Arnie movies.... Good, bad or ugly?

[Sonic Nonsense]

Are Arnie movies some of the greatest pieces of pure entertainment created by man? With untaxing yet enjoyable storylines, hilariously bad acting, and more explosions than the Vietman war.

OR

Are Arnie movies drivel? Uninteresting weak stories, poor acting, and excessive action designed to cover the gaping holes in the plotline.

:shoot:

[bouffy]

A complete mix, I'd say.

Good: Predator, Terminator 1 etc
Bad: Raw Deal, Last Action Hero etc
Ugly: Hercules in New York (complete buncum)

Of course, a large proportion of his films provide some of the best lines in movie history (in a 'it's so bad, it's good' kinda way).

[simpo two]

Good fun hokum.

Or if you're a leftie, US propaganda. But then their idea of fun is tofu.

[iansull]

The old films are great as its just Arnie flexing his muscles,kicking ass and delivering awful but memorable one-liners.

The best,for me,being: Predator,Commando and Terminator 1&2.

Anything where real acting is required is where its a bit of a struggle.....

[mr_yogi]

Don't forget Total Recal

After T2 I think they went downhill a bit...

...or maybe I just got older

[Bitter'n'twisted]

Briefly....

Excellent:
- Terminator
- Conan the Barbarian.
- Pumping iron.
- Predator.

Alright:
- Twins.
- Commando.
- Kindergarten cop.
- Red heat.
- Total Recall.
- That spy one with that annoying bird in it.

Terrible:
- Conan the destroyer (although had a couple of good scenes).
- Red Sonja
- Hercules in New York. (Although it is interesting to see him at his very biggest and very young looking).
- Last Picture show.
- Cactus Jack


>> Edited by Bitter'n'twisted on Wednesday 27th July 17:22

[iansull]

I think you can add Junior to the terrible list!

[bouffy]

Ah, Cactus Jack.

That is truly atrocious. Which is the one where they had to dub his voice because he sounded so Austrian? Cactus Jack or Hercules in NY?

Both dire films.

I still love the Governator, though.

[Bitter'n'twisted]

bouffy said:

Ah, Cactus Jack. That is truly atrocious. Which is the one where they had to dub his voice because he sounded so Austrian? Cactus Jack or Hercules in NY?

Hercules INY.

So bad, it's almost good. In a very bad kind of way.

When they were supposedly on Zeus's cloud or whatever (actually the local park), you could hear kids playing on swings and stuff in the background.

[alexkp]

Total Recall and Terminator 1 & 2 are excellent movies.

True Lies is fabulous fun - after all it is James Cameron's attempt to out Bond Bond. End of Days is not bad either.

Schwarzenegger is not a great actor, but he has been a great movie star. When playing to his strengths and not taking himself too seriously he can also make a reasonable attempt at comedy - ie Junior and Kindergarten Cop.

His earlier stuff was formulaic muscleman hokum, such as Commando and Raw Deal.

But he has also managed some total stinkers like Last Action Hero et al.

All in all he has produced a body of work that while unlikely to ever prompt anyone to nominate him for a retrospective Oscar, is still very significant in the history of the cinema.

[peterpeter]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Agree with you there, but sorry, Commando was a classic.

It had this magic formula of a shit plot, crap acting, pathetic jokes, awful music and a dire script.

And yet whenever its on ill always kick back and watch it start to finish.

[chickchickette]

Sorry, did I see there that someone thought Conan was good? Dear me.
I'd say Terminator 2 is not bad as Arnie flicks go but, let's face it, he's a pretty baaad actor!
Twins was truely terrifying after all! *shiver* Can give you nightmares! Mind you, perhaps that's 'cause Dani Devito's in it as well...?

[scared but happy]

mr_yogi said:

Don't forget Total Recal After T2 I think they went downhill a bit... ...or maybe I just got older

I saw the original unedited version of this before it went to the edit room and the end made much more sense.

[Scoobz]

They're all great.

As are all Stallone films.

Anyone who disagrees is merely wrong.

[chim_knee]

Scoobz said:

They're all great. As are all Stallone films. Anyone who disagrees is merely wrong.

Or... gaaay!

[planetdave]

T2 is triffic - best vampire film ever (you think I'm kidding or mad)

[JagLover]

The great Arnie movies are where he plays to his strengths, a muscle bound hulk without emotion.

The Terminators films are his best since he makes a great cyborg.

So great Arnie movies-Terminator 1&2 & Predator

Good Arnie movies, Total Recall, Commando, Twins

[wingchundave]

Scoobz said:

They're all great. As are all Stallone films. Anyone who disagrees is merely wrong.

I love Arnie films. Sometimes I just want to sit down and watch mindless violence and not care about plot or acting.

[Ecks Ridgehead]

peterpeter said:

Agree with you there, but sorry, Commando was a classic. It had this magic formula of a shit plot, crap acting, pathetic jokes, awful music and a dire script. And yet whenever its on ill always kick back and watch it start to finish.

Spot on! If I stumble across it on TV, it's no use - I'm snared.

It also has by far one of the most unrealistic climactic fights (with an Australian wearing a knitted vest that was supposed to look like chain mail!) ever committed to celluloid (apart from perhaps the back alley brawl in They Live).

Arnie said:

"Let off some steam, Bennett."

[Steve_Evil]

Brilliant, can't beat a good 80's Arnie movie.