The Last Stand (2013) User Reviews

If you expect too much from Arnold and gang, forget it. But for some fast fun, it's pretty darned good!

[secondtake · 7/10 · 12 July 2013]

The Last Stand (2013)

Well, if you take this too seriously you're missing the point. It's a comedy, and if not quite a parody of a tough lawman against the odds plot, it pumps up all the clichés nicely. It's fast, well done, and appropriately preposterous. And Arnold Schwarzenegger is true to form, even joking once about his getting old.

In a way, this is Arnold trying to be a bit like Clint. Clint Eastwood that is. Because Schwarzenegger is playing a sheriff in a lonely western town. When a bad boy drug lord (a very cute one) is set to be blast through in his Corvette, this sheriff, Ray Owens, won't tolerate it. Of course. Who would?

In this hyped up against-the-odds yarn, we have some excellent if well-worn clichés. First, the FBI gets its usual due. They are a professional team led by the ever-enjoyable Forrest Whittaker, but of course they are a bit too professional, and arrogant, and they make constant little mistakes of misjudgment. So the bad guy on the loose is on collision course with Owens with his rag-tag friends in his Arizona border town.

I didn't expect to like this, but ended up captivated. It works the same way a "Die Hard" movie works--fast plot, do good hero, nasty bad guys, and jokes. It's not realistic, but the characters are believable. This is in contrast to a movie I saw a couple days ago along the same lines (loner man against evil), "Jack Reacher," which was filled with such strained dialog and absurd plot conditions it was irritating. "The Last Stand" has the advantage of not taking itself seriously, and so it's great fun and well done fun all along.

Yes, it's stupid. I mean, come on, that's the point! But it's smart stupid. If you have an open mind for this stuff, give it a shot.

"I'm the Sheriff" damn right!

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 18 January 2013]

This is pure guilty-pleasure cinema. You know you can't defend seeing lots of nameless guys in black suits and machine guns mowing down people and that there's only a bullet here or there that might get one of our good guys (and I mean, y'know, Luis Guzman, who is always fun to watch in that very familiar character-actor way by the way, same for Harry Dean Stanton's walk-on), and it hearkens back to that time in the 1980's and 90's when Arnold Schwarzenegger dominated cineplexes with this kind of action trash. But over time, as super glossy and hyper-kinetic and chaotically-shot cinema floods theaters, this almost comes as something of a refreshment. How do I simply say "I got thrilled by the action, laughed at the craziness in the set-pieces, and loved seeing Arnold tear it up and have one-line retorts: "How do you feel?" asks a towns-person - "OLD!")

But aside from the story, which seems to be fairly cookie-cutter with the Mexican cartel kingpin who is getting across from Nevada down to the border to get back to his safe land, and with various tropes that can be read from not too far away (given some heft by the fact that Eduardo Noriega cuts a very sharp figure as a madman with a zest for stunt- driving - like a character one might find almost in Rodriguez/Tarantino's Grindhouse, or a hybrid of such characters they write), what is there? How about that the director, Kim Jee-Woon, has a track record from back in South Korea as being a hardcore, awe-inspiring action and genre director, who can make them very, very intense and harrowing (I Saw the Devil), or truly spooky and harrowing in a quieter, more sinister way (Tale of Two Sisters). But what got him the job, I suspect, was The Good, the Bad and the Weird, his wild homage to everything Western - Spaghetti, yes, but good ol' American variety. He must have read the script and said 'I can do this, this is a Western to the bone just in 21st century garb... matter of fact, it's Rio Bravo on steroids!'

Well, that's my suspicion anyway. Think about it - a Sheriff in a ponam town with not many residents at all (and those that do stick around all day won't leave cause of some gunfire - there's a cheese omelette cooking after all at the diner), and has some good deputies, and some others he has to recruit not by his better judgment but by lack of other good officers, and has a Big Bad Motherflipper coming right his way. "I've seen a lot of blood and death. I know what's coming," says the not-quite quipping Arnold. And the first half does build, somewhat decently if predictably, the pieces of the characters, the basic set-ups of who may die (or will) and what betrayals are happening and who knows what (and what, really, Forest Whitaker can do as the Man in Charge in the suit - powerful, but he's not a Schwarzenegger).

It's the second half of the film, as the preparations intensify and then the big attack comes to Sommerton Junction (even the name is out of a Sam Fuller western or something) that the film REALLY picks up steam. And by steam, I mean lots and lots of bullets, sometimes from huge guns that fire way too many bullets. What helps in Jee-Woon's favor in The Last Stand is how he takes the fantasy of all of this to such a degree that you (or I really) can't help but admire how high it ends up going. It will please hardcore action fans, but unlike the only other recent Schwarzenegger films (so to speak) of the Expendables franchise, it doesn't really insult your intelligence either. The villains on display in this flick are not pushovers, and it leads to some impressive action from the performers, from the cameramen, from the bullets themselves which become their own actors. And the final chase through a cornfield, just when you think the film has nothing else to give you, comes back for a surprise set-piece that feels fresh and inventive; we haven't seen something quite like this where it's a cat and mouse chase through such a big space of land, but we know it is just a matter of seconds.

If you've grown up on Schwarzenegger flicks, it's like visiting the old(er) man at the condo, and jogging his memory full-throttle. I don't know if this is just a brief pop-up appearance for the (how do I write this without laughing but he is) veteran action icon, or a third and final career trajectory after years as a bodybuilder/up-and-comer, and superstar. But for now, it'll do, Johnny Knoxville's rambunctious comic-timing not withstanding.

