CLIFFHANGER

US, 1993, 112 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Paul Winfield, Ralph Waite, Caroline Goodall.
Directed by Renny Harlin.

Cliffhanger is, as its title suggests, an action adventure with excitement and climaxes. It is a star vehicle for Sylvester Stallone, regaining box office popularity after his attempts at comedy (Oscar, Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot). After this he stayed in action mode with Demolition Man.

The film was directed by Rennie Harlan (Prison, Adventures of Ford Fairlane and, up to this point, best known for the action and stunts in Die Hard Too. Here, with the help of beautiful Italian mountain locations and spectacular stunts, he creates an action adventure which is conventional, but keeps an audience entertained. The film has a strong supporting cast with Michael Rooker and Janine Turner as Stallone's assistants, John Lithgow with an extraordinary British accent as the arch villain, Caroline Goodall as his evil pilot and Ralph Waites as a sympathetic helicopter pilot.

The film combines mountain adventure with an impossible heist, a mid-air robbery of the treasury - and the search for cases of money in the mountains.

1.The film as a Sylvester Stallone action feature, action adventure, the mountains and the spectacular scenery, the heist and the search for the money?

2.The mountains, spectacular, situation for action? The editing and pace? The score?

3.The title - literally referring to the mountains, the background of the old action adventure films and serials? Audience expectations?

4.The opening, Gabe and Hal, Sarah and the danger, the decisions to save her, the tension? Her death? The clash between Gabe and Hal? The aftermath and Gabe disappearing, lacking confidence, Hal's suspicions?

5.Gabe's return, renewing the bonds with Jessie, Hal and his suspicions? The call for their help, climbing the mountain, working with Hal, the confrontation with Qualen and the gang?

6.The treasury, the planes, the official, the money, the official shooting the guards, the mid-air robbery, the crash, the plan to retrieve the cases?

7.Qualen and his British accent, an over-the-top villain? The members of the gang and their loyalty? The pilot and her determination? The cases, the signals, travelling over the mountains, the dangers? Crystal and her confrontation, death? Qualen unscrupulous? The finding of the cases, the taking of Hal, the chase for Gabe? The confrontation with the teenagers and killing one?

8.Gabe and Hal, knowledge of the mountains, their hardships, the search, outwitting Qualen? Avalanches, tunnels and caves, the precarious bridge, ambushes, the rabbit with the signal - the various devices to elude Qualen?

9.Hal, the confrontation, his death? Gabe and the confrontation with Kynette, the tricks, outwitting him?

10.Jessie, her skills, going into action, friendship with Frank? Frank and the helicopter - and his death? Jessie and her pursuit? Taken by Qualen?

11.The teenagers, their Bill and Ted style, unfortunately on the mountain, death, the other giving the warning?

12.The build-up to the climax, the fight, the traditional goodies and baddies, the action spectacular with helicopters, ropes, cliffs?

13.Hal and his destroying the money, Qualen's desperation, his death? Enjoyable action spectacle?