The Friday Five: Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Friday Five: 
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a stellar career in cinema, as well as other outside projects, and has delivered a plethora of memorable films that have maintained the test of time (and many others that haven't), and is the quintessential 80s action hero.  With the release of "Terminator: Dark Fate," I take a look at my five personal favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger films.





**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**







#5
 Kindergarten Cop
Arnold had established himself as the 80s action hero, but he also proved he has some serious comedic chops in films like "Twins," and "Kindergarten Cop" blends both his action prowess and comedic talent into one.  Playing an undercover detective assigned to find a mother and child before a killer, Arnold is tasked with teaching a kindergarten class, and finds the most stressful situations comes from those under the age of ten.  The film is hilarious and heartfelt, and showcases Arnold's great comedic timing.










#4
 Predator
Giving birth to one of cinema's most terrifying creatures, "Predator" squares off Arnold with an alien creature who can kill without you knowing it, and the result is the perfect popcorn-action/horror film.  Arnold utilizes all his physical strengths to play the lead commando, and while the acting is obviously not great, the re-watch value alone makes this a classic, not to mention the inclusion of one of Arnold's most famous quotable lines - "get to the choppa!"










#3
 True Lies
Before "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," there was "True Lies."  James Cameron surprisingly toned down his over-the-top films with this action gem that finds Arnold playing an undercover spy, while his family thinks he's just a mild-mannered salesman.  The action sequences are intense and everything you'd expect from a Schwarzenegger film (especially the helicopter scene), and his rapport with co-star Jamie Lee Curtis is impeccable.









#2
 The Terminator
In James Cameron's second directorial film, Arnold stars as his most iconic role - the Terminator.  A cyborg sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor before her son becomes the savior to mankind and defeats the machines in the future.  Filled with action and suspense - as well as a well-thought-out script - the film is heralded as a classic and includes Arnold's most famous line - "I'll be back."










#1
 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
In the rare case where a sequel is better than the original, "Judgment Day" takes everything that made "The Terminator" great and made it even better, including (at the time) top-notch special effects that still don't seem too dated today.  Arnold now is the protector of Sarah Connor and her child as another Terminator is sent to kill them, and the result is another action spectacle that cemented Arnold's place as cinema's most iconic action heroes.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Major Theatrical Releases May 2019

Witch

Special Review: "Midwest Sessions"