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Critics Consensus: In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding.
Critic Consensus: In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding.
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (32) | Rotten (2) | DVD (4)
Schwarzenegger isn't merely its subject-he's its star, and his beaming, witty, charismatic presence in the film is among the most ingratiating performances of the time.
When documentary buffs insist filmic truth is better than fiction, they'll cite this absorbing look at bodybuilding.
Full of much more heart than you might expect.
[Schwarzenegger] carries that phenomenal physique so nonchalantly that one can't help feeling charmed and reassured.
A very good film, beautifully shot and edited, intelligently structured and -- to risk what will surely seem at first a highly inappropriate term -- charming.
The most fascinating aspect of this film is the dedicated training that turns average-built young men (frequently they refer to themselves as weaklings in their early youth) into superbly-created physical edifices.
Schwarzenegger is irresistible, dominating every scene he appears in and offering the kind of T-Shirt slogan soundbites that continue to make him a favourite source for anyone looking for inspiration.
Pumping Iron becomes a fascinating glimpse at the kind of sociopathy required of living gods.
In retrospect, it is unsurprising that both of the film's main stars pursued careers in acting, because Pumping Iron is a documentary in only the most liberal sense of the word.
Pumping Iron is more or less the first proper introduction to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not the person, though. No, the persona.
More than a documentary about a bodybuilding competition, Pumping Iron is a chilling glance at the brain of a budding politician. [Full review in Spanish]
While the movie serves as an unwitting advertisement for a culture of male self-obsession, narcissism, and physical perfectionism, it also begs comment from some young boy with an Emperor's New Clothes outlook.
This is a very early look into the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Before becoming a big name action star and the Governor of California, Arnold was a very popular bodybuilder, who won worldwide championships some six years in a row. This documentary follows him and several other contenders who are gearing up for the Mr. Universe contest in South Africa. Arnold is a very interesting subject, very open and forthcoming about much of his life, his expectations, and his confidence. He even discusses the merits of working out, and makes a parallel to sexual satisfaction in an unforgettable interview. Another subject of the film is a pre-Hulk Lou Ferrigno, who constantly trains just to beat the Austrian wonder. It shows a lot about Arnold's personality and the way his confidence and charisma builds, and remains telling of his future.
Super Reviewer
An interesting, superbly well made documentary about the bodybuilding lifestyle and those heavily involved with it, notably Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. What this film does so well is how it explores the roots of all these guys and how they came to fall in love with the sport of bodybuilding, and how their pasts effected their choice of a career in life. Schwarzenegger and Ferrigno come across as totally likeable and rootable guys who you could see from the start were going to be big successes in life after bodybuilding. The film does not try to do anything special or go too long, and for that, it remains enjoyable through its running time.
Pumping Iron is the classic documentary about the sport of body building and follows Arnold Schwarzenegger as he competes for the title of Mr. Olympia. Aside from Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno is competing against him, and is one of the biggest body builders in the 1975 competition. Pumping Iron is a compelling film, one that documents an interesting sport. Nowadays, Mr. Olympia is different, but back in the 1970's, you can clearly see the sport for what it was, a pure expression of trying to craft a muscular physique. Now, bodybuilders seem to push boundaries that are absolutely insane, almost abnormal. With Pumping Iron, which follows the 1975 Mr. Olympia competition, you see bodybuilders with a more natural looking muscle build. I really enjoyed the film, and thought it was a fine documentary that chronicled this interesting sport. For fans of the sport, this is a must see, and it definitely gives you an insight behind the scenes as to how body builders prepare for the event. The star of the film is of course Arnold Schwarzenegger and he really steals the show here. I really enjoyed the film, and thought it was a fine documentary on this interesting sport. If you hold an interest in the sport, or are interested in the subject, Pumping Iron is an engaging film that follows song of Bodybuilding most important contenders of the 1975 season. This is a well thought out film, one that definitely shows us an aspect of the sport that we rarely see. Fans will enjoy this one, and it also might be a worthwhile viewing for non body building fans as well simply for the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger is in it.
Whoooo yes sir.
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