View Full Version : Is Arnie's movie career dead?
Collateral Damage has been a major turkey in the US, slipping from 1 to 10 in 2 weeks, grossing a paltry $34m. Terminator 3 is sounding a big old mess and his only saving grace may be True Lies 2, if it is made!
To be completely honest, I'd like to think so. And I'm also worried that T3 could be out as early as August and they haven't even started filming yet!
However, T3 has a 50/50 chance of resurrecting his career and True Lies 2 should be excellent - Cameron always delivers and he's had 5 years to hone the script.
Originally posted by McD
To be completely honest, I'd like to think so. And I'm also worried that T3 could be out as early as August and they haven't even started filming yet!
This August!! If this is true, then I am very worried, as they daren't put it up against next summers big competition.
Arch Stanton
24-02-2002, 19:41
Problem Arnie has that unlike Sly,Clint and Bruce the big Oak can't/Won't do the charecter parts that actor of his age needs to do to continue thier carear.
I sorely hope his career isn't dead. He's got a terrific sense of humour in many of his roles, and is just as aware as the audience that the script is as brain-dead as a doornail.
He just needs the right scripts and directors to work with to get back his iconic status.
As far as I'm concerned, Commando will always be the pinnacle of his career.
splobber
24-02-2002, 20:06
He'll be back.....
Ol' Blue Eyes
24-02-2002, 20:41
It'd be great if he and Paul Verhoeven could get their medieval epic Crusade made. I've read this script and it's a hell of a good swashbuckler, potentially another Gladiator but darker and more violent. I suppose this is a long shot due to the expense of it but I'm looking forward to King Conan and True Lies 2 should be good fun.
Dont be silly...i worked in a Video shop for a long time and when Arnie/Stallone/etc have a new release they always fly off the shelves...the market is still there for the older action stars!
I think T3 will be the die or survive moment of his movie career. Making movies is about making money. He hasn't had a hit since True Lies, and since then his movies must have lost lots of money. Therefore he won't get the big budgets or big pay packets (I know he still does, but people's patience is wearing thin.) I think he should retire and let others take over. Going to a Schwarzenegger movie in the eighties/ early nineties was a major event. Now it is a painful experience. And Stallone? I can't think of a hit he's had for over 10 years. He's well past his sell by date and I'm afraid to say, Arnie is too!
Originally posted by Goblin
Dont be silly...i worked in a Video shop for a long time and when Arnie/Stallone/etc have a new release they always fly off the shelves...the market is still there for the older action stars!
They'll fly off the shelves even quicker soon, as their new films will be straight to video jobs.
sidebog7
24-02-2002, 22:32
Originally posted by nc
And Stallone? I can't think of a hit he's had for over 10 years. He's well past his sell by date and I'm afraid to say, Arnie is too!
Well he's been in Copland, Demolition Man, Antz, Daylight. While these might not be 'massive' hits they have all made money and were good films (well Daylight was pretty weak).
But for Arnie, the last films of his that I rate was T2 in 1991 and then 1990s Total Recall (True Lies was OK I suppose but far, far too ridiculous for my liking)
Originally posted by nc
I think he should retire and let others take over.
But the problem is, there aren't many others lining up to fill his shoes. Of the 'new' generation probably Vin Diesel comes closest, but even he is strictly B-List compared to Arnie at his best. I've always enjoyed Arnie films, and I hope T3 and True Lies 2 do well - otherwise we'll be stuck with nothing but "kinder, gentler" PG-13 action heros.
Dear Mr Echo
25-02-2002, 09:39
Originally posted by sampath
But the problem is, there aren't many others lining up to fill his shoes. Of the 'new' generation probably Vin Diesel comes closest, but even he is strictly B-List compared to Arnie at his best. I've always enjoyed Arnie films, and I hope T3 and True Lies 2 do well - otherwise we'll be stuck with nothing but "kinder, gentler" PG-13 action heros.
I think it's fair to say that the action genre itself - as typified by the collossal hits from the 8o's and early 9o's - is in need of retirement or at least re-invention, with something a little more thoughtful taking it's place. I dare say the best we could hope for at the moment would be some kind of "ironic" pastiche a la Scream. I too enjoyed a lot of Arnold and co's action movies particularly those with a sci-fi slant, but more recent offerings like 6th Day and End of Days just look like painfully out of date re-treads of of stuff we've seen before.
I think I've said before, and I'm sure it will come as no shock, that Arnold is not a good actor, and nor should he try to be. He doesn't have a range (I think True Lies was the absolute limit of his ability)... he is purely and simply "Arnold". I don't have a problem with this at all. He was perfect in both Terminator films and I have no reason to believe that if T3 turns out to be a failure that it will be his fault.
