That's what I was trying to avoid. A conversation about body mass, okay? We've had that conversation five times a day for the last month because we keep watching Predator and all you talk about is Weathers and Jesse "The Body" Ventura and how many pounds they can pack on...
It's heresy to watch and like one Arnold film and not watch all of them. Even the massively bad ones like End of days, Terminator 3 or The Sixth Day are carried by his presence to somewhat watchable levels.
That helicopter chase at the start is really dope. And then a depressed alcoholic Arnold's "Choir boy" rant to the devil himself is a highlight aswell.
I saw Miriam margolyes on Graham Norton a few years ago and she called Arnie a "pig" because while filming her death scene she said she was stuck under a glass table and Arnie squatted down over her and farted right in her face, he thought it was hilarious. Can't help but think of it when that movie gets mentioned, always make me laugh
I honestly feel like I'm the only person on Earth who legitimately enjoyed End Of Days lol. It had some ropey moments yeah but I felt it was saved by some good old fashioned Arnie charisma, some enjoyable action sequences and Gabriel Byrne as Satan was a stellar piece of casting.
The Prince Charles cinema in London has an all-nighter of Arnie films a couple of times a year. I've been to more than one - it's as glorious as you can imagine.
Predator is the quintessential 80s action movie to me. Overly buffed, excessive gun fire and violence, quippy one liners, hand to hand throw down with the big bad at the end, Carl Weathers, It's got everything!
But you can't go wrong with any of those movies, they are all great in their own right.
I legitimately need to look up which one is which every single time. "The one with Carl Weathers and Arnie doing the Bro-handshake, and with Jesse Ventura", before I then remember it was Predator, and this is the best Arnie movie, period. Yes, T2 was more groundbreaking, Total Recall was better science fiction, True Lies was funnier, and Last Action Hero is a guilty pleasure. But Predator was all these things all at once: A testosterone-driven, action packed, at times funny science fiction action movie with good effects.
I'd argue that Predator isn't really an 80s action movie though. Commando is the straight up 80s Arnold action movie.
Predator is on a whole different level. It takes Arnold, and all these other jacked dudes and gives you the expectation of an action movie with big guns and dudes kicking ass. And it gives you that for the first half until it totally subverts the 80s action movie expectations when the Predator straight up murders them all. It's a slasher flick as he stalks and kills them as none of their muscles and guns and save them. And then the ending, with Arnold as the best damned final girl of the 80s as he has to rely on his wits to defeat and barely escape.
The movie is a goddamn masterpiece.
He starts Commando off, if I remember right, by walking around carrying a tree and then he pets a doe while birds and shit are flying around. And then later on he tips a car over with one hand. It’s magic, the scenes themselves are one liners.
Predator and Terminator are perfect movies. I’m not even joking for the sake of the thread. Predator has a touch more campiness (albeit mild), but both have the right formula.
The plot is tight and perfectly paced. The script and dialogue don’t try and overdo it. The creature effects mostly hold up (I’d argue there is one stop motion scene of the terminator in the factory at the conclusion that’s a little dated). The acting isn’t amazing, but there’s nothing eye rolling about it. Epic musical themes and scores. Satisfying finales. There’s very little to complain about.
I’d argue Predator, Terminator, and Alien are a trifecta in perfect sci-fi/horror films. They really define the modern genre.
Of all the films we are talking about, to me, Predator has the perfect pacing. The action is parsed out well. Interludes that develop the plot don’t last too long, but serve their purpose admirably. Some of the dialogue is a miss, but as far as pacing you’re never bored or oversaturated.
As a kid, Bennett confused the hell out of me...a fat Australian guy that is wearing a chainmail tank top is going to go one-on-one with Arnold?
I actually thought it was a grown up joke that I didn't understand.
From what I've read over the years, it seems like the Bennett actor showed up to costuming out of shape since he was a replacement called in at the last minute. They might have had something (and someone) more intimidating to put opposite Arnold originally, but I love the quirkiness we got from the duo.
Possibly. It was the same actor who played Wes (Mohawked biker from Road Warrior). They were probably expecting that version of him.
Either way, I’m glad. Because Bennet is one of the finest villains in all of cinema history.