Missing 80/90's Action Movies? - The Last Stand Is For You!!!

[ActionFan-Reviews · 7/10 · 22 January 2013]

A lot of my favourite films growing up and to this day are some of Arnold's Classics like T2, Predator and countless others. Although not one of his best, The Last Stand is one of Schwarzeneggers better films and perfect for him to do what he does best - shoot bad guys and crack one liners. This film is a quality made action film that contains some innovative stuff blending old school car chases, blazing gunfights and an intriguing yet simple story in a solid modern action movie. Other than the action,the film blends comedy very nicely. The whole theatre was cracking up especially at the characters of Johnny Knoxville and Luiz Guzman. The movie overall is a solid, fun and entertaining film that keeps the momentum going to the final climax which is sure not to disappoint. If that sounds appealing to you, Check it out and you'll be sure to enjoy.

Overall: Solid 7/10

Arnold is back for the Last Stand

[rgblakey · 7/10 · 17 January 2013]

After brief cameos in films like the Rundown and Expendables, we finally got a glimpse of a possible return to form for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Finally his first full length solo action film is here with The Last Stand. As if this wasn't exciting enough, add to the mix I Saw The Devil director Jee-woon Kim at the helm, it has the makings of a great comeback.

The Last Stand follows a former LAPD detective who is now the sheriff of a small quiet town and enjoying the peaceful life. When a notorious drug kingpin escapes FBI custody in a supped up corvette the only thing standing between him and the border is this small town and the sheriff who has vowed to protect it. The story here is pretty simple and in anyone else's hands would have probably been a throw away film. Thankfully Jee-woon Kim brings his signature dynamic style taking this film to a much more entertaining visual level. If there was any concern with Arnold being able to live up to his famous line "I'll be back" being accurate you can relax because he is back in a big way. This film takes a bit of a step back and moves a bit slowly at first letting the story build a bit instead of just flooding it with action. When the smaller action pieces, if you can call any of them that, do occur they are pretty high octane and fun to watch. All this builds up to a full on blood bath ensuing old west action show down featuring all the explosions, guns, blood and fun you could want in an Arnold film. Make no mistake this is a popcorn action film that hearkens back to the old school action films of the 80's and 90's when they delivered. The cast is great and each delivers a fun performance featuring Johnny Knoxville who while brief brings some of the funniest moments, Luis Guzman who is right there holding his own, Forest Whitaker, and Peter Stormare. Arnold still delivers his cheesy one-liners like a pro, but has moved on from the usual ones that were starting to run their course. His years in office clearly have made him a better speaker, hence a better actor.

Arnold may not be as fast or agile as he once was, but he still manages to show he can hold his own with the best of them. This film not only gets Arnold back where he belongs on the big screen it also kicks off a movie year that almost feels like the old days of action again with numerous franchise and action icons bringing the pain in 2013. Arnold has always said he would be back and he is better than ever. If you were ever an Arnold fan, then get ready for a film that will spark the visual crazy fun that's been missing in this genre for a long time.

Great movie, pity it isn't doing well at the Box Office.

[briangcb · 22 January 2013]

Let me start by saying this is a straight-up good guys vs. bad guys, shoot 'em up action movie. Would you expect anything less from Ahhnold? I'll say that I was happy to hear Arnold was returning to the big screen for starring roles once his Governorship was over. I've been a die hard Arnold fan since I was 6. Sure he's a senior citizen now...but he's ARNOLD! The trailers for this movie don't really hide anything, it's presented exactly how it is. It's an action movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. The movie does try and have these heartfelt moments which come off more as cheesy than anything else. But I will give the movie props for actually trying to develop its characters to the point they're not just cardboard cut outs. They have personality and emotions so you actually care if they live or die. Which is more than I can say for most movies of this type. Unfortunately the movie seemed to be relying heavily on Arnold's return to the big screen to put butts in the theatre seats. The movie only made $6 million on its opening weekend. Making it the bottom of the barrel at the box office. However I went and saw it on a Tuesday night at 7pm and the theatre was packed. So perhaps word is travelling that it's a fun movie and it'll be able to make some money back. Not that I'm crying for Arnold's bank account but it's a shame when a good movie doesn't do well.

Made For Ridiculous

[billygoat1071 · 7/10 · 20 January 2013]

The Last Stand is famously known as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's action comebacks. Since his appearances in The Expendables films are limited and doesn't quite satisfies his fans, here he gets to be the lead. The film is also directed by Kim Jee-Woon and he creates a set of awesomely crafted action sequences. There's nothing else in the story but a Western formula with a band of misfits. It's a simple fun action film that has no other ambition than to enjoy the fans of the genre. It may be senseless at some point but the admission is never regrettable.

The plot is like a modernized version of a famous Western story with an FBI to the side. A sheriff who tries to save his small town from a bunch of bad guys who seem incompetent. The good guys are a team of mismatched heroes. There's a veteran, a short Mexican, a crazy gun owner, a tough woman, and an ex-convict. These elements fit to the film's ridiculousness and they worked well enough. The characters are also likable, probably because of our familiarity to the cast. Like we know Ray Owens is a badass sheriff only because he's played by Schwarzenegger, but that's fine since everyone's here for the action.

The action scenes are quick and stylishly shot. It provides a sense of speed and excitement. The most inventive sequence is the cornfield car chase. The best is the old school action with violent gunfights and brutal fistfights. Schwarzenegger still got it in those scenes. In other parts gets a little drama and some silliness. There isn't anything else beneath it but the execution of these ideas in the storyline are beyond adequate. It's quite clear that this only exists to let the audience have fun.

