Pumping Iron

"It's as satisfying to me as, uh, coming is, you know? As, ah, having sex with a woman and coming. And so can you believe how much I am in heaven?" We are all in heaven after seeing this Arnie!

While nowadays we've steered into some bizarre terrain with Donkey Kong tournaments and dudes trying to visit every Starbucks, this remains the archetype for documentaries about obsessive nerd subcultures. Technically this was before Arnold was a star, but as you watch his personality unfold you realize there never really was such a time.

A rough and amusing look into bodybuilding. It sounds corny to say it but there's a certain spiritual calmness and self confidence you could just see radiating off Arnold. You knew from just one look this guy was destined for something great. The other body builders seemed like they were compensating for their egos, damaged childhoods, or insecurities. This Doesn't tell us anything we don't already know about that world but it is an interesting little time capsule to peer into now and again.

Incredibly unflattering to Arnie. Some of the things he says in interviews here are completely outrageous. For instance, he compares his legacy with that of Jesus. What a guy! - he makes quite the villain.

Arnold is the man.

I have to imagine what it's like coming across a young Arnold Schwarzenegger as a documetarist. And I can imagine is how it must evoke the exact same feeling as a Klondike Prospector coming across an gold-covered Aztec Temple.

On the sixth day, God created the beasts of the earth and he made man in his own image. And beholdeth... the image of God.

Fairly interesting doc, but the best part is Arnold's mind games with Lou.

'Pumping Iron' sounds like gay pornography, and with dialogue like 'I'm coming day and night!' and 'Come get your kiss!' and 'Rub more oil on!' and 'It will be a night we will never forget!' (all men talking to men), to say nothing of the iffy subject matter, it's borderline. This documentary tries to be somber enough, but a villainous (and quite disconcerting) Arnold ensures that it quickly degenerates into a freak show, as he makes an ass of himself fighting the Hulk in a nude muscle-match.

Kinda scared by other reviewers drooling over Arnold here: Sure, he's the best at what he does (whatever that's worth) and charismatic (or at least effective at self-promoting), but he's also skeevy, duplicitous, self-mythologizing, and he rationalizes some pretty ugly shit in pursuit of a -- looking from the outside in -- pretty worthless goal and legacy. Movie would be roughly twice as good without the score.

A surprisingly engaging documentary about the sport of bodybuilding. You can't go wrong with The Terminator and The Incredible Hulk competing against each other in a flex-off.

I can't believe these freaks! They're all so bizarre and horrifying and loveable in their own weird way. They're basically like giant children! As far as strange little subcultures go, you could do worse than bodybuilders. They're extremely dedicated to what they do and at least it's good for their health. I have no real interest in the sport of bodybuilding, yet I found Pumping Iron extremely compelling. Arnold is terrific here. Watching this movie is like cumming all the time.

I think everybody is at least a little bit interested in bodybuilding because c'mon, it's an absolute freakshow. God, I love all the big, meaty man titties. Well-done documentary about an interesting subject. >Farts.<

I'm not sure if it was the music or the way the whole narrative was put together but there was something just a little too innocuous about the experience. There's some nice surface-level biographical details presented about all these different bodybuilders but I feel like it doesn't do enough to make the competition compelling. Whoever made the film was either looking in the wrong places or eventually tried to make something out of very little.

Arnie's so awesome to watch in this.

Not all that good as a documentary; low in information and background. It's much better if you take it as a comedy about Arnold psyching out his competition. And a comedy about him coming all the time.

So much funnier than I'd expected. Good times.

Never have I felt so insecure watching a film, but this is a really terrifically made documentary about ambition, hopes (achieved and lost), friendships, rivalries, douchebag champions (Arnold's shocking "yelling" tip to a competitor) and the simultaneous wonder and freakshow of the ability of the human body. This film gave me the feeling of cumming.

So after thousands of stares in the mirror they've never thought: "Oh man, I need to get a better haircut!"?