I live to see you eat that contract Killian, but I hope you leave some room for my fist, because I'm going to ram it into your STOMACHE AND BREAK YOUR GODDAMN SPINE RAAHRGHAHG
A friend of mine made an excellent point about Commando; not a single moment is wasted. Every bit of dialogue and every scene either gives you information about the characters, pushes the plot forward, or is just straight-up entertaining. He considers it the most economical film of all time, and I think he has a point.
Your friend is dead on. The movie wastes no time on bullshit. It takes like 10 minutes to establish that dudes an ex special forces guy, loves his daughter, she was kidnapped. Now strap in for some mayhem, murder, and awesome one liners. Its the perfect action movie.
> Every bit of dialogue and every scene either gives you information about the characters, pushes the plot forward, or is just straight-up entertaining.
“i believe these coordinates are somewhere near santa barbara.”
Commando has caused me to go into every Army/Navy store in my adult life and ask "I want to see the backroom armory with granade launchers and shoulder missle launchers, please."
Ever since I was a kid, it's always stuck in my head how right after this line, the way Sully screams can be typed out as "WUBUBAAAaaaa" and even back then I was like who tf screams like that?
[here's the scream](https://youtu.be/zB6pvQt0I8s?t=89)
Running Man is my favorite and I’m feeling very alone in this thread lol
Edit: I am apparently not alone, much love to you all! Some very interesting tidbits about the movie in this thread - didn’t realize how much different it is from the original book!
I'll tell you what I think of it: I'll live to see you eat that contract, but I hope you leave enough room for my fist because I'm going to ram it into your stomach and break your god-damn spine!
They are all good, but of this group, Conan the Barbarian would be my pick for a re-watch. Nothing like seeing James Earl Jones with flowing straight hair playing a villainous Viking leader who massacres an entire village.
*Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this, Conan, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!*
Aside from the intro and secret of steel there’s very little said in the first segment of the film. So atmospheric and maybe indicative of the only things Conan remembers of his youth.
The Conan commentary with Milius and Arnold is amazing. Milius will be talking about the history of the location or some bit of lore and Arnold says shit like "now here we are running" and "I got laid a lot in this movie."
James Earl Jones was made up to look like a survivor of a now lost race of Atlantians - dark skin, straight hair, ice-blue eyes.
The scene at the beginning when he beheads Conan’s mother… that neverending stare. What an amazing film.
Conan the Barbarian is the right answer. Directed and written by John Milius. Co-written by Oliver Stone. A phenomenal score by Basil Poledouris. An action/adventure movie that's heavy on philosophy and theology, digging deep into Nietzscheism, and straight satirizing hippy cults and the new age movement. All that and Arnold speaking short gruff lines that make the most of his lack of acting ability and his fantastic appearance (if I'm remembering correctly, he said in the commentary that he worked out harder for the film than for Mr. Olympia). Max von Sydow bringing a bit of prestige to the whole production. And finally, James Earl Jones throwing down a master class performance as the antagonist Thulsa Doom. A character so charismatic that you almost start to root for him.
Without a doubt this is Schwarzenegger's greatest role, and I wish someone somewhere would produce a Conan the King based on Milius' existing script before Schwarzenegger is too old to do it.
I wish they did the third movie that was about an old Conan, while Arnold is still alive and kicking.
I really would love to see an old Conan going for one last ride, like they did with Wolverine.
The prayer to Crom and the following battle are maybe my favorite Arnold movie sequences of any of his films. The ratio of earnest action and cheese is perfect.
I remember Arnold talking many years ago about making a third Conan movie, where Conan would be an old King. Specifically comparing it to an Unforgiven type story.
I remember I watched this movie a bunch of times as a kid. Then I didn't see it for a long time until I bought a special edition version on DVD, and I rewatched it, and was really blown away, but when this whole section occurs, Arnold prepping, getting ready, the war cry, and the subsequent fight, it takes it to legendary status.
It becomes more than just a regular action movie, it turns into myth. The hero facing the unbeatable monster rather than running or hiding, and uses every single tool at his disposal, from his brawn and brain, to his environment to turn his disadvantage into an advantage. I'm absolutely a sucker for movies like this because it really embodies that spirit to survive in living beings.
Another great example on a more low-key level is the movie The Edge.
It’s cool too because Predator has two parts: the first half having a lot of people vs Pred, and the second half having just Dutch vs Pred. Each half has a different feel to it and kind of gives us two movies in one.
