Review of Collateral Damage (2002) by Movie K — 11 Oct 2015

Arnie in a revenge family action movie that's not quite the same action he usually stars in. Arnold is a firefighter and family man. Cliff Curtis ride a police bike and park in front a building. When Arnold want to pick up his wife and son, the bike exploded and kills many including them.

The bomb is intended for FBI agent Elias Koteas and other VIPs who just arrive at the building. Arnold is hell bent to avenge but Elias can't do much. The terrorist El Lobo admit to the crime. He is from Colombia guerrilla and want USA not to interfere in their country war.

Arnold do his homework and manage to find a guy who help him gain entry to Colombia illegally. He first encounter Francesca Neri and her mute son who is pick on by some local. Arnold entry get the attention of Elias and Cliff.

Cliff intend to kidnap Arnold and use as ransom. Arnold board a bus but its halt by the baddies spot check. He manage to escape. The local police want to catch him and got involve in a gun war with the baddies.

Arnold is caught and meet a local mechanic John Turturro who has a pass into guerrilla zone. Cliff lead his squad to save his men in jail and fail to kill Arnold. He use the saw to escape and save John, also get his pass.

Crossing into the zone posing as the back up, he is to help local drug runner John Leguizamo fix his generator. Arnold improvise self made explosive and bomb the place up when a baddie want to catch him.

He hang onto the truck and enter the baddies lair. He use the grenade and intend to blow up Cliff in his office. He got out and saw Francesca and son and quickly shield them. Cliff heard the noise and escape in time to evade death and caught him.

Francesca want him alive and anger Cliff. Elias send gun ship to attack the lair base on information where Arnold has created troubles. Arnold escape and strike a deal with Elias that Francesca and son to follow him back.

She can provide intel on where Cliff is gonna strike next. They go to the office and Francesca manage to identify the building Cliff want to bomb. He left a suitcase near the bin and left. It is pick up by a vagabond.

Cops are sent over. Francesca want to go to loo but her son refuse to follow. Arnold see her hand sign slapping which resemble the El Lobo sign. He discover she is El Lobo. Francesca killed the escorting agent in the toilet and left the building.

Elias sense Arnold not right and chase after her but is shot dead. Arnold go into the control centre and toss the bomb which is the toy of the son and exploded outside. Cliff and gang set up another truck bomb under the building.

He smash through the underground in bike to pick her up at other end. Arnold use the control to shut the gate in time. They u-turn and fight him. Arnold kills them both and stop Cliff from activating the truck bomb.

He should be adopting the mute boy as he trust Arnold only.