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Program a five-film Arnold Schwarzenegger fest

1. Terminator 2 - Start with what he's best known for, and quite possibly his best work.
2. Predator - Since he's mostly known as an action star, give them his next best from that genre.
3. Kindergarten Cop - Since he has done quite a bit of comedy, I think his best two comedic roles should be included.
4. Twins - One can argue that this movie is better than Kindergarten Cop. Personally, I don't know which is better.
5. Red Sonja - Since he's made more than his far share a bad movies as well, you might as well showcase the worst of them all. :techman: Besides, you could include this as one of his comedies if you want, because it's unintentionally hilarious.
 
Gaith said:
The exercise is simple: choose five movies, no more, no less, that best reflect the breadth and high points of Arnie's film career.
Click to expand...

The Terminator
Commando (comedy gold!)
Predator (a real technical masterclass)
Last Action Hero (vastly underrated)
True Lies (Arnie does Bond)
 
Terminator
Terminator 2
Predator
Total Recall
Conan the Barbarian

I haven't seen True Lies or Twins but I would like to at some point...
 
T'Baio said:
Gaith said:
Holdfast said:
Yup. This is it.
Click to expand...
Perhaps, if one ignores the part of the OP that specifically requests that one aim for some variety... this wasn't meant to necessarily be a "name your five favorite Arnie movies" thread. Oh well... :p
Click to expand...

What makes you think that's what I did?

Conan is Arnold's glorious beginning, stripped down so to speak of what his later movies would entail, it's just his charisma and his machismo. Followed by a perfect example of his later excesses, Total Recall, just to counter program. Then we show a fine combination of both, and the gloriousness that can entail, with Predator. Then, when the people are salivating for the pop-Arnie, you give them the glorious, stripped down violence of Terminator. Topped off with the piece de resistance, the unintentional comic masterpiece that is Commando...shown late at night as the last film when everyone is thoroughly drunk and/or sleeptarded and can appreciate it's off the wall wackness.

I put a lot of thought into it. Screw you. :p
Click to expand...

Ah, still making friends where ever you go, I see... :vulcan:

I'd pop in Terminator and T2. Then hit repeat. Then Last Action Hero and off to bed.
 
T'Baio said:
Gaith said:
Holdfast said:
Yup. This is it.
Click to expand...
Perhaps, if one ignores the part of the OP that specifically requests that one aim for some variety... this wasn't meant to necessarily be a "name your five favorite Arnie movies" thread. Oh well... :p
Click to expand...

What makes you think that's what I did?

Conan is Arnold's glorious beginning, stripped down so to speak of what his later movies would entail, it's just his charisma and his machismo. Followed by a perfect example of his later excesses, Total Recall, just to counter program. Then we show a fine combination of both, and the gloriousness that can entail, with Predator. Then, when the people are salivating for the pop-Arnie, you give them the glorious, stripped down violence of Terminator. Topped off with the piece de resistance, the unintentional comic masterpiece that is Commando...shown late at night as the last film when everyone is thoroughly drunk and/or sleeptarded and can appreciate it's off the wall wackness.

I put a lot of thought into it. Screw you. :p
Click to expand...

I would switch out Commando for Last Action Hero. I think that is a great way to end an Arny marathon on a meta note.
 
1. Stay Hungry – Arnold in a supporting role. After which he said he never wanted to do that kind of acting again.

2. The Terminator – Arnie as the villain. Like Conan the Barbarian, he’s still very much a B movie actor, yet somehow comes across as a real presence, if not a star.

3. Predator – While Commando was the first movie I remember with the Schwarzen One’s name over the title, Predator takes a very similar character and pushes him over the top. Same one liners. Same bombastic presence, but instead of fighting a lot of forgettable villains, he fight one unforgettable villain.

4. Kindergarten Cop – Not his first or last comedy, but I’d argue his funniest.

5. Terminator 2 – Arnold at his height. So popular that to return him to his most memorable role they retool the premise and he’s now the hero. And the star of the movie is in basically a supporting role. I think this makes it slightly more interesting than True Lies which he made with the same director, and is probably a better movie.

On a side note, I’d say you can map Arnold’s entire movie career by watching all Terminator films. In the first movie, he’s a B actor who’s presence makes the movie. In the second, he’s a full on movie star in a role written and catered to him. In the third, he’s trying his best to pull together a movie made by much less talented and resourceful people than he’s used to working with. In the fourth, they just cash in on his perceived reputation. He is now nostalgia.
 
Gaith said:
The exercise is simple: choose five movies, no more, no less, that best reflect the breadth and high points of Arnie's film career.

Here are my picks:

1. Terminator 2 (Extended Edition) - Well, you've gotta have at least one Terminator, and while one can reasonably argue that T1 is the best of the lot, Arnie's barely in it. So T2's a non-negotiable pick, imho.

2. Predator - Arnie's '80s beefcake phase should be represented, and isn't this the undisputed best of 'em?

3. Kindergarten Cop - I haven't actually seen this yet, but Arnie's tried enough comedy that a fest should include at least one, and from what I hear this is his funniest.

4. The 6th Day - This is a personal favorite/wild card pick of mine. It's probably his best (starring) movie since T2, and what with all the surprisingly thought-provoking sci-fi twists and turns, might be one of his smartest movies ever.

4. Pumping Iron - haven't seen this one either, but I understand it was a breakout role for him, albeit in a documentary sense.

How'd I do? :)
Click to expand...

You mean, besides having two number fours? ;)
 
I don't have any list of my own but I thought I would add that when touring the Stanford Mansion in Sacramento (the Governors use it as a place to entertain guests and dignitaries) there is a room holding some of the gifts that Arnold gives out to visitors. He has a box set of his ten favorite movies. Some of his own are also included. Apparently Arnold's own favorites include Twins and Terminator 2.

And by the way, he has Ben Hur in there right next to Titanic. :techman:
 
I think The Villain is definitely on my top list. I haven't seen it well since at least 1985! It took me time to connect the dots because the movie is "known" here under the title Cactus Jack.
Conan the Destroyer, just for shit and giggles, and the horrible, horrible dialogs.
Commando, for the brainless 80s feel.
Total Recall because it's highly quotable.
Predator because 23 years later the movie is still awesome.


Ah, Abadah!
 
In order of awesomeness:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
True Lies
Predator
The Terminator
Total Recall
 
My film fest would have

1. Conan - the role he was made for
2. Terminator 2 - the role he built into a hero character
3. True Lies - Arnie as James Bond
4. Predator - Arnie against a worthy advesary
5. Eraser - Arnie in one of the worst roles, showing how just throwing him out there doesn't make a movie or a good plot.

My premise for any film festival is that you have to show the greatness as well as the bottom of the barrel. For a Trek movie fest, you show the good (Wrath of Khan) and one bad (Final Frontier).
 
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