A fun, lighthearted and illuminating documentary which does nothing more than be in the right places at the right times, capturing with clarity and precision moments of bodybuilders' lives, from the intimacy of their gym sessions to the spotlight of the world stage. A young, charismatic Schwarzenegger is the star of the show - he seems a really likeable laid-back guy. The setting-up of rivalries between the competitors all adds to an impressive structure, which builds up to a satisfying finale.

Not sure why it took me all these years to see this one, as I am a huge Arnold fan. Interesting documentary about the world of bodybuilding competitions.

Arnies' love of life shines amongst the grind of gym life in an odd little subculture.

Hilarious

The stuff with Lou Ferrigno being pushed by his dad was kind of interesting, the rest was pretty forgettable. Nothing happens here that you must see, even if you're an Arnold fan.

Arnold is such a charismatic dick.

Arnold's superior resolve is undeniable. The documentary isn't quite prescient enough to really dig into what makes him tick but it's easy to see how his magnetic charisma translates to politics later on.

Not bad but not exactly great. Arnold is though. Made me have a new-found level of respect for him even if I don't agree with him.

Mostly dull with terrible music. Some of the interviews with Arnie are really compelling, and his mind games with Lou were great. It's hard to recommend sitting through the whole thing just for the few gems, but you can certainly do worse.

87.500

Interestingly cut documetary about bodybuilding focussing heavily on Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. What surprised me the most wasn't the excessive muscles or cult following around body builders. It was the mind games and trash talk everyone was using to throw each other off balance.

A lot of posing going on and a lot of Arnie's great charm. But also a few side stories about the competitors.

Worth watching.

Surprisingly much at heart beneath the flesh and meat

ahahaha this is funnier in post California-governorship

From a documentary perspective is terrible, totally one sided and eluding other views on body building, Arnold really saves this movie because he is a great character and has a sense of humor. This is an outdated documentary, but it still keeps some of its entertaining value.

This film literally will make you sick. I watched it after a pretty heavy night out, and after a while I stopped seeing individual bodies. You just start seeing muscles, and stretched, undulating flesh. Just remembering it makes me want to throw up a little bit.

Classic documentary about the 1975 Mr. Olympia competition. Must-see for fitness fans.

A nice insight into how Schwarzenegger managed to accomplish all he was able to. Charming, funny, hungry for attention, an inflated sense of worth. It's less a portrait of a soon-to-be famous actor, than a future successful politician.

I was slightly disappointed due to all the hype surrounding this documentary. It was however amazing to experience how Arnold beats Ferrigno mentally.

in terms of story a bit pointless, as it only shows the biggest douche always comes out on top. but this douche is arnold, and you can't help but like him somehow. a mix of awe and pity accompanied me here, awe for determination and payoff for what these guys were doing, pity because they were so obviously and cringeworthy compensating.

this may just be the most unsettling thing i've ever seen

A look into the preparation and eventual outcome of the Mr. Olympia and Universe competitions. The mind games the competitors (mostly Arnold) play against each other is a reason to watch this.

fascinating in the context of Arnolds history, but otherwise a bit of a snooze.

Schwarzenegger is the epitome of selfishness.

Part documentary part gay porn, PI is a watchable effort chiefly to see today's Governor of California at the top of his first career. The scripted/bullshit moments are pretty obvious, but where the film really fails is in giving us enough insight into the bodybuilding world: What's their daily routine? What do they eat? What supplements do they take? The vast majority of the footage is just big guys in gyms lifting weights. Pretty much does what it says on the tin then.

Interesting to learn about body-building, but the real reason to watch is to hear everything Arnold has to say. He's fantastic.

My father's favourite documentary of all-time. When I was a kid, he would take me to a bookstore, I would go to the MAD magazine and he would go to Men's Health. Every time.

Actually a fairly good documentary starring Arnie as the complete douche bag and Lou Ferrigno as the likeable underdog.

Its datedness helps fuel its time-capsule authenticity.

Less of a documentary and more a comedy. Arnold's trash talking and goofy smiles kill me. Definitely worth a watch.