Reviews (67)

No comparisons are needed
As you may know, this film is loosely based upon DIAL M FOR MURDER, first a stage play then a movie by Alfred Hitchcook in 1954. A lot of people want to compare the two films. Even though Hitchcock was "the Master of Suspense", in my opinion, no comparisions are needed. I see both movies very differently. While both films may share certain plot points that is where the similarities end. DIAL M was patterned after the play and was very good in that context. A PERFECT MURDER succeeds because it doesn't even try to out do the '54 film. Michael Douglas as a Wall Street tycoon, plays well off of the other main characters to help make an interesting triangle. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a great performance as the wife of Douglas. She plays a complicated part and pulls it off. She plays it both tough and vulnerable at the same time. Rounding out the trio is Viggo Mortensen as Paltrow's lover. When Douglas finds out his wife is having an affair, he hires her lover, to kill her in order to gain access to her money quickly. The husband needs the cash to cover up some bad business deals. None of the three main characters are just a victim here. All of them have a dark side and each one ends up looking out for themself at some point during the film. Directed by Andy Davis, (THE FUGITIVE)
the movie is in more than capable hands. It has fine performances and has a good script by Patrick Smith Kelly

The special edition DVD has 2 so-so commentary tracks and behind the scenes info. The best feature is the alternate ending. Its always fun to compare and contrast. I don't know which one I like better. I don't think you will be disappointed either way. This is a good movie and DVD for your collection

MONEY TALKS...
This glossy, stylish, and elegant remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film, "Dial M for Murder", forges its own identity, as it leaves behind the theatrical underpinnings of the original film. Screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly offers up an intelligent, well written script with some surprising twist and turns. Beautifully directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege, The Package), the film delicately weaves its ingenious plot.

Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) is a driven, wall street tycoon whose wife, Emily Bradford Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an heiress, fabulously wealthy in her own right. They live in a lavishly appointed apartment in Manhattan. The only fly in their ointment, or so it seems, is that Emily is having a love affair with a down and out artist, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen).

It seems, however, that there is a dark side to the relationship between Steven and Emily, as Emily is decidedly unhappy with it. Moreover, unbeknownst to Emily, her artist boyfriend is not all that he appears to be nor is her husband, Steven, who is not as rich as he purports to be. Apparently, a series of bad investments have left him with margin calls that are set to leave him on the brink of bankruptcy. What's a guy to do?

Well, if you are like Steven Taylor, a ruthless, self-absorbed creep, you look to get your wife's money, at all costs. He knows about his wife's lover and will seek to use him, making David an offer he can't refuse. This decision sets in motion a cat and mouse game that leaves the viewer wondering, just who is the cat and who is the mouse? Who will live and who will die?

This is a solid thriller that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. Excellent performances are given by all. Michael Douglas is excellent as Steven Taylor, a cool and collected ruthless character who has sacrificed his very humanity to greed, power, and conspicuous consumption. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is a role similar to that of Gordon Gekko, the character that Douglas played to critical acclaim in Oliver Stone's film, "Wall Street".

It is Gwyneth Paltrow's performance, however, that is the most notable. She infuses the role of Emily with a surprising strength and vulnerability, creating a sympathetic character. This is no easy task, considering that her character, a gloriously wealthy, gorgeous woman who is two-timing and deceiving her husband. Considering her husband, however, it is understandable. She does, however, seem to be looking for love in all the wrong places, as her lover has his own issues.

Viggo Mortensen gives an excellent performance as Emily's lover, David. It appears, however, that Emily may have picked a lover not all that different from her husband. Viggo Mortensen plays his part both hot and cold, as he is clearly conflicted by what Steven has asked him to do, despite the fact that it will give him what he originally set out to get. He manages, however, to turn the table on Steven, only to have Steven turn the table on him.

Sarita Choudhury gives a warm performance as Emily's friend, Raquel Martinez. David Suchet of Hercule Poirot fame effectively plays the part of the wily detective, Mohamed Karaman, who comes into the picture when Emily is almost murdered and is most sympathetic towards Emily.

