the wake of a spectacular crash and sets out to find the real murderer. Tommy Lee Jones plays the federal marshall whose task it is to catch Ford. To tell more would be to give away too much, and the editorial review above provides an adequate synopsis. Suffice it to say that this is a tense, fast-paced tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is plenty of action (including some great scenes), and the battle of wits between Ford, trying to stay at large and solve the murder, and Jones, who's determined to bring him in, is excellent. Both Ford and Jones are outstanding in their roles. If you like to own videos or DVDs, this is one you ought to have in your collection. Very highly recommended.
  
  
• THE Quintessential Action/Drama Film
  By A2YD21XOPJ966C on 2002-02-06
  I saw this movie shortly after it's release in 1993 and was immediately impressed by the great way the story was written, as well as the great acting. Many big screen movies drawn from tv series fall far short of the originals - in spite of excellent actors. A great example is 'The Avengers', a terrific tv series of the 60's that fell flat on it's face on the big screen, despite the magnificent Ralph Feinnes, the comely Uma Thurman, and the unforgettable Sean Connery. Not so 'The Fugitive'! This may well be one of the greatest action/dramas I've seen, and to date remains so.

  The cat-and-mouse chase scenes between Ford and Tommy Lee Jones will literally keep you on the edge of your seat. Ford's brooding sincerity is perfectly counterpointed by Jones' dogged intensity. Highlighted by James Newton Howard's riveting score, this movie quite literally has no dull moments.

  One of the best features on the DVD is a scene-by-scene commentary (of the complete film) between Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones. The viewer is led through each scene as it unfolds, with Davis explaining how the scene was done, as well as commenting on the various actors in each scene. Davis naturally does most of the talking, with Tommy adding a comment here and there. Through this process the viewer is led on a fascinating journey into the creative processes in the making of a great film.

  In my opinion this is THE quintessential action/drama film of all time!
  
  

• Smash hit, and for good reason
  By A2ODBHT4URXVXQ on 2004-01-10
  If you have somehow missed seeing this terrific action film with Harrison Ford and the inimitable Tommy Lee Jones (he won an Oscar for this role), then waste no time and see it now. It's a terrific update of the popular 1960s TV series of the same name, based on the real-life story of a surgeon wrongly accused of murdering his wife. In one of the most sensational action sequences ever filmed, Ford escapes from a the scene of a horrible wreckage (bus vs. train) as he is enroute in the bus to prison.
  And off he goes, dodging the law (Jones) at every twist and turn, to find the real killer on his own.
  Not only is it a great action thriller, however; it's also an intense and spellbinding character study, well-suited to the personalities of the two stars who play so well the roles of hunter and hunted. They come, of course, to have a mutual respect for each other.
  Watch it now.
  
  
• Powerful & gripping tale of pursuit of truth and justice.
  By A3EJYJC25OJVKK on 2004-02-24
  "The Fugitive" to me is my favorite movie starring Harrison Ford outside of either the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" trilogies. This movie to me showcased how an actor who was known by two movie series could branch out into totally new territory and "The Fugitive" is the best example of this. This is my favorite movie starring Harrison Ford outside the ID movies he starred in during the 1980s. I have never seen the original TV series so I'm not going to bother comparing that with the movie. Starring Harrison Ford as the surgeon Richard Kimble, and Tommy Lee Jones as Sam Gerard, these two actors were perfect for their roles as antagonistic good guys, both are on the side of good but are major rivals at heart, Kimble as a man on the run, and Gerard as the pursuer of him, unaware that the real killer of Kimble's wife is walking freely without trouble and actually has one arm (His other was presumably lost in an accident).

  It all begins at Chicago Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago where Richard Kimble is a highly respect, world renowned surgeon who is skilled surgically grafting new artificial limbs to amputees. His life however is wrecked one night when his wife Helen Kimble is murdered by an intruder and Richard Kimble is arrested and convicted of the murder of his wife when in fact, it wasn't him. After a catastrophic bus crash kills several of his cellmates, Kimble escapes and tries to get back home, determined to hunt down the one who is truly responsible for his wife's murder. Kimble is being chased down by numerous law enforcement agents who are also determined to catch him and have him put to death but Kimble tirelessly pursues the man who is really responsible for his wife's murder and the destruction of his reputation. His chief pursuer U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard however is tirelessly hot in his trail and Kimble is always on the move. A lot of really surprising answers will be discovered during Kimble's pursuit of his wife's real killer and a very shocking truth will come up about the motives behind the murder. Kimble is hell bent on proving his innocence.
  
  Almost everything that can be good about a movie especially a crime thriller comes together perfectly on "The Fugitive". The main characters Richard Kimble and Sam Gerard are absolutely incredible and show amazing depth and personality. One feels incredible sympathy for the falsely accused criminal Richard Kimble but also appalled at the Marshall's hell-bent pursuit of him when he's unaware or even cares of the target he's chasing isn't the one responsible. Chicago to me, was the perfect city for the movie to be filmed in, and the various places they go are sometimes out of the usual places and even go to places that most people don't ever see. I also love how both Kimble, and the U.S. Marshall officers figure out where Kimble really is and how Kimble himself outsmarts them every time. A lot of things really come to mind when seeing this film. When I first saw this a long time ago, it was a lot of fun with the non stop action but now I have come to realize that sometimes some of the most innocent people have been incarcerated for absolutely heinous crimes that were committed by others and even met their tragic end when the real criminals have gotten away with it even if the criminals do get apprehended in the end.

  Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones are absolutely amazing in this movie and really brought their characters to life on here. Harrison Ford's role as Richard Kimble is absolutely powerful and moving and the numerous ways he gets places and defies his captors are just amazing, and even scary at times considering that serious real life criminals like drug dealers and serial killers and other felons use various means to defy the law. On the other hand, Tommy Lee Jones steals the stoplight....eh , I meant spotlight as the obsessive U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard as he is obsessively pursuing Kimble and bringing him in but also the two when speaking by phone are in fact helping to solve the real puzzle behind the crime that claimed Mrs. Kimble's life and pursue the real criminal whose behind it all. The other character worth mentioning is Dr. Nichols (The actor who plays him eludes me) as he brings some surprising answers especially towards the latter half of the movie. I also liked Joe Pantoliano as Gerard's sidekick Cosmo Renfro.

  You must get this movie. "The Fugitive" is one of the most gripping, edge of your seat, action crime thrillers that has come out in the last 25 years, if not the most gripping. "Catch Me If You Can" tries to imitate the whole cat and mouse pursuit styles of this movie but while good, CMIYC pales in comparison because "The Fugitive" has such powerful drama, something missing from CMIYC. Don't get me wrong, CMIYC is good in it's own way but pales in comparison. The extras in this "Special Edition" aren't really all that much to write home about and are rather unimpressive and hardly warrant this being called a "Special Edition" and the extra content adds little if anything to an already excellent movie. If you have the older DVD that was available before the special edition came out, you aren't missing out on anything on the newer edition. Despite the unremarkable extras on the "Special Edition" DVD, this movie is definitely one to own as it's one of the best movies that Harrison Ford has starred in outside of the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" movies. I would also say the same for Tommy Lee Jones as he is at his absolute best on this movie.
  
  

• Gut-wrenching
  By A1IMNNBC4ME0NB on 2004-08-08
  
  The Fugitive is one of the best action/crime movies out there. The story itself is gripping - a man wrongly accused, breaking loose and trying to prove his innocence while being doggedly pursued by ruthless law enforcement officers. The movie doesn't waste a single moment; you're constantly propelled from one scene to the next, each scene linked tautly to the others, and you really feel that you're in the middle of the chase. You become deeply involved in the fugitive's desperate actions.
  
  He's Dr. Richard Kimble, a prominent doctor convicted of murdering his wife. He is played by Harrison Ford in what is one of Ford's most memorable screen roles. The performance is wonderfully understated, and that's why it's so powerful; we sense Kimble's quiet despair, quiet determination, his single-minded, all-consuming mission to clear his name and bring the real killers to light. Tommy Lee Jones plays his pursuer, U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard, and he is chilling - a cool, calculating, ruthless machine. Even after it seems to dawn on him that Kimble is innocent, you're not sure what he'll do, or whether he'll refrain from shooting the fugitive doctor. What's also so amazing about this film is how the relationship between Ford and Jones subtly changes over the course of the movie. At first they're pure opponents, with no room for dialogue between them ("I don't care," Gerard says at one point, when Kimble protests his innocence). Then, as Kimble starts leaving clues that point to the real murderers, the two are not merely opponents, but are also partners; Kimble must trust that Gerard's agile mind will pick up on the clues and form doubts about the doctor's guilt. And at the end, Gerard reveals a new side of himself in one simple act of courtesy that moves you unexpectedly and makes you let out a sigh of relief.
  
  The Fugitive is definitely worth owning. It doesn't matter how many times you watch it - you will always be gripped, you will always be caught up regardless of whether you know what happens or not.
  
  
• Leaves you wanting more
  By A20EEWWSFMZ1PN on 2006-09-28
  Everyone remembers the 1963 series where Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) goes running around in every episode just missing the criminal that killed his wife. He in turn is being chased by Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse) who thinks Kimble did it and is a fugitive from the law. The whole thing was narrated by William Conrad.
  
  Well now we have the movie. This time we have a beginning middle and ending all in 161 minutes.
  
  Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) and his wife Helen (Sela Ward) are the perfect couple. Then one night while he was working for some inexplicable reason a despicable person dispatches Helen. On her way to the netherworld she inadvertently says Richard on the 911 call. One thing leads to another and Kimble gets the blame. In the process of transporting him from one containment system to another the transport meets with a little accident; now Kimble is free to find locate the real perpetrator. Now it is up to Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) to find and retrieve Kimble.
  
  Now that we have covered the basic there is not where to begin to tell how great this movie is on many levels. The anticipation of the chase of Kimble to find the perpetrator (by the way he has only one arm) before Gerard catches him. We get close and have a few read herrings. Tommy Lee gets to keep his stoic look as he says things like "I don't care." And "I don't bargain."
  
  Personaly I think that the Chicago police knew all along who the real bad guy was and was covering for him several times right up to the end. They went out of there way to paint Kimble as the bad guy. Detective Rosetti (Joseph F. Kosala) also tried to stop him from revealing the real perpetrator. Rosetti referring to Kimball even after the truth is revealed "He's going down. You won't help us, you stay the hell out!"
  
  
  
• nicely done HD-DVD
  By AR14BIUHYR6B7 on 2006-11-02
  All right, so this HD-DVD is not home theater demo material. It still easily surpasses the standard edition upon side by side comparisons. Yes, there are still some scenes that look like standard DVD, but for the most part, you can see Harrison's beard more clearly as well as many other details. Perhaps this is a testament to the movie itself...the story is so good you don't simply sit there and marvel at the clarity! Until another edition comes along to best this latest one ( and you know one will), then this is the one to buy!
  
  

• Unforgiven [Blu-ray]
• U.S. Marshals (Special Edition)
• GoodFellas [Blu-ray]
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day [Blu-ray]
• The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]