Cinema Review (From Penarth Times)

Cinema Review

THE AUSTRIAN oak, also known as action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, returns to the big screen in a action thriller that revolves around bombs and the terror-makers behind them.

'Collateral Damage' was held back for seven months due to the September attacks in New York - a wise decision as domestic terrorism is a main theme of the film.

The film opens in a downtown area, where Los Angeles fire fighter Gordon Brewer (Schwarzenegger) is due to meet his wife and child. But he is devastated when a bomb explodes killing them and many other people.

The authorities intend brushing the incident under the proverbial carpet, but Gordon is intent on finding the suspected bomber, a Colombian terrorist known as the Wolf (who is wonderfully played by Cliff Curtis).

He travels to Colombia via jungle terrain, and roadblocks set up by guerrilla fighters. After successfully coping with these situations the action really starts to get going, as Gordon begins his retribution for the heinous crimes inflicted on the innocent American civilians who were killed along with his own family.

Intent on his own of revenge, he uses Felix (John Leguizamo) a cocaine farmer, who wants to be a pop star, as a cover to get close to Wolf but is forced to re-evaluate his decisions.

'Collateral Damage' is a traditional if not formulaic action film; it has the usual action sequences associated with this genre of movie. But what does it have in abundance is inspired cast choices, Leguizamo and Curtis give excellent performances - also Francesca Neri does a good job as Selena Perrini (the Wolf's wife).

Arnold Schwarzenegger lives up to his status of action hero, even though he does less running and jumping - he still has a commanding presence on screen and director Andrew Davis ('The Fugitive' and 'Chain Reaction') conceals a couple of major plot twists that have flair and originality.