All in all, this is a wonderful film that those who enjoy thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy having in their personal collection. Bravo!

A Perfect Murder
A Perfect Murder is a re-make of the Hitchcock film, "Dial M for Murder." Steven Taylor, played by Michael Douglas, pays David, an artist played by Viggo Montenson, to kill his wife Emily, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Emily and David are having a affair. The plan seems perfect, but is it? The murder is thwarted and the rules change. There is much suspense, and the plot contains several twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Douglas, Paltrow, and Mortenson do excellent jobs with their roles. The DVD contains commentary by the director and Michael Douglas. It also has an alternate ending that I don't think works as well as the one in the theatrical release. "A Perfect Murder" is a very good movie.

A Good Murder Mystery
To make a long story short, if you only ever own one Michael Douglas movie on dvd, it should be this one! Great story, great movie!

Boasts a first-rate cast and not much else
"A Perfect Murder", inspired by the great Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder", boasts a first-rate cast and not much else. Directed by Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive", "Collateral Damage", "Holes"), based on the "Dial M for Murder" script by Frederick Knott, written by Patrick Smith Kelly ("Don't Say a Word"), and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen, one just has to wonder how such talented people could churn out such a mess of a film.

I had no empathy for any of the characters in this film. I felt very detached from all the characters in this film and thus didn't really care what happened to any of them. This eventually leads to boredom, as it did in my case.

Boredom: another thing that plagues this film. In a desperate attempt to make things more interesting, the writer throws in a bunch of twists and turns that failed to shock or interest me in the least. Frankly, this film got downright tedious. During some of the more "suspenseful" sequences, I often found myself checking my watch. No good.

The sole redeeming factor of this film is the trio of A-list actors we get to watch. Michael Douglas is pitch-perfect as a scheming, greedy businessman. The eternally elegant and ethereal Gwyneth Paltrow is mesmerizing to watch and brings a little bit of light into this otherwise dark film. And then we have VIGGO (Mortensen, that is). Incase you've been living under a rock for the past few years; we all know and love Mortensen as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Though Viggo had been in many films prior, this is probably the biggest role he'd ever had in a mainstream film at the time. It's fascinating to watch the man who, in probably only a few months, would be on his way to New Zealand for the role of his career. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

No comparisons are needed
As you may know, this film is loosely based upon DIAL M FOR MURDER, first a stage play then a movie by Alfred Hitchcook in 1954. A lot of people want to compare the two films. Even though Hitchcock was "the Master of Suspense", in my opinion, no comparisions are needed. I see both movies very differently. While both films may share certain plot points that is where the similarities end. DIAL M was patterned after the play and was very good in that context. A PERFECT MURDER succeeds because it doesn't even try to out do the '54 film. Michael Douglas as a Wall Street tycoon, plays well off of the other main characters to help make an interesting triangle. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a great performance as the wife of Douglas. She plays a complicated part and pulls it off. She plays it both tough and vulnerable at the same time. Rounding out the trio is Viggo Mortensen as Paltrow's lover. When Douglas finds out his wife is having an affair, he hires her lover, to kill her in order to gain access to her money quickly. The husband needs the cash to cover up some bad business deals. None of the three main characters are just a victim here. All of them have a dark side and each one ends up looking out for themself at some point during the film. Directed by Andy Davis, (THE FUGITIVE)
the movie is in more than capable hands. It has fine performances and has a good script by Patrick Smith Kelly

The special edition DVD has 2 so-so commentary tracks and behind the scenes info. The best feature is the alternate ending. Its always fun to compare and contrast. I don't know which one I like better. I don't think you will be disappointed either way. This is a good movie and DVD for your collection

MONEY TALKS...
This glossy, stylish, and elegant remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film, "Dial M for Murder", forges its own identity, as it leaves behind the theatrical underpinnings of the original film. Screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly offers up an intelligent, well written script with some surprising twist and turns. Beautifully directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege, The Package), the film delicately weaves its ingenious plot.

Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) is a driven, wall street tycoon whose wife, Emily Bradford Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an heiress, fabulously wealthy in her own right. They live in a lavishly appointed apartment in Manhattan. The only fly in their ointment, or so it seems, is that Emily is having a love affair with a down and out artist, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen).

It seems, however, that there is a dark side to the relationship between Steven and Emily, as Emily is decidedly unhappy with it. Moreover, unbeknownst to Emily, her artist boyfriend is not all that he appears to be nor is her husband, Steven, who is not as rich as he purports to be. Apparently, a series of bad investments have left him with margin calls that are set to leave him on the brink of bankruptcy. What's a guy to do?

Well, if you are like Steven Taylor, a ruthless, self-absorbed creep, you look to get your wife's money, at all costs. He knows about his wife's lover and will seek to use him, making David an offer he can't refuse. This decision sets in motion a cat and mouse game that leaves the viewer wondering, just who is the cat and who is the mouse? Who will live and who will die?

This is a solid thriller that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. Excellent performances are given by all. Michael Douglas is excellent as Steven Taylor, a cool and collected ruthless character who has sacrificed his very humanity to greed, power, and conspicuous consumption. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is a role similar to that of Gordon Gekko, the character that Douglas played to critical acclaim in Oliver Stone's film, "Wall Street".

It is Gwyneth Paltrow's performance, however, that is the most notable. She infuses the role of Emily with a surprising strength and vulnerability, creating a sympathetic character. This is no easy task, considering that her character, a gloriously wealthy, gorgeous woman who is two-timing and deceiving her husband. Considering her husband, however, it is understandable. She does, however, seem to be looking for love in all the wrong places, as her lover has his own issues.

Viggo Mortensen gives an excellent performance as Emily's lover, David. It appears, however, that Emily may have picked a lover not all that different from her husband. Viggo Mortensen plays his part both hot and cold, as he is clearly conflicted by what Steven has asked him to do, despite the fact that it will give him what he originally set out to get. He manages, however, to turn the table on Steven, only to have Steven turn the table on him.

Sarita Choudhury gives a warm performance as Emily's friend, Raquel Martinez. David Suchet of Hercule Poirot fame effectively plays the part of the wily detective, Mohamed Karaman, who comes into the picture when Emily is almost murdered and is most sympathetic towards Emily.

All in all, this is a wonderful film that those who enjoy thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy having in their personal collection. Bravo!

A Perfect Murder
A Perfect Murder is a re-make of the Hitchcock film, "Dial M for Murder." Steven Taylor, played by Michael Douglas, pays David, an artist played by Viggo Montenson, to kill his wife Emily, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Emily and David are having a affair. The plan seems perfect, but is it? The murder is thwarted and the rules change. There is much suspense, and the plot contains several twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Douglas, Paltrow, and Mortenson do excellent jobs with their roles. The DVD contains commentary by the director and Michael Douglas. It also has an alternate ending that I don't think works as well as the one in the theatrical release. "A Perfect Murder" is a very good movie.

A Good Murder Mystery
To make a long story short, if you only ever own one Michael Douglas movie on dvd, it should be this one! Great story, great movie!

Boasts a first-rate cast and not much else
"A Perfect Murder", inspired by the great Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder", boasts a first-rate cast and not much else. Directed by Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive", "Collateral Damage", "Holes"), based on the "Dial M for Murder" script by Frederick Knott, written by Patrick Smith Kelly ("Don't Say a Word"), and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen, one just has to wonder how such talented people could churn out such a mess of a film.

I had no empathy for any of the characters in this film. I felt very detached from all the characters in this film and thus didn't really care what happened to any of them. This eventually leads to boredom, as it did in my case.

Boredom: another thing that plagues this film. In a desperate attempt to make things more interesting, the writer throws in a bunch of twists and turns that failed to shock or interest me in the least. Frankly, this film got downright tedious. During some of the more "suspenseful" sequences, I often found myself checking my watch. No good.

