Running Out of Time

Starring:Carmelo GÃ³mez, Ruth Gabriel, Javier Bardem, Karra Elejalde, Candela PeÃ±a, Elvira MÃnguez, PepÃ³n Nieto, Joseba Apaolaza, Chacho Carreras, Pedro Casablanc, Raquel SanchÃs, David Pinilla, Pepe Colmenero, Marga SÃ¡nchez, Mariola Fuentes, JosÃ© Martorell, Gloria Sirvent, EncarnaciÃ³n Piedrabuena, Francisco Videto, Ãlvaro GÃ³mez
Director: Imanol Uribe
Studio: New Yorker Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
A reckless Basque terrorist and a junkie prostitute fall in lust in the petty criminal underworld of Madrid in Imanol Uribe's loose update of Prosper MerimÃ©e's classic Carmen (by way of Juan Madrid's novel Dias Contados). Antonio (Carmelo GÃ³mez, star of Julio Medem's The Red Squirrel and Lovers of the Arctic Circle) is a soldier in the violent guerrilla organization ETA, laying low in a crummy apartment until his next mission. His sexy neighbor Charo (Ruth Gabriel) invites herself into his place, shoots up in his bathroom, takes a bath, and then vamps her naked body in an impromptu photo shoot. Talk about meeting cute.

Gabriel's aimless Charo survives her world of bullying cops, violent drug dealers, and mercenary opportunists by simply floating along and flirting her way through. Antonio is hardly a sympathetic hero, an insolent member of a hated and feared terrorist organization (it's an affiliation that carries quite a wallop in Spain), and Gomez gives a simmering performance full of anger and frustration, a self-destructive man numb from violence. After a life of cheap sexual encounters, Charo is his salvation. For all the violence, sordid underworld scheming, and hothouse eroticism, Running Out of Time carries a passionately romantic twist to a volatile, violent tragedy.

Amazon.com

Johnny To, whose cool, precise gangster thriller The Mission is one of the best Hong Kong films since the Chinese takeover, brings a stylish flair to Running Out of Time, an absurdly plotted but compelling cat-and-mouse crime drama that became a box-office smash in Hong Kong. Criminal genius Wah (pop star Andy Lau) is given only a few weeks to live by his doctor, so he embarks on an elaborate heist and strings along hostage negotiator and unconventional supercop Sang (Lau Ching Wan) as part of the fun. "I just want to play a game with you for 72 hours," Wah confesses. "Great," responds Sang's blustery boss, "it's lunatic against lunatic." The elaborate scheme has something to do with a bald badass mobster (an almost unrecognizable Waise Lee, of John Woo's Bullet in the Head and A Better Tomorrow), a priceless gem, and a debt of honor. There's a hint of Woo's warrior bonding as cop and crook develop a respectful adversarial friendship in their running battle of wits: "If you can get me to the police station, you win." It all hinges on some far-fetched twists and the Hong Kong cops are little more than buffoons for most of the film, but To's steely seriousness, sleek style, and runaway pacing keep the film flying through most of the improbabilities. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Running out of Time..........2007-02-03

You're a burglar, and you have 72 hours to live...what would do? That's the premise of this action movie...I found it decent (story, acting, etc...). Three stars!

A Good Action/Thriller Film From The East!.......2007-01-17

While this film is not as good as "Internal Affairs," [in my opinion], it is above average. And although it is not a brilliant film, it does deliver in that it is highly entertaining. I guess part of my rationale is that there are so many bad American action flicks, that something from the east must somehow be more palattable. Moreover, I have seen quite a number of mindless Hong Kong triad films, and this one was refreshing. [Except the great 'SPL' known as "Kill Zone" here in the west]. Anyway, if you're familiar with director Johnny To, then you'll know what to expect: The bad guys and the cops. In the film, (Cheung) Andy Lau, portrays a man who has only a little time left to live: due to the fact that he is dying from an incurable illness.

Therefore, to take revenge for his father, he decides to rob an insurance company. The hostage negotiator is portrayed by Inspector Ho Sheung-sang (Ching-Wan Lau). The film is a cat-and-mouse type of action/thriller, where the dying Cheung and the Inspector play a sort of game of chess with wits. Ho Sheung-sang is hot on the trail of Cheung, all the while Cheung leaves the Inspector certain types of up clues which the Inspector must follow in order to catch him. This film has been called a departure from the genre of violent triad films, and I agree. It is much more of an intelligent crime drama film than one usually sees in HK cinema. [However, these films are getting much better all the time, and are even better than American action films]

Whatever your opinions are of this film, however, it is a very clever film: With (Andy Lau) as a criminal bent on revenge of certain members of a triad, and his clever use of the Inspector in pursuit. However, he must first convince the Inspector to become a part of his crusade against these criminals. And I liked the way the film showed how Cheung must manuever the Inspector into this plan of his. This is a very clever and tautly directed film from director Johnny To. Which brings me back to the begining of my review. Compared to many of the action films here in America, this one is brilliant. It's a fun film, enjoy it, and moreover, it is well worth your time spent viewing it. I own it.

