As a longtime admirer of action cinema, I can confidently say that Arnold Schwarzenegger was the undisputed king of the genre during his prime. From “The Terminator” to “Eraser”, his iconic performances left an indelible mark on the genre. But it was “The Last Stand” that brought him back to the big screen after a hiatus and proved that he still had the chops to deliver a solid action flick.
It’s widely recognized that Arnold Schwarzenegger played a pivotal role in shaping the action movie genre during the 80s and early 90s. From “The Terminator” (1984) to “Eraser” (1996), his memorable one-liners, unmatched physique, and charismatic presence reigned supreme in this genre. However, after a successful run of films and serving as the Governor of California, he returned to acting with an underappreciated action masterpiece that has since gained popularity on Tubi – “The Last Stand”. This film, which marked his comeback to the silver screen following a hiatus, is a heartfelt tribute to his past successes while subtly addressing his current age and abilities.
In a tranquil Arizona town, Arnie portrays Sheriff Ray Owens who finds himself in a high-stakes chase to prevent an escaped drug lord from escaping to Mexico in a powerful supercar. His allies are a motley crew of misfits – Johnny Knoxville and Luis Guzman among them – along with three deputies, including Jamie Alexander and Rodrigo Santoro. The movie maintains its straightforward approach, avoiding unnecessary complexity, and focuses on the action as earlier action movies did, making the most out of its elements for an enjoyable ride.
Forest Whitaker portrays the role of John Bannister, a frazzled federal agent relentlessly pursuing a notorious crime lord. Whitaker delivers a strong performance in this demanding role, while the larger-than-life character is provided with dry wit and physicality. Eduardo Noriega takes on the role of the psychopathic yet charismatic kingpin, backed up by his top enforcer, Dragon, brilliantly played by Peter Stormare. Occasionally, Stormare’s southern accent adds an unusual touch to his character, making it both absurd and fitting for the part.
The Underrated Arnie Action Outing Takes a Stand on Free Streaming
Under the guidance of director Kim Jee-woon, known for films like “I Saw The Devil“, this 2013 action flick embodies many elements reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s prime filmography – raw R-rated action, mostly practical stunts, a gun-loading scene akin to that in “Hot Fuzz“, and an antagonist from Latin America who is so wicked, he seems like he belongs in Val Verde (those familiar with the reference know). The film necessitates the same degree of suspension of disbelief from viewers as Schwarzenegger’s classic films. Questions like, “Why is the sheriff of a small Arizona town a towering Austrian figure?” or “Why don’t the authorities not use spike-strips to disable the villain’s supercar?” are left unanswered. The response, in essence, is, “Silence, they armed Arnold with another Gatling gun!
The storyline of “The Last Stand” is reminiscent of classic action films with a focus on good versus overly villainous, intense manhunts, and destruction culminating in a climactic confrontation. This film can be seen as a contemporary Western due to its themes. If Andrew Knauer had set it in 1875 and traded the villain’s supercar for a steam train, very little would change. This becomes more understandable when you know that Jee-woon’s debut hit was the entertaining Korean Western titled “The Good the Bad the Weird“.
The enigma behind why certain films gain renewed popularity years after their initial release remains unsolved. Streaming platforms such as Tubi and Pluto TV have a special knack for reviving long-forgotten movies by offering them a second opportunity. Some movies may have been poorly timed at their original release, others might have been critically panned, while the third factor could be that they were free to watch. Regardless of the cause, it’s worth revisiting The Last Stand, especially for those who want to catch a glimpse of Arnold’s final all-caps ACTION sequences.
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2024-11-13 17:02