They call me Skulboy and I e-mailed you once before after seeing you on a panel at the San Diego Comic Con last year.
I know I signed some type of agreement, but what the hell. I also lied and said I didn't work in the Motion Picture Industry (I'm in set construction) when I saw Arnold's name on the clipboard of the woman handing out the passes so I guess I'm damned anyways.
Being a Arnold fan and finding myself rather disappointed with his (at least) last two efforts, I said to myself "here we go again" after reading the Collateral Damage description - man loses wife and son in terrorist bombing and takes justice into in own hands - kind of thing.
I went in expecting Commando, but got something much different. Now Collateral Damage is not a great film, but it was WAY better than 6th Day.
Arnie comes off as an average guy/fireman who is totally crushed by the death of his family. Although a large group of gunmen can't hit him with automatic rifles and he can still out run an explosion, the character feels like a Harrison Ford part. It should be noted that the Director is Andy Davis who was behind The Fugitive. And Arnold's acting was many steps above his 6th Day family guy.
Arnie gets himself into Columbia to hunt down the rebel dude that blew up his wife and kid and the movie moves pretty well from that point on.
What really stood out was not what Arnold does, but what he doesn't do. Not once does he fire off a snappy, groan inducing, post death one liner. And get this... ARNOLD DOES NOT TOUCH A SINGLE GUN OR RIFLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FILM.
The movie is played completely straight and has a few welcome bit parts from John Turturro and John Leguizamo. Also because of Arnie's character's background as a Fireman, he rigs up some nifty stuff McGuyver style. The only unintentional moment of crowd laughter came as Arnold confronts some Columbia street punks by getting into their faces and loudly saying "Que pasa?! Which was pretty damn funny.
I don't think this movie is going to light the world on fire, but its definitely the right direction for Arnold now that he's getting older.
Now if he would just make that damn Omega Man-type film...