Great movie, but BEWARE, AUDIO IS IN MONO.......2006-09-23

the movie is great....not quite infernal affairs, but it's still good. however, i just bought the "special edition" (nothing really special about it) and it does have a cantonese, mandarian, and english track. along with the commentary track that's listed in amazon. however the audio is NOT in 5.1. each audio track is presented in glorious MONO!! The video transfer is not clean and the mono track isn't even clear. Try to stay clear of this DVD, i am sure there is a dvd of this movie out there that is better. This is the "special edition" released by tai seng. bar code on the back of the dvd is 01643 85624

An almost perfect Hong Kong movie.......2006-05-09

Running Out of Time is probably as close to a perfect film as you're ever likely to see out of Hong Kong. All the elements click: a terrific script (by French writers Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud) that even manages to subvert the odd clich?, reliably imaginative direction by Johnnie To, and excellent central performances by Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan, the latter displaying his great comic timing to wonderful effect without ever crossing the line into parody (especially in his exasperated reactions to his superior's abysmal negotiating skills). The supporting cast is fine too, with Yo Yo Mung making a strong impression in a tiny role, and even the often histrionic Waise Lee (looking remarkably, and very aptly, like a bald Andy Lau) reining it in to good effect. It's best not to know too much about the plot going in beyond the basic set-up - with only a few weeks to live, Lau engages in a criminal game with Wan's cop with no easily apparent motive - and just sit back and enjoy the ride: it's certainly worth the fare. It also has one of the most perfect love stories in recent movies, and played in a mere three scenes (the second bus ride is one of the most magical moments of filmmaking I've seen in ages). There's also a fine score by Raymond Wong as well. The most fun playing cat and mouse at the movies in years.

Dying Criminal Decides to Go Out in a Crime Spree.......2005-05-30

1999 Unrated Hong Kong crime thriller. Caution: profanity. Also known as "Aau chin." First in, I believe, 2 movie series. (second one is called "Aau Chin 2," or "Running Out of Time 2").

DVD Features: The DVD contains just the movie (which can be heard in Cantonese, Mandarin or English with or without subtitles), some commentary hidden under the "set-up" feature (which is also the language feature), and some trailers (three trailers for this movie (2 Hong Kong, 1 USA), a trailer for Dragon Inn (remake of classic Kung Fu movie) and one for Armageddon (supernatural thriller, not the Hollywood movie)).

Credits: Staring Andy Lau (Cheung; "Infernal Affairs"), Lau Ching Wan (Inpector Ho Sheung-Sang; also known as Sean Lau; "The Attractive One"), Shiu Hung Hui (Chief Inspector Wong; "Hidden Heroes"), and Yoyo Mung (Leung Yuen Ting; "My Crazy Mother"). Directed by Johnny To ("Election"). Written by Yau Nai Hoi, Laurent Courtiaud & Julien Carbon.

Plot: A criminal mastermind is told that he only has two to four weeks to live (last stages of cancer). This criminal, Cheung, decides to go out in style and goes on a crime spree. He battles the police and a specific police officer (Inspector Ho Sheung-Sang) who is very good at his job.

Review: Interesting music, somewhat scratchy film (might just be the DVD), dubbing is a little off, but only if you pay close attention (though it can be quite bad). Intriguing film, we learn in the very first few moments that the criminal has nothing to lose because he is dying which adds a different layer to the normal police-criminal dynamic.

There's a neat scene where Inspector Sheung-Sang figures out that Cheung will leave the scene in a taxi, and becomes the taxi driver. Cheung gets in the back and the Inspector drives off, toward the nearest police station. The unarmed cop notes that the criminal won't shoot him because then the car will crash. What does Cheung do? He starts firing out the window of the taxi until the cop stops and Cheung flees. I'm not sure how realistic that scenario is, but it is an interesting method (later the roles are reversed, with the cop with a gun in the back and the criminal driving, the method used this time is also good). While the criminal plays with the police, the police fight each other (political in-fighting).

While this "cat and mouse" game is going on, a third criminal group is working the city. This group's connection to the main players is hard, at first, to figure out (but it is directly tied to Cheung's actions).