Everybody might disagree once I say this but The Last Stand is kind of like last year's Haywire. The premise is not that original but with an interesting direction and an awesome ensemble cast made it pretty good. The only differences are it's louder, it has an entirely different target audience and the concept is more interesting. It's not brilliant but it gets what it wants to be. It's all about the fun. It's so fun, it's hard to notice some of its flaws. The merits are generally the filmmaking and of course Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some might look for more beneath it, but for action lovers it's a glorious action joy. If you're craving for some nonstop badassery then The Last Stand is definitely for you.

"Good for him. Good for him."

[jan_kalina · 7/10 · 20 February 2013]

And splendid for us, the audience. Arnie's back! After small cameos in The Rundown ( This blink-and-you-miss-it cameo also served as passing the torch to new action star, The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson) and The Expendables finally comes an action film with Arnold as the lead.

Directed by a South Korean Jee-woon Kim who is known for bloody and violent films so this information promises a great film filled with right ingredients for Schwarzenegger movie. The film starts off slow to develop the characters which is great at least you care about the characters. Arnold might be older now but he's still go it to be an action hero. The only problem is that this film is not doing well at the box office. The planned return of the 80's is not going according to plan, which is sad because the films reminding us of the most probably best times of action films are well made films. I have seen it in a packed theatre so I guess that is a sign positive word of mouth will bring a lot of Arnold's fans to theatre.

Johnny Knoxville is not only tolerable but he is also funny. His character bring some of the funniest moments in the film. Jaimie Alexander shows once again that she can pull of amazing kick-ass heroine. Let's hope she gets more screen time in the next Thor movie. Harry Dean Stanton who is her for one only scene is just unforgettable just as the dialogue in his scene. Forest Whitaker, an Oscar Winner, gives his usual magnificent performance which sometimes seems very funny given the context of the film and its ridiculous plot.

The violence in modern movies is not the same as in the 80s, 90s. I don't want to sound like a maniac but given the credit of Jee-woon Kim I expected this film to be more "off the chain". It is like the studio executives came on the set and told the director to tone the violence and blood down. Even when things get violent it is just not the same as it used to be. Despite some flaws this film still is a great mindless fun action ride and that is exactly what I expected and it's great to see Arnold back on the big screen.

Arnold is BACK(!)...in Jee-Woon Kim's fast paced, action packed popcorn film...

[bcbell79 · 9/10 · 18 January 2013]

I grew up watching Arnold, I own every film of his, I am what you would call a serious Schwarzenegger fan. I have waited a decade for his return to the cinema, and I wasn't disappointed. The Last Stand isn't perfect, but Arnold fans can rejoice, for he truly is back!!

The premise (for those that haven't watched the trailer a dozen times like me) is a Mexican cartel boss (Eduardo Noriega) has escaped custody during transport and is heading to the Mexican border, and he is going to get there by going through the sleepy town of Sommerton, Arizona. Arnold is the Sheriff in this sleepy little town, and he is the FBI's last hope at stopping the ruthless gangster.

This movie is full of intense, bloody action, exciting car chases (thanks to a supped up Corvette ZR1 with over one thousand horsepower!) and funny one liner's. The film never takes itself too serious (which is good thing) and is surprisingly funny throughout. Arnold's acting is a little rusty, but he more than made up for it in the action scenes. And the (many) action sequences were exciting and bloody, the theater kept cheering out loud. The pacing was perfect, the film flew by.

The cast was great...Luis Guzman is hilarious as Arnold's Deputy, Forest Whitaker as the lead FBI agent, Peter Stormare as the maniacal "right hand man" villain, Johnny Knoxville as the town clown, Harry Dean Stanton as the crotchety old farmer, the list goes on...

The film was everything I wanted from an Arnold movie, it's fun(!), full of fast paced action and lots of (funny) one liner's. The non-Arnold fan probably won't get much from this, but this movie was made for Arnold fans, and it delivers.

Stupid premise but kick A action

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 13 January 2014]

Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a small town sheriff in Sommerton, Arizona on the border with Mexico. Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) is an escaped FBI prisoner driving a souped up Corvette closing in on the border. The only thing standing in his way is Schwarzenegger and his band of deputies (Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzmán, Johnny Knoxville).

The premise is silly that a guy driving from Las Vegas couldn't be stopped even though the cops have a helicopter and multiple road blocks. Just a simple tire spike strip could easily have stopped him. If Cortez had all that resources, there has got to be a better way.

The saving grace for this movie is Schwarzenegger and the small town shoot out. It's a lot of fun. It has just enough humor with the great shoot em up action. That section is enough to recommend the movie. The bridge part is again a little silly. If Cortez had so much resources, he should have an army on the other side. Arnold wouldn't have a chance at hand to hand combat. Some sniper in Mexico would have taken Arnie out. Anyways after the shootout in town, the climax seems anti-climatic.

He's back!

[monstagrn8452 · 9/10 · 18 January 2013]

Just got back from seeing the last stand, overall a great action movie that action fans as well as schwarzenegger fans will like. Those of you expecting to see academy award winning performances or great story telling should probably avoid this. This is a straight up action movie filled with unapologetic violence, the way it should be. The movie starts off a little slow but once the action picks up it never lets go. Arnold may be looking his age a little bit but that doesn't slow him down at all. Johnny knoxville is also good as the comedy sidekick and he has his moments to shine, him and arnold are definitely an odd couple. Welcome back arnold, here's to more great action movies from an action legend! Looking forward to seeing the tomb next! Schwarzenegger and stallone=EPIC!!!

