True Lies (1994)

Director:

James Cameron

Writers (WGA):

Claude Zidi (screenplay) and
Simon Michaël (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

When he said I do, he never said what he did.

Plot:

When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Agent | Secret | Mission | Secret Agent

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Harry Tasker
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Helen Tasker
Tom Arnold	...	Albert Gibson
Bill Paxton	...	Simon
Charlton Heston	...	Spencer Trilby
Tia Carrere	...	Juno Skinner
Art Malik	...	Salim Abu Aziz
Eliza Dushku	...	Dana Tasker
Grant Heslov	...	Faisil
Marshall Manesh	...	Jamal Khaled
James Allen	...	Colonel
Dieter Rauter	...	Boathouse Guard (as Deiter Rauter)
Jane Morris	...	Janice
Katsy Chappell	...	Allison
Crystina Wyler	...	Charlene

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Arabic | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (original rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Hungary:16 | New Zealand:M | Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/12 | France:U | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 (original rating) (cinema release) | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:15 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

When the film was initially released, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was one of several groups to hold a protest at a Washington, D.C., theater. The groups attacked the film for its "depiction of Middle Easterners as homicidal, religious zealots". A demand for the boycott of the movie was called, as well as a ban of its distribution in fifty-four Arab and Muslim countries.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scenes following the horse chase, during a briefing on who Harry was chasing, the video on the big screen is paused, yet the burned in time code for the video keeps rolling. If the timecode was indeed burnt in, it should have stopped, if it wasn't, there is no need for it.

Quotes:

Party Guard: Can I see your invitation?
Harry: Sure, here's my invitation.
[blows shed sky-high]

Movie Connections:

References The Sound of Music (1965)

Soundtrack:

Alone in the Dark

This is how an action movie should be like!

Biggest problem with most action movies is that they take themselves way too serious. "True Lies" is mainly fun and entertaining and on top of that, the action is top class!

Finally a movie of which I can say: "Budget well spend!" The action really jumps off the screen but it never feels overdone or forced, which is thanks to action-director veteran James Cameron. He should stick to directing action movies like this, the Terminator movies and "Aliens". Please no more movies like "Titanic"! (not that it was a VERY bad movie) Stick to were your talent lies.

The movie can be described as an American James Bond, meaning that everything is bigger and I'm not just talking about Arnie's chest. Just like the James Bond movies, it doesn't take itself seriously without making itself ridiculous.

Many people seem to have problems with the whole "wife side track, story-line" I guess I'm one of the few that doesn't mind it at all and actually find it an extra addition to the story.

The movie has everything a good action movie need: A believable action hero, explosions, chases, gun fights, a stereotype villain and a high entertainment value.

I wish more action movies like this would be made.

10/10