Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Matho The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

ivymunni The film has an eclectic cast of character actors, TV performers and Hollywood A-listers. Whilst it is often considered a second-tier action movie (and in truth it can't quite compete with the likes of Die Hard and RoboCop et al) it is still a film jam packed with memorable moments be they of the action variety or cringeworthy one-liners. The film is set apart from many of its competition thanks to its setting, and whilst there have been a few mountain-bound action films, Cliffhanger is undoubtedly the best and the locale adds an extra layer of tension to the already volatile situation.

LawnBoy-4 (Spoilers ahead)I get that action yarns such as this typically require a partial or complete suspension of disbelief, but, when a movie comes along that is so staggeringly stupid that the requirement of said suspension constitutes an intellectual assault on the viewer, well, it's impossible to give the film makers a pass. This is such a movie.Others have already covered the plot in more detail than is necessary, so you've already been sufficiently apprised of the fact that Lithgow & Co. are searching the mountains of Colorado (Canadian rockies, in actuality) for the money they've stolen and subsequently lost. Stallone, in typical Stallone fashion, plays the over-the-top action hero who is, in this specific case, a tortured soul thanks to his inability to save a friend from a tragic fall.Moving on to the idiocy, I'll list but a few of the offenses that make this movie so unforgettably awful:1. The 60-year old, non-weight rated, hardware store-quality rope that manages to somehow hold both Stallone and "Jesse" as they repel their way to eventual safety whilst fraying, piece by piece. In tact, the rope would not hold either one, let alone both, for 5 seconds before breaking. The idea that it would be able to hold both of them, even after having sustained broken braids caused me to roll my eyes so far into the back of my head that I actually sustained a headache.2. The scene in which Stallone manages to kill Travis from below river surface may have been the single most offensively unrealistic scene in the movie and here's why: First, when the body spends any degree of time in freezing water, muscles become nearly "paralyzed", making quick movements almost impossible. Yet somehow, Stallone was able to quickly remove his shirt, see through the murky water/ice and, in quick-draw fashion, shoot Travis as he stood above him on the ice. Next, As we saw earlier in the movie, the cold temps caused Stallone to struggle after having encountered Jesse in the shelter. How, in God's name, was he not completely hypothermic after having been submerged for an extended period in icy water? Further, how did he manage to dry so quickly and remain calm (and non-shivering) within 10 mins after he had been rescued from the depths? Props to him for managing to restyle his hair, too! Finally, how was his decision to grab Travis and pull both of them into icy water an even remotely logical decision? 3. As great of an actor as John Lithgow has demonstrated himself to be, his scenery chewing and overacting were beyond absurd. Coupled with the vaguely European accent and repeated utterances of "BOSTID!" (bastard), his performance was just way over the top.4. Following on from #1 above, the scene in which Stallone somehow managed to grab and hold onto a rock face with one hand while gripping and ultimately pulling Jesse to safety with the other (all without chalk or ropes!) did, admittedly, cause me to laugh audibly, so props to the film makers for that.5. The use of night vision goggles during a supposed "night" scene (when Stallone and one of the villains slid for what appeared to be a couple of miles in the snow) was especially absurd given the fact that it was obviously filmed during the light of day.These are but a few of this film's transgressions. Overall, this is an Ed Wood/Uwe Boll-level action flick that begs for a Rifftrax treatment. The only reason I afforded it as many as two stars was due to the cinematography.

martyhalvorsen The movie is shot very well. One of Harlins best films. One of the last films to have many action scenes filmed without green screens. There are some but not what you see today.. The story is solid, the casting excellent. To me one of the films underestimated. One of Stallones most under looked films. The villain John Lithgow was also a great casting choice. John Lithgow is a great actor and brought much to the story. Reny Harlin is known for fast action and being physically demanding on his actors. Clifhanger is thrilling and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I think one of the overlooked films of that year. It's also one of those films that stands the test of time even on 2016.

Leofwine_draca Yes, CLIFFHANGER is nothing more than DIE HARD on a mountain, and Renny Harlin's second best film following on from DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER. It's an ultra-cheesy and ultimately funny action romp filled with special effects sequences which range from the breathtaking to the downright silly, and it's a film which is over the top and bombastic in every respect.The best part of the film is the electrifying - and much-parodied - opening sequence, and after that point we're in B-movie territory with an A-list cast and budget as backup. Sylvester Stallone appears in one of his more wooden performances as a haunted mountain guide who becomes involved with a criminal gang who are searching for three briefcases full of stolen cash which have been dropped high up in the snowy peaks.There are some fun one-liners here, along with plenty of action and stunts, so there's very little to dislike as the whole thing has a good sense of fun. The bad guys don't have much menace and concentrate more on chewing the scenery. John Lithgow gives the best performance as the chief nasty, a guy who couldn't be any less imposing if he tried (he's a far cry from his role in BLOW OUT) and he's supported by various unsavoury types. Craig Fairbrass, playing an ex-footballer turned international criminal, is a real hoot.Harlin's direction is acceptable and although Stallone is doubled for a lot of the difficult stuff there are some truly impressive stunts on offer here. Being a 1990s film, as much stuff blows up as humanly possible. Watch out for Michael Rooker in a rare good guy role.