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Post by lostinlimbo on Jan 31, 2018 12:54:26 GMT
 After listening to some Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboard prank calls recently, I had an urge to watch one of his movies. So I went with something I hadn't seen before. One of his supposedly lesser outings. "The 6th Day" was a lot better than I was expecting. B-grade mentality with A-grade productions. The fear and paranoia of advancing technology and medical research being manipulated for deviously sinister profit is the cautionary headliner in this Arnie action sci-fi vehicle, and of course the "looks dead to me" gags and clone humour. Oh, and there are plenty of them. And a creepy looking kids doll too.  In the not-too-distant future, genetic engineering is becoming an everyday reality. Although cloning humans is illegal, but a secret agency has taken that next step. However their hidden practice could get out to the public after a stuff-up of cloning the incorrect person, and the only way to rectify the issue is to eliminate the problem. It won't be as easy like first thought, as their target is Arnold Schwarzenegger in a type of role that he kind of made into his own. Going on the run to unravel the conspiracy surrounding him. We all know the odds and what's the safer bet. Even with the familiarity, this high-tech action foray into the dark, exploitive underbelly of science might throw out there the silly plotting, pulpy dialogues, transparently lazy visual effects and a blitz of over-the-top action - yet this mixture along with Arnie always entertains. As he goes about trying to undo the wrongs in the fashion that only he knows how - not to pull any punches, literally and a good one-liner to go with it. The likes of Robert Duvall (simply phoning it in), Michael Rooker, Tony Goldwyn and Sarah Wynter as the archetypal villains would find that out the hard way. True Arnie fodder. ★★★/★★★★★ Arnie adding to his one-liner quota. |
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Jan 31, 2018 14:30:06 GMT
Great review lostinlimbo and I am really glad to see that I am not alone on liking this film.  For me, his last good (almost very good) film and one that lies in the 7/10 kind of entertainment value. I have always had a soft spot for it, and still think it is still a much more enjoyable Arnold movie than the ones he made shortly after True Lies (1994) which for me was his last true classic. It is kind of sad that The 6th Day did not become a bigger hit, as had it been released 6-7 years earlier, it would probably have become as much a hit as Stallone and his Demolition Man (1993) or any similar sci-fi/action films of the early 90s. I think a better made story/film might have lied somewhere in but as soon as Arnie stepped onboard I guess some radical changes was to be done, more action and a little less drama, but still I think it worked out much better than what a lot of critics said of the film. Hell, I even ended up feeling a little sorry for the Clone Arnold, so that bad of a movie it can't be. And speaking of creepy dolls, yeah that one used in The 6th Day got on my nerves pretty much from the very go, still creepy though and several times in the film I kind of got a bit of the Total Recall feel, of course not that great but still I think that might be one of the reasons why I enjoy it so much. The whole doll scene do in some way resemble a little of the Jonny Cab scene from Total Recall, or well some part of it. The same can be said about the hologram scene where Michael Rapaport is hooked on his female "friend", where as in Total Recall I remember Sharon Stone playing tennis with Steffi Graf (or some famous athlete). Yes, as most of his fun filled movies, this one also came along with a lot of quotable and hilarious moments, where my favorites are: Adam Gibson: " If you really believe that then you should clone yourself while you're still alive."Drucker: "Why is that? So I can understand your unique perspective?"Adam Gibson: "No. So you can go fuck yourself!"
Adam Gibson: "There's someone in my house, eating my birthday cake, with my family, and it's not me!" |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 4, 2018 23:27:31 GMT
It was a lot fun! Even with its heavy-handed themes, I'm glad they took it down a ridiculous path for sheer entertainment. Easily rewatchable. Finding fans for it is a rarity.. which is such a shame. Like you mentioned I think it couldve been better received if it was released a decade earlier and yeah, I was getting those "Total Recall" vibes too. I don't know what kid wouldn't be freaked out by the look on the doll's face!? The birthday cake line had really stuck me over the years when I saw the clip - I think it was originally in the trailer or used in clips to advertise the film whenever on TV. Took me too long to seek this film out.