The sole redeeming factor of this film is the trio of A-list actors we get to watch. Michael Douglas is pitch-perfect as a scheming, greedy businessman. The eternally elegant and ethereal Gwyneth Paltrow is mesmerizing to watch and brings a little bit of light into this otherwise dark film. And then we have VIGGO (Mortensen, that is). Incase you've been living under a rock for the past few years; we all know and love Mortensen as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Though Viggo had been in many films prior, this is probably the biggest role he'd ever had in a mainstream film at the time. It's fascinating to watch the man who, in probably only a few months, would be on his way to New Zealand for the role of his career. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

No comparisons are needed
As you may know, this film is loosely based upon DIAL M FOR MURDER, first a stage play then a movie by Alfred Hitchcook in 1954. A lot of people want to compare the two films. Even though Hitchcock was "the Master of Suspense", in my opinion, no comparisions are needed. I see both movies very differently. While both films may share certain plot points that is where the similarities end. DIAL M was patterned after the play and was very good in that context. A PERFECT MURDER succeeds because it doesn't even try to out do the '54 film. Michael Douglas as a Wall Street tycoon, plays well off of the other main characters to help make an interesting triangle. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a great performance as the wife of Douglas. She plays a complicated part and pulls it off. She plays it both tough and vulnerable at the same time. Rounding out the trio is Viggo Mortensen as Paltrow's lover. When Douglas finds out his wife is having an affair, he hires her lover, to kill her in order to gain access to her money quickly. The husband needs the cash to cover up some bad business deals. None of the three main characters are just a victim here. All of them have a dark side and each one ends up looking out for themself at some point during the film. Directed by Andy Davis, (THE FUGITIVE)
the movie is in more than capable hands. It has fine performances and has a good script by Patrick Smith Kelly

The special edition DVD has 2 so-so commentary tracks and behind the scenes info. The best feature is the alternate ending. Its always fun to compare and contrast. I don't know which one I like better. I don't think you will be disappointed either way. This is a good movie and DVD for your collection

MONEY TALKS...
This glossy, stylish, and elegant remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film, "Dial M for Murder", forges its own identity, as it leaves behind the theatrical underpinnings of the original film. Screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly offers up an intelligent, well written script with some surprising twist and turns. Beautifully directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege, The Package), the film delicately weaves its ingenious plot.

Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) is a driven, wall street tycoon whose wife, Emily Bradford Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an heiress, fabulously wealthy in her own right. They live in a lavishly appointed apartment in Manhattan. The only fly in their ointment, or so it seems, is that Emily is having a love affair with a down and out artist, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen).

It seems, however, that there is a dark side to the relationship between Steven and Emily, as Emily is decidedly unhappy with it. Moreover, unbeknownst to Emily, her artist boyfriend is not all that he appears to be nor is her husband, Steven, who is not as rich as he purports to be. Apparently, a series of bad investments have left him with margin calls that are set to leave him on the brink of bankruptcy. What's a guy to do?

Well, if you are like Steven Taylor, a ruthless, self-absorbed creep, you look to get your wife's money, at all costs. He knows about his wife's lover and will seek to use him, making David an offer he can't refuse. This decision sets in motion a cat and mouse game that leaves the viewer wondering, just who is the cat and who is the mouse? Who will live and who will die?

This is a solid thriller that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. Excellent performances are given by all. Michael Douglas is excellent as Steven Taylor, a cool and collected ruthless character who has sacrificed his very humanity to greed, power, and conspicuous consumption. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is a role similar to that of Gordon Gekko, the character that Douglas played to critical acclaim in Oliver Stone's film, "Wall Street".

It is Gwyneth Paltrow's performance, however, that is the most notable. She infuses the role of Emily with a surprising strength and vulnerability, creating a sympathetic character. This is no easy task, considering that her character, a gloriously wealthy, gorgeous woman who is two-timing and deceiving her husband. Considering her husband, however, it is understandable. She does, however, seem to be looking for love in all the wrong places, as her lover has his own issues.

