Release date: 18 Jan 2013
		123telugu.com Rating : 3.25./5
		Director : Kim Ji-woon
		Producer : Lorenzo di Bonaventura
		Music Director : Mowg
		Starring : Arnold Schwarzenegger,Forest Whitaker,Johnny Knoxville

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the alpha dog of action films. Together with Sylvester Stallone, he utterly dominated the Hollywood action film genre in the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. After retiring as the Governor of California, Arnie is making a comeback. Let us see how his flick ‘The Last Stand’ is

Story :

Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the sheriff of Sommerton Junction, a quiet and very small town near the US-Mexico border. He is a former LAPD narcotics special agent who has decided to call it a day and settle down in for a peaceful life.

But trouble soon comes looking for him in the form of a notorious drug cartel boss known as Gabriel Cortez ( Eduardo Noriega ). Cortez is on the run from the FBI and he is headed for Sommerton Junction, to cross over into Mexico.

FBI agent Bannister (Forest Whitaker) tries his best to stop Cortez, but he is thwarted by the superior firepower of the drug boss. All that stands between Cortez and Mexico is Ray Owens and his team of inexperienced but courageous deputies.

Can Owens stop Cortez? Does the old man still have it in him? Watch the film to find out.

Plus Points :

Arnold Schwarzenegger can still pack a punch. The punches though, are a lot slower than they used to be. The best part about Arnie’s performance in this film is his acknowledgment of father time’s victory over his body. He knows he is slower and weaker, and he fights accordingly.

Noriega turns in a decent performance as the cartel boss. Forest Whitaker is just about ok.

The film is laced with humourous and witty dialogues. The action sequences have been conceived well. Sure, some of them are outrageous, but this is an Arnold Schwarzenegger film so what did you expect?

The car chase sequences have been shot well. If you are a fan of the Chevy Corvette or the Ford Mustang, you will love them even more.

Minus Points :

The plot, if you can call it that, is extremely lame and predictable. You will know what is going to happen next.

Violence is a little too graphic in the movie, akin to what is found in ‘The Expendables’. The bad guys keep bursting into pieces.

Arnold looks uncomfortably old in a few close up shots. If you are an Arnie fan, you will squirm in your seats when he puts on those reading glasses to look at something closer.

Technical Aspects :

Director Jee Woon Kim has played his cards smartly. He has managed to keep the entertainment quotient in the film high, despite the harebrained plot.

Cinematography is pretty good,especially in the action sequences. Editing is neat. Background score is effective

Verdict :

The Last Stand is an enjoyable old school action flick. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back and the old man can still pack a punch. Just don’t try to analyze the ‘plot’ . Go with the flow and have fun with this popcorn entertainer.

123telugu.com Rating – 3.25/5

Reviewed by Mahesh S Koneru