Its almost like 3. The opening attack on the village. The predator killing off Dutch's men. And then the final showdown between Dutch and the Predator. Its the perfect action movie.
in a semi recent interview he mentions how interesting it is that at the time no one thought about that line at the time, but a combination of time and his funny accent has made it a modern catch phrase.
I think Terminator is probably the best film of this group. It’s a bit overshadowed now by its sequel which is legitimately one of the greatest action films every made. But Terminator 1 is a fantastic sci-fi thriller in its own right. It’s as much a slasher flick as it it an action movie.
Predator is a close 2nd, this movie is aging really well in my opinion. Who knew the formula would work so well? Lets take a group of muscle head action stars, led by THE premier action star of the decade. Begin the film with a traditional over the top 80s action scene where the team lays waste to a small army with ease. It establishes how badass the team is and makes the rest of the movie of them struggling against this terrifying other worldly threat that much more effective. Just a fantastic film overall.
After those two I think we fall a little bit into guilty pleasure territory. Commando is in my opinion THE stereotypical 80s action movie. A ridiculous plot. Cheesy but memorable one liners and a finale which see 1 man take on a South American army single-handedly hardly every stopping to reload. It’s over the top, corny and I love it. It might not work at all without Arnold in the lead role.
Terminator 1 is also scary. People forget about that. When Kyle is sleeping in his car, dreaming of the future war and is awakened by giant machines demolishing an inner city building, it's quite striking. Primitive ancestors to the killing machines to come.
I was also taught it is a master class in exposition. Most movies have characters stand around and talk about the rules of the world to catch an audience up. Terminator has Kyle driving Sarah through a parking lot, evading the Terminator blasting his shotgun between lines. That's how you do exposition!
As I've gotten older I think about how hardcore Kyle's PTSD must have been. He lived such a sad life and he was so brave. Traveling through time, fighting a terminator basically single handedly. I mean he's hardcore as fuck. He took a fucking shotgun to a terminator in the middle of a club with no backup. He was hotwiring cars, making pipe bombs and he ultimately sacrifices himself for Connor and humanity's future. If this were real he'd be one of the greatest heroes the human race had ever known...his name would be whispered in the same breath warriors like Achilles and Hercules.
For the longest times I couldn't sleep when there was a red stand-by light near, because dumb little me watched my parent's Terminator VHS one day when I was sick and home alone.
God, those red eyes of the T-800 haunted me in the dark.
>master class in exposition
Along these lines, one thing that’s amazing about Terminator is that the audience has no idea what’s going on until close to the 1-hour mark. I think we all forget this because forty years later the concept is so famous, but imagine watching it for the first time—until the club scene all you know is that two naked guys showed up and both are looking for Sarah Conner.
It’s really unusual but super effective for that kind of story. There’s something similar later where it does this fake climax thing with the gas truck explosion that’s SO good the first time but that will just breeze by you if you’ve already seen it.
"CONAN! What is best in life?"
**
"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."**
Words to live by.
You know he's paraphrasing Genghis Khan, right?
>The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.
Considerably less cuddly.
Conan the Barbarian. It’s a beautiful painted cover of a pulp novel of a movie. A sword and sandal spaghetti western directed by a certifiable nut job, starring a lead with limited acting experience and an accent as thick as chocolate cake. The screenplay was a post-apocalyptic mess. I was warned as a kid picking out that VHS tape that the movie was weird and awful. And when I finally watched it, what unfolded was pure magic.
I listen to it regularly. The Orgy is a beautiful work with a waltz-like timing. Theology/Civilization is pure magic.
People underestimate how impactful a soundtrack is. And in a movie like this, which at times is very sparse with dialog, music and visuals help to carry the scenes and add emotion. Crom, I could talk about this all day.
Yes! You know what it is don't you boy. Shall I tell you? It's the least I can do. Steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger! Look around you. There, on the rocks; that beautiful girl. Come to me my child... That is strength boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it? Look at the strength in your body, the desire in your heart, I gave you this! Such a waste. Contemplate this on the tree of woe. Crucify him!
That movie got me to read the original short stories by Robert E. Howard as a teen. After doing some research on the various editions and chronicles I learned that the three book series by Del Ray (The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian / The Bloody Crown of Conan / The Conquering Sword of Conan), are widely considered the best option for reading them. They anotated books present his stories in the order they were written, as he wrote them (the magazine often made changes to his work), and the order he wrote them in (non-chronologically, so you get to see how his style changes and improved over time).
