User reviews

Well, this is indeed a classic Schwarzenegger movie, no doubt about it. And it is actually a movie that proves to be timeless, as you can watch it again and again.

The storyline is good and director Walter Hill picks up the pace from the very beginning and doesn't really take his foot off of the speed pedal throughout the movie. And that is a good thing, because the audience is in for an action ride here, as was the tendency with the 80s action movies starring Schwarzenegger.

Needless to say that there is an abundance of action throughout the course of "Red Heat".

Arnold Schwarzenegger is superb in the role of Ivan Danko, and his accent is just glorious for the role. Jim Belushi actually fits the role of Art Ridzik, an American police officer tired of his job, worn down and just lashing out at the world; he has that particular quality to his demeanor. And that brings us to Ed O'Ross, in the role of Viktor Rostavili, because he fits that archetypical type of bad guy so well and really had that gritty look to him.

Now, you might want to put your sense of realism on the shelf before you sit down and watch "Red Heat", because that is not the main focus of the movie. You know what you get here, Schwarzenegger facing insurmountable odds and coming out on top - the same formula used in all of his action movies, essentially. But hey, it was good entertainment, and that is all that matter.

But while "Red Heat" is not the defining movie of Schwarzenegger's movie career, it is definitely one of the more memorable and outstanding movies.

I am rating "Red Heat" seven out of ten stars. I grew up on Schwarzenegger's movies and the 1988 movie "Red Heat" is still as entertaining and watchable in 2019 as it was back in 1988.

I really liked this movie. I have a thing for late 80's action flicks like Beverly Hills Cop or 48 hrs. I thought this was pretty good movie. One of the members on here said Belushi's character was the worst part of the movie. I thought Belushi was pretty good and comedic. I love the dialogue in the movie between Danko and Ridzik at the coffee shop. Overall I would definitely recommend this movie. I also find the content to be appealing. Russian Mob and drug smuggling. I also thought the bad guy Viktor was a really cool part played by Ed O'Ross who also plays Dutch Schultz right hand man in Hoodlum which is not nearly as good as Red Heat.

It's a fun action-comedy and that's that! You can make all the arguments you want. This is definitely not for the discerning viewer. Maybe I'm just easily satisfied by the buddy cop genre. Plus, I love Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies, in general. His action scenes are always fun to watch, and he always seems to come up with great one-liners. In this case, he spouts out a few dryly humorous lines as his stonefaced Russian character. Jim Belushi provides most of the laughs, though, as his unorthodox partner. They both do a good job, though Arnold's Russian accent seems quite strained. Then again, as the film heats up, you really don't pay attention to details like that. Also look out for the beautiful Gena Gershon in an early performance. Those in the mood for "Henry V" should definitely steer clear. Those in the mood for mindless buddy cop fluff that'll keep you excited and keep you laughing should check this movie out.

My score: 7 (out of 10)

Arnie's best days are long gone but here, he gets to shine, maybe because the character of Danko perfectly matches his sometimes "wooden" performance. It's definitely one of his strongest roles. it's a movie that has clichés and the story is nothing extraordinary, but the movie works well and is entertaining every time, even if you know what's going to happen.

Red Heat is a surprisingly good movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi have good chemistry in this Russian cop/cop buddy film. In this film at least it makes sense for Arnie to have an accent. There is some good lines and the back and forth between these two is pretty funny sometimes. When Jim Belushi plays a cop he puts on this irreverant "I don't like the rules but I get things done" style. It is this style combined with Arnold's "complete objective at all costs" style that makes this film work. The footage that was shot in Red Square is breathtaking, and overall the movie manages to take a basic plot and make it entertaining. On a side note, the holdout gun used by the villian (Ed O'Ross) in the movie is pretty damn cool if you're into that kind of thing. Bottom Line: This is worth getting, or you can rent it every once and awhile if you can only take Arnold for so long.

