Review of Collateral Damage (2002) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012

Directed by Andrew Davis (Under Siege (1992), The Fugitive (1993) and Holes (2003)), this is a very silly action-drama, which was intended to show it's star could play a grieving man, but bad CGI and some ropey acting and dialogue mar the whole experience sadly.

It made headlines when it was delayed by 5 months because of 9/11 happening, it comes across as dull rather than exciting. Fireman Gordy Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is left reeling when his wife Anne (Lindsay Frost) and young son Matt (Ethan Dampf).

They were caught up in a terrorist bombing in a restaurant next door to the Colombian Consulate. Left grieving and angry at what happened, Brewer is left even more angry when he's told by CIA Special Agent Peter Brandt (Elias Koteas) that they're not going to do anything.

So Brewer goes to Colombia, with a view of finding El Lobo, who was behind the bombing. Brewer believes it's Claudio Perrini (Cliff Curtis), and he is aided by mechanic Sean Armstrong (John Turturro).

It's has good intentions, and watching this it makes you believe this is the reason Arnie gave up acting for politics. It has it's moments, but the terrorist explosions have very bad CGI. It could have done with a better script and poor Arnie just seems out of place in this film.

It's not his fault, but it has a good supporting cast including Francesca Neri, Jane Lynch and John Leguizamo. It offered so much but fails to deliver.