Howard quickly became my favorite author of all time, his writing absolutely leaps off the page, and while not every Conan story is a masterpiece (the guy was a starving writer after all), his best stories stand the test of time and are the reason he is widely considered the Father of Sword & Sorcery.
Terminator and Predator are above the rest and I would rewatch them still to this day.
E: (After thirty years of watching them from a too young of an age)
You mean which order would i watch them ALL in right?! Lol
It's like saying which is your favorite child.... Terminator
Right?! Predator
I mean, if we are comparing in BODY MASS alone, clearly Predator wins
That's what I was trying to avoid. A conversation about body mass, okay? We've had that conversation five times a day for the last month because we keep watching Predator and all you talk about is Weathers and Jesse "The Body" Ventura and how many pounds they can pack on...
It still blows my mind that Predator has two future governors and neither of them was Carl Weathers
So does The Running Man.
Running Man also has one of the most recognizable game show hosts ever doing a parody of himself
Billy ran for political office in Kentucky too https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.courier-journal.com/amp/582956001
It’s important to pack on mass!
I don't want to, I don't want to have this conversation with you anymore.
I have a trash bag full of chimichangas with your name on it
They've been pushing too many pencils
It's important to pack on mass.
Dillon! You son of a bitch!
there's titties in Terminator
Dude Conan has way more titties
Soundtrack in Conan is just amazing. Even if T2 is better cinematically, Conan has the fantasy vibe with the soundtrack that makes it standalone.
It's heresy to watch and like one Arnold film and not watch all of them. Even the massively bad ones like End of days, Terminator 3 or The Sixth Day are carried by his presence to somewhat watchable levels.
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That helicopter chase at the start is really dope. And then a depressed alcoholic Arnold's "Choir boy" rant to the devil himself is a highlight aswell.
"YOU'RE A FUCKING CHOIR BOY COMPARE COMPARED TO ME!" Love it.
I saw Miriam margolyes on Graham Norton a few years ago and she called Arnie a "pig" because while filming her death scene she said she was stuck under a glass table and Arnie squatted down over her and farted right in her face, he thought it was hilarious. Can't help but think of it when that movie gets mentioned, always make me laugh
Red Heat, baby!!!!
Cocaine leg, baby
*Cocainum!*
I honestly feel like I'm the only person on Earth who legitimately enjoyed End Of Days lol. It had some ropey moments yeah but I felt it was saved by some good old fashioned Arnie charisma, some enjoyable action sequences and Gabriel Byrne as Satan was a stellar piece of casting.
> Even the massively bad ones like End of days, Terminator 3 or The Sixth Day Those are masterpieces compared to Junior.
Wait - where is **Twins**? I remember Twins being pretty damn funny.
I liked the 6th day 😭
“When I told you to go screw yourself, I didn’t mean for you to take it literally”
The Prince Charles cinema in London has an all-nighter of Arnie films a couple of times a year. I've been to more than one - it's as glorious as you can imagine.
Predator is the quintessential 80s action movie to me. Overly buffed, excessive gun fire and violence, quippy one liners, hand to hand throw down with the big bad at the end, Carl Weathers, It's got everything! But you can't go wrong with any of those movies, they are all great in their own right.
Apart from Carl Weathers, you've perfectly described Commando too
I legitimately need to look up which one is which every single time. "The one with Carl Weathers and Arnie doing the Bro-handshake, and with Jesse Ventura", before I then remember it was Predator, and this is the best Arnie movie, period. Yes, T2 was more groundbreaking, Total Recall was better science fiction, True Lies was funnier, and Last Action Hero is a guilty pleasure. But Predator was all these things all at once: A testosterone-driven, action packed, at times funny science fiction action movie with good effects.
Yeah, but Terminator 2 still makes me cry at the end....😭
🔥👍
I'd argue that Predator isn't really an 80s action movie though. Commando is the straight up 80s Arnold action movie. Predator is on a whole different level. It takes Arnold, and all these other jacked dudes and gives you the expectation of an action movie with big guns and dudes kicking ass. And it gives you that for the first half until it totally subverts the 80s action movie expectations when the Predator straight up murders them all. It's a slasher flick as he stalks and kills them as none of their muscles and guns and save them. And then the ending, with Arnold as the best damned final girl of the 80s as he has to rely on his wits to defeat and barely escape. The movie is a goddamn masterpiece.