This movie was excellent for it's kind. Two good guys were thrown together in a dangerous situation of good vs. evil. The film's title Red Heat refers to a war between cops and druglord's in the former USSR and also Chicago. Arnold of course played the tough guy character and Jim plays the comedy relief. My favorite movie of it's kind besides Bad Boys. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of this type of film.

Walter Hill knows how to direct action movies, and he does'nt let up with this solid thriller. Arnie and Jim Belushi take on a Russian drug dealer(Ed O'Ross) who is now working with some "gangtas" in Chicago. The shootout's are good and the ending bus chase is cool and theres some good dialogue. The only problem is Arnie's character is too much like the Terminator and there are no one-liners like in his other films. But besides that, this is a solid action movie and I recommend it highly. 4/5

My mom bought Red Heat on DVD a few weeks ago and she had mentioned how much she loved the movie to me and that I should check it out. I had an hour and a half to waste last night so I figured I would give the movie a shot and I'm wondering why my mom is so in love with this film like it was the best film of the 80's. But I guess everyone has their different tastes. See, I had absolutely no problem with Arnold, he did everything he was supposed to do, but it was his chemistry with Belushi, it didn't really work since Belushi is more annoying than funny. Belushi just ruined the chemistry they could have had to make this a memorable buddy cop film.

Ivan is from Russia, he goes to Chicago, Illinois to find a villain who is slowly turning Russia into the next Miami. Well, Ivan must work with Art Ridzik, a cop from Chicago, when the villain gets away. Together they must find out how to capture him, but Art is going to have a hard time with the "iron jawed" soldier who likes to do things his own way. Not to mention Ivan with Art who has to stick by the American book of police brutality.

Red Heat isn't a bad movie, it was cool seeing one of Gina Gershon's first roles in film, she actually did a decent job in Red Heat; it wasn't a surprise that she made it big afterwards. Arnold did a good job as well, I loved how monotone his lines were, he was great. But it was Belushi who just killed it for me, no offense to Jim, but he's not John, I recommend that he just stays away from comedies.

5/10

I am a big fan of Buddy Cop movies like Lethal Weapon, Starsky & Hutch and Rush Hour but somehow I missed this classic Schwarzenegger movie where he teams up with comedy legend Jim Belushi but after watching this movie a few years ago it has now become one of my favourite Buddy Cop movies.

Schwarzenegger plays Ivan Danko a tough badass Russian Cop who shoots up bad guys, drinks Vodka and is dedicated to being a Cop and serving his country. Danko is sent too America (Chicago) to escort escaped Russian drug dealer Victor Rostavila (Ed O'Ross) and escort him back to Moscow for execution. Things don't go as planned though and Victor escapes Dankos custody with the help of some new associates who he has a deal with to buy drugs and ship them back to Moscow. Danko refuses to go back to Moscow without Victor in his custody so he is teamed up with Art Ridzic (Belushi) a badass but sleezly, no nonsense Cop who breaks the rules and disobeys order. Together they make a badass team who kick ass and take names when they're not arguing that is!.

I really enjoyed the violence in this movie there's plenty of blood and injury detail that you don't see a lot of in Buddy Cop movies as they usually focus more on the comedy aspect than the action and violence but Red Heat does both very well combining Belushi's humour and Schwarzenegger's unique style of badass action hero together to make a movie that makes you laugh while still giving you the cool guns ablaze action scene's you enjoy.

I highly recommend this movie if your a fan of 80s Buddy Cop movies and you enjoy seeing Schwarzenegger shoot up bad guys and making jokes while having both the looks and personality of a Russian Terminator.

Walter Hill is an underrated guy. He kind of single-handedly created the cop buddy genre with 48 hours and Red Heat. Arnie's best days are long gone (they probably ended with Twins and Total Recall), but here, he gets to shine, maybe because the character of Danko perfectly matches his sometimes "wooden" performance. It's definitely one of his strongest roles. Ed O'Ross is also brilliant as Danko's counterpart and although only has a few scenes, he owns them. Usually, he plays funnier characters (even in Moonlighting or Full Metal Jacket, his characters seem a bit tongue in cheek), but this is probably the strongest role I remember him in.

