It was an eternal feud. However, maybe it was just a clever PR campaign. In any case, in the 90s, the cinema turned into a fighting arena for two Hollywood superstars. Silvester Stallone, who wrote film history with his Rocky and Rambo films, was standing in one corner. In the other corner stood an Austrian with a heavy accent and big goals. He fascinated young and old alike with roles as the Terminator, or Conan the Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
THE ETERNAL FEUD BETWEEN STALLONE AND SCHWARZENEGGER
It remains undecided whether the media or Stallone and Schwarzenegger initiated this feud with their jokes about others. What is certain is that both superstars, who started acting around the same time, were totally underestimated at the beginning of their careers. But because of their strong will and firm belief in themselves, they significantly influenced international cinema to this day.
This made them role models for many as they made the American dream come true. Stallone was an underdog; Schwarzenegger was Mr. Universe. One came from a humble background, the other from the old world. However, both showed what is possible with courage and confidence.
Besides, they have always surprised us. Schwarzenegger, in particular, showed his critics that have had to offer more than bloated muscles.
After all, he made it into the office of governor of what is probably the most influential state in the USA, California. And as a Republican, he surprised once with his clear criticism of Donald Trump and his supporters, especially after the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
In the end, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger made peace. Since then, they haven’t only starred together in several Expandables films. Furthermore, they played together in the prison thriller Escape Plan.
What also connects both action stars is that neither of them has been able to win an Academy Award, i.e. an Oscar. Unfortunately, we can’t change that. However, luckily, you can now win a fan box from one of your heroes.
Because, finally, those two of the greatest action heroes ever are back in restored form. This does not mean a face or CGI lifting. No, but Studiocanal is now presenting a Silvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger Collection in high definition 4K UHD. It’s available in shops now. Howsoever, here, you can win one of those collections.
THE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER 4K UHD COLLECTION
Typically Arni, the Schwarzenegger 4K Fan Box contains three real action hits.
TERMINATOR 2 – THE JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
The Terminator was James Cameron’s second film. Nevertheless, this should make him one of the greatest directors of all time. The unique story of a future cyborg tasked with finding and killing the mother of a future rebel leader is one of the few films to have a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. The Terminator was also the big break for Linda Hamilton and Michael Bien.
Additionally, The Terminator was, of course, the starting point for one of the most impressive careers in the film business. Because after this film, nothing was the same for Arnold Schwarzenegger as it was before. There’s no question he’s been successful before. But now, comparable to the killer robot in the film, Arni became unstoppable.
Furthermore, the Schwarzenegger hype increased with the sequel, Terminator 2 – The Judgment Day. In 1991, this film became a cinematic revelation.
Indeed, Schwarzenegger is still a T-800 Model 101. Actually, a cyborg made to kill. However, his job now is to protect John Connor, the future leader of the rebels. And that’s not an easy task, even for an almost invincible machine. Because the successor model, the T-1000, appears as an adversary on the scene.
This is how a battle of the machines between good and evil ensues. Terminator 2 goes extremely deep. Although it’s a hardcore action movie, the film shows an incredible number of emotions. Besides, it’s based on realistic problems in our world which are still not solved today.
THE SCORE
Guns N’ Roses’ hard-rock score turned cinema into MTV. Therefore, it set completely new standards. Nobody had seen anything like Terminator 2 before. It’s still considered one of the best action movies of all time.
TOTAL RECALL (1990)
Just a year before Terminator 2, Paul Verhoeven and Arnold Schwarzenegger present a different vision of how humanity will live in the future.
If we think of climate change and the problems associated with it, as well as the ruthless greed of a few, Total Recall has lost none of its explosive force to this day.
THE WIFE LORI (SHARON STONE) & THE MARS
In a world where resources are increasingly scarce, Douglas Quaid (Arni) dreams of a life on Mars and a mysterious dark-haired beauty. His wife Lori (Sharon Stone) is neither happy about that. Nor does she believe in life on the dusty red planet. Especially not because uprisings are constantly raging there.
Disappointed, Doug decides to book a literal psycho trip instead of a real one. This is how his path leads to Rekall, a company that implants realistic false memories. But the surgery goes wrong, and Doug is suddenly being hunted by all sorts of sinister characters.
THE VILLAIN – COHAAGEN (RONNY COX)
He actually travels to Mars. Of course, he also meets the rebels here very soon. Doug recognizes that they want nothing more than air to breathe. However, the governor of the Mars colony, Vilos Cohaagen, withholds this from them. Even if Douglas’ previous dreams turn into a real nightmare, he decides to help the rebels. And so, the action increases dramatically.
RED HEAT (1988)
February 24, 2022, took us back to the Cold War era. For nearly 30 years, we thought we were past this era of uncivilized confrontation and aggression. But Putin and his henchmen have taught us otherwise.
In the years of treacherous peace, Red Heat was perhaps only understandable to those who experienced the Cold War era. For those born after 1991, the story and images may have been too abstract.