Schwarzenegger back in form with this fun action picture

[rparham · 7/10 · 2 February 2013]

When he entered the California Governor's mansion a decade ago, I frankly expected that was the end of the acting career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Considering most of his biggest successes were action films, and he was moving past the years that it would be reasonable to expect him to land leading man action roles, it wouldn't have surprised anyone if he hung up his acting duds permanently. However, with his stint in California politics over, Arnold Schwarzenegger is right back in the acting saddle, complete with an action film, The Last Stand. While trailers and synopses make The Last Stand seem like nothing special, which, deep down, it really isn't, it still manages to be a fun and energetic throw back to the 80s actioners that Schwarzenegger made his name with.

The plot of The Last Stand is hardly involved: drug lord Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noreiga) has been busted out of federal custody in Las Vegas and is now driving a souped up Corvette at high speed to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he plans to cross within a few miles of the town of Sommerton, assisted by hired thug Burrell (Peter Stormare). However, what Cortez doesn't know is that Sommerton's sheriff is former L.A. drug task force officer Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) who fled the big city for the sleepy environs of Sommerton after some particularly nasty experiences in L.A. With his deputies Mike Figuerola (Luis Guzman), Sarah Torrence (Jaimie Alexander), Jerry Bailey (Zach Gilford), local gun collector Lewis Dinkum (Johnny Knoxville) and former soldier Frank Martinez (Rodrigo Santoro) to assist, Ray is determined to stop Cortez from reaching Mexico, even as federal agent John Bannister (Forest Whittaker) tries to disuade him from taking on Cortez from afar.

The Last Stand isn't really going to tax anyone's brain power throughout it's running time. It is a straightforward affair, there aren't much in the way of any twists and turns to the narrative, no serious moral or ethical quandaries (unless you consider the age old movie battle of good vs evil in about as uncomplicated a form as it gets) and just enough character development for you to get an inkling as to who the players are and a little of their background. The Last Stand isn't setting it's sights high, but frankly, that's not a bad thing. Like so many B-movies of old, The Last Stand knows what it is and doesn't ascribe to be much else.

The Last Stand has more than a few well-shot and edited action sequences, from the villain's escape from custody near the opening of the film, to the eventual battle of good guys against bad guys as the film winds down, The Last Stand delivers the action film goods. This is nothing revolutionary, but it is assembled into a slick, engaging package that keeps the pace moving along briskly without resorting to the over-edited, shaky cam action messes we have been exposed to in recent years. Korean director Jee-woon Kim knows how to put his action set-pieces together to keep you involved.

The Last Stand has some of the typical low-key comedy that was often the stable of Schwarzenegger's earlier films. There are a few nice one- liners here and there for him to chew on, and it's obvious that Knoxville has been retained to bring some levity to the proceedings. While The Last Stand has it's serious moments, one of the things that makes it enjoyable to watch is the lighter touch the film has. Yes, it hits many of the staples of this kind of film, the underdog heroes banding together to fight off the bad guy, complete with a montage sequence showing them readying for battle, but it still proves to be like a cinematic warm blanket: comfortable enough for you to enjoy the familiarity.

The Last Stand also recognizes that Schwarzenegger is a little older than your typical action film star and mines some decent moments here and there. Several scenes relate the typical "getting old" jokes you expect from this type of material, so the filmmakers and Schwarzenegger are approaching that aspect of the film dead on, while still providing what we expect from an action film. At time credulity is strained that the average man in his mid 60s would be able to pull off some of the things that Ray does in the film, but I wasn't expecting a true to life experience from The Last Stand when I walked in.

Schwarzenegger won't win any particular accolades for his performance in The Last Stand, but he is back in his usual, dependable form in this first starring role in a decade. His character has been tempered to match the actor's age. Ray seems interested in keeping things quiet and easy in his life, but knows how to kick-ass when the time comes. Luis Guzman delivers a nice mix of charm and light comic relief as his top deputy, Knoxville does his usual schtick but doesn't really wear out his welcome. As the villain, Noriega is appropriately dastardly, shooting a cop early in the proceedings after reminding him of his family, and he wants to drive the Corvette to freedom because, well, its just sounds like fun. Stormare is also appropriately seedy as Burrell, Noriega's henchman, giving us a reasonably hissable foe to root against. Whittaker does the best he can with a mostly thankless role, but provides his usual capable performance.

The Last Stand won't go down as something people will remember fondly as any kind of ground-breaking film achievement, but it is hardly one that will leave you walking out of the theater hanging your head in disappointment. The Last Stand does what it was designed to do, does it well, and provides a nice slice of popcorn munching movie entertainment. As Schwarzenegger's vehicle to return to Hollywood stardom, he could have done a lot worse.

Don't waste your time

[sarvinc · 1/10 · 3 May 2013]

While watching this I felt like I had been transported back in time to the 80s. Except I wasn't watching a good 80s action movie; instead I was watching a bad 80s action movie.

Every scene is contrived; a character races across the desert at triple-digit speeds, in a 1000+ horsepower Corvette, without ever needing to stop to refuel. Characters in moving vehicles win a shootout against a barricaded opponent who knows they will be facing trouble. A character standing in the open defeats a squad of FBI HRT operators. A helicopter loses track of a car traveling on the only road for hundreds of miles. The antagonist drives in reverse at, what appears to be, double digit speeds, etc. This movie is one giant facepalm.