Viggo Mortensen gives an excellent performance as Emily's lover, David. It appears, however, that Emily may have picked a lover not all that different from her husband. Viggo Mortensen plays his part both hot and cold, as he is clearly conflicted by what Steven has asked him to do, despite the fact that it will give him what he originally set out to get. He manages, however, to turn the table on Steven, only to have Steven turn the table on him.

Sarita Choudhury gives a warm performance as Emily's friend, Raquel Martinez. David Suchet of Hercule Poirot fame effectively plays the part of the wily detective, Mohamed Karaman, who comes into the picture when Emily is almost murdered and is most sympathetic towards Emily.

All in all, this is a wonderful film that those who enjoy thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy having in their personal collection. Bravo!

A Perfect Murder
A Perfect Murder is a re-make of the Hitchcock film, "Dial M for Murder." Steven Taylor, played by Michael Douglas, pays David, an artist played by Viggo Montenson, to kill his wife Emily, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Emily and David are having a affair. The plan seems perfect, but is it? The murder is thwarted and the rules change. There is much suspense, and the plot contains several twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Douglas, Paltrow, and Mortenson do excellent jobs with their roles. The DVD contains commentary by the director and Michael Douglas. It also has an alternate ending that I don't think works as well as the one in the theatrical release. "A Perfect Murder" is a very good movie.

A Good Murder Mystery
To make a long story short, if you only ever own one Michael Douglas movie on dvd, it should be this one! Great story, great movie!

Boasts a first-rate cast and not much else
"A Perfect Murder", inspired by the great Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder", boasts a first-rate cast and not much else. Directed by Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive", "Collateral Damage", "Holes"), based on the "Dial M for Murder" script by Frederick Knott, written by Patrick Smith Kelly ("Don't Say a Word"), and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen, one just has to wonder how such talented people could churn out such a mess of a film.

I had no empathy for any of the characters in this film. I felt very detached from all the characters in this film and thus didn't really care what happened to any of them. This eventually leads to boredom, as it did in my case.

Boredom: another thing that plagues this film. In a desperate attempt to make things more interesting, the writer throws in a bunch of twists and turns that failed to shock or interest me in the least. Frankly, this film got downright tedious. During some of the more "suspenseful" sequences, I often found myself checking my watch. No good.

The sole redeeming factor of this film is the trio of A-list actors we get to watch. Michael Douglas is pitch-perfect as a scheming, greedy businessman. The eternally elegant and ethereal Gwyneth Paltrow is mesmerizing to watch and brings a little bit of light into this otherwise dark film. And then we have VIGGO (Mortensen, that is). Incase you've been living under a rock for the past few years; we all know and love Mortensen as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Though Viggo had been in many films prior, this is probably the biggest role he'd ever had in a mainstream film at the time. It's fascinating to watch the man who, in probably only a few months, would be on his way to New Zealand for the role of his career. ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Not a good DVD, but a Good Arnold flick
The Running Man tells of a future world where convicted fellons are put on a game show "The Running Man" and are placed in arenas along with psychotic stalkers who are there to kill these guys in record time all for the entertainment of the American people.
The film is great but not perfect. I love the way the film portrays society, as basically a bunch of mindless and gullable media slaves. Which some would argue is true for our society today, where we believe everything served to us on television and radio, not considering that maybe the people behind these stories are money hungry, heartless liars. It was almost like a future version of the Roman Empire, where upper class Romans found the most violent and bloody sport with slaves getting butchered in an arena as pure entertainment. This film uses the likes of rich corporate adults as the shows mainstream audience loving fellons get butchered the same way.
The films special effects are ahead of its time, with believable gore and movie props like futuristic cars and buildings.
Richard Dawson is great as the gameshow's host, as a lovable teddy bear on screen, and a greedy, self-involved liar backstage. The remaining cast do thier jobs well, although they could have found more talented actors. Arnold is Arnold, without him, this movie wouldn't have the box-office appeal that it did, nor would it have the appeal on todays audience that it did. And even though his one liners after each death border on stupidity in this film (with a lot of the other dialogue), his Arnoldness simply makes up for it.
This movie was a great and unique idea and it was executed just fine, I own this dvd and like it a lot. Although, giving us simply a trailer as an extra simply sucks. I wouldve like to hear some commentary on it at least. Oh well...

