Collateral Damage – Zeit der Vergeltung (2002)

Collateral Damage – Zeit der Vergeltung: Directed by Andrew Davis. With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Francesca Neri, Elias Koteas, Cliff Curtis. After his family is killed by a terrorist act, a firefighter goes in search of the one responsible.

“Ok, so weu0026#39;ve all seen at least ONE Arnold movie – and you know what they say… u0026quot;If youu0026#39;ve seen one, youu0026#39;ve seen u0026#39;em all.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis isnu0026#39;t necessarily true in the case of u0026quot;Collateral Damageu0026quot;. We expect Arnold to run into a terrorist compound in the jungle, guns blazing, unlimited explosives, managing to not get hit by gunfire even while standing still in the middle of a field, one-liners running like water…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut THAT movie was u0026quot;Commandou0026quot;. Remember?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyway, in u0026quot;Collateral Damageu0026quot; Arnold is actually a vulnerable character. He gets BEAT UP more than he beats up others. Now, while Arnold fans (myself included) prefer Arnold to be invincible, in this case it works really well. Not just because it moves the story along, but also because it makes the protagonist more believable. Ok, sure, Arnold saying u0026quot;graciasu0026quot; to some Columbian bus driver is HARDLY believable, but I think you know what I mean.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYou will also find yourself saying u0026quot;who is the REAL villain here?u0026quot; on more than one occasion. Sure, terrorists kill. Thatu0026#39;s what they do. But why do you THINK they became terrorists to begin with? u0026quot;Collateral Damageu0026quot; touches on the subject briefly – enough to humanize the terrorist leader, even!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMost of the reviews Iu0026#39;ve read here have been negative… But those same reviewers were probably Arnold-philes who were expecting something along the lines of u0026quot;Commando 2u0026quot;. As it is, personally I really enjoyed u0026quot;Collateral Damage.u0026quot; If not a smart purchase, then itu0026#39;s definitely a wise rental. Check it out and see for yourself.”