I imagine that we are supposed to be left in suspense, on a journey with the protagonists, in an attempt to guess at what the antagonist will do next. Instead we are left baffled by the buffoonery of the Federal agents and the obviousness of everything.

Bottom line: if you're looking to relive the days of bad 80s action movies; this one is for you.

Good

[0U · 29 February 2020]

This movie is a lot of fun for what it is, a mindless, bloody, shoot em up action movie complete with some Schwarzenegger one liners.

There are roadblocks, and then there's Arnold Schwarzenegger!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 3 February 2020]

I didn't expect a whole lot from "The Last Stand", except that it would provide a good 100 minutes of undemanding but hard-boiled and wickedly violent action. And it does just that! Well, maybe I secretly did have higher expectations, since the film represented the comeback of action-icon Arnold Schwarzenegger to the big screen (after playing for Californian governor for 10 years), and the Hollywood debut of the acclaimed South Korean director Jee-Woon Kim ("A Tale of Two Sisters", "I Saw the Devil"). It's already admirable that Kim chose to direct an original action movie scenario, rather than opting for the "safe" solution and simply remake one of his own Korean horror successes. "The Last Stand" is great popcorn fun and old-fashioned buddy action. In fact, it's the ideal throwback to action movie hits typically for the late 80s and 90s, with lots of humor, ultra-mean villains & comic relief sidekicks, spectacular stunt work and over-the-top violent shootouts. When the most feared Mexican drug cartel leader escapes from the FBI during a meticulously planned prison transport in Las Vegas, his follow-up plan exists of speeding further south with a stolen Corvette and crossing the Mexican border via an improvised bridge in the sleepy little Arizonan town of Sommerton. There's one minor obstacle, though. Arnie Schwarzenegger is Sheriff Ray Owens of Sommerton, and he certainly doesn't plan to let Cortez pass through his town without a fight. "The Last Stand" works well because the bad guys (Eduardo Noriega, Peter Stormare) are effectively loathsome, and because our heroic Sheriff is so understaffed that he must rely on an inexperienced but trigger-happy gun freak (Johnny Knoxville) for help. The action footage is very impressive, the blood floats excessively and Schwarzenegger is still a forceful rock of pure testosterone!

Modern action with the feel of a western

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 2 April 2018]

Ray Owens used to be part of an elite LAPD anti-narcotics task force but now he is enjoying a quieter life as a small Arizona town on the Mexican border. His peace and quiet is about to be shattered... drug lord Gabriel Cortez is being moved by the FBI but following a dramatic escape he flees south in a stolen 200MPH supercar and an FBI agent hostage. As he heads south his heavily armed associates set about placing a mobile assault bridge over the narrow canyon near Sheriff Owens's town. They kill the landowner causing somebody who misses him to contact Owens. An investigation leads to a confrontation that leaves one deputy dead. As Cortez heads to the border Owen and his surviving deputies get ready for his arrival; before that though they will have to face his henchmen in a showdown on Main Street.

This action film is a lot of fun; it starts well with the spectacular escape. It then turns into an effective western as the small town sheriff and his small number of deputies prepare for the arrival of a superior force of bad guys while they know help will not arrive in time. Arnold Schwarzenegger shows that he still has what it takes to play the lead role in an action film. The supporting cast, which includes some familiar faces is also solid enough. South Korean director Kim Jee-Woon, best known for 'Oriental western' 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' once again combines action, some of which is quite bloody, with an enjoyable degree of humour without tipping it into being a comedy. The action is nicely varied with car chases, smashing through road blocks, fights and shootouts... one of which involves Arnie using a Vickers machinegun! Overall I'd say that this is an enjoyably action film full of western tropes; it might not be a must-see but it is still worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.

Overall, I really liked this film. I cheered, I winced, I threw popcorn in excitement!

[madrex2001 · 8/10 · 19 January 2013]

This is it Arnold Fans our long wait is finally over. Our favorite action hero is BACK! But after being out of the spotlight in a leading role for over a decade, (as fun as Expendables 2 was, it doesn't count) is Arnold really returning to the silver screen with the same flair for action and entertainment that he used to? Read on to find out!

Schwarzenegger plays Ray Owens, a former LAPD Narcotics Agent who left the big city excitement after a bad incident to become the sheriff of the sleepy New Mexico border town of Summerton Junction. Summerton is a town where nothing exciting happens, except for the occasional drunk and disorderly, or petty theft arrest, but this sleepy town is about to get a rude awakening. A notorious drug lord Gabriel Cortez, portrayed by Eduardo Noriega, escapes from FBI custody and starts making his way towards the Mexican border at 250 mph in a stolen, custom Corvette ZR1. Its faster then any chopper. Cortez also has an FBI agent hostage in tow as he dodges police barricades and evades helicopters, usually with very bloody aftermath.

The FBI task force leader Agent Bannister, played by Forest Whitaker, thinks it's a slim chance that Cortez will pass through Summerton, but Arnold's character knows something isn't right. Immediately suspicious of some visitors (one being played by the amazing Peter Stormare), the Sheriff knows they clearly don't belong there.

In his recent autobiography, our favorite action hero describes his part in Last Stand as "a great, great role." "The sheriff knows if he succeeds," he writes, "it will mean everything to the town. His reputation is on the line. Is he really over the hill or can he do it?"

