Welcome to the jungle! “The Rundown” 4K UHD
- Kay Reynolds
- Oct 2
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 4
4K ULTRA HD REVIEW / HDR SCREENSHOTS
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson became a major action star after playing Beck, a “retrieval specialist” for his boss Billy Walker (William Lucky). Walker has one last request for Beck: to retrieve his wayward son, Travis (Seann William Scott), from the Amazon. (2) Town boss, Hatcher, played by Christopher Walken, runs the mining operation in the town of El Dorado with his sidekick, Harvey (Joe Gries).
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“THE RUNDOWN”
4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray; 2003; PG-13 for adventure violence and some crude dialogue
Best extra: NEW commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder and Filmmaker Matt Routledge
DWAYNE JOHNSON’S character Beck does not want to be a “retrieval specialist” i.e. collections agent/bounty hunter. He wants to be a chef and run his own restaurant. To that end, he’s always making notes on ingredients and recipes in the small black book he carries with him at all times.
But his boss, Walker (William Lucking, “The Limey,” 2002) has him over a barrel. Beck owes Walker money, a lot of money. So, when we first meet him, Beck is out to retrieve cash from an unlucky gambler at a posh nightclub. Heading in, he passes Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is heading out. “Have fun,” Arnold “The Terminator” quips, symbolically passing the action hero torch along to The Rock. This small, but significant homage, came at the time Arnold was leaving his film career behind to become governor of California.
(1) In a cameo, Arnold Schwarzenegger tells Johnson, “Have fun,” passing on the action-hero torch as he leaves the nightclub and becomes governor of California. (2&3) Beck is sent to retrieve a championship football ring from a star quarterback as collateral for a gambling debt owed to Walker. (4) Walker tells Beck about his final mission, promising the payout will be enough to start his own restaurant.
“The Rundown” was the start of Johnson’s career as a major action star. Previously known as a WWF champion, he had appeared in “The Mummy Returns” (2001) and “The Scorpion King” (2002) with a lot of hair but not much in the way of dialogue. On the wrestling mat and onscreen, Johnson played the bad guy, but audiences loved him. Beck was a breakthrough role showcasing the man’s charm, smarts and humor. Similar to Russell Crowe’s “Gladiator” (2000), we would have followed this guy anywhere, even if it got us killed – which is a constant threat throughout “Rundown.”
In the opening scene, Beck enters the club, and ends up bushwhacked by a well-garbed team of thugs played by pro-football players, the first of many fights in the film. Fight and stunt choreography by Clint Cadinha and Andy Cheng is very, very good. Everyone gets a chance to show off.
Beck believes his slate is clean by the time he returns with the required collateral, but Walker has a final mission in store. The bookie/loan shark wants Beck to go to Brazil and retrieve his wayward son, Travis (Seann William Scott, “American Pie” franchise). When he returns, Walker promises Beck he will be rewarded with enough money to open his dream-restaurant.
(1&2) Beck and daredevil pilot Declan (Ewen Brmmer), whose thick Scottish accent defies understanding, fly into the Amazon in search of Travis. (3&4) Heading into the town's mining camp, Beck witnesses the misery of the native population, pushed to the brink of starvation and backbreaking pain through years of hard labor. (5&6) In the local bar, Travis flirts with Mariana (Rosario Dawson), bartender and secret rebel chief. (7&8) Beck enters the mining camp in search of town boss Hatcher (Christopher Walken) to get permission to retrieve Travis. (9&10) Hatcher's mines reflect its horrific conditions.
Once in El Dorado, Beck meets the town boss, Hatcher, played by Christopher Walken in another crazed yet brilliant performance. A cruel master, Hatcher runs the local mining operation with a team of muscle-bound bullies, including one who wields a whip. He agrees to let Beck take Travis back to his father, then changes his mind when he learns Travis knows the location of O Gato de Diablo (the Devil’s Cat), a lost golden statue, shades of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981). Cue up more action as Beck and Travis take on Hatcher’s men, escaping by Jeep, which Travis intentionally crashes trying to leave Beck behind.
There follows an amazing fall down a hill – no CGI, stuntmen did it all and had the injuries to prove it. Johnson’s cousin Tanoai Reed, the actor’s body double, broke his ankle in the stunt. Director Peter Berg (“Painkiller,” 2023 Netflix series, “Deepwater Horizon” 2016, “Patriots Day” 2016, “Lone Survivor” 2013), who got his start as an actor on the TV series “Chicago Hope,” said, “The goal was to put the biggest fall down a hill in a movie that people have ever seen.” The inspiration was the old “ABC Wild World of Sports” opening and its “agony of defeat” footage. “The Rundown” makes terrific use of real stunts and practical effects. Look out for the flaming tire soaring at the screen in the final action-packed confrontation, also genuine … actually, you can’t miss it.
The mismatched team of Beck and Travis is joined by the smart, tough, and beautiful Mariana (Rosario Dawson, “Sin City”), bartender and captain of El Dorado’s rebel forces. There comes another fantastic fight scene between Johnson and martial arts/stuntman expert Ernie Reyes Jr. (“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”), as Manito, a native rebel champion. Don't miss Scottish actor Ewen Bremner (“Our Flag Means Death,” “Trainspotting,” “Snow Piercer”) as Beck’s incomprehensible pilot, Declan.
