10 Reasons That Prove Sylvester Stallone Is Underrated

10. The Opening Of Cliffhanger

Many of Stallone's films have classic scenes - most Rocky fights or montages qualify, as does the brilliant silent showdown in Copland - but it's the opening to this, his early nineties action comeback, that can lay claim to not only being a great scene but also the start of the action hero admitting his weaknesses. The dramatic James Horner music soars above the shots of the aptly named Rocky Mountains (actually the Dolomites) as the camera closes in on Gabe Walker as he climbs a perilous overhang. So far, so indestructible hero. It's with the steel cable rescue of Hal and his girlfriend Sarah that events turn for the worst as her harness snaps and the only person that can save her from a 4000ft drop is Gabe but, in a horribly tense build, her hand slips from her glove and she falls to her death, staring up at her would-be rescuer. In the cinema at the time of release, the reaction was incredible: there were the expected gasps but, following that, there was the sound of people putting food on the floor, not able to eat anymore. It might sound silly now in a world a fallible heroes and dizzying special effects, but back then, the audience couldn't believe that Rambo had let an innocent fall to their death. Stallone, after a few years of bad flops like Rambo III, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot not only came back with a great action film but also a classic opening that began to redefine not only his own career but that of the indestructible action hero. That alone should be saluted but many consign this film to 'Die Hard on a Mountain' and that's doing it a massive injustice.