A well respected Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble has found out that his wife, Helen, has been murdered ferociously in her own home. The police found Kimble and accused him of the murder. Then, Kimble (without Justifiable Reason) was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. However, on the way to prison, Kimble's transport crashed. Kimble escapes and is now on the run. Deputy Samuel Gerard from Chicago takes charge of the chase of Kimble. Meanwhile, Kimble makes up his own investigation to find who really killed his life, and to lure Gerard and his team into it as well.
--Written by John Wiggins

User Comments: "Terrific chase movie that doesn't overdose and choke on action", 5 August 2003
Author: SteveThomp from Victoria, Australia

There is nothing wrong with pilfering the premises of old TV-shows provided, I think, that they are plot-driven and not character-driven. It would be wrong, for example, to re-make Hogan's Heroes because it was the quirky mix of characters and the acting that made it a success, not the ridiculous plot. The Fugitive, however, is different because the story provided the impetus rather than the cast, who are merely characters rather than personalities (the wrongly-accused doctor, the obsessed marshal, the one-armed man). Because of this, skilled actors such as Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones can slip into the roles like they are well-worn suits and, together with the enhanced opportunities offered by big-budget cinematics, can create something terrific.

Part of the reason this re-make works is that Harrison Ford plays this type of role so well: the reluctant hero, resourceful everyman and unfairly-treated victim. Just about anyone can identify with Ford's plight and imagine themselves in the same situation, and conversely hope that they might use the same courage and initiative. On the other side of the coin is US Marshal Tommy Lee Jones, who is conscientious to the verge of obsession and strives to think like his quarry - but not so blindly that he also doesn't empathise for him. That's what makes The Fugitive better than the average cop-and-crim chase movie: both characters are likeable, and the climactic meeting between them doesn't disappoint.

It has its fair dose of action, but not so much that it overrides or smothers the tension and suspense of the plot. While not at the pinnacle of film-making, The Fugitive is great viewing that treats both its substance and its audience with respect and intelligence.