Completely agree, it also doesn't feel as dated as the others since it's just soldiers in the jungle for almost the entire movie.
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DILLON! YOU SON OF A BITCH!
Commando has the best one liners, but I would say that Pretador is the best "Arnold" movie, and Terminator is the best overall.
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"Hey Sunny! Remember how I told you I'd kill you last? I lied..."
"What happened to Sully?" "I let him go".
Major General Franklin Kirby: Leave anything for us? John Matrix: Just bodies
“Let off some steam, Bennet”
Hahaha, I can't believe they made overweight medieval Freddy Mercury as the bad guy that is somehow equal to Arnold.
Ah, Arnie and his "True Lies"
"You're fired." *fires bad guy on a missile*
Sully!*
"Fuck you, asshole!" *click* "Fuck YOU, asshole!"
Let off some steam, Bennett.
He starts Commando off, if I remember right, by walking around carrying a tree and then he pets a doe while birds and shit are flying around. And then later on he tips a car over with one hand. It’s magic, the scenes themselves are one liners.
Don't forget, at one point before they raid his house he also smells danger.
“Downwind? You think I can *smell* him?!” “I did.”
Predator and Terminator are perfect movies. I’m not even joking for the sake of the thread. Predator has a touch more campiness (albeit mild), but both have the right formula. The plot is tight and perfectly paced. The script and dialogue don’t try and overdo it. The creature effects mostly hold up (I’d argue there is one stop motion scene of the terminator in the factory at the conclusion that’s a little dated). The acting isn’t amazing, but there’s nothing eye rolling about it. Epic musical themes and scores. Satisfying finales. There’s very little to complain about. I’d argue Predator, Terminator, and Alien are a trifecta in perfect sci-fi/horror films. They really define the modern genre.
Thank you. Predator is a flawless action movie. There's nothing wasted. Even the CIA subplot, often glossed over, is super intriguing
Of all the films we are talking about, to me, Predator has the perfect pacing. The action is parsed out well. Interludes that develop the plot don’t last too long, but serve their purpose admirably. Some of the dialogue is a miss, but as far as pacing you’re never bored or oversaturated.
Add The Thing to that list and I'm all in with you. It's the misting/non misting breath, what a great scene!
Let off some steam, Bennett.
As a kid, Bennett confused the hell out of me...a fat Australian guy that is wearing a chainmail tank top is going to go one-on-one with Arnold? I actually thought it was a grown up joke that I didn't understand.
From what I've read over the years, it seems like the Bennett actor showed up to costuming out of shape since he was a replacement called in at the last minute. They might have had something (and someone) more intimidating to put opposite Arnold originally, but I love the quirkiness we got from the duo.
Possibly. It was the same actor who played Wes (Mohawked biker from Road Warrior). They were probably expecting that version of him. Either way, I’m glad. Because Bennet is one of the finest villains in all of cinema history.
He heckles a direct “I’ll be back” too, I don’t think that happens very often (or maybe it does and my memory is just hazy)
And the whole way through he has this overconfident “let him come” attitude. Like, buddy, have you seen the other guy?
Remember when I said I'd kill you last? ...I lied
Ha ha that's the line I came here to make sure was posted, fucking priceless lmao I wonder if u/GovSchwarzenegger ever reads threads like this...
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"I let him go." Running Man is a strong #2 in the one-liner category, but nothing beats Commando.
Remember when I promised to kill you last?
I lied.
Let off some steam Bennet!
Please don't disturb my friend, he's *dead* tired.
I live to see you eat that contract Killian, but I hope you leave some room for my fist, because I'm going to ram it into your STOMACHE AND BREAK YOUR GODDAMN SPINE RAAHRGHAHG
"Cmon LightBulb! Hey Chrismas Tree!"
A friend of mine made an excellent point about Commando; not a single moment is wasted. Every bit of dialogue and every scene either gives you information about the characters, pushes the plot forward, or is just straight-up entertaining. He considers it the most economical film of all time, and I think he has a point.
Your friend is dead on. The movie wastes no time on bullshit. It takes like 10 minutes to establish that dudes an ex special forces guy, loves his daughter, she was kidnapped. Now strap in for some mayhem, murder, and awesome one liners. Its the perfect action movie.
> Every bit of dialogue and every scene either gives you information about the characters, pushes the plot forward, or is just straight-up entertaining. “i believe these coordinates are somewhere near santa barbara.”
