Laurence Lerner’s comprehensive biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger is boldly titled Fantastic. It is the
perfect word to summarize a man who has made success for himself wherever he goes, from the obscure enclave of bodybuilding to international movie stardom to American politics. Schwarzenegger
has weathered the setbacks that would have halted the rise of lesser stars and, in doing so, provided an
example of the kind of man the world is willing to fall in love with, even against its better judgment.
Who is Arnold?
The question central to most biographies is, what is the nature of the subject? Who is this person, and
what does examining their life story reveal? Fantastic charts Schwarzenegger’s life from his boyhood in
Austria through the multi-stage career path that brought him to America and into its cultural elite. Along
the way he made a name for himself starring in archetypical action films, blockbuster successes like The
Terminator (1984) and True Lies (1994), as well as family-oriented self-parody in movies like Kindergarten
Cop (1990). This is to say nothing of numerous disappointing efforts, like the overhyped Last Action Hero
(1993) and the oft-mocked Jingle All the Way (1996).
Even this brief list runs the gamut of popular film styles of the late-20th century. It is precisely
Schwarzenegger’s dynamic ambition that has enabled his continued presence on such a visible level.
Foreseeing trends before they are cemented and undertaking risky new ventures, he is opportunistic in a
way that is somehow both self-serving and pleasing to his audience. Schwarzenegger inhabits the
confluence of giving the people what they want and planning ahead to become the very thing they will
want tomorrow and the next day.
Why We Love Arnold
Convincing people of what they want, even what they need, is a function of the art of persuasion, and a
mastery of this skill may be Schwarzenegger’s greatest asset. Lerner cites his charisma and perpetual
self-promotion as keys to his success, but Arnold has earned fans through just about every possible
avenue, claiming to embody the American Dream that so many members of his audience want
desperately to believe in.
The product of an overbearing father, never satisfied with his present status but always looking toward
greater things in the future, crude and unapologetic, he is, in a strange way, relatable as well as
admirable. Film critic Roger Ebert likens Schwarzenegger to Fred Astaire as a figure central to popular
spectacle. If jumping out of helicopters has replaced ballroom dancing, then it is worth bearing in mind
that Astaire was admired as much for his sincere, believable performances as for his dance numbers.
Schwarzenegger’s rags-to-riches narrative may have sold as many tickets than his elaborate stunts and
pithy one-liners.
Finally, no discussion of Arnold Schwarzenegger can be complete without recalling the other meaning of
the word fantastic, the one drawn from its root in fantasy. There is an element of the unreal surrounding
him, apparent in his exaggerated masculinity, unlikely longevity, and incalculable success. Movie
audiences are accustomed to accepting things that are not quite true, and which version of Arnold
Schwarzenegger they attach themselves to may be largely a matter of personal preference.
Stallone vs Schwarzenegger Movies
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger became the ultimate
action heroes. They starred in the biggest action films of their times. Stallone had the Rambo series
while Schwarzenegger had The Terminator, Predator, and Commando to name a few.
According to ![]()
888 review, both stars were the archetype action hero. They were big, strong, and tougher
than nails. Every movie that either one of the mega-stars was in was a hit and they became the standard
upon which many action movies are based off of today. The idea of both stars in one movie has been
thrown around for years. It became a hot topic of discussion when the two along with Bruce Willis
opened a restaurant, Planet Hollywood, together. To the disappointment of action fans around the
world, the rumors never became a reality. Never became a reality until today, that is. Stallone’s new
movie, The Expendables, has finally put the two together on screen, but it might be more of a novelty
than anything.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has made some time in his busy schedule to film a scene in The Expendables,
where he plays a rival mercenary to Stallone’s character. Fans may be let down by the fact that the scene
is not very action-packed, and is mainly just a quick scene where the two vie for the job opportunity
Bruce Willis’s character has presented them. Obviously Stallone’s character, known as Ross, gets the job
because the rest of the movie is about the job.
The use of Arnold in the scene may have just been for the novelty of having the two on screen together,
but it is probably something that will pull in many fans of the two actors. Stallone might be a marketing
genius with this idea, but time will tell whether the rest of the movie is wrought with the same brilliance.
Action Movie Bonanza
It is obvious that Stallone and Schwarzenegger are the major draws for the movie, but the movie is
definitely filled out by a ridiculous cast of action stars. The cast includes the likes of Jason Statham, Jet Li,
Bruce WIllis, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, and Randy Couture of UFC
fame. That list pretty much sums up action major action movies over the past three decades. Some
actors that were offered but declined a part were Jean-Claude van Damme, Steven Segal, Wesley Snipes,
and Forest Whitaker.
All of these actors had varying levels of success as actors, but one thing they all have in common is that
they are icons of the action movie genre, aside from maybe Couture, who looks to make his mark in this
movie. One surprise is that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Vin Diesel are not in the movie. They might
be the only two action stars of notable fame not in this movie, but with all of the other stars they will not
be missed.
Subscribe to watch latests videos
