Cliffhanger (1993)

Hang on said the cover. I did and it meant I pondered whether to buy the DVD or not. Luckily for Stallone’s royalties, I made the purchase. Joking aside I did actually catch this in the flicks. It had a fantastic trailer which is still one of my favourites. It just showcases the action and spectacular scenery with a classical music soundtrack. It’s on the DVD so let me know what you think.

Cliffhanger (1993) DVD cover

Sly plays Gabe Walker who is actually a rescue climber or rock jock as his buddy Frank calls him. Gabe is just hanging out (first and last time I’ll use that one!) on a rock when his best friend and fellow climber Hal (Michael ‘Henry: portrait of a serial killer’ Rooker) and his girlfriend Sarah are stranding on top of a mountain. The rescue is going well when a clip on Sarah’s harness brakes. Gabe tries to save her by going after her. In a very tense scene Sarah slips and falls to her death. This drives a wedge between Gabe and Hal. Gilt ridden Gabe quits climbing and is planning to leave for good. The only person who doesn’t blame him is former girlfriend and colleague Jess (Janine Turner).

Meanwhile FBI agent Travers (played by Rex ‘CSI Miami’ Linn) is transporting cash on a plane when all of a sudden the plane is high jacked mid air. Surprise number one: Travers is in on it and after a bit of a shoot out (featuring Timecop’s Mctusak), two of the cases of money fall from the plane onto the mountain range that Gabe and co work on. So before you can say ‘die hard on a mountain’, John Lithgow and his band of mercenaries are making fake distress calls and terrorising the mountain in search of the cash.

Surprise number two: English actor Craig Fairbrass is in it. Yes, that’s right. Sadly is he awful due to his bad English accent. Why do American films have to have an English baddie with an exaggerated their accent? Still it could have been worse, they could have got the late Brion James to reprise his English baddie from Tango and Cash, “bollax” and “winker” and all his other exaggerated bad swearing.

Hal goes to help them and is soon captured leaving Gabe and Jess to find the money to exchange for Hal.

Plot wise that’s about it. Now for the Stallone checklist:

•    Close up of bulging muscle with large pulsating veins. Check
•    Shot of Stallone running in slow motion. Check
•    Shot of Stallone’s ‘O’ face whilst running in slow motion. Check
•    Has a hand in writing the screen play. Check

Joking aside I admit to being a life long Stallone fan. Whilst most people do think of him of stupid meat head many forget that he was Oscar nominated in both acting and writing for Rocky. Award wise he then went downhill with the Worst Actor of the Decade Razzie in the 80’s. He definitely did deserver a career dive after Get Carter but he has since proven his worth with Rocky Balboa.

Cliffhanger is well worth watching if you have a spare evening, some beers, and a kebab shop which delivers.
Buy Cliffhanger [1993] on DVD