Pumping Iron (1977)

Absolutely brilliant

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

This is an honest David-and-Goliath story; a documentary / body-building version of Rocky vs Creed. At the center is a pre-fame Arnold Schwarzenegger; cunning, egotistical, charismatic and hilarious. The film manages to admire these men and their insanely unnatural bodies, while knowingly allowing us to bashfully giggle at the scantily clad, oily muscles at every turn. Highly entertaining look at a world we're all aware of but rarely get to actually know.

From Gold's Gym in Venice Beach California to the showdown in Pretoria, amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests in this part-scripted, part- documentary film. Pumping Iron was such a great Documentary i mean the way it portrays the lives of all this guys is amazing and even sad sometimes especially Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzenegger basically plays himself this big muscular guy who is pretty much a goofball in real life and he makes sure he has fun every day of his life which he did the man is 69 years old today and he still stars in Terminator Movies and attends The Arnold Classic every year and he brings more new stories to tell to the younger audience but also those who lived and spend their lives watching him competing in Bodybuilding or just watched all of his movies. Franco Columbu also has a great story to tell and Mike Katz with his 2 little children and pretty much everyone. This isn't a movie about big guys holding weapons it's based on actual events and it rocks as both a movie and a documentary 2 Thumbs Up 10/10.

It's 1975 before bodybuilding competitions in Pretoria, South Africa. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the multiple Mr. Olympia champion and favorite. He's from Austria and embraces the free wheeling American lifestyle. While he works out of Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, another competitor Lou Ferrigno is a rookie from Brooklyn who suffered from hard of hearing. Other bodybuilders are also highlighted in this unique competition.It's a nice insightful doc into a small slice of the world. Of course, everybody watches this for Arnold today. Our view of him is colored by his future. It is fascinating to see him unscripted. He is a competitive magnetic man with an inquisitive mind. His competitive nature is the most compelling part and explains so much about his life. The bodybuilding world is almost secondary looking back at it. It's an interesting slice of the world unknown at the time but today, it's an insight in one of the world's most fascinating personality.

Arnold back in the day was simply a evil genius. When i first watched this film i didn't expect it to be as funny as it was, but it was. Arnold is simply great and Lou is great as well. The movie is very inspiring and very entertaining from beginning to end and Arnold really makes it work because if though this is a documentary Arnold himself plays a evil character, telling stuff about how he didn't attend his fathers funeral, getting Lou to yell and saying Lou is a child and he is his daddy. It's all part of the mind games. As for Lou he is basic and great to follow. The best thing about this film is seeing the why Lou and Arnold remain friends even through the entire competition and after. The film is inspiring,funny and just a great viewing experience every time. A must see for Arnold and Lou fans for sure