FILM OF THE WEEK: THE LAST STAND (2013)

SYNOPSIS:

Sheriff Owens is a man who has resigned himself to a life of fighting what tiny crime takes spot in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction right after leaving his LAPD post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with failure and defeat after his partner was crippled. Soon after a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is hurtling toward the border at 200 mph in a specially outfitted vehicle with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members. He is headed, it turns out, straight for Summerton Junction, where the complete of U.S. law enforcement will have their final chance to make a stand and intercept him before he slips across the border forever. At initial reluctant to become involved, and then counted out due to the fact of the perceived ineptitude of his little town force, Owens eventually accepts responsibility for the face off.

A single of the very best issues I really like about what I do right here is getting inspired. Just final week, word came that acclaimed Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to return in several film franchises, which includes King Conan, the August filming of The Expendables three below director Patrick Hughes, and the fifth installment of the Terminator series, which is formally set to start shooting in January 2014 with Paramount Pictures distributing. And as enthusiastic as he seems to be in recent news, I look forward to seeing what he can bring back to either of these roles. Personally, if they want to make Schwarzenegger look younger, I suspect they may well do motion capture or anything equivalent to what they did for actor Jeff Bridges's dual part in the 2010 film, Tron Legacy. We'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, back to my thoughts here.

What I also appear forward to is seeing how filmgoers respond to all this news with Schwarzenegger back in the limelight and out of politics. It hasn't been easy at first, particularly at the start off of 2013 when films like Parker and Bullet To The Head flopped. To be sincere, I still have to see the latter so I can have an opinion on it, and knowing me, I will almost certainly have that a single up as yet another Film Of The Week...which brings me to THIS week's discussion on the newest film from Korean director Kim Jee-woon, The Final Stand.

I'm not at all familiar with Kim's earlier films, like A Bittersweet Life and The Excellent, The Undesirable & The Weird, but I adore what he was capable to do with this Hollywood production with an all-English cast. Plus it was Schwarzenegger's 1st complete stint back on the massive screen because being Governor of California. And certain, even though the former Governator is significantly older, the film clearly does not have him do anything he naturally can not do for the camera himself. It doesn't try too difficult at generating him appear invincible, which is what A Very good Day To Die Challenging did when I saw it (most likely portion of the purpose why I fell asleep and missed the very first half of the final act, lol).

Amongst these listed, Schwarzenegger is joined by actress Jaimie Alexander (pictured above) who is ideal identified to me for her function as the noble Asgaardian Warrioress, Lady Syf in Thor and the upcoming Thor 2: The Dark Planet. She plays 1 of the deputies along with actors Zach Gilford, and the  terrific talents of Rodrigo Santoro (pictured left) who I by no means would have recognized if I hadn't known him for his spectacular function as Xerxes in 300 and the upcoming sequel, 300: Rise Of An Empire.

Luis Guzman and Johnny Knoxville serve brilliantly as the comedy relief just as any very good old action flick must, firing their share of bullets at the poor guys and setting up some fairly hilarious exchanges along the way. Peter Stomare is awesome as ever as 1 of the eccentric henchmen of the film. Forest Whitaker's role was regrettably small at occasions, but he does a excellent job with it nonetheless as the extended distance FBI Agent heading the search of an escaped international drug lord, played by actor Eduardo Noriega (pictured under), who holds his own both behind the wheel of a actually quickly Corvette, and although going toe-to-toe against Schwarzenegger close to the finish.

On its face, The Final Stand is a excellent addition to action cinema. Realistically speaking, nonetheless, although in the era of superhero movies loaded with CGI and green screen performances, the film does not measure up for a lot of filmgoers these days who just can not appear to relate to the badassery of 1980s and 1990s action motion pictures exactly where raw talent was all one particular actually necessary. But this does not necessarily mean The Last Stand sucked. Clearly, it is a way better film than some men and women chose to view it prior to even seeing it, therefore unfortunately proving Stallone's most current point about the state of action motion pictures in the second decade of the new millenium.

The bottom line? Schwarzenegger might have aged a bit whilst in office, but he has not lost his touch in the action genre a single bit. Just as with the Arnold we got then, we nevertheless see the exact same charisma and charm, the exact same wit, and the same grit, strength and commanding screen presence we have always observed. Buzzcut and all. And although The Last Stand could not have been the most memorable or favorable for some critics, the film serves as however yet another reminder of just what it is we really like about action motion pictures and why.

The Last Stand is part road movie, element revenge film, element buddy cop movie, contained action thriller, and portion almost everything we know and appreciate about what the last four decades have brought is in action films. So if you have been placing off seeing it, then don't wait. You can rent it on Google Play or buy the DVD or BluRay at Amazon.com or wherever movies are sold or streamed.

Check back for additional updates on Schwarzenegger's next films listed above, in addition to the upcoming releases of Sabotage and the October 18, 2013 release of The Escape Plan.

FILM OF THE WEEK: THE LAST STAND (2013)
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