The Last Action Hero

[Zoombie]

Okay, this movie bombed big and was critically panned and has been mostly forgotten by this generation, but I loved it and continue to love it now into the future.

Am I clinically insane?

[Kurtz]

It's as Postmodern as hell and is really, really funny. Especially the part with Ingmar Berman's Death.

[Zoombie]

Yes! Someone else finds it funny!

[maxmordon]

I quite liked it, I thought they handwaved badly how he gets into the movie (we all know it's just an excuse) but thought is not as popular as it should be.

[RocketFoot]

I love all of Schwarzenegger's movies! He may not be a great Governator, but he was a hell of an action star!

[Romantic Heretic]

I rather liked it too. I especially liked this little monologue.

Gentlemen. Since you are about to die anyway, I may as well tell you the entire plot. Think of villains Jack. You want Dracula? Dra-cool-la? Hang on, I'll fetch him. Dracula? Huh. I can get King Kong! We'll have a nightmare with Freddy Krueger, have a surprise party for Adolf Hitler, Hannibal Lecter can do the catering, and then we'll have a christening for Rosemary's Baby! All I have to do is snap my fingers and they'll be here. They're lining up to get here, and do you know why Jack? Should I tell you why? Hmm? Because here, in this world, the bad guys can win!

:D

[Noah Body]

I liked the movie too, and thought it got slammed a bit too hard. After all, it's pure escapist entertainment, never supposed to be considered art or even bravura filmmaking. Sometimes, critics are just dicks because they can be. :)

[dclary]

Pretty sure it was also the first film to spoof the iconic ET-and-bike-across the moon scene.

[dclary]

Or the kid, just before he does that scene? "Oh no! I'm the comic relief!"

[Zoombie]

The thing that sparked this thread was in response to a video from a critic (The Nostalgia Critic (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/9999-lah) to be precise) and I as I watched the review (which are normally quite funny from this guy at least) I thought that, um, did he just completely miss the point of The Last Action Hero or what?

I mean, the kid is SUPPOSED to point out all the plot-holes in the Jack Slater movie because its a parody of how inane Schwagneagaggers movies can get...

[Kitty Pryde]

The Hamlet-as-an-Action-Movie trailer was freakin hilarious. I think the movie has a good number of brilliant moments, but some of the dumber stuff in it is a turn-off for sure.

[Diana Hignutt]

it sucked, but not as much as the critics said. That's as nice as I can be.

[scan2001]

it sucked, but not as much as the critics said. That's as nice as I can be.


I agree.

[Kurtz]

The Hamlet-as-an-Action-Movie trailer was freakin hilarious. I think the movie has a good number of brilliant moments, but some of the dumber stuff in it is a turn-off for sure.

Oh God I'd forgotten this. Something rotten in the state of Denmark indeed

[Maryn]

"Where are all the moms?"

[GraysonMoran]

One of the really great action films, and a very cool comedy. It's amazing critics didn't like it. I mean look... a ticket that will let you go inside the films???? What could be more "magic of motion pictures" than that?

And yeah, Arnie is cool. He doesn't just lampoon himself, he plays up what is really a dig at him. He always had a wicked sense of humor, and it's cool that he can turn it on himself. "I don't know anything about this Braunschwegger guy."

I read on some other forum that critics panned it because the film bought the first advertising on the space shuttle. Bad move. Critics hate that sort of thing. (Critics also hate fun)

[Sophia]

Heh, I thought it was great fun, and bought the video. :)

[MattW]

Isn't that where they go into a Blockbuster and there's a cutout ad for Stallone as the Terminator?

[maxmordon]

Isn't that where they go into a Blockbuster and there's a cutout ad for Stallone as the Terminator?

Yes, that's the ticket!

[BigWords]

Are you going to defend Hudson Hawk next? Just wondering...

[Zoombie]

No, Hudson Hawk was actually terrible.

See, the difference is that Hudson Hawk is just...gross. The Last Action Hero focused on being at least semi-light hearted, wherein Hudson Hawk had bondage jokes (that flopped) and pointless gore and was just...squicky...

[C.bronco]

It was fun and entertaining. (Not Hudson Hawk)
It's been awhile since I'd seen it, but remember having a few guffaws.

BTW- Does anyone remember this from Demolition Man? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lenina Huxley: I have, in fact, perused some newsreels in the Schwarzenegger Library, and the time that you took that car...
JohnSpartan: Hold it. The Schwarzenegger Library?
Lenina Huxley: Yes. The Schwarzenegger Presidential Library. Wasn't he an actor when you...?
JohnSpartan: Stop! He was President?
Lenina Huxley: Yes! Even though he was not born in this country, his popularity at the time caused the 61st Amendment which states...
JohnSpartan: I don't wanna know. President...

[Mister Cheech]

so good! to think it came out before the website "tvtropes."

[shawkins]

Are you going to defend Hudson Hawk next? Just wondering...

No, Hudson Hawk was actually terrible.


"History! Tradition! Culture! Are not concepts! These are trophies I keep in my den as paperweights!"

Haters.


That movie was AWESOME.

[dclary]

Are you going to defend Hudson Hawk next? Just wondering...


Hudson Hawk *roxor*

[itdrivesus]

Arnold's been in a couple movies that have been self-aware action movies. "Last Action Hero" was the most obvious postmodernist yet lighthearted look at Hollywood. "Total Recall" took the more serious, existential approach, almost like a bad action movie version of the Matrix.

That being said, I liked both movies, but "Last Action Hero" comes out on top, just because I think action movies that don't take themselves too seriously tend to have a longer shelf life than their more serious counterparts.