Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger is an extraordinarily likeable alpine spectacle with an emotionally powerful opening scene and an unpredictable screenplay packed with action, suspense and ideas, all set in the beautiful Italian Dolomites, with a well-rendered gang of wisecracking goons. The over-lit studio interiors are entertaining with their retro energy, and Trevor Jones serves up a nice Mohican motif. Great actors. If it weren’t for the holes in the logic, there would be no reason to fault Cliffhanger. (05/28/2004)

One Sylvester Stallone’s best films, and also one of his best roles. This is of course thanks to Renny Harlin, who serves us another magnificent masterpiece full of action, an original setting, and relatively unfamiliar actors. One breathtaking scene follows another, and throughout the two hours, the film never loses its pace. The script is made for the two tough guys Stallone and Rooker, and it fits them fantastically, especially with the addition of Trevor Jones's music. We have no choice but to bow down to the director's talent for captivating the audience. Maximum satisfaction within the genre. (10/23/2005)

The nerve-wracking opening scene makes you feel so nervous that you are blissfully anxious about what's coming next. Though you won’t see anything as exciting for the rest of the film, it still has to be said that this is a highly above-average action flick, even though the ravages of time have gnawed away at some of the scenes (some of the sets and visual effects are quite dodgy). Stallone's temporary comeback after a string of abysmal comedies was a success. PS: Experienced mountaineers will probably miss the genre classification "comedy" :) (07/03/2002)

From a technical standpoint, the film is pushed to the maximum capabilities of the 1990s era. When you add an almost otherworldly cast, a surprisingly intriguing plot, and stunning locations and exteriors, I believe we have one of the best films in the action genre in history. Stallone was on fire in every movie at that time, so just having him in the film was a huge benefit. The actors on the opposing side also delivered great performances, especially Lithgow, who thoroughly enjoyed playing the slimy and deceitful villain. As I've mentioned, the action is top-notch, especially because it's not repetitive and boasts diverse sequences. The helicopter finale is both impressive and efficient, with nothing over the top. It's a film I would gladly watch again, knowing I won't be disappointed. I simply can't criticize it. For me, it's a solid 89%. P.S. And the musical score... absolutely fantastic. (09/25/2019)

I haven’t reviewed Cliffhanger? One of Sly's best films with perfectly shot climbing and action scenes, divine music and a slimy villain? Okay, okay... five stars, then. If you want to see a similar film, however, definitely reach for Eastwood's The Eiger Sanction rather than the more recent Vertical Limit. (04/16/2010)