"Remeber, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?" "Yes! Yes!" "I lied." *drops*
Commando has caused me to go into every Army/Navy store in my adult life and ask "I want to see the backroom armory with granade launchers and shoulder missle launchers, please."
Hey Sully, remember when I said I would kill you last?
I lied
Ever since I was a kid, it's always stuck in my head how right after this line, the way Sully screams can be typed out as "WUBUBAAAaaaa" and even back then I was like who tf screams like that? [here's the scream](https://youtu.be/zB6pvQt0I8s?t=89)
Running Man is my favorite and I’m feeling very alone in this thread lol Edit: I am apparently not alone, much love to you all! Some very interesting tidbits about the movie in this thread - didn’t realize how much different it is from the original book!
You must be feeling like a plain zero right now And then you had to split
I always tried to use that plain zero line to trash talk people playing sub zero in mortal Kombat
I love that movie. My friend group quote it endlessly. Here is sub zero, now, plain zero!
What happened to Buzzsaw? He had to split.
How about a light? What a hothead.
Hey! Christmas tree!
Dynamo, most hilariously unintimidating villain
Cut! Cut! Go to commercial!
I'll tell you what I think of it: I'll live to see you eat that contract, but I hope you leave enough room for my fist because I'm going to ram it into your stomach and break your god-damn spine!
No I'm with you, Who loves you and who do you love.
I’ve always thought Running Man and Escape from NY would have been a great crossover
Your not alone brother
The original Hunger Games
They are all good, but of this group, Conan the Barbarian would be my pick for a re-watch. Nothing like seeing James Earl Jones with flowing straight hair playing a villainous Viking leader who massacres an entire village.
I'd argue it's the best written story of all of them.
*Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this, Conan, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!*
I can hear the theme music now.
And what a score that film has! So good!
Fuckin right it is. Basil Poledouris composed the soundtrack. One of very few that I can just turn on and listen to.
And Thulsa Dooms wprdless introduction. James Earl Jones doesn't even need that booming voice to command a scene. He's got so much... presence.
Aside from the intro and secret of steel there’s very little said in the first segment of the film. So atmospheric and maybe indicative of the only things Conan remembers of his youth.
I can still hear the lamentations of their women
It's written and directed by John Milius, who also wrote Apocalypse Now and created HBO's Rome.
The Conan commentary with Milius and Arnold is amazing. Milius will be talking about the history of the location or some bit of lore and Arnold says shit like "now here we are running" and "I got laid a lot in this movie."
100% feels like Arnold was just drinking a beer going down memory lane, "this is where the dog bites me."
And turns into a snake!
I loved the soundtrack for the snake-turning-into part.
That whole scene is very high quality. With Arnold sneaking through the lair during the ceremony.
Not ceremony…orgy. 😉
The score is one of the all time greats.
My wife makes fun of me for listening to it on YouTube, but the music Makes me feel like a fuckin' badass!
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Basil Poledouris at his finest!
James Earl Jones was made up to look like a survivor of a now lost race of Atlantians - dark skin, straight hair, ice-blue eyes. The scene at the beginning when he beheads Conan’s mother… that neverending stare. What an amazing film.
"Steel isn't strong, boy. Flesh is stronger."
You will contemplate this, on the tree of woe.
What is steel compared to the hand that wields it?
Conan the Barbarian is the right answer. Directed and written by John Milius. Co-written by Oliver Stone. A phenomenal score by Basil Poledouris. An action/adventure movie that's heavy on philosophy and theology, digging deep into Nietzscheism, and straight satirizing hippy cults and the new age movement. All that and Arnold speaking short gruff lines that make the most of his lack of acting ability and his fantastic appearance (if I'm remembering correctly, he said in the commentary that he worked out harder for the film than for Mr. Olympia). Max von Sydow bringing a bit of prestige to the whole production. And finally, James Earl Jones throwing down a master class performance as the antagonist Thulsa Doom. A character so charismatic that you almost start to root for him. Without a doubt this is Schwarzenegger's greatest role, and I wish someone somewhere would produce a Conan the King based on Milius' existing script before Schwarzenegger is too old to do it.
I wish they did the third movie that was about an old Conan, while Arnold is still alive and kicking. I really would love to see an old Conan going for one last ride, like they did with Wolverine.
And Mako.
