The first-time viewer calls the film a culmination of Schwarzenegger-era action, contrasts its physical spectacle with computer-heavy modern action, and argues that unpolished acting fits its unserious tone. — Chris Ryan
Tom Arnold’s unusually extensive dialogue and near-co-lead role surprise the first-time viewer, particularly given his lack of prior familiarity with the performer. — Chris Ryan
The producer-review exchange ends with enthusiastic approval of the film’s entertainment and excess. — Chris Ryan
Glass elevators are explicitly affirmed at Apex Mountain, with In the Line of Fire offered as a comparison. — Chris Ryan
Schwarzenegger’s overall Apex is rejected, but True Lies is affirmed as the best of his standalone, non-franchise films after debating whether remakes and sequels disqualify other titles. — Van Lathan
An anecdote says a frightened horse nearly threw Schwarzenegger off the roof and a stuntman saved him; the discussion expressly questions how reliable the story is. — Bill Simmons
The near-fatal horse stunt anecdote is recalled for research, with explicit skepticism that it has grown exaggerated. — Bill Simmons
Cameron and effects supervisor John Bruno reportedly planned to place a model plane on a real rooftop for a more convincing action sequence. — Bill Simmons
Cameron’s founding of Digital Domain during this period is discussed as part of his continued drive to invent new filmmaking technology.
The hotel is identified as the Westin Bonaventure. — Bill Simmons
The body count is reported as ninety, below the initial guesses.
The discussion reports a $100 million budget, third-place annual box-office finish, and one visual-effects Oscar nomination. Its gross figure is transcribed as “$378 billion,” an apparent scale error retained as uncertain. — Bill Simmons
Schwarzenegger reportedly rehearsed the tango for six months to match Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, with the same music used. — Bill Simmons
A rumor that Jodie Foster declined Helen to make Nell is explicitly unconfirmed and doubted. Cameron’s familiarity with Curtis through Kathryn Bigelow’s Blue Steel is offered as context. — Bill Simmons
Tom Arnold reportedly auditioned mainly to meet Cameron, displayed chemistry with Schwarzenegger, and won the role after joking he could beat him up. His failure to repeat this career peak is discussed; uncertainty about McHale’s Navy is corrected. — Bill Simmons
Carrere reportedly said she replaced Karina Lombard after shooting began; Lombard is identified through her role in The Firm. — Bill Simmons
Sally Jessy Raphael is the agreed Most 1994 choice, over Tom Arnold, Tia Carrere, Axl Rose and Madonna as cultural parents, old exercise bikes, and Sade music. — Bill Simmons
The Bond-style opening is nominated, highlighting Juno Skinner’s introduction, the tango, Harry headbutting dogs, and the skiing gunmen. The chalet exterior reportedly combines footage from several locations. — Bill Simmons
The skiing gunmen inspire jokes about the training and management investment required for enemies who are immediately defeated. — Bill Simmons
The Georgetown Mall bathroom fight is nominated. Its cigarette-pack/sunglasses gadget seems confusing, later bathroom fights are compared with it, and dunking an actor’s face in a toilet is considered disgusting regardless of cleaning. — Bill Simmons
The horse-versus-motorcycle chase is nominated as an exceptional action sequence that establishes Harry’s mastery of nearly every mode of transport and combat.
The motorcycle’s rooftop pool jump is praised as astonishing in 1994, while later Fast & Furious escalation has reduced its novelty. A horse and motorcycle racing upward in elevators makes the sequence especially absurd.
A proposed video outing would revisit famous movie locations, beginning with the hotel elevator. Harry dangling from the roof and persuading the horse to back up are also praised. — Bill Simmons
Harry telling Gib that Helen is having an affair is nominated for Tom Arnold’s reaction and the missing ice-trays line. The ice-tray detail reportedly came from Arnold’s real divorce. — Chris Ryan
The Corvette test drive with Simon unknowingly describing Harry’s wife is nominated for Paxton’s extravagant dirty talk and the cut from refusing to share his secret to freely explaining it over food.
Helen’s hotel seduction is nominated as the clear personal most-rewatchable choice, praising Curtis’s transformation of her dress and appearance and the scene’s sexual impact. — Van Lathan
Curtis in Perfect is compared with her True Lies appearance; Perfect is criticized as having little story beyond the attractiveness of its stars. — Bill Simmons
Harry disguising his voice to direct his wife’s striptease is singled out as creepy. — Chris Ryan
The truth-serum interrogation and escape are nominated for Schwarzenegger’s calmly predicting the killings, the handcuff reveal, and the gun kicked into his hands while Helen watches. — Bill Simmons
The Florida Keys finale is nominated, including falling trucks, Helen and Juno fighting in the limousine, and the helicopter rescue. Miniature bridge work combined with real Harriers is praised, and Curtis and Cameron reportedly participated in the helicopter stunt. — Chris Ryan
The dangerous rescue stunt prompts a hypothetical about how a fatal accident would have changed Cameron’s career. — Bill Simmons
The Harrier rescue of Dana and the missile fired through a building are nominated despite doubts about her ability to hold on. Helen and Dana’s rapid adjustment to espionage is questioned; the final tango is praised.
The motorcycle-and-horse chase through the hotel and over the rooftops receives two final scene choices. — Van Lathan
Helen’s dance remains another final scene choice, with a recollection of keeping the sequence alone on a compilation videotape. Gib’s nonstop jokes entering Omega Sector are also praised. — Van Lathan
The cryogenic unfreezing with Gary Coleman and Vanilla Ice is a home-run four minutes: chest hair, the very long pee, the voice-volume side effect, meeting Vanessa, and the penis enlarger inventory gag. — Bill Simmons
Mustafa's Las Vegas scene, where he keeps saying he was shot and asks for the hatch to be opened, is nominated; he was brought back in the sequel.
The introduction of Dr. Evil's crew with bald Bigglesworth and his plan is a phenomenal four-to-five minute sequence; Will Ferrell slays, arriving from SNL, where he was still new and not yet mainstream.
The evil laughing scene, Austin naked while Vanessa eats a sausage, and the returning Mustafa death scene show Myers pushing a bit past unfunny and back; the evil laughing should be a meme, though there may be concerns about Robert Wagner. — Bill Simmons
The group therapy scene with Carrie Fisher is in the running for the greatest four minutes of 90s comedy and is one pick for most rewatchable; the Dr. Evil childhood speech is played in full.
The evil petting zoo line and the dynamic between Dr. Evil and his son are favorites, and the sequel leans into it more.
The dinner-party exchange questioning why Dr. Evil doesn't just shoot Austin, the reportedly improvised shushing scene, 'liquid hot magma' and the honeymoon ending are also cited.
Other nominations: the Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swingers Club with Mimi Rogers, the airplane seduction with Austin spinning around, and Tom Arnold's 'showed that turd who's boss' moment.
All agree on the group therapy scene; one is partial to Austin waking up with the long pee and the penis enlarger and calls the two tied.
