I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my ...
I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my santiy on the line, so you don't have to. Read more about my exploits in my reviews. I try to make them informative and fun at the same time.
Member since:13.10.2009
Reviews:42
All things considered, Arnold Schwarzenegger has had an interesting life. He arrived in America with almost no money and barely able to speak a word of English, then through sheer hard work and determination went on to win bodybuilding's biggest title a record-breaking seven times, became arguably the greatest action movie star of all time and got elected as the governor of California. Clearly you don't achieve all that without having something a little special, and Pumping Iron gives us an insight into this.
It's 1975 and Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to defend his Mr Olympia title for the sixth time in a row. He's been king of the hill for the last five years, but now there's new competition in the shape of Lou Ferrigno - a massive 6'5" bodybuilder who is younger, bigger and hungry for success. The documentary charts their preparations in the run-up to the Mr Olympia contest to be held in Pretoria, South Africa. Along the way, it provides an insight into both men's characters, their personalities and the events that drove them to take up bodybuilding.
The two men couldn't be more different. Ferrigno is quiet, reserved and soft spoken, training mostly with his father in a basement gym, while reigning champion Schwarzenegger is brash, arrogant and charismatic.
The fascinating thing about this movie is the insight it provides into the psychology behind what is for the most part quite a misunderstood sport. Bodybuilding is as much a battle of egos as muscles. In a competition early in the film, one bodybuilder hides another man's clothes and training gear just before he goes on stage, distracting him and breaking his focus, and ultimately causing him to lose.
Likewise, in the run up to the big showdown in Pretoria, Schwarzenegger starts playing mind games with the younger and more impressionable Ferrigno, gradually eroding his confidence. In another telling interview, Schwarzenegger admits that if he finds another competitor who looks like he might be a threat, he'll make sure he spends lots of time with him the night before the competition and basically talk him into losing.
Schwarzenegger is very much portrayed as the villain of this movie, using various underhand ploys to keep Ferrigno from winning. And yet his focus, determination to win and sheer charisma are obvious even at this early stage of his career, and it's easy to see why he went on to greater things.
Yes, some aspects of the documentary were added or re-edited to heighten the drama, and there has been considerable controversy surrounding what exactly in this film is real, but that shouldn't distract from the fact that this is an extremely engaging and insightful work. For anyone interested in boybuilding as a sport, or even some of the colourful personalities associated with it, Pumping Iron is the film for you.
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In 1977's hit documentary,Pumping IronArnold Schwarzenegger works the crowds, plots ... more
strategies for defeating multiple opponents, shares his parents' values with the press andinspires legions of admirers with his resolute optimism about the future. And ...
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![Pumping Iron [DVD] [1977]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/94210686.jpg "Pumping Iron [DVD] [1977]")
Oct 14th, 2009
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