Cliffhanger (1993) ***1/2

Cliffhanger (1993) provides action thrills galore and slick direction by Renny Harlin. The characterization is pretty thin (they make a lot of stupid choices), the villains are over the top (though John Lithgow is perfectly slimy), and a good deal of suspension of disbelief is required. Additionally, some of the f/x work shows its age, but the stunts are very impressive, the mountainous landscapes are gorgeous, and there are some choice one-liners. It's just dumb enough that it doesn't deserve classic status, but not dumb or cheap enough to be a b-movie, making Stallone the right guy for the film. Cliffhanger carried the tradition of '80s actioners into the early '90s. 26 years on, it's still gripping, fun, and holds up quite well.