How others will see it. Just what the doctor ordered. A tight and slick mystery with major stars, some action, and plenty of suspense. Folks flocked to the theaters to see Ford and Jones sweat bullets on the big screen, and the box office (and critical) success remains a crowd pleaser to this day.
How I felt about it. Alfred Hitchcock's favorite theme was the wrong man accused of murder. He used variations of the plot frequently throughout his career, and his films pave the way for later directors who mine the same territory.
Usually, the single and unattached man accused of the heinous crime acquires (or kidnaps) a beautiful woman, who soon grows to love him. This doesn't happen in The Fugitive, not even when a hottie doctor (Julianne Moore) comes into contact with him.
So, The Fugitive at least is not slavish to Hitchcockian traditions. The good doctor does get to be a hero, taking time out from his fleeing to save the lives of people here and there. Suspense comes in nearly getting killed or captured about ten times during the movie. Harrison Ford is also injured during the initial escape, but since he is a great doctor to himself as well, this proves not to be a problem.
The real difficulty with The Fugitive is the premise that if you are falsely convicted of murder, then you can commit any number of other crimes without deserving punishment. Thus, escape, numerous counts of resisting arrest, assault (he aims a loaded gun at Tommy Lee Jones), stealing an ambulance, stealing clothes and medical supplies, impersonating a hospital employee, breaking and entering, etc. are all to be ignored by the audience. At least, as long as he has a good reason to do these things, such as saving his hide. After all, he is innocent. And only he can prove it, since he's such a smartie.
So says Dr. Nichols (Jeroen Krabbe), who gives Ford money and defends him to investigators. This is too make it all the more of a surprise when it turns out that Nichols is the head honcho villain, who faked drug trials to get Federal approval (how long would that hold up, I wonder). If you can swallow this, you'll also have to believe that Nichols is a violent and disturbed man who not only repeatedly attacks Ford, but also two armed Federal marshals, with murderous intent. I guess his long-running successful career as a prominent surgeon was merely a front.
Middle-aged doctor Ford also gets to beat up a professional hitman. Who has a gun.
The real treat of The Fugitive is watching Ford and Jones in action. Hangdog Ford is a bit old but still well cast, since he is credible both as a surgeon and as a down on his luck drifter. Jones' sly delivery is aided by a quality screenplay.