ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Recent political shenanigans in California defy satire, or even description. Is it possible they would actually  elect a slightly off-kilter radio talker? Of course it’s possible-hey, this is California. And yet  embattled Governor Newsome survived with a healthy margin. But there were many nervous moments before the votes were in. After all, they already elected a B movie actor as governor (actually twice!)  Well, what about the last guy to ride in on the wave of a recall?  Has Arnold Schwarzenegger made any good movies? Well, maybe...

Terminator 3 (2003) is available for home viewing  and is probably the end of a very successful franchise. In the first Terminator (1984) Arnold is an indestructible bad guy sent from the future to find and kill an innocent woman who will one day have a child who will save the world. The special effects are dazzling; Arnold is wooden. Terminator 2 (1991) is even better. Now Arnold is a good guy sent to save the kid who will one day lead a revolution against the machines. His nemesis is a blank-faced Edward Furlong, who can assume absolutely any form at all. Wonderful special effects. And in the third installment Arnold is again sent back to save the kid and this time his enemy is a woman who can assume any shape and is apparently indestructible. Arnold’s stiff delivery and failure to catch on to American slang add to the fun.  

In True Lies (1994) wife Jamie Lee Curtis thinks her husband is a wussy bureaucrat, when actually Arnold is a CIA killing machine. He is much more effective as the latter. This film has some serious story problems in the middle, but the slam-bang ending is worth the wait. There are some wonderful stunts.

In The Sixth Day (2000) bad guy Tony Goldwyn wants helicopter pilot Arnold rubbed out, so clones a copy of him to do the job. Then it’s Arnold vs. Arnold, which is better than it sounds because this one has a funny screenplay that covers over the potholes in the plot.

The Long Goodbye (1973) is Robert Altman’s tongue-in-cheek send up of film noir detective flicks, with Elliott Gould as a seedy Phillip Marlowe. This is one of Arnold’s first films, and he has a bit part as (what else?) a muscleman. Blink and you’ll miss him, though he is rather large.

Arnold and diminutive Danny DeVito are unlikely Twins (1988) who discover each other when they’re 35. This is arguably Arnold’s best effort, as he and Mr. DeVito are hilarious and play very well off each other. At first it might seem like a one-joke movie, but Twins has a sterling script and is genuinely entertaining throughout.

All of the films in this column are available on  DVD. All are ok for 10 and over.