Rating: 
Summary: A classic.
Review:
The physiques displayed in pumping iron, although probably not attainable with out steroids still, looked like they could be attainable to average weight trainer given enough effort and detection. This is what is different from the modern body building monsters who are so obviously using steroids/insulin and any other drug they can to build their grotesque physiques. Although the physiques in the movie are probably bigger then what the average gym enthusiast would like to achieve they are still are esthetically pleasing for the most part. This spot lights the problems with modern bodybuilding more then it points to this being a great movie.
What makes this a great movie is the personality of Arnold. He looms larger then life over the other body builders. When you look at Lou Ferrigno who is physically larger then Arnold he seems small in comparison because of Arnold attitude and ability to physiologically manipulate Lou. This story of a man of physically impeccable stature being "talked" out of victory is quite compelling and translates to areas of life that have nothing to do with bodybuilding.
The extras in the movie are great including the admission of Arnold that he and other body builders used steroids to attain their physiques really adds to the feeling that a moment in time has been captured. A sport that will never be as pure as it was when this movie was made is displayed magnificently. After seeing this movie one will never need to see a body building competition because everything that could be seen at one has already been seen by the viewer.
For people with an interest in weight training this movie is a must buy for the motivational factor alone.
Rating:
Summary: sculpting with muscle
Review: This is a fascinating docudrama, a "blend of fact and fiction" that centers on the preparation for the Mr. Olympia competition in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1975. The months before the competition is where the story has been enhanced for added dramatic effect, and follows the bodybuilders as they get ready from Muscle Beach in California to a gym in Brooklyn.
Lou Ferrigno (later to be better known from his "The Hulk" character) is one of 5 time winner Schwarzenegger's main challengers, and their determination and discipline is extraordinary, and gives one admiration for what bodybuilders go through, and appreciation of their ability to change the human form, even if like me, one finds the look rather reptilian and gross.
It's hard to not like Arnold Schwarzenneger, "The Austrian Oak", here 28 years old, 6'2 and 240 lbs. He has a disarming charm and bravado, and a natural intelligence, and the mental aspect of bodybuilding cannot be underestimated.
Conceived, directed and written by George Butler, this is a marvelous look into the "no pain, no gain" challenge of sculpting with muscle. The pacing is great without a single scene lacking interest, and the editing excellent. Total time is 85 minutes.
The DVD "Extras" are not to be missed, especially "Raw Iron", which includes many outtakes and tells how the film was made, and "Iron Insights", an interview with Schwarzenneger where one finds out which scenes were created and which were actual events.
A film that will be of interest to anyone who likes success stories and how it is achieved by those who challenge themselves and keep focused on the positive, it will also be enjoyed for its pure entertainment value.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fantastic
Review: The movie is fantastic. Whenever I lack inspiration to get myself in the gym, this baby is out of its covers and into the dvd player. 10 minutes later I am amped and yearning for iron!
The extra features make this dvd a must have. It was awesome seeing all the original big guys getting together and talking about what pumping iron meant to them.
Probably the coolest part of the extra features is the interview with arnold where he dispells many of the myths surrounding this show (the stolen t-shirt, smoking the joint, arnold's cold presence in the movie, steroids (!), lou's dad etcetera).
Rating:
Summary: Docudrama
Review: The 25th anniversary edition of Pumping Iron is loaded with special features and behind the scenes footage of the making of the self-titled "docudrama." All the bodybuilders and filmmakers are interviewed, looking back 25 years ago to what really happened. It's amazing to see that a good portion of the film was actually complete fabrication. Nobody ever hid Katz's t-shirt, for example - the scene with Waller saying he was going to hide it actually was shot well after the competition where he lost it. Ferrigno's father wasn't actually involved in his training - they asked him to fake that so they could paint Lou's character differently. These are just a couple of the secrets that are revealed on the DVD. If you are a fan of the film, you need to get this to see how much true info was left out. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it, even if you have no interest in bodybuilding. It's a fascinating look into the world of bodybuilders from a safe distance. This is also the dawn of the golden age of the sport, when it was really just getting started in Venice Beach. This edition of the DVD exposes some remarkable secrets about the original, as well as all the info you could ever want about Arnold. Very entertaining.
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