Mediocre, but strangely likable and memorable 3.,5 stars
It's the future, and the world is in a violent, poverty-stricken mess. The biggest entertainment around is . . . a reality show. A very brutal reality show. Convicted criminals become contestants in a game-show where they either get killed as they run a gauntlet against a bunch of thugs, or they survive and get to move to Hawaii.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a man wrongly convicted of a crime and chosen as a contestant in the lovely game-show described above. Of course, Ahnold can't take that lying down, so he proceeds to not only survive, but try to break this ugly set-up. Richard Dawson plays the host of the show, which is broadcast everywhere, and hams up it to perfection, as the ultimate it's-all-about-ratings smarmy egotist-with-a-smile.

I didn't like the repetitiveness at times of the action scenes, nor the bad, cheap settings somewhat hidden by bad lighting. I did like the general sense of tension created, as well as Arnold's genuine good-guy versus Dawson's completely-fake bad-guy. Not a movie to rave about, but fun to watch if you don't have much else to do.

Perhaps more topical now
While in 1987 this may have been simply another action star for Governor-to-be Schwarzenegger, viewed today this film offers more layers of meaning.

"The Running Man" is a reality show in which criminals are forced to run from bounty hunter-types who are given WWF wrestling style introductions and use a myriad of weapons to kill their prey. The audience cheers and boos mercilessly as the real-life people meet tragic ends. Seen today in the era of "Survivor" and "Fear Factor," among other reality shows, this movie offers much in the way of questioning the direction of such television. Is this the direction reality TV is going? Also good for a look at mass media and people's belief in what is told to them.

The movie is what it is. Fist-pumping commando, guns and heavy artillery. Schwarzenegger is wrongly framed for a crime he didn't commit and made a criminal in this Orwellian society in which the mass media is everything. He's forced into The Running Man world. There's some throw-away jokey lines after disposing of the heavy villains, but the real treat is watching real-life game show host Richard Dawson playing the slimy, evil host of The Running Man - the real villain in this movie full of larger-than-life killers.

Read the book instead
I read the book by Stephen King and I loved it! This movie is NOTHING like the book. The basic plot (and I mean VERY basic) is the same, but the events that take place aren't even close. I'm sorry I wasted my time with this sad excuse for a movie. I was very disappointed and I recommend to everyone READ THE BOOK INSTEAD!

Another great piece of 80s Arnie action megacheese!
Although I don't consider 'The Running Man' to be one of Arnie's best bits of action fare, it does have more than its fair share of those silly cheeseball moments that I ofttimes crave. I especially enjoy the part where our hero and his fellow contestants/captors take out the first obstacle: Sub-Zero, a deadly blade-wielding hockey goalie who looks a lot like that Odd Job guy. His referring to the late SubZero as "Now, just PLAIN zero!" is a prime example of bad action one liners at their best (worst?)!

Then there's Richard Dawson as the main heavy: a futuristic game-show host with all of the fake glee and smarmy oiliness you can bear! He also gives the best rebuttal to our hero's famous "I'll be back!" here, so be on the lookout for it! And not to go off on a tangent, but does anybody out there imagine how 'The Running Man' would've looked like had present 'Family Feud' host Louie Anderson played Killian, or am I the only one? Um... anyone? A little help here...?

Oh yeah, let's not forget future Minny guv Jesse Ventura as one of the game announcer/enforcers. His raucous, obnoxious blather and uber-macho posturing really adds a pro-wrestling feel to the competition as it unfolds! You'll definitely be feeling Minnesota (or is it FLEEing Minnesota?) after watchin' "The Mind's" performance here!
All in all, 'The Running Man' is one enjoyable waste of an hour-and-a-half for all you testosterone-driven action megacheese buffs out there!