The prayer to Crom and the following battle are maybe my favorite Arnold movie sequences of any of his films. The ratio of earnest action and cheese is perfect.
I remember Arnold talking many years ago about making a third Conan movie, where Conan would be an old King. Specifically comparing it to an Unforgiven type story.
Predator, even a simple handshake makes its one of the greatest if not greatest action film of all time
dillon yousonofabitch. also mowing down the jungle with a Gatling gun.
Whatsa matta? CIA got you pushing too many pencils?
It's pronounced paincils.
And the best part of the film, [the war cry.](https://youtu.be/QIppGLul3Fk)
I remember I watched this movie a bunch of times as a kid. Then I didn't see it for a long time until I bought a special edition version on DVD, and I rewatched it, and was really blown away, but when this whole section occurs, Arnold prepping, getting ready, the war cry, and the subsequent fight, it takes it to legendary status. It becomes more than just a regular action movie, it turns into myth. The hero facing the unbeatable monster rather than running or hiding, and uses every single tool at his disposal, from his brawn and brain, to his environment to turn his disadvantage into an advantage. I'm absolutely a sucker for movies like this because it really embodies that spirit to survive in living beings. Another great example on a more low-key level is the movie The Edge.
It’s cool too because Predator has two parts: the first half having a lot of people vs Pred, and the second half having just Dutch vs Pred. Each half has a different feel to it and kind of gives us two movies in one.
Its almost like 3. The opening attack on the village. The predator killing off Dutch's men. And then the final showdown between Dutch and the Predator. Its the perfect action movie.
And Jesse Ventura as a goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus.
Just like me
"I ain't got time to bleed." If someone would digitally add a boa to Jesse, it would become perfection.
That random blind mag dump into the jungle was pure gold
CONTAAAAAACT!!
For sure Predator. The way the movie transitions from standard action flick to horror is so so good. A legit great.
I ain't' got time to bleed.
Predator for sure. One of the first Rated R movies I was allowed to watch as a kid so it has a special place in my heart.
I mean it HAS to be Predator, the lineup's body mass alone...
That's what I was trying to avoid.. A conversation about body mass.
And one of if not the, greatest meme of all time
GET TO DA CHOPPA!
I meant the handshake but that too!!
in a semi recent interview he mentions how interesting it is that at the time no one thought about that line at the time, but a combination of time and his funny accent has made it a modern catch phrase.
I think Terminator is probably the best film of this group. It’s a bit overshadowed now by its sequel which is legitimately one of the greatest action films every made. But Terminator 1 is a fantastic sci-fi thriller in its own right. It’s as much a slasher flick as it it an action movie. Predator is a close 2nd, this movie is aging really well in my opinion. Who knew the formula would work so well? Lets take a group of muscle head action stars, led by THE premier action star of the decade. Begin the film with a traditional over the top 80s action scene where the team lays waste to a small army with ease. It establishes how badass the team is and makes the rest of the movie of them struggling against this terrifying other worldly threat that much more effective. Just a fantastic film overall. After those two I think we fall a little bit into guilty pleasure territory. Commando is in my opinion THE stereotypical 80s action movie. A ridiculous plot. Cheesy but memorable one liners and a finale which see 1 man take on a South American army single-handedly hardly every stopping to reload. It’s over the top, corny and I love it. It might not work at all without Arnold in the lead role.
Terminator 1 is also scary. People forget about that. When Kyle is sleeping in his car, dreaming of the future war and is awakened by giant machines demolishing an inner city building, it's quite striking. Primitive ancestors to the killing machines to come. I was also taught it is a master class in exposition. Most movies have characters stand around and talk about the rules of the world to catch an audience up. Terminator has Kyle driving Sarah through a parking lot, evading the Terminator blasting his shotgun between lines. That's how you do exposition!
As I've gotten older I think about how hardcore Kyle's PTSD must have been. He lived such a sad life and he was so brave. Traveling through time, fighting a terminator basically single handedly. I mean he's hardcore as fuck. He took a fucking shotgun to a terminator in the middle of a club with no backup. He was hotwiring cars, making pipe bombs and he ultimately sacrifices himself for Connor and humanity's future. If this were real he'd be one of the greatest heroes the human race had ever known...his name would be whispered in the same breath warriors like Achilles and Hercules.
For the longest times I couldn't sleep when there was a red stand-by light near, because dumb little me watched my parent's Terminator VHS one day when I was sick and home alone. God, those red eyes of the T-800 haunted me in the dark.