The movie oozes atmosphere. The rainy weather, the streets of Moscow(Budapest), the great soundtrack by James Horner...sure, it's a movie that has clichés and the story is nothing extraordinary, but the movie works well and is entertaining every time, even if you know what's going to happen. There's just something about basically making this kind of a Soviet affair in American land. Highly recommended.

Walter Hill is a director known for his tough guy action movies (The Warriors, Extreme Prejudice, Southern Comfort) and in the early 80s he scored big with 48 Hours, a story of mis-matched partners working together to catch the bad guys. He repeated that formula again in 1988 with Red Heat, though it had become a regular cliché by this point.

Ivan Danko is a no-nonsense Soviet cop sent to Chicago to extradite a notorious Russian criminal back to Communist soil. While in America he is teamed-up with easy-going Detective Art Ridzik as they jump over new hurdles and suffer multiple setbacks. As an action comedy it offers a fare amount (but just not enough) of laughs and thrills. Big Arn is amusing a the brick-faced Danko and Belushi (in his first of three appearances in Arnie movies) is likable enough. Peter Boyle and a young Laurence Fishburne help appear in smaller roles as Ridzik's cynical superiors, but are not given much else to do. Gina Gershon (yum yum) shows up as a damsel in distress, but extends the plot without deepening it. Even James Horner's score is kind of middle-ground, neither good nor terrible.

There's no real problem or fault with Red Heat except that is just doesn't offer an exhilarating amount of what it sets up. It's so straight-forward and lacking in mystery and intrigue when it could so easily have written in. A bit of a missed-opportunity, but certainly worth watching and owning for action and Arnie fans.

Irritatingly unfunny action-comedy sees James Belushi and Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up as a mismatched US/Soviet cop team, with "hilarious" consequences.

Belushi, an hysterically funny, off-the-wall zany comic... in his own mind... overplays his formula "loose cannon" role with irksome predictability. Arnhuld does little better with Ivan Danko, a character you might call one-dimensional if he were that complex.

The film is one of constant contradictions. The brief nudity and frequent bad language work against the MOR buddy cop comedy. The settings are low-key and squalid, yet directed with a brash, mainstream feel. There are good actors, such as Laurence Fishburne, yet wasted on severely underwritten lines, sloppy editing and indifferent direction. All the items commonly associated with half-assed low brow actioners are present: hysterically screaming, half-dressed women; characters yelling with "comic" effect as a vehicle goes out of control and flies through the air; plus police chiefs that threaten you'll be "back to a desk job on Monday."

The cold war politics are dealt with in a childishly patronising way, while the plot is a series of perfunctory set pieces loosely strung together. There doesn't even appear to be three full acts, the climax drawing short and having little emotional resonance.

Yet it's impossible to really slate the film, as it was really just one in a long line of "seemed good at the time" weak star vehicles for then up-and-coming Arnie. It might not be any good, but he does get to take his shirt off, shoot a few people and get into fights. Well that's all right then. 4/10.

Red Heat, starring Arnold "Sir Accents-a-lot" Schwarzenegger, is a peculiar film on many levels. Released just a year before the fall of the Soviet Union, it stars a famous American actor with Austrian origins as a tough Russian cop traveling to USA in order to fetch a Soviet criminal that has escaped there. Just, think about that for a moment. Arnold as a Soviet cop, trying to do a Russian accent. If that doesn't sell the movie to you, nothing will.

But, does it work? Well, in a word, yes. It follows the usual Schwarzenegger formula in that there's a lot of action, one-liners, muscular men going mano-a-mano, cheesy 80s music and wanton destruction of civic property. It's not the best movie Arnold has ever done, but it is a good example of his typical ware.