I might have it just behind "Eraser" for his post-"True Lies" films.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Feb 6, 2018 11:18:38 GMT
His film period after 1994 was pretty weak/disappointing, however I can see that he wanted to try out something "new" every now and then, but of of all his post-True Lies titles I actually enjoyed The 6th Day the most. Maybe not the best one, quality wise, but when it comes to good ol' entertainment, I think it stood out slightly above Eraser as his last good movie:
The 6th Day (2000) - 7/10
Eraser (1996) - 6,5/10
Batman & Robin (1997) - 6/10
End of Days (1999) - 5,5/10
Junior (1994) - 5/10
Jingle all the Way (1996) - 4/10
I wonder how things would have worked out if he and Sly would had gotten on better, over two decades ago, as I remember some rumours going that the two iconic action legends was originally planned for the John Woo film (not sure if he was onboard at that time) Face/Off (1997), but any how things did go rather well as Cage and Travolta turned up and it was to be a great late 90s action classic.
However, it is one of many missed opportunities which could have or at least for a short while made sure Arnie's career as the biggest action hero would have continued into the late 90s/early 00s, but by then he was doing films such as Batman & Robin, End of Days and Jingle all the Way and I guess he had his sights set upon on politics rather than doing movies for much longer.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Feb 7, 2018 9:16:50 GMT
Sarah Wynter sporting blue hair as Talia is what I remember most about The 6th Day.  But I think I quite liked the rest of the movie too (I’ve watched it a few times when it’s been on TV – though not for a while now). |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 10, 2018 11:08:41 GMT
Sarah Wynter sporting blue hair as Talia is what I remember most about The 6th Day. But I think I quite liked the rest of the movie too (I’ve watched it a few times when it’s been on TV – though not for a while now). Sarah Wynter was probably the most memorable of the core villains, and it wasn't just the blue hair either. She had wicked streak that easily outshined Rooker. |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 10, 2018 11:28:29 GMT
His film period after 1994 was pretty weak/disappointing, however I can see that he wanted to try out something "new" every now and then, but of of all his post- True Lies titles I actually enjoyed The 6th Day the most. Maybe not the best one, quality wise, but when it comes to good ol' entertainment, I think it stood out slightly above Eraser as his last good movie: The 6th Day (2000) - 7/10 Eraser (1996) - 6,5/10 Batman & Robin (1997) - 6/10 End of Days (1999) - 5,5/10 Junior (1994) - 5/10 Jingle all the Way (1996) - 4/10 I wonder how things would have worked out if he and Sly would had gotten on better, over two decades ago, as I remember some rumours going that the two iconic action legends was originally planned for the John Woo film (not sure if he was onboard at that time) Face/Off (1997), but any how things did go rather well as Cage and Travolta turned up and it was to be a great late 90s action classic. However, it is one of many missed opportunities which could have or at least for a short while made sure Arnie's career as the biggest action hero would have continued into the late 90s/early 00s, but by then he was doing films such as Batman & Robin, End of Days and Jingle all the Way and I guess he had his sights set upon on politics rather than doing movies for much longer. I have never seen "Junior". It just doesn't interest me, in spite Devito and Arnie back together again. Seen the others; I actually don't mind "End of Days", "Collateral Damage" and yep even "Jingle All the Way". I recently rewatched Christmas Eve last year. Looks like we share opposite thoughts on "Batman & Robin"  . Would've been cool to see Arnie and Sly in their primes, or at their most popular together - mid 80s through to the mid 90s. Something like "Face/off" couldve been a kickstarter, but the final product was top-notch entertainment that I can't see anyone else other Cage and Travolta in the parts. Anything was possible, maybe it could've worked, but then look at something like "City Heat". Reynolds and Eastwood, bankable stars come together in the early 80s and we get a miserable flop. The quality of the material and production is important, but timing is essential. |
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Feb 10, 2018 12:47:40 GMT
I do think that if Escape Plan (2013) was made maybe around 97-98 and of course adding much more time onscreen for Arnie, then maybe it would have worked well box-office wise, but I think their two huge egos and competive nature still was not yet laid to rest and saw each other as too much a "threat", so all in all it was probably never gonna happen back then. Anyway I am glad the two seems to get on very well these days, specially Sly who only seems to have good things to say about his old "enemy".
Never seen City Heat, but I guess not even the biggest names in the business could guarantee you with a success all the time.
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