The last really good Schwarzenegger flick? (1 Viewer)

With Terminator 5 reviews starting to trickle in (Spoiler: they're not favorable), I started to think about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s current career path, how it seems to be one of “Oh god why did I ever give up acting to become governator? Can I still pick up where I left off?”


And then looking back over his IMDB listing, what was the last legitimately awesome movie that Ah-nold has done? One might argue Maggie, but that’s so far outside his wheelhouse that it doesn’t really count. No, I mean full on awesome like Predator or Commando, one that we can all agree was legitimately fun.


I’m going to go all the way back to 1994 and have to say True Lies. After that, it's a sea of tepid half hearted flicks.

Entirely agree about True Lies. Shows how much they care about the fans to not have released it on blu-ray.

Aren't you being a bit unkind to him now?

I quite like these as well:


Collateral Damage, 2002 - action Arnie in good form
6th Day, 2000 - cloning and humor
End of Days, 1999 - fighting the devil

Eraser, 1996 - action again, and guns

EXPENDABLES 2 & 3


Before that? THE LAST ACTION HERO.

True Lies was his last great actioner but I've enjoyed his recent movies as much as his lackluster old stuff like Red Heat or Commando. When I think about it, it's only the three Cameron movies and Predator that are legitimately memorable or entertaining.

Last Action Hero was really great. Pretty clever film and Arnold was in top form.

atfree said:

Eraser

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Yes, that is the one that stands out as being the last really good Arnold flick in my opinion. Since then I think his roles have been pretty average.

I find The Last Stand quite enjoyable.

True Lies may be the last truly great one, but I enjoyed Eraser and of his recent ones, I also found The Last Stand to be quite enjoyable.

LOVED Eraser as well...


And I also loved Jingle All The Way 1996. Just silly and cute.

I liked Terminator 3-Rise of the Machines.

Since this thread is asking for the last "really good" Ahnuld flick, I'd have to say that for me it's True Lies. Nothing he's done after that has even come close to being REALLY GOOD in my opinion.

I really enjoyed The 6th Day and Eraser, but True Lies was his last G-R-E-A-T movie, IMO.

Stay Hungry

Vic Pardo said:

EXPENDABLES 2 & 3


Before that? THE LAST ACTION HERO.

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skylark68 said:

Last Action Hero was really great. Pretty clever film and Arnold was in top form.

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Are you guys sincere or just being tongue-in-cheek? My recollection is that this movie bombed with the critics and the box office big time. Nobody liked it. Nobody but my wife and I, that is. We loved it. And I really mean it.

Johnny Angell said:

Are you guys sincere or just being tongue-in-cheek? My recollection is that this movie bombed with the critics and the box office big time. Nobody liked it. Nobody but my wife and I, that is. We loved it. And I really mean it.

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I think there's a small number of people that liked Last Action Hero. I happily include myself in that number.

Easy: True Lies.

Johnny Angell said:

Are you guys sincere or just being tongue-in-cheek? My recollection is that this movie bombed with the critics and the box office big time. Nobody liked it. Nobody but my wife and I, that is. We loved it. And I really mean it.

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I was quite sincere and Skylark68 sounds like he was also. That it bombed with critics and the box office doesn't mean a thing to fans of the film. Nor should it. Granted, I missed it when it was in theaters and didn't see it until it came on cable, but I later bought the Blu-ray. And I meant to see it on the big screen because I'd actually checked out 42nd Street when they were making the movie and took pix of all the different marquees that were tricked up for the shoot.

It's good to know we are not alone in liking Last Action Hero.

Reading this thread made me jump feet first into my Schwarzenegger DVD archive. I watched both Conans and Total Recall. While I would not rank it as his last/best, Total Recall is easily my favorite film of his. I unabashedly love it.


For me, though, his last/best flick is the underrated Sabotage. He is excellent in it and I think his career revival parallels that of Stallone. Both are more seasoned and both have released some great flicks lately. Even Harrison Ford has been on a nice uptick in his new movies. Liam Neeson has carved a nice niche for himself. Tom Cruise has ridden a tidal wave of fun, interesting action vehicles lately as well.


I hate to say it but the resurgence will not last. They all continue to age. We need some new cinematic heroes in exciting series that don't wear matching outfits and capes.