Collateral Damage (2002)

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Many people hated this film i happen to love it it was amazing i think the trailer made it clear that the movie is mostly action and less drama what did they expect to see? Collateral Damage has a great performance by Schwarzenegger and the cast did a good job i think but i would prefer some of the villains were a little bit more stronger and more badass instead of weak and too easy to kill but still they were good. The Drama parts were really good and i enjoyed the ending it was good to see Gordy get some happiness to his life. Overall Action Movie Lovers and Arnold Fans will love this movie i know i did a pretty cool action film.

"Collateral Damage" is a predictable Arnold Schwartzenegger film form 002. It is currently available on NetFlix Instant Download Streaming. The writers are Ronald Roose and David Griffiths. The cast includes Arnold Schwartzenegger, Francesca Neri, Elias Kotaeas, Cliff Curtis and John Leguizamo. 'Collateral Damage' was, of course, one of those films whose original release date had to be postponed in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. In this case, the sensitivity arose as a result of the film's storyline, which revolves around a group of Colombian terrorists determined to strike at targets on American soil. Schwarzenegger plays fireman Gordy Brewer, whose wife and child are killed in an explosion at the Colombian consulate in Los Angeles. Brewer, feeling that the U.S. government has little concern with exacting revenge from the terrorist leader responsible for the explosion, decides to mount a one-man crusade to see that justice is ultimately done. The film, obviously indifferent to its own need for plausibility, sends this virtually unarmed fireman into the unfamiliar jungles of South America to take on what appears to be the entire Colombian police force as well as the guerilla fighters whose actions resulted in the deaths of Brewer's family. Brewer, of course, despite his own inexperience and the formidable odds against him, manages to talk and/or fight his way out of every dire predicament before rescuing his nemesis' wife and their adopted son. I gave it only 5 stars. Dale Haufrect

Collateral Damage (2002): Dir: Andrew Davis / Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elias Koteas, Francesca Neri, Cliff Curtis, John Leguizamo: Refers to the absent-minded attitude often regarded towards victims of tragedy. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a firefighter who witnesses his wife and son become victims of an explosion that was meant for a public figure. He awakens in a hospital after being struck by a car then realizes that he had spoken to the terrorist briefly before the incident. He ventures to Columbia with vengeance in mind resulting in a complete lack of common decency. A sequence where Schwarzenegger goes down a waterfall looks too lame for words. Director Andrew Davis showed great skill when he made The Fugitive but here he rushes too quickly into action scenes. Schwarzenegger grunts and groans his way through complete absurdity before emerging as the hero. Elias Koteas is cardboard as a cop. Francesca Neri plays the terrorist's wife. Cliff Curtis plays the terrorist whose prime focus is to be Schwarzenegger's punching bag before the film's end. John Leguizamo appears to be part of his worst film since The Pest. Whatever the so-called message may be, this film exists primarily to showcase implausible action and as much violence as one film can possibly contain. The result is a film that should suffer collateral damage. Score: 1 / 10

This film is only rated 5.2/10, and I struggle to see how it's so low. There is great story telling, by which I mean it really immerses you into the film and makes you empathise with the characters, especially Gordy Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), as well as being easy to follow without being boring, (has a great twist at the end). I regard this as some of Schwarzenegger's best acting, he shows compassion, regardless hatred, and you really get a sense he is just trying to give some low-life terrorist what he deserves. He is also intelligent and turns from fire-fighter to basically a FBI agent when the rest aren't up to the mark/not have enough information. It is a shame people like Harry Lennix and Elias Koteas didn't get more screen time, but hey ho, you can't have everything.It is let down by a few errors, such as the cliché family death thing, and the protection of children etc. But not enough to lower the rating to 5.2/10 in my opinion.