No pun intended - and it's not that much running ... actually there is a fair amount of it, to be honest. And there is a fair amount of action, but if you watched it back in the day apparently ... coming right after Righting Wrongs ... you may have had different expectations ... you may have thought this would be something totally different. And let me tell you: this does not take any prisoners ... it is not like a Hollywood movie (which you hopefully already know beforehand) ... everything goes ... or can go.

That all being said, Yuen Biao cements his role and stature in Hong Kong cinema ... playing a more "realistic" person/cop. Still doing some insane things .. but all in the name of the law. Also we have a bit of a "Killer" relationship between him and an assassin (female) ... if you have seen John Woos classic you'll know what I mean - I reckon.

Action scenes are really good, but this lives off the story and the tension it creates ... will our main character be able to uncover the evil people who seem to be after him ... and make them pay. When I said earlier that this takes no prisoners ... I really meant it ... the special effects are off the charts ... there are head shots here, that look as crazy as possible ... not sure what the safety regulations where (if any), but this must have been quite the ordeal to film ... many times (no pun intended) ... on the other hand it does pay off (and again no pun intended) ... a really great thriller movie ... that is as out there as it possibly can.

ON THE RUN is a surprisingly serious and excellent slice of film noir from Hong Kong. With Yuen Biao in the lead role you'd expect this to be a kick-backside slice of action filmmaking such as ABOVE THE LAW, but in fact it's intensely serious and more of a character study than an action flick. In fact, there's just one stunt and one big fight scene, but on the other hand the film is seriously violent with a lot of graphic and surprising moments. I had a ball with it, thanks to the straight, great performances from a cast doing justice to their roles, and the fast pace which never hangs around to draw breath. In some ways it feels like a classic 'wronged man' movie from the 1950s, except with more intensity and bloodshed. Charlie Chin is particularly convincing in his transition from romantic role in MY LUCKY STARS to sleazy villain in this, and who can resist the trio of Lo Lieh, Phillip Ko and Yuen Wah?

A gripping piece of 1980's Hong Kong noir that is uncompromising in its brutal action and tragic atmosphere. All the main villains get killed and the two heroic leads get imprisoned. Even an innocent child doesn't survive. It's a bleak film but a fascinating one. The cast are perfect. Yuen Biao gives one of his best performances as the anguished CID man. As the rogue police familiar thespians Charlie Chin, Yuen Wah, Phillip Ko and Lo Lieh are brilliant, again giving some of their best playing in a HK film. And even better is Pat Ha as the assassin Miss Pai who doesn't say much leaving her face to do the performing and who is riveting. If you want to see why Hong Kong cinema of that era is a wonder to behold watch this film.