With 'Last Stand,' Arnold has his own reputation to re-solidify as leading man. Again, the Megastar and Governor of California hasn't anchored a movie since 2003′s 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines', and at 65, some worried that he's past his prime as an action hero. Is Arnold over the hill or can he still do it?

From this Arnold fans perspective, the answer is, "Hell Yes!" The action looks great; the acting gets better and better as the film runs, and there are a few gruesome kills that will make any gore fan happy!

The screenplay by Andrew Knauer doesn't give Arnold as many of his signature one- liners. Many of them, such as "How are you, Sheriff?" to which he replies "Old!", was already given away in the trailer. But don't worry, there are a few more hidden gems.

Arnold and his team, who consist of the moody veteran played by Luis Guzman, the rookie cop played by Zach Gilford, the beautiful but skilled deputy played by Jaimie Alexander, her screw-up ex boyfriend (who is stuck in the towns single jail cell) played by Rodrigo Santoro, and of course, the crazy, eccentric goof-ball, who happens to own a small museum of artillery, played by Johnny Knoxville, ban together to become the 'Last Stand' between Cortez and freedom.

The shootouts are all high tension, and there is plenty of high octane car chases for you Fast and Furious fans, plus there are some amazing visuals as well. Kim Ji-Woons entry into US theaters keeps his edgy style engraved within the heart of the picture, and is just as much fun as 'The Good, The Bad, and the Weird', yet still manages to capture traditional Hollywood flair.

There is one thing about this picture that I want to warn you about, it takes a little while to really get going. It's a large cast, so each one needs a bit of an introduction and story to make you care, so I understand. But the great juicy Arnold action starts little more then half way in. And at times, I felt myself wishing there was just a LITTLE more Arnold. But all in all it's not a huge deal. Our Hero still steals the show here, as he should.

Overall, I really liked this film. I cheered, I winced, I threw popcorn in excitement! Is it as good as, say... Terminator? Of course not, but it's on par with, if not better then, the likes of Eraser or Collateral Damage! And I really liked Eraser.

Arnold is Back! With this being his first entry into cinemas in a long while, and it turning out so well, I'm now very excited for his next pictures 'The Tomb', 'TEN', and of course 'Legend of Conan'! Get your ass to the Theaters!

8 out of 10 stogies

www.thearnoldfans.com

A bit mangled, but a decent enough return to film for Schwarzenegger

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 7/10 · 26 January 2013]

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) oversees the law in the sleepy American town of Summerton, resigning to a quiet life after becoming fazed by the brutality of more hard line policing. But all that looks set to change when notorious drug lord Eduardo Noriega (Gabriel Cortez), who is scheduled for death row, breaks free from custody in Las Vegas and comes hurtling in a fast sports car towards Summerton to rendezvous with right hand man Burrell (Peter Stormare.) In a battle of odds with FBI Agent John Bannister (Forest Whitaker), who is hot on the trail of Noriega, Owens takes a stand with his deputies to stand firm and protect their little town.

After a ten year absence, during which it seemed unlikely he would ever return to acting, it's easy to appreciate the void Arnold Schwarzenegger left in the world of action cinema, and indeed cinema in general, and for sheer nostalgia to overwhelm your opinion of this new film of his. The Last Stand, unwittingly, could make you hark for his films of old and want to re live the sheer, unmistakable magic you could only get from an Arnold film all over again. Hell, the length could even make you forget that his last few films before he became 'the Governator' were of mediocre quality at best, or even make you think they weren't so bad after all. It is surprising, and certainly very nice, to see him back on the big screen again. And, while The Last Stand is certainly not without it's qualities, there are some big flaws that stop it from being a mesmerizing come back.

While he seems to have exhausted himself with his own self publicizing, with certainly a few TV/magazine interviews in the UK prior to the film's release, it's weird how little publicity the film itself seems to have received (I didn't even see a trailer before going to see it.) It's hailed as Arnie's big new come back, with him prominently headlined as the main star, but it's strange how little screen time the big man seems to occupy, especially in the first half. For a short while, it sort of becomes the Forest Whitaker show, as the big prison bus escape unfolds. Not a good thing, when you think he's already drowning in a sea of co stars, including Stormare, Luis Guzman and Johnny Knoxville as the town's resident, er, jackass.

He seems to have a slower, more gentle, considered presence here, his scenes giving the film the same feel one of Clint Eastwood's more modern films would have. Given his age, I think this is for the best, as the thought of him on wires or using stunt doubles wouldn't be very good. The main problem the film has is it seems unsure of it's tone, whether it wants to be a solid, compelling action drama or more like one of Arnold's more wackier, wise cracking earlier films. Rather than turning to more modern, flashy directors like Jee-Woon Kim, it would be interesting to see how Arnold himself might prove, directing one of his own films, in the style his old mate Clint does. ***

Arnold is back!

[dworldeater · 8/10 · 19 January 2013]

As a fan of both star ( Arnold Scwarzenegger ) and director( Kim Jee Woon ) I am satisfied with this film. The Last Stand is the US director debut of Kim Jee Woon as well as the first Scwarzenegger non cameo role since T3. The film is real good actually as it looks great, fast paced with a good amount of bloody action . The tone is serious enough but still has a good amount of tongue in cheek humor and the usual Arnie one liners. Arnold plays a sheriff in a small southwestern town and defends said town against an army of drug runners looking to escort their escaped drug kingpin back to Mexico.Good support cast with Forest Whitaker and Luis Guzman.Johnny Knoxville's screen time is minimal thankfully and doesn't ruin the film . I found The Last Stand to be a very enjoyable action flick as well as the best movie Arnold made in a long time. I hope the film does well as it is a good film and strong comeback for Arnie as well as great US debut for Kim Jee Woon.