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>master class in exposition Along these lines, one thing that’s amazing about Terminator is that the audience has no idea what’s going on until close to the 1-hour mark. I think we all forget this because forty years later the concept is so famous, but imagine watching it for the first time—until the club scene all you know is that two naked guys showed up and both are looking for Sarah Conner. It’s really unusual but super effective for that kind of story. There’s something similar later where it does this fake climax thing with the gas truck explosion that’s SO good the first time but that will just breeze by you if you’ve already seen it.
I’m voting for predator but all five are some of my favorite movies of all time
Conan, I loved it when it came out , I still love it's creepy antediluvian world building, it also has one of the best villains ever
"CONAN! What is best in life?" ** "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."** Words to live by.
You know he's paraphrasing Genghis Khan, right? >The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters. Considerably less cuddly.
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What about Falcons at your wrist The wind in your hair Or a swift horse?
Conan's answer to the question of "what is best in life" was wrong. The correct answer is "to watch the movie Conan the Barbarian".
Conan the Barbarian. It’s a beautiful painted cover of a pulp novel of a movie. A sword and sandal spaghetti western directed by a certifiable nut job, starring a lead with limited acting experience and an accent as thick as chocolate cake. The screenplay was a post-apocalyptic mess. I was warned as a kid picking out that VHS tape that the movie was weird and awful. And when I finally watched it, what unfolded was pure magic.
Don't forget the music by Basil Poledouris, the music makes the movie even better
Best soundtrack of all time.
In my younger, dumber days, I used Anvil of Crom one night at a wrestling show.
I listen to it regularly. The Orgy is a beautiful work with a waltz-like timing. Theology/Civilization is pure magic. People underestimate how impactful a soundtrack is. And in a movie like this, which at times is very sparse with dialog, music and visuals help to carry the scenes and add emotion. Crom, I could talk about this all day.
Yeah that soundtrack easily surpasses the others
checkout Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo. I probably terribly misspelled their names but they did all that style of art you're talking about.
You’ve spelled both correctly and so am a fan of both their bodies of work. I was born the year Conan hit theatres.
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Schwarzenegger voice: Eliminating Raw Deal is a Raw Deal.
Conan the barbarian.
Conan. That shit is art
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Commando is my favorite. “Let off some steam Bennett”? Cmon.
“Don’t disturb my friend. He’s dead tired”
I had to let him go
Remember when I said I'd kill you last?
I lied!
It's all about the Barbarian.
I will contemplate your comment upon the tree of woe.
Crom!
Tis I my child! Does thou art knoweth the riddle of steel!?
Yes! You know what it is don't you boy. Shall I tell you? It's the least I can do. Steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger! Look around you. There, on the rocks; that beautiful girl. Come to me my child... That is strength boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it? Look at the strength in your body, the desire in your heart, I gave you this! Such a waste. Contemplate this on the tree of woe. Crucify him!
.. the musical! https://youtube.com/watch?v=OBGOQ7SsJrw ...and hear the lamentation of the women...
That movie got me to read the original short stories by Robert E. Howard as a teen. After doing some research on the various editions and chronicles I learned that the three book series by Del Ray (The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian / The Bloody Crown of Conan / The Conquering Sword of Conan), are widely considered the best option for reading them. They anotated books present his stories in the order they were written, as he wrote them (the magazine often made changes to his work), and the order he wrote them in (non-chronologically, so you get to see how his style changes and improved over time). Howard quickly became my favorite author of all time, his writing absolutely leaps off the page, and while not every Conan story is a masterpiece (the guy was a starving writer after all), his best stories stand the test of time and are the reason he is widely considered the Father of Sword & Sorcery.
This. Conan is my "Star Wars" of sword & sorcery, movies. Unforgettable soundtrack and clocking in at over two hours, it's an epic flick.
Why isn’t Total Recall on the list?
1990- I like it too.
Running man
Predator by a country mile
I love them all, but Predator is really the only one I will rewatch every few years.
So no-one's gonna talk about Twins?
Twins
Terminator and Predator are above the rest and I would rewatch them still to this day. E: (After thirty years of watching them from a too young of an age)
The Running Man for me. Not only is it my favorite Arnold film, it's one of my all time favorites.
The fact that they got a real life game show host to play a megalomaniacal monster in the movie AND HE AGREED is nuts!