The movie is somewhat tense, but it is also somewhat harder to care about the action, as the film audience already knows that the main bad guy is dying anyway. Once again, it is harder to determine acting ability when watching a dubbed movie, though the acting seemed to be high quality. The music is good and helps add to the tension. The plot is interesting (what would you do if you were a criminal mastermind and know you are dying?) and solid. There even is some humor. Overall, I would give the movie 4.32 stars.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding!!!!!
Gritty and real

Running Out of Time
Starring: Carmelo Gómez , Ruth Gabriel , Javier Bardem , Karra Elejalde , and Candela Peña
Director: Imanol Uribe
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005AAF5
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Amazon.com

A reckless Basque terrorist and a junkie prostitute fall in lust in the petty criminal underworld of Madrid in Imanol Uribe's loose update of Prosper Merimée's classic Carmen (by way of Juan Madrid's novel Dias Contados). Antonio (Carmelo Gómez, star of Julio Medem's The Red Squirrel and Lovers of the Arctic Circle) is a soldier in the violent guerrilla organization ETA, laying low in a crummy apartment until his next mission. His sexy neighbor Charo (Ruth Gabriel) invites herself into his place, shoots up in his bathroom, takes a bath, and then vamps her naked body in an impromptu photo shoot. Talk about meeting cute.

Gabriel's aimless Charo survives her world of bullying cops, violent drug dealers, and mercenary opportunists by simply floating along and flirting her way through. Antonio is hardly a sympathetic hero, an insolent member of a hated and feared terrorist organization (it's an affiliation that carries quite a wallop in Spain), and Gomez gives a simmering performance full of anger and frustration, a self-destructive man numb from violence. After a life of cheap sexual encounters, Charo is his salvation. For all the violence, sordid underworld scheming, and hothouse eroticism, Running Out of Time carries a passionately romantic twist to a volatile, violent tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!!!!!.......2005-05-25

This is a great film. The writing is very clever and the production is outstanding. This simply shows how beautiful Spain is and that it also (like the rest of the world) has its darkness. The situations with drug addicts and prostitutes are a tragedy no matter where you go but this is actually very well done. It also shows how absolutely no one can be trusted in that kind of world. The sex is beautiful but the it is not the focus of the film. It seems there are three different stories going on at once and they connect very well. Spanish cinema is by far better than what is produced anywhere else. Also, you get to see a great shot of Candela Peña in the tub topless. She is a hottie as well as Charo (not the cookie blonde from the seventies)who has an affair with Carmelo Gomez's character who is a terrorist in this story. This was very enjoyable and definately a film that can be seen over and over.

Gritty and real.......2001-06-20

Imanol Uribe created quite a stir when he debuted this film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, which is held in the Basque country of Spain, for this film deals with the ETA, a Basque terrorist organization responsible for many acts of violence throughout Spain. Winning several Goya awards including best actor, best new actress, best film, best supporting actor, and best director, the film traces the gradual disillusionment of Antonio with his mission and his life, spurred on by his increasing involvement with Charo, a prostitute and junkie. Javier Bardem does a wonderful turn as a junkie/dealer/pimp. The DVD also includes an interview with actress Ruth Gabriel as well as a documentary on the making of the film with interviews from all the actors and a trailer of the film, which points out the similarity of the story to the classic tale of Carmen. The film is a gritty and realistic approach to the subject matter.

Average customer rating:

a running around going nowhere big fuzz
Better than the first!

Running Out of Time 2
Starring: Ching Wan Lau , Ekin Cheng , Kelly Lin , Shiu Hung Hui , and Suet Lam
Director: Wing-cheong Law , and Johnny To
Manufacturer: Mei Ah Laser Disc Co., Ltd.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Running Out of Time
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ASIN: B000067J0S
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Customer Reviews:

a running around going nowhere big fuzz.......2007-06-21

this hongkong running around police vs caper movie was nothing but a fantasy hongkong style. branded with a computerized american bald eagle flying around high or low among skyscrapers or back alleys of hongkong added some more weird cgi special effects magic to achieve visual images just for pointless purpose. cops running around like jerks, cliched with a joker-like high ranking officer, a die-hard workaholic detective, a thief/blackmailer double copycatting from those batman series characters, wasted billion hongkong dollars to buy candies for the 3rd world poor kids. what a laugh and a joke.
hongkong movies sometimes overdid something out of nothing, just used rich investors' money to create some unrealistic garbage to the public, but one thing is always good, these moronic, totally pointless hollow movies also created more jobs for the hongkong movie industries. nothing worth recommending for a movie threw a big caper involving so many people running around in hongkong, then just ended with a 'merry x'mas' message. a big nothing as always.

Better than the first!.......2002-09-15

Ekin Chen stars as the Mysterious criminal Ken, a `Robin Hood' style villain, with the talents of a magician, who robs from the rich and gives to the poor. When a hostage situation breaks out, Inspector Ho (Lau Ching Wan), is once more called upon to track down the villain.