As for the Special Edition extra features: Along with the usual director/producer commentary tracks-- both of which I bailed out on after the first fifteen minutes because they were so inane and uninteresting-- and such are a couple documentaries dealing with the movie's subject matter. The first is a half-hour-long talk about Constitutional rights and freedoms following the 9/11 attacks and the passing of the Patriot Act, and the other dealing with reality TV shows. I found both reasonably informative, although the former show had some of creepiest-looking interviewees I've ever seen in a documentary. Both of these were included to reflect the movie's central "duel-to-the-death-game-show" premise and dystopian backdrop, as well as its 'prediction-of-the-future'-style prescience. Personally, I think they're giving this over-the-top actioner a bit too much credit in being a mind-opening mirror of modern society. I mean, let's face facts: since when has the term "high-concept" and Arnold Schwarzenegger gone together in a movie? Is that the smell of overheating brain matter from you pondering my question that I'm smelling, or is it just me?

'Late ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Thrilling, best in it's genre...
This movie is among the the best and most thrilling of the post Harry Callihan, 1980's genre of cop movies. As Nico Toscani, a naturally macho yet morally upright and skilled cop (who is also ex-CIA and former Aikido instructor), Seagal is impressive and yet so refreshingly believable. The short martial arts action sequences are first rate - no drawn out Hong Kong formula stuff. The cafe jazz music score is memorable and rightly paced for the exciting car tailing sequences through downtown Chicago.

Nico Toscani's Sicilian background adds to the color of the drama. There are even hints of his family background being not too far removed from the wiseguys. I mentioned Nico being macho. I'd like to qualify this by saying that he's not devoid of charm and his role is less one-dimentional than one would expect. The tough-guy persona is just a facade for an individual with strong convictions and a democratic political outlook. Equally competent is Nico's partner, Delores Jackson, played candidly by the veteran Pam Grier. The main villain, the pure evil CIA doctor Zagon, is played by the veteran villain actor Henry Silva.

Don't expect any critics' choice awards for this movie, because the script does have its share of cliches. Seagal plays a cop who is on to something very big, defies higher authority and, as expected, is taken off the case - like in so many other cop movies of the genre. The outcome is predictable. You know that good is going to triumph over evil in this movie. Despite it's predictability, the plot is fresh and to a great extent realistic. Most importantly it's entertaining.

There are surprisingly bold political statements made in this movie about the dubious role played by the CIA in the affairs of many a third world country. These statements are not too far fetched and must never be underplayed when you consider the "blowback" - CIA jargon for repercussions - being felt to this day. There are far too few movies being made these days that hold the government accountable. Unfortunately it's usually the ordinary citizen who becomes the indirect victim to the follies of an agency whose modus operandii includes criminal conduct and whose agents operate "Above the Law".

The impressive and ship-shape Seagal in this movie inspires you to ditch your six-pack of beer for a six-pack of Gatorade. He inspires you to reach into your closet for your old karate uniform or gym gear and to whip yourself back into physical and mental shape. Too bad Seagal has physically floundered since then. He does have the potential to stay there. One would hope that he would take his cues from Eastwood and Bronson, both of whose careers have had them stay in shape and play lead roles well into their sixties and seventies.

First and (easily) Best Seagal Movie
Once upon a time, an ex-CIA martial arts master quit the CIA and wrote a movie with a new plot but a character that seemed a lot like the writer

Steven Seagal is best known for his action movies, in particular the parts where he does his hand to hand thing. In his case, he's an aikido expert, and that's hard to explain. Most martial arts movies talk about Kung Fu and Tae Kwan Do where people punch and kick and you can generally tell what's going on. Aikido, on the other hand, is about redirecting an opponent, making him basically want to fall down. In the movie, it looks a lot like a bad guy rushes as Seagal, he touches them with his little finger and then they decide to throw themselves in the air in ways you thought were impossible. The moves take, oh, about two seconds to perform, with Seagal's part being only about 2 microseconds. If you want to watch Seagal in classic aikido action, be prepared to pause, slow motion and rewind. It's amazing looking and absolutley bizzare (since being marveled by the movie, i have gone out and studied aikido, and it seems even more impressive, although realistic, now)