The story may be a bit uneven, but I found good surprises throughout, i.e. heart-wrenching moments. It’s not all gunfights and chases. Johnson’s character is more complex than you’d think; Dawson is always a treasure, and Walken is as out of control as we’ve ever seen him. The stunts and practical effects are hard to beat, placing “The Rundown” notches above current CGI-laden action flicks. The only drawback was Scott’s crude humor. I wanted to fast-forward through the baboon business, and nearly every time he took center stage. Some may love it, but he seemed out of place with his co-stars.
(1&2) During the escape from Hatcher's men, Travis tricks Beck, causing an accident that sends them hurtling down a steep hill and into baboon territory. (3&4) The two are then surrounded by rebel fighters, planning to overthrow Hatcher. Beck has no choice but to accept a challenge from Manito (Ernie Reyes Jr.), the best fighter in the group.
VIDEO
Kino Lorber and Universal Studios do another fine job in this new 4K scan from the original 35mm negative shot by German cinematographer Tobias A. Schliessler, who also worked with Berg on “Friday Night Lights” and “Lone Survivor.” (Wonder what it was like, mastering the cameras behind all that physical action? How often do cameramen have to duck and dodge?) “Rundown” was shot on location in Kaua’i, Hawaii, Brazil, and Los Angeles, with interior filming at Stage 29, Universal Studios in California.
With the added HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the colors are vibrant and deeply saturated, with strong blacks and highlights. The look remains authentic in the various locations – club, office, bar, the jungle, and the stark, desert-like mining operation. Complexions of the various, international actors look natural. Film grain is good and even throughout.
AUDIO
You have two choices: the original six-channel DTS-HD soundtrack or the lossless 2.0 stereo. The dynamic range is strong from the club scenes to the jungle and mining camp. Dialogue comes through cleanly from beginning to end, perfectly blended with effects, ambient sound, and the score by Harry Gregson-Williams. He adds a blast of class from quiet moments to action chaos.
The hunt for the golden “O Gato do Diabo”
(1-3)Marina joins Beck and Travis in a trek through the jungle to find a missing statue of gold, O Gato de Diablo the Devil's Cat).
EXTRAS
Bonus features are mostly carryovers from the earlier release.
There are three running commentaries, one with director Peter Berg and Dwayne Johnson, another by producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham, and a new commentary by action film historian Mike Leeder and filmmaker Matt Routledge.
What’s good is that they’re all different, with little crossover. Everyone brings their anecdotes, observations and technical details – and they’re all having a good time, particularly the one with Leeder and Routledge, who offer lots of action movie examples and history. Berg remembers how he and producer Kevin Misher were scouting locations for the fictional El Dorado in the Amazon forests of Brazil, when they were held up and robbed of all cash, equipment, and other possessions. He says that’s why – at Johnson’s recommendation – the production was moved to Hawaii. In one commentary, “Rundown” is compared to the crime buddy film “Midnight Run” (1988) with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin.
The commentaries are included on both the 4K and Blu-ray discs.
On Blu-ray:
“Rumble in the Jungle” featurette (10 mins) takes a look at the fight choreography. Featuring interviews from Berg, Johnson, Scott, Dawson, and Reyes, we see rehearsals and edited film examples.
“The Amazon, Hawaii Style” featurette (5 mins) shows the differences between filming in the Amazon vs. Hawaii. Hawaii wins.
“Appetite for Destruction” featurette (8 mins) goes over live action pyrotechnic effects and big action moments.
“The Rundown Uncensored - A Rock-umentary” featurette (6:08 mins) briefly showcases interaction between actors and animals during the baboon scene. Real animals and animatronics were used.
“Running Down the Town” featurette (4 mins) takes us to El Dorado, showing how the set was built and used, showcasing Hatcher’s mine.
“Walken’s World” featurette (5 mins) highlights some madness with Christopher Walken. In an anecdote, we learn Walken had never seen Gene Wilder’s “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” and had no idea what “Oompa-Loompas” were. He balked at a line, but had no problem after he watched the classic.
Deleted Scenes (14 mins) provides nine deleted and alternate scenes.
I enjoyed “The Rundown” more in Kino Lorber’s fine presentation, and after 20+ years with a higher tolerance for gross humor. It’s fun, engaging and a great debut for Dwayne Johnson. Get your popcorn and enjoy!
— Kay Reynolds
(1-3) The final fiery showdown between Beck, the rebels and Hatcher's men. (4) Beck and Marina force Travis into giving up the gold statue.
SPECS:
100 GB disc
TRUE 4K mastering
35mm 3-perf Super 35 format, 2.39:1 aspect ratio
Video bitrate: Varies from the low 60 Megabits per second to 85 Mbps. A running time of 104 minutes.
Box office: $48 million domestically, and worldwide $80 million, with a production budget of $85 million. Finished the year as the No. 67 box office film of the year. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” was No. 1 at $1.1 billion box office.
Rotten Tomatoes: Top critics – 54 percent, Moviegoers - 66 percent
Metacritic: 59 percent, User Score 6.9