Welcome back, Arnold.

[dvc5159 · 7/10 · 17 January 2013]

Action film icon Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the big screen, in top billing, after a political run which lasted a decade. He isn't a good actor, but like fine wine he is improving, and "The Last Stand" is a good indicator that he still has some juice left in him.

Aside from the juvenile and humorless/lifeless supporting cast, and formulaic script which really brings down the film a lot, the film's strength lies in two main things. First, is Arnold's undeniable screen presence, on which he carries the movie on his shoulders and doesn't look back. When he's on screen, good or not, we keep watching, though his acting has visibly improved compared to his past entries. For a big man, he certainly has a commanding aura on screen, and it's still the same with this case. In this film he doesn't pretend that he is aging and vulnerable, but what the hell. He can still shoot 'em up and fight pretty well for a near 66-year old.

The other major thing is the direction from South Korean helmer Kim Ji- Woon. This is Kim's Hollywood debut, having directed the creepy horror drama "A Tale of Two Sisters", the fun 'Kimchi' Western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird", and the brutal crime thriller "I Saw The Devil" back in his home country. Kim knows he is working with formula here and he ups the ante with comic graphic violence and fast paced direction, not unlike GBW. While his attempt at English-speaking humor falls flat, he can do better next time around.

Kim has even brought his collaborators, the cinematographer from "A Bittersweet Life", and Mowg, the composer of "I Saw the Devil", to help him out. Mowg's music score stands out unusually as a quality piece of action movie music, with proper emotional and action cues at the right places.

I've giving this film a lot of credit here. Had it not been for Arnold's or Kim's involvement, this would've been an average action thriller. However the stunts are not bad, well choreographed and not a tinge of CGI in sight, and the action comically violent at parts. It's good to see Arnold back on the big screen in action, but both he and Kim need to do better than this cookie-cutter work.

For Arnold though, he already looks to progress onward with bigger and better films, and with his acting improving with age, and impressive future work lined up (a crime thriller by David Ayer), it's a good sign he's going the Clint Eastwood route.

This was a fun movie and I'm giving it credit for not pretending to be what it's not.

Welcome back, Arnold.

If not for the director, this would be DTV.

[Jay-Klee · 3/10 · 19 January 2013]

I saw this tonight with four friends. There were 7 people total in the theater.

This movie is TERRIBLE. Terrible to the point that it's funny, but still terrible. The dialog seems like it was written by a ten year old. The action is pretty good, except for the final battle.

The comedy and "one liners" are just bad. It's nearly on the same level as Collateral Damage.

It will probably be a cult classic because of how bad it is (ala Punisher: War Zone). I think people are giving it a free pass because it's Arnold. Anyone else makes this movie, it would be getting skewered right now. I'm excited he's back on the big screen too, but I swear, sometimes people have blinders on.

Arnie's Comeback Tanks

[slightlymad22 · 6/10 · 26 July 2016]

Continuing my plan to watch every movie in Arnold Schwarzenegger's filmography in order, I come to his comeback movie The Last Stand.

Plot In A Paragraph: With the FBI in pursuit, the escaped leader of a drug cartel speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff (Arnie) and his inexperienced staff.

It's good to have Arnie back in action, there is an undeniable pleasure in watching him kicking ass again. But his acting and delivery has gone backwards and sadly this is more like his last 8 movies, than his glory days of the early 90's.

That said, he is the only real reason to see this, he lends nearly all the weight there is to this near weightless plot. The emotional relationships were as artificial as the showdown between the two adversaries on the bridge. During the final confrontation, we are meant to feel that Arnie and his deputies are danger of being killed, but the danger never for one moment exists.

Luis Guzman is OK, Johnny Knoxville does what Johnny Knoxville does, whilst Peter Stormare and Rodrigo Sotoro are your rent a villains and Forest Whittaker goes through the motions of performing in a part that has no real identity and he has no lines worth speaking.

In his autobiography Total Recall Arnie says how his love child scandal affected his career. "Hollywood pulled back and once again, the phone stopped ringing" The Governator, an animated show and comic book by Stan Lee was shelved, and Cry Macho (a movie he was looking forward to making the entire time he was Governor) was derailed too.

The Last Stand completely tanked at the domestic box office grossing only $12 million.

It's more watchable than End Of Days, 6th Day and Collateral Damage, but not by much.

Welcome to Sommerton

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 23 February 2014]

In Sommerton, Arizona, the veteran Sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) works with his inexperienced deputies Mike Figuerola (Luis Guzmán), Sarah Torrance (Jaimie Alexander) and Jerry Bailey (Zach Gilford) rescuing cats from the trees and giving parking tickets.

When the powerful Mexican drug lord Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) escapes from the convoy of the FBI under the command of Agent John Bannister (Forest Whitaker) while being transported to another prison, he heads in a Corvette in the direction of Sommerton expecting to reach Mexico. Ray deputizes the troublemaker Frank Martinez (Rodrigo Santoro) and the fool Lewis Dinkum (Johnny Knoxville) that collects weapons to help him to stop the criminal on the run, avoiding that he reaches Mexico.

"The Last Stand" is a funny action movie with hilarious moments, and great cast, highlighting Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, Eduardo Noriega and Johnny Knoxville among other great stars. Maybe the best scene is when the old woman shoots on criminal. Yesterday I saw this movie on DVD and it was worthwhile. My vote is seven.

