Editing Pumping Iron (section)

==Reception==
[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger being filmed for Pumping Iron.jpg|thumb|Schwarzenegger being filmed for ''Pumping Iron'']]
The film received positive reviews from critics. On the [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 92%, with an average rating of 7/10.<ref name="tomato">[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pumping_iron/ Pumping Iron], rottentomatoes.com, accessed December 30, 2019.</ref> The critical consensus reads, "In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, ''Pumping Iron'' provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding."<ref name="tomato"/> On [[Metacritic]] the film has a score of 72% based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Pumping Iron (1977) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/pumping-iron |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2020-05-04 }}</ref>

[[Richard Eder]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the film "an interesting, rather slick and excessively long documentary about the small but intensely competitive world of bodybuilding."<ref>Eder, Richard (January 19, 1977). [https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/19/archives/film-muscles-galorebulging-mystique.html "Film: Muscles Galore".] ''[[The New York Times]]''. 62.</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Technical credits are generally excellent with Fiore's camerawork a major asset. Commercial aspects will depend on the interest in local markets in the sport itself. Certainly, after the first quarter hour of flexing muscles, they all begin to look alike to the non-athletic viewer."<ref>"Film Reviews: Pumping Iron". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. January 19, 1977. 22.</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote, "The film allows us to get to know two bodybuilders very well, and, as a result, 'Pumping Iron' is much more a story of human beings than it is a freak show. I actually ended up caring who won the contest."<ref>Siskel, Gene (March 18, 1977). "'Pumping Iron' strikes imposing Show of men behind the muscles". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 2, p. 1.</ref> He ranked it #9 in his year-end list of the best films of 1977.<ref>Siskel, Gene (January 1, 1978). "'Annie Hall' gives a laughing lift to year of space races". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 6, p. 2-4.</ref>

[[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "Directed by Butler and Robert Fiore, who is also the film's very adroit cinematographer, the witty and entertaining 'Pumping Iron' confronts what has been generally considered as a rather exotic subculture with the utmost sophistication. Butler and Fiore regard the bodybuilders with neither compassion nor ridicule but rather a steadfast, cool detachment—even when they themselves are being nakedly manipulative—which makes for a slick, shrewdly calculated, highly amusing and thoroughly enjoyable experience."<ref>Thomas, Kevin (April 18, 1977). "Men Behind the Muscles". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part IV, p. 1.</ref> Gary Arnold of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called it "an amusing, buoyant documentary about competitive body building," and observed that "Schwarzenegger is the first personality since [[Bruce Lee]] who might become a unique and credible ''physical'' star, idolized in particular by kids but enjoyed and admired by a vast cross-section of the public."<ref>Arnold, Gary (February 19, 1977). "'Pumping Iron': A Witty Psych-Out By Mr. Olympia". ''The Washington Post''. B1.</ref> Louise Sweet of ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote that Schwarzenegger "inspires envy rather than disgust at ostentatious musculature, and lures even the reluctant viewer into his unusual world. Almost all the body-builders here are likable, but Schwarzenegger's articulateness and humour make the film cohere and convince."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sweet |first=Louise |date=November 1977 |title=Pumping Iron |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=44 |issue=526 |page=240 }}</ref>