Despite minor cameos, teasing audiences franticly desperate
for his return to the big screen, Schwarzenegger is finally back in his
first lead role since the third and largely forgotten Terminator film: of
course in accustomed territory…a vintage overblown action movie.
Soothing his way back into acting
with minor parts in The Expendables and its grandiloquent sequel, Arnie has
dusted off his Governor garments and in The Last Stand (opening in
cinemas in the UK in four days time) the 65 year old plays Ray Owens, an aging
border-town sheriff, who must wipe out an escaped cartel and his
entourage of delinquents who are heading for the Mexican border.
From viewing the full trailer it’s clear The Last Stand has
all the key ingredients of the classic 1980s/90s action flicks we have grown to
love over the years. World – weary protagonist coughing up one
liners..check! A lionhearted comic relief sidekick..check! High death
count..check! Countless shootouts and bone – crunching fistfights..check! I
could go on, but its clear to see director Kim Jee – Woon (A tale of two
sisters, I saw the Devil) seeming to have a good time with these tried and true
euphemisms whilst also delivering a contemporary edge,
keeping proceedings feeling crisp and energetic.
The Last Stand announces Kim Jee-Woon’s
first Hollywood feature. The supremely talented Korean filmmaker has been
heralded for his work including cult horror dramas and high – octane westerns.
Notably accustomed in delivering disturbingly dark and heavy features, Jee-Woon
also has an appetite for tongue in check humour and while The Last Stand
appears to have its austere moments, Andrew Knauer’s
script certainly commands for the latter approach.
We’re have to wait and see if Knauer’s script exhibits more
memorable gags for Schwarzenegger than what’s evident in the trailer. The
legendary action star with a hunger for effortlessly dispatching bad guys along
with fabled one-liners deserves more than simply, “I am the Sheriff!” Quite unfortunate
that “I am the law!” is already taken.
However the full advert no doubt shows off that The Last Stand will be
the proudly over-the top, shamelessly violent and frequently funny high-octane
action flick we have been waiting for along with Arnold’s return. With old
school ideas and wildly kinetic set pieces, the first major action movie of
2013 will offer audiences some rapturous fun as opposed to the gritty realism
of recent cinema releases.
Heres another chance to wet your appetite for next weeks release!
