Collateral Damage / Eraser

Starring:Arnold Schwarzenegger, Francesca Neri, Elias Koteas, Cliff Curtis, John Leguizamo, John Turturro, Jsu Garcia, Tyler Posey, Michael Milhoan, Rick Worthy, Raymond Cruz, Lindsay Frost, Ethan Dampf, Jorge Zepeda, Miguel Sandoval, Harry J. Lennix, Madison Mason, Don Fischer, Shelley Malil, Jack Conley
Director: Andrew Davis, Chuck Russell
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Solid Arnold Double Feature DVD!

Collateral Damage / Eraser
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Francesca Neri , Elias Koteas , Cliff Curtis , and John Leguizamo
Director: Andrew Davis , and Chuck Russell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BPL2FQ
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Description

Arnold Schwarzenegger provides escapist heroics in two explosive hits. In Collateral Damage, he plays a firefighter tracking the terrorist bomber who killed his family. Andrew Davis (The Fugitive) guides the action that leaps from LA to Colombia to Washington, D.C. In Eraser, agent John Kruger (Schwarzenegger) protects a witness who uncovered a deal to put a super weapon in the wrong hands. If you're looking for a hero, you've found him. If you're looking for the witness, Kruger will make sure you find plenty of trouble.

Customer Reviews:

Solid Arnold Double Feature DVD!.......2007-04-17

The original release date for Collateral Damage was October of 2001, forcing the studio to delay release for a couple of reasons.

For starters, the plot deals with foreign-born terrorism inside the U.S. and contains scenes of a Los Angeles restaurant being bombed, which in late `01 was still a bit raw for the public consciousness. However, adding to the time specific unease is the role Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays here - a firefighter, who early on is seen helping people frantic to escape from a building before the fire reaches them. Other than these two elements though, Collateral Damage has nothing to do with any real world event in any way.

The bad guys here are Columbian freedom fighters who, while targeting some covert U.S. government contacts for a fiery death, also manage to wipe out firefighter Gordon Brewer's wife and young son. Yes it's mostly that formulaic but it's also handled nicely and is a slight departure from what the world has come to think of as an 'Arnold movie'. Why, you ask? Mostly because this is an older and wiser Arnold who along with Director Andrew Davis is intent on getting across the theme of attempted revenge followed by redemption as opposed to the usual straight forward revenge. Although certain areas could have been stronger, overall it works well and entertains on exactly the shallow, over the top, action movie level it shoots for.

One of the high points for me was the great supporting cast, although my favorites were gone in a flash. John Turturro gets about three minutes of quality screen time as a Canadian equipment repairman who just happens to have an item that lead character Gordy Brewer needs to find the man who killed his family. As much as I like both actors, their time together here is less than compelling. John Leguizamo has considerable chemistry with Arnold but also exits quickly. At least he gets a proper send off. Elias Koteas also does a fine job as the main baddie.

Picture is Widescreen and looks super, the sound shines as well. Lots of extras for a 2in1 disc! The best is a short behind the scenes feature, but there are also deleted/alternate scenes and a quick piece about how 9/11 changed the public's perception of popular culture. Also a Director commentary and trailers.

Like I said, not your typical Ah-nold flick and an interesting time piece for some due to it's still slightly tenuous link to a depressing time in American history.

Eraser is very much an Ah-nold flick, replete with damsel in distress, ultra-futuristic high tech weaponry, dry one liners shouted over the sound of vehicles exploding and hair that just never, EVER moves. Also, none of that 'aging Firefighter' stuff here. As is the case in many of his films, Mr. Schwarzenegger takes on the role of a renegade law enforcement type. Specifically a U.S. Marshall who works in the Witness Security or... wait for it... WitSec Division. Oh yeah. You can see where this puppy is headed ten miles away and that's part of the magic.

Normally a flick like this would devolve predictably into a proper B-movie cliche fest, but due to a surprisingly strong (albeit silly) story and some anchoring performances by veterans, Eraser actually elevates at most of the right times to come through with only slightly hokey flying colors. The honorable James Coburn floats around the edges, popping in now and again to add gravitas. Robert Pastorelli hams it up, mostly near the end to add competent comedic relief. James Cromwell gets a small part but really goes out with a bang. Last but not least, James Caan stalks and growls his way to a praise worthy performance. He's the top dog here, even outshining Arnold in many places. I think Vanessa Williams might be in this too. JUST kidding. She does an OK job, certainly no better/worse than Halle Berry would have done. On the plus side, she's drop dead gorgeous and does manage hold her own in many scenes. That's it though.

Widescreen picture that looks very nice and great sound as well. No real bonus features though.

Can't find a thing to knock about this double feature DVD. 3 1/2 hours of solid Action entertainment. If you see this on sale and you're an Arnold fan, it's absolutely worth picking up.

Average customer rating:

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ASIN: B0001WTX1Y
Release Date: 2004-05-04

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