I'm curious to see True Lies 2 but, especially after Titanic, I get the feeling that Cameron is probably just too much of an egomaniac to know if what he is doing is working. I would love to be proved wrong though.
Andrew
I pretty much agree with mr echo and sampath. The action genre is in need of a new breath of life. It is true, there aren't many up and coming stars. The action films I have enjoyed in the last 5 years or so have been the Nic Cage ones, but I don't think he's the answer to the problem with the action film genre. And I don't think Schwarzenegger and Stallone are. As I've said, they've had their day. There must be someone out there with the physique and poor acting ability, but most importantly - about 20 years younger.
neverland
25-02-2002, 11:05
Originally posted by Dear Mr Echo
I dare say the best we could hope for at the moment would be some kind of "ironic" pastiche a la Scream.
I would have thought that would be pretty unlikely after the disaster that was Last Action Hero.
hookbeak
25-02-2002, 12:12
Originally posted by neverland
I would have thought that would be pretty unlikely after the disaster that was Last Action Hero.
I love The Last Action Hero - i think it's a hoot.
Am I the only one that gets it or something ?
Originally posted by hookbeak
I love The Last Action Hero - i think it's a hoot.
Am I the only one that gets it or something ?
No - I think it's a near masterpiece. The problem with the film was that it was perhaps too clever to be a major mainstream hit.
Arnie learned his lesson and stuck to the knitting from then on - deciding that a witty script could be box office disaster, and he's tried to keep it as simple as possible. Hence, his career has gone down the toilet and I couldn't care less if he ever works again. And, if T3 flops, maybe he'll get the Mariah Carey treatment and be paid not to do True Lies 2.
I don't think Nic Cage is the answer. As an action hero he's been attached to some decent films, but managed to be the only cast member in them to be practically anonymous. It's going to be wire fu martial arts flicks from here on in I fear.
I'm sure everyone who watched the Paul Calf Video Diary on Saturday night will be eagerly awaiting the return of Chuck Norris!
Arch Stanton
25-02-2002, 13:32
Saw Chuck Norris on one of the shopping channels last night selling Gym equipment!
I'm looking forward to seeing Jean Claude Van Dame selling how to brakedance books soon on QVC.
Originally posted by Arch Stanton
Saw Chuck Norris on one of the shopping channels last night selling Gym equipment!
I'm looking forward to seeing Jean Claude Van Dame selling how to brakedance books soon on QVC.
Chuck Norris really messed up somewhere! He was good till he stopped making actions and opted for kid flicks!
Van Damme is making some top actions! Double Team, Replicant were good, also hes making some dodgy stuff like Legionarre which may appeal to people who dont usually like his movies....
also Arnie and Stallone havent had their day, I dont see their age as a problem, its not like they perform their own stunts! They'll bring out some more good movies before their finished!
Originally posted by Goblin
Van Damme is making some top actions! Double Team, Replicant were good,
:eek:
Cornelius
25-02-2002, 17:00
I think Arnie's movie career is dead. His sequel making career smacks of desperation and I'm sure it won't revive his career. But somebody will come along to replace him but probably not just yet. I don't think there's much of an appetite at the moment for the action movie genre and it will probably take a back seat to other genres for a few years.
There seems to be a trends towards superheroes (Spiderman, daredevil, Incredible Hulk,Xmen talk of Batman/superman, Batman beyond). And lord only knows what pale immitations Lord of The Rings will inspire. That's what we've got to look forward to but eventually someone with the right charisma for an action hero will emerge, they always do.
The one Arnie film I'd be jazzed to see...
King Conan: Crown of Iron
With John Milius as writer and director.
Desk
smiddyboy
25-02-2002, 18:58
Originally posted by sampath
But the problem is, there aren't many others lining up to fill his shoes. Of the 'new' generation probably Vin Diesel comes closest, but even he is strictly B-List compared to Arnie at his best.
We sorely need a new breed of action heroes, and like sampath has mentioned Vin Diesel seems to come the top of many people’s lists. I like the look of his new flick XXX, and have allot of faith in him considering he has only really been in 2 major releases so far. I think that you would be hard pushed to find anyone else that could slip into Arnie loafers. I tend to find ageing action stars rather embarrassing. I mean, Arnie (54) and Sly (55) are both the same age as my father, and I am just don't find their stunts believable anymore.
Originally posted by smiddyboy
I mean, Arnie (54) and Sly (55) are both the same age as my father, and I am just don't find their stunts believable anymore.
Did you ever? :D
Originally posted by smiddyboy
I mean, Arnie (54) and Sly (55) are both the same age as my father, and I am just don't find their stunts believable anymore.
Yeah, but your Dad could 'narf kick ass when he was younger! ;)
Boink!
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