Title: "O Último Desafio" ("The Last Challenge")

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back with a vengeance!

[gstepup · 7/10 · 12 February 2013]

* SPOILERS * As Sheriff Ray Owens of a sleepy border town called Summerton Junction, Schwarzenegger enters the film silently yet solid as a rock (California people may inject what they like into the role), investigating a landowner-farmer's murder and uncovering something bigger than he expected in the process. High-profile Latino drug kingpin Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) has just escaped from an FBI prison convoy -- and a single-minded detective (Forest Whitaker) is hot on his trail. When the three men's lives intersect, who will be the last man standing? THE LAST STAND takes up its sweet time to build up (just like the lead star), but once the shooting and the mayhem starts, UNSTOPPABLE! Nerve-wracking car chase scenes (Cortez loves swanky race cars) are a definite highlight, and how the sleepy folkstown of Summerton Junction responds to the threat of intrusive mobsters is another. Korean director Jee-woon Kim parlays his national sensibility into cunning worksmanship: starting conservatively, then increasing the power until a slambang finale. While he never gives us a real handle on the almost-morose sheriff's psyche, Kim weaves the relationships between the characters compellingly (the sheriff and his underlings, Agent John Bannister and his team, Gabriel Cortez and his cohorts) and overlaps the groups combatively (Bannister initially pooh-poohs Owens' capabilities, Cortez has a traitorous ally situated within the FBI, etc.). Schwarzenegger is back in fine form and fettle, and it appears to be a long time before he and Stallone can fade out completely from the picture (notwithstanding upstarts like Daniel Craig, Jeremy Renner, Jason Statham and Matt Damon). The supporting cast is ably handled by Kim (pretty Jaimie Alexander, as the sheriff's deputy, impresses, while Johnny Knoxville and Luis Guzmán battle for best comic relief, and Rodrigo Santoro finally gets a meaty role, notches away from his Greek-god, or rather, Italian beefcake, appearances), although the screenplay (Andrew Knauer, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, George Nolfi) wavers a bit and the music (by Mowg) should have been more flamboyant to counter the film's lapsing into inert moments. I loved the CONAN movies, TRUE LIES, and even JUNIOR, and can't wait to watch Arnold in his latest Conan adventure. Welcome back, "Governator"!

Welcome Back Arnold! Violence and Blood Gone Wild

[Michael_Elliott · 17 January 2013]

The Last Stand (2013)

*** (out of 4)

A Mexican drug lord breaks free from prison and heads to the Mexican border. With a car that goes over 200mph, it's impossible for anyone to catch him but he must cross through a small Arizona town before hitting the border and the sheriff (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is waiting for him. THE LAST STAND isn't going to get any Oscar-nominations come next year but this film wasn't made for that. No, this here was a welcome back for star Schwarzenegger and I think it's pretty fun throughout. Again, if you're looking for anything serious or smart then you're not going to want to watch this but if you're just looking for some fun and ultra-violence then buy a ticket. THE LAST STAND features all sorts of action and it's pretty non-stop from start to finish. This includes a rather wild escape sequence plus various car cases that are quite impressive to watch. When it comes to gun-play there's all sorts of it with a variety of weapons but this is one of those movies where if someone gets a paper-cut you see about a gallon of blood. With all the violence you should expect a lot of the red stuff as bodies are constantly being blown apart. None of it is overly graphic but more over-the-top and this here adds to the fun. As for Schwarzenegger, it's great seeing him back in a lead role and while his acting hasn't improved any, there's just no question that this is a great role for him. He gets to give off a few good one-liners and there's no question that he can handle the fight scenes. Yes, perhaps he's too old but nostalgia makes this fun just like those 80s Cannon/Charles Bronson pictures. The supporting cast includes a very fun Forest Whitaker as well as nice work from Luis Guzman, Jaimie Alexander and Christiana Leucas. Eduardo Noriega is good in the role of the villain but Johnny Knoxville is pretty annoying in his part. For the most part the film is a lot of fun but there are certainly some flaws including way too much comic relief. The film also would have benefited had it ran about ten-minutes shorter so that we could have gotten to the big match at the end. Still, there's a lot of fun to be had with this film and just wait until you see the sequence that welcomes Arnold back to the butt-kicking genre.

Rollicking good fun, and that's all it is.

[troyputland · 7/10 · 28 November 2015]

The Last Stand chucks Arnold Schwarzenegger in to a role where his gun does (most of) the talking. When all is quiet in the small town of Sommerton, the big man feels uneasy with the dialogue he's given, but when all hell breaks loose it's like he never gave up acting. TLS is his first full-length feature since governing California.

There's a roughly spun narrative, drawn together by Deputy Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) and his police rookies, who're investigating a murder, and Forest Whitaker's FBI hot shots, who're made to look stupid as they're consistently outmaneuvered by an escaped drug lord (Eduardo Noriega) who's making his way to the Mexican border.

Both stories are linked... or are they? Little information is given to justify the events taking place in Sommerton. When Owens and his team, which includes Jackass' Johnny Knoxville (he's actually quite entertaining) fortify their town, it's easy to forget when the bullets fly and the blood drenches the dirt. The action is almost perfect; the level of gore pushes its 15 rating to the edge. Even the car chase sequence is expertly played.

South-Korean director Jee-woon Kim makes his first film for the west, and rightfully so. The Last Stand, with a few hints of dire acting, has a equal level of cheesy lines and ferocious action. One to watch for the Schwarzenegger lovers.