Arnold Schwarzenegger – cinemescope

100 Word Review – The Running Man (1987)

November 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged 1980s, Action, adaptation, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, dystopian, future, Sci Fi, Stephen King, Steven E de SouzaLeave a comment

Arnie really is wonderful, isn’t he? If you were ever in doubt, watch this film.

Set in a dystopian future, Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and forced to participate in a public execution disguised as a brutal gameshow.

Based on the novel by Stephen King (The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining), it was adapted by Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard, Commando). Think an adult 1980s Hunger Games, but with more gore and less characterisation. There’s explosions, plenty of shouting, people in leotards and enough exploding heads to keep any Arnie fan happy.

100 Word Review – Last Action Hero (1993)

August 31, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, ComedyTagged Action, adventure, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Charles Dance, Comedy, family, Game of ThronesLeave a comment

Arnie’s back.

Danny (Austin O’Brien) is a young boy with a big imagination, obsessed with his favourite action hero Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger). When he is given a ticket to the latest Slater flick he jumps at the chance, little suspecting that he might become part of the action…

Co-staring the magnetic Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones), this is lighter and more comedic than a lot of Arnie’s ouevre, but doesn’t quite fit in to his family-friendly-range (see Junior or Twins). It’s a joy to watch, full of the ridiculous one-liners and explosions we’ve come to expect.

100 Word Review – Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

April 29, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged Action, adventure, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, computers, Edward Furlong, James Cameron, Robert Patrick, robot, Sci Fi, t-800, t1000, Terminator1 Comment

This might be my all time favourite film. Who wouldn’t love a film with scenes like this in it?

Arnie is back. But this time he’s the good guy.

The T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been reprogrammed by John Connor in the future and sent back to defend his younger self (Edward Furlong) from the latest terminator, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick).

Linda Hamilton is back as Sarah Connor and, far from the shy waitress of the first film, she is kicking serious butt.

It won 4 Oscars in 1992 including Best Sound and Visual Effects and is unsurprisingly currently voted number 41 on IMDb.

100 Word Review – The Terminator (1984)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Sci FiTagged 1980s, Action, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, computers, future, James Cameron, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, robots, Sci Fi2 Comments

One of the few examples of the first in film franchise not being the best.

Don’t let this put you off. It is a brilliant movie and a corner-stone of 1980s action Sci Fi.

An indestructible cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is set back from the future to murder Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a waitress who’s unborn son will lead the humans in an war against the machines. Meanwhile a soldier from the future (Michael Biehn) is determined to protect her.

James Cameron’s casting is sublime. Arnie’s unsurprisingly realistic as the emotionless robot. Complete with stop-motion animation, this is an epic action.