Ekin did a wonderful job as Ken. He is handsome and charismatic, and fully believable as a magician and a criminal mastermind. Wan, is great as the much beleaguered and put upon Inspector Ho.

I liked this sequel much more than the original movie. Ekin did a great job of acting, and Hong Kong at Christmas was simply beautiful.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing but not disastrous by any means.......2006-09-01

It was inevitable that after setting the benchmark so high with the first film that Running Out of Time 2 would be a disappointment, and it is, though it's still an above average Hong Kong thriller. Once again it's a game of cat and mouse rather than a collection of action scenes, but this time round new writers Kin Yee Au and Nai-Hoi Yau give Ching Wan Lau much less to work with and the film seriously suffers from the lack of genuine emotional involvement of the original. It's almost a film of incidental pleasures - a couple of playful nods to the original in rooftop and taxi scenes, a nice part for Johnnie To regular Lam Suet as a phenomenally unlucky compulsive gambler, a chase that drags on so long both pursuer and pursued stop for a drink of water and an ice cream and one terrific twist over the location of a ransom drop that the film is never able to top. It also has the best CGI effects I've ever seen in a Hong Kong film, with some remarkably well-integrated shots of an eagle flying through the streets of Hong Kong. But Ekin Cheung's mastermind just isn't interesting enough and the ending is too far fetched to work.

The New Explorers - Running Out Of Time/ The Fragile Fossil

Average customer rating:

The New Explorers - Running Out Of Time/ The Fragile Fossil

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Description

On the African plains and in zoos around the world, a desperate battle is waged to save some of the planet's most recognizable animals from extinction. RUNNING OUT OF TIME examines the plight of two endangered species the cheetah and the rhinoceros. Journey to the African savannah to meet Laurie and Dan Krause, an American couple devoted to saving the world's fastest animal. Explore the twin problems they face cheetahs are trapped and killed by African farmers to keep them from killing cattle, while the zoo populations are so chronically inbred that they are vulnerable to disease. Likewise, as shown in THE FRAGILE FOSSIL, the rhinoceros is caught in its own dilemma they are stalked by poachers for their horns, and in the supposed safety of captivity, their fragile immune systems break down, leaving them susceptible to a deadly blood disorder. From new conservation methods that seek to protect these natural treasures in their homes, to medical advances that are essential to their survival in captivity, RUNNING OUT OF TIME is a comprehensive look at the battle against extinction.

Average customer rating:

Running Out of Time 2
Starring: Lau Ching-Wan , Ekin Cheng , Hui Shiu-hung , Ruby Wong , and Lam Suet
Director: Johnny To , and Law Wing-cheung
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00008G6FY
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Average customer rating:

Running out of Time...
A Good Action/Thriller Film From The East!
Great movie, but BEWARE, AUDIO IS IN MONO
An almost perfect Hong Kong movie
Dying Criminal Decides to Go Out in a Crime Spree

Running Out of Time
Starring: Andy Lau , Ching Wan Lau , YoYo Mung , Waise Lee , and Shiu Hung Hui
Director: Johnny To
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Running out of Time..........2007-02-03

You're a burglar, and you have 72 hours to live...what would do? That's the premise of this action movie...I found it decent (story, acting, etc...). Three stars!

A Good Action/Thriller Film From The East!.......2007-01-17

Great movie, but BEWARE, AUDIO IS IN MONO.......2006-09-23

An almost perfect Hong Kong movie.......2006-05-09

Dying Criminal Decides to Go Out in a Crime Spree.......2005-05-30

Running Out of Time 1 & 2 (Remastered Collector's Edition) disc set

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Running Out of Time 1 & 2 (Remastered Collector's Edition) disc set
Director: Johnnie To , and Law Wing Cheong
Manufacturer: Mei Ah Entertainment (HK)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

2 disc deluxe package (All region ntsc)
Running Out of Time 1 DVD
Running Out of Time 2 DVD
Digitally Remastering from HD Master
Canvas-like-slip-case

ASIN: B000MAZVWK

Product Description

Dying Wah has nothing to be afraid of anymore when he realizes that he has only 4 weeks to live, and he's determined to get revenge for his father. Later, when Wah successfully gets away in a robbery, detective San makes up his mind and chases after Wah and arrests him. But, we can only have one winner in a game, who's gonna win?

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Double Jeopardy
Starring: Gillian Barber , Jay Brazeau , Annabeth Gish , Bruce Greenwood , and Tommy Lee Jones
Director: Bruce Beresford
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792160207
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Average customer rating:

Bringing Out the Dead
Starring: Patricia Arquette , Nicolas Cage , John Goodman , Mary Beth Hurt , and Afemo Omilami
Director: Martin Scorsese
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0792165888
Release Date: 2000-05-09

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