However, now that we see old white men wrecking Ukraine with their martial spirit, it’s for sure that younger film fans can relate to Red Heat as well.
THE DRUG-DEALER – VIKTOR ROSTAVILI (Ed O’Ross)
Ivan Danko is a Russian militia captain who wants to arrest Georgian drug dealer Viktor Rostavili. The fact that Ivan is not squeamish is that Viktor has his friend Yuri on his conscience.
But everything goes wrong, and Viktor flees to the USA. Of all things. Because then, the US is still Russia’s arch-enemy. Nevertheless, Ivan travels after the gangster. Thus, he suddenly has to deal with the American way of life and the country’s rules.
THE DETECTIVE – Sergeant Art Ridzik (JAMES BELUSHI)
Of course, to keep things from ending in chaos, the police department puts a partner on Danko’s side, Detective Sergeant Art Ridzik. James Belushi stars in that role brilliantly. With him, it’s clear that Red Heat has serious backgrounds but still tries to present them humorously.
Full of enthusiasm (which is, of course, meant ironically), Ridzik and Danko go in search of the drug dealer. What Lou Donnelly, the commander of the police department (Peter Boyle), doesn’t realize is that the use of Art does not prevent chaos but rather increases it.
THE RELATION TO REALITY
It’s always a tightrope walk to produce political comedy. Especially when they have a realistic connection to current affairs. However, it’s great when visionary people act in front of and behind the camera. Red Heat is now more relevant than ever. Moreover, it’s still a very funny film that’s enjoyable and thought-provoking here and there.
Red Heat also makes one thing very clear. It’s not the Russians or Russia that we have to fear or resent. Many of them are our brothers and sisters or friends. Just a few power-hungry old men lead us to chaos.
It seems they have lost all human traits, completely blinded (and dumbed down) by the lonely life in their glass bubble, which is shielded from the outside world. Thank God their days are numbered. Hence, let’s hope that in the not-too-distant future, we will only enjoy films like Red Heat as comedies, but without any real connection.
THE SYLVESTER STALLONE 4K COLLECTION
RAMBO – FIRST BLOOD (1982)
Rambo would probably be unthinkable without Rocky. Because with the low-budget production about a worn-out boxer, Sylvester Stallone drew attention to himself with a bang. This story probably also contained all those years in which Stallone only experienced rejection and was further away from success as an actor than the earth from Alpha Centauri.
While the sequels didn’t quite match the success of the first installment, they provided the platform for a hero that the big screen had never seen before, John J. Rambo.
The Vietnam veteran was a big deal in the war. Because Rambo belonged to a special unit and was responsible for the latest military equipment.
But now, back in America, he doesn’t even get a job. He experiences no respect or gratefulness for his many sacrifices. On the contrary, Rambo is imprisoned as a vagrant. Of course, he hasn’t forgotten his training, which made him a survivor.
Thus, a prison in a provincial town in the north of the United States cannot stop the well-trained elite fighter. And so begins a battle between Rambo and the local police, the army, and, at least, himself. With Rambo, Stallone deviated from the exaggerated hero films of the past. On the one hand, the strong John J. Rambo is internally eaten up and insecure. He doesn’t know where to go.
On the other hand, the soldier who had to kill many people in the war shows human, even soft traits. He is vulnerable and longs for security and his buddies. Rambo laid the foundation for subsequent anti-war film generations. Therefore it’s still a cult film that is absolutely worth seeing.
LOCK UP (1989)
The inmate Frank Leone abides by all the prison rules and is nevertheless transferred to a high-security prison shortly before his release. Here the sadistic boss Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland) rules. And this makes life hell for Frank and his cronies.
CLIFFHANGER (1993)
Cliffhanger initially leads Silvester Stallone voluntarily, then more involuntarily up into the mountains. Gabe Walker is a mountain ranger who can’t protect his best pal Hal Tucker’s (Michael Rooker) girlfriend in a rescue mission. She falls down. From that point, Gabe is traumatized and leaves his homeland.
However, as is very often the case, there comes a point when the little lamb is drawn back to the herd. And, so, Walker returns home. Too bad that, at the same time, a bunch of crooks screw up a robbery of a Treasury Department plane. Even worse, they cause the plane to crash in the mountains.
Ironically, Gabe now has to go on a rescue mission with Hal. Of course, that gets completely out of hand. Thus, both have to fight for their lives and that of their friends.
WIN A SILVESTER STALLONE OR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER FAN BOX
Christmas is getting closer. Therefore, we would like to do our part to ensure that you can experience a beautiful, contemplative, peaceful yet entertaining holiday.
That’s why we make it easy to enter the competition this time. Just write an email with the subject line about which fan box you want. Add a short message about what you hope for Christmas and 2023. The best answer will be rewarded. Please note that we can only raffle one box of each star. Furthermore, the sweepstake is valid in Europe, and legal recourse is excluded.
DEADLINE DECEMBER 14, 2022
Text: Marco Kokkot
Images: Studiocanal. All Rights Reserved.
