Review of Red Heat (1988) by Khris N — 24 Aug 2007

Well, what is it about 80's action flicks that have that unusual charm to them?

Walter Hill is one of my favourite 80's directors, the man behind 48 Hours and the classic, The Warriors, and this time he gets Arnie and Jim Belushi teaming up for another buddy cop fair. It was in the 80's that the buddy cop, action flicks come out, and dysfunctional partnerships are the craze.

Now, dont expect the movie to be a success on all levels. But its an Arnie movie at a time he was at his peak and still rising, and it was a watchable flick and if you like Arnie (who else could you find to play a giant russian military cop??) and his stoic no-nonsense, Terminator-like attitude and posture, and throw in a few good lines here and there, and you might enjoy it.

Belushi: "No, we can't shoot people in the head, the politicians won't go for it!".

Arnie: "Shoot the politicians first.".

Of course, if you all understand, mix a bit of communism in with capitalism, the Russian military driven mind against the typical American work ethos, you do get something quite different.

But in all truth, Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte were funnier in 48 Hours, and Hill never did get the magic he had in The Warriors. Though all his trademarks are there, which incidentaly are the trademarks of 80's and early 90's movies such as over the top, yet pretty good action scenes, James Horner's very recognisable music score, blood, sex, nudity and all that rage. Of course, we do see Arnie in the buff from the very start (>_<") well, I guess that what makes him better than everybody else in Hollywood. ^_^".

If you liked other 80's Arnie Movies such as Commando, Predator etc etc and Walter Hill movies, or other flicks such as Tango and Cash, then yes this is alright.