The movie's about an ex-CIA officer turned Chicago cop (and, in my opinion, an extremely unlikeable one; that macho Italian family man thing to me just looks like a dull-witted bully control freak). He runs into some old CIA friends from 'nam who are doing naughty things

This movie has a plot, and a darn good one at that. It's a very, very interesting movie, much unlike, say, all the big budget movies he did after this one. While his later movies are bad jokes, new age mantras and B-movies, this one is really, really good. There are only a realistic number of fight scenes (gosh, i wish there were more, but that would have changed it from a drama to an action film, which this really isn't), but they are wonderful

Bottom line, this movie is awesome. i don't know if Seagal wrote and directed the later films he did (he was close to a one man production company on this one), but i wish he'd turn down those big budget formula films he's been doing and go back to doing the realistic, semi-autobiographical films like this one. He's mostly considered a joke now, but when this movie came out, when he was Seagal the writer and not Seagal the action hero, he was revered, and for good reason

Seagals explodes into cinema!!!
Great score, great story, great action. This is Seagals best film next to Under Seige. Too bad he fizzeled out after a coupla good ones. Charles Bronson remains King of the genre. Check out The Mechanic and Death Wish 2 and 4....

SEAGAL'S FIRST MOVIE IS NOT TO BE MISSED!
A COP [STEVEN SEAGAL] BATTLES POLICE CORRUPTION AND DRUG DEALING. THIS WAS SEAGAL'S FIRST MOVIE. IT HAS SOME VERY GOOD ACTION SCENES. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL MOVIE FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO COLLECT SEAGAL MOVIES OR ACTION MOVIES IN GENERAL. THIS MOVIE IS ALSO GOOD FOR ANOTHER THING, IT SHOWS US THE OLD STEVEN SEAGAL WHO LOOKED TOUGHER AND WAS IN BETTER SHAPE, UNLIKE TODAY.
I ADVISE ALL ACTION FANS TO ADD THIS TO THEIR COLLECTION NOW!

typical but decent
It's always fun to watch Steven Seagal beat [up] 10 people at once, then start running like a 5 year old girl. Yes this is a cheesey action movie with all the usual formulas, but Seagal seems to be a better actor than people like Chuck Norris, Vann Damme, Arnold, and Sly. His wisecracking remarks are definitely better than all the stupid one-liners in those other guys' movies. This was Seagal's first movie. If you've never seen one of his movies, this would probably be the best one to star with. Also a great supporting cast like Henry Silva (what a suprise, he's the lead villian!) Chelcie Ross (Harris from Major League) Pam Grier, Sharon Stone (she can't act, but she's okay here), and those same 2 cops that are in all the other movies filmed in Chicago. (The Fugitive, Code Of Silence, etc) ... Read more

Description

Andy Garcia stars as twin brothers - one good, one not so good, battling over an inheritance neither will give up. A hilarious comedy about greed, power and brotherly love. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Double the pleasure... double the fun!
From the man who brought us "The Fugitive" and "Under Siege" (the good one), comes an original comedic tale of two brothers fighting over the same inheritance.

Starring Andy Garcia... and Andy Garcia, "Steal Big, Steal Little" succeeds in every way that "Multiplicity", "Dead Ringers" and a few of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies have failed. The twin brothers, both played BRILLIANTLY by Garcia, couldn't be more dissimilar (one is good and one is bad). So when their adoptive mother leaves her fortune and estate to only one of the brothers -- the fun begins!

Clever camera tricks and a fast-paced script make "Steal Big, Steal Little" the perfect movie for anyone who has ever been caught in the middle of a battle for family inheritance.

Andy