In this case, we have a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and a charter inductee of the Movie Montage Hall of Fame. It is virtually impossible to top the pure adrenaline, testosterone-flying, guitar-riff, Hagar-screeching, Stallone-snarling power of the armwrestling tournament montage in the 1987 action film Over the Top.

In this movie, while trying to win back his estranged son, Sylvester Stallone puts his modest trucking business on the line to take his shot at becoming the world’s number one armwrestler. Sure, it conforms a little to the Rocky formula. But it’s a formula because it works.

And by the time Lincoln Hawk (Stallone) steps up to the armwrestling table to run through the competition, the viewer is primed for some guitar solos and straight up Stallone arm-smashing. The isolated montage can be seen below, but I do recommend watching this film in its entirety, then putting the entire soundtrack on your workout playlist.

©2010 colintimberlake.com. All Rights Reserved.

The following video was both the theme song for the Sylvester Stallone armwrestling movie Over the Top and one of the most notable solo hits of eventual Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar.

Also known as Meet Me Halfway, the film follows Lincoln Hawk, a Rocky-like down-on-his-luck trucker who is trying to work his way up in the world of professional armwrestling.

In another theme that pervades Stallone films, he is trying to win back the respect of his son.

The film (and the video) feature the late Rick Zumwalt, a real-world armwrestling legend who played the villain across from Stallone, who also makes an appearance in the music video. The film also includes Robert Loggia (Scarface, Independence Day) in a strong supporting role.

©2010 colintimberlake.com. All Rights Reserved.