Arnold: Schwarzenegger and the Movies

by Dave Saunders

This book provides is a comprehensive, in-depth examination one of modern cinema’s biggest and most ideologically defined screen presences. Tracing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s entire film career and life from teenage bodybuilder in post-war Austria to Governor of California, Saunders blends observations of his major films, including Pumping Iron , Conan the Barbarian , The Terminator series, Twins and True Lies , with historical context and biographical detail, demonstrating continually the importance of broader social and political factors in defining Arnold’s unique significance. This work argues that Schwarzenegger represents far more than just a muscular spectacle; he embodies the powerful ideological and spiritual relevance of the age by embarking on a quest to restore collective faith in his adopted nation

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 1 out of 5]

An absurd book that links everything Arnold to conservatism and Nazism. I'm a leftist, and found this to be too much of a stretch, and I noted that aspects of Arnold's movies that contradicted the author were conveniently dropped. If you hate Arnold you'll love this book. If you are fan, like me, you'll find nothing interesting here save another example of why contemporary artistic criticism is mocked by everyone except its practitioners.

[Benjy · Rating 2 out of 5]

To quote from the press release:

"This work argues that Schwarzenegger represents far more than just a muscular spectacle; he embodies the powerful ideological and spiritual relevance of the age by embarking on a quest to restore collective faith in his adopted nation."

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of book of Schwarzenegger film criticism is interesting, but Saunders works too laboriously to fit the films into his theoretical interests. Also, by the 100th Nazi/Third Reich/Hitler reference, it just becomes tiresome.