The side characters are also a lot of fun, and I do like that the script paints Arnold as a good guy, making this one of the few Cold War era Hollywood films where the main actor is both a Soviet and the good guy. There's no snark aimed at his nation. There are of course jokes about him being from the Soviet Union, but just as many jokes are played at the expense of the Americans, and they're never mean-spirited or trying to put the two nations against one another.

All in all Red Heat is a classic 80s action film with some surprising elements that elevate it above its peers. Worth a watch for all action fans.

2 cops, one from Soviet Union , bouncing Arnold Schwazzenegger, other from Chicago cop , wisecracking James Belushi , join forces to catch the Eastern Bloc's biggest drug czar. The hunk , unstoppable Russian arrives in Chicago , teaming up with a reluctant , unorthodox cop on the traíl of Soviet pusher , cop killer , Ed O'Ross. Along the way , the Russian Arnold who barely smile in this one , walks in, demolishes the bad guys and walks out again , just some odd bruise for effect. Later on , the peculiar relationship among the outlandish cops goes on growing , including sympathetic dialog , as the cops compare firepower and the Russian policeman states : Who is Dirty Harry¿ . This main cast formed by the boxoffice actors Arnold Swazzenegger and James Belushi being well accompanied by a competent support cast as Peter Boyle as chief police , Richard Bright as a deputy , Pruitt Taylor Vince as a hotel manager , Brent Jennings as bad guy , Gina Gershow as a dance girl , Brion James as a prisoner and Larry Fishburne as a Police Inspector , among others.

Lots of slam-bang action , swearing , shouting , shooting , and knocking over cars and other convenient obstacles with no much sense , it claims to be the first Hollywood production to be shot in the Red Square , Moscow . But , at times , it seems too similar to Hill's previous films . There shows up the tough Arnold , no matter how different the script , producers always give him the same role .Here is much the same in any language , even when Arnie is a Soviet policeman comes to Chicago to bring home a Russian ringleader who shot his comrade copm. Here presumably Arnold takes his shirt off less than other films . Arnie growls the usual phrases and expeditive sentences, along with James Belushi as a local cop giving some passable lines in a canon of crass national jibes .This is "48 hours" by Walter Hill formula crosses with Gorky Park by Michael Apted .This is a surface material , moderately entertaining and contemptuous , as well as amusing enough , thanks to the loads of action and fights .At any rate, a partíal return to form for Walter Hill with Arnold playing the Soviet the way he plays all his juggernaut , only more taciturn, as usual . The most visually interest stuff happens in Moscow when Arnold takes off enemies and the thrilling final , when occurs a violent confrontation between large buses , being hugely amplified by spectacular vehícles crashes .

It contains atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti.And pounding and thrilling musical score by the prolific James Horner , though composed by synthesizer . This is a major production , well and lavishly financed by the powerful producers Maro Kassar , Andrew Vadjna from Carolco Productions . The motion picture was professionally directed by Walter Hill.The veteran craftsman Hill is a good writer , producer , filmmaker who has made a lot of films of all kinds of genres , working from late 60s , early 70s to nowadays . As he has directed action movies as Hard times , The driver , Southern comfort , The warriors , Extreme prejudice, 48 Hours , Another 48 hours , Last man standing , Johnny Handsome , Undisputed. Science fiction: Supernova . Western: Geronimo American legend, Wild Bill . Long riders . Comedy : Brewster's millions . Terror : Tales of the Crypt . Musical : Crossroads . Rating 6/10.

The first 15 minutes of the movie occurs in Red Square in Moscow. Grim, Stone-faced, distant Moscow homicide cop Ivan Danko (Arnold Schwarzenegger) tries to apprehend Russian Georgian drug dealer Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross) and his brother. Viktor escapes, but not before he shoots Danko's partner, Yuri. In turn, Viktor's brother is killed. Viktor escapes to Chicago, where he teams up with black thugs known as the Cleanheads. They are cocaine pushers.

Danko is sent to Chicago where he teams up with vocal, wisecracking, plainclothes detective Art Ridzik (John Belushi) in order to track down Victor to extradite him. After he was captured and escorted by Danko and Ridzik, though, Viktor escaped when he was assisted by the Cleanheads, who were dressed like policemen. Ridzick's partner was killed in the mêlée.

Thus the only plot of this action-thriller is to capture Viktor; there is neither mystery nor intrigue. There are, however, the obligatory shoot-outs and chase scenes. Note that neither Ridzick nor Danko believes in the Miranda Act. The ending involves a bus chase through the streets of Chicago at night, followed by a duel. This is the first movie in which an American director was allowed to film on location in Red Square. It was also filmed in Budapest and in Chicago.

He is a Moscow cop who gets a sidekick-James Belushi. He is the funniest person in movie. Its a good action movie with pretty cool action scenes. The bus scene at the end was cool. Worth having for Arnold fans. Plus, Arnold has a crew-cut which I think was cool.

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Ivan Danko a Soviet cop who teams up with Chicago cop Art Ridzik (James Belushi) to avenge both of their partner's death (One Soviet and one American) at the hands of a ruthless drug-lord Victor Rasta (Ed O'Ross) while battling the red tape provided by their superiors (Peter Boyle and Laurence Fishbourne). When you look at the talent involved, not only Schwarzenegger, Belushi(Always underrated in my opinion, when he isn't on sitcoms), Boyle, O'Ross and Fishbourne you would expect greatness. With Walter Hill helming the picture, Red Heat contained much promise. Unfortunately the movie is an unwatchable dud. Red Heat has no overall verve in the story to propel it into the action sequences and while these are occasionally exciting the movie's pace is off and Hill has clearly fashioned his superior 48 HRS routine on a pair of actors that have zero chemistry when the cameras are on. Indeed Schwarzenegger is so gruff that he makes his turn in The Terminator seem positively lively and it goes without saying that the glasnost influenced teaming does little to disguise the fact that this all extremely dull material made up to be a vehicle for two stars that looked (but failed) to add a more dramatic actioner to their staples.

* out of 4-(Bad)

Stereotypes are big - or rather were big. Almost as big as the buddy comedy tropes in the 80s. But this is the making of Walter Hill - and while that doesn't mean this is an amazing movie, it does have quite a few and neat action sequences.

It also has a beginning that did surprise me. I reckon that in Germany everything is being dubbed. But in its original audio, the Russians talk Russian in the beginning. I didn't stop the clock, but at least for the first 10-15 minutes I reckon either American audiences had to endure subtitles at the beginning or power through only understanding the action that took place. It is quite self explanatory.

Still quite the leap of faith to take and quite the risk I would think. After that Schwarzeneggers accent is being somewhat covered by him trying to do a Russian accent. He breaks quite a few times, so not really convincing, but hey they tried at least, right? If that and the cliches do not bother you, there is some fun and a lot of stunts ahead of you. Belushi has quite a few ad lips - some do not work with the rest of the clip, but I don't think you should really mind that that much - you would have less fun watching this

> Red Heat was altogether different in its depiction of the Russian culture - quite a bit more realistic. I'm really surprised that there are such people in the US who really do believe this. Are you serious? Well, that's even more funnier than the movie. You know, Red Heat is a kind of hieratic film in Russia today. It's a great way to have a nice time, making fun of stupid stereotypes about Russia. And the most funny thing is that these stereotypes (as we can see from such comments) are still alive. "Close to reality", lol, how do you know that? Anyway, Red Heat is one of the greatest representatives of so-called "klukva-art". And the less of bears, balalaikas and matrioshkas sure can't bring it "closer to reality".

P.S. Doviray mnie, tovarisch!

Red Heat (1988) is American Bad Ass action film my favorite action classic childhood movie. Every time I see it I kept getting excited to see in it again. Red Heat is a buddy routine classic underrated action flick! I grew up with this film and I still love watching it today. Classic 80's action flick with Arnold doing his bad Russian accent and Belushi's hyper kinetics' acting. None the less they have good chemistry together and there's plenty of good one liners and action sequences to make this one very entertaining. Seeing the styles and fashions of the day is pretty funny and brings back lots of good memories from that period.

After The Running Man Arnold made Red Heat. At that time it was a quite good film but now the movie looks a little out dated. Between The Terminator and Raw Deal there is Schwarzenegger's Red Heat, the 1988 action peace which also co-stars Jim Belushi who provides the comic relief from the Director who gave us Eddie Murphy in 48 hrs. Red Heat is the typical 80's action cop genre picture Arnold entertained us with during the 80's. This also would mark his last 80's picture he would then be back in 1990's Total Recall and the phenomenal sequel Terminator 2 a year later. But back to this gem. Red Heat is one of Arnie's finest movies. Though not taken seriously by a lot of his fans and fans of the 80's movies. Both Belushi and Arnold deliver really fine performances that match each other well. Of course a very young Gina Gershon makes a little appearance. Still looking exactly the same as she does today. This is one of my favorite Arnold & Belushi movie. Also Gina Gershon and Laurence Fishburne are co staring in this film. Also I think Gina Gershon did terrific job in here she also co started in Steven Seagal's film Out For Justice (1991).

This film is very bashed and hated, I grew up with this film. I love that Arnold plays A Russian Cop who fly's in to the States to find and track down a ruthless criminal Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross) to bring him back to Russia. I still think Red Heat is one of Walter Hill's best movies, his first film was 48 Hrs. (1982) with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. I love James Belushi as a street wise detective Art Ridzik. I love his sense of humor and his charm and his outstanding lines. I think he acted very well as Detective in here. The shootouts are a awesome. I love the action scenes especially the opening fight scene in the snow, the hotel shootout and the bus chase (which is one of the more creative ideas I have seen in an action movie chase scene). Another thing I really liked was the "Podbyrin 9.2mm pistol" since I have an interest in guns. Tim Lafrance who was also the armorer on "Miami Vice" built the gun for the film using parts from the famous Walther P-38 to beef up the Desert Eagle, since Walter Hill told him he wanted "A P-38 on steroids". The most funny scene for me is that guy comes to the car when Arnold sits in it and wants to carjack him so Ivan ask: "Do you know Miranda?" the hooligan answers back "Never heard of the bitch." pow, Ivan punches him unconscious. I love the music score by James Horner, he made a perfect music theme for the film.

The rating I am giving is 10/10 this movie deserves it.

Red Heat is a 1988 American buddy cop action film directed by Walter Hill. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Moscow narc Ivan Danko, and James Belushi, as Chicago detective Art Ridzik. Finding themselves on the same case, Danko and Ridzik work as partners to catch a cunning and deadly Soviet Georgian drug kingpin, Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross), who also happens to be the killer of Danko's previous partner back in Soviet Russia.

10/10 Score: A Studio: Carolco Pictures StudioCanal, TriStar Pictures Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Belushi, Peter Boyle, Ed O'Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Gina Gershon, Brion James Director Walter Hill Producers: Walter Hill, Gordon Carroll, Mario Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna Screenplay: Walter Hill, Harry Kleiner, Troy Kennedy Martin Story by Walter Hill Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 44 Mins. Budget: $29,000,000 Box Office: $34,994,648

Moves well and fast, and it's interesting enough. Russian Cop in US working to get one of his trying to sell drugs. Dialogue isn't really great, and the action is your standard cop routine. Wouldn't call the whole thing memorable, but has some decent set pieces (they certainly had a budget). It's got some style here and there, with some vibrant neon colors (stands out in a good way). But most of the movie is very Chicago-looking.

I expected Belushi to be more annoying, but he keeps up with Arnold. What can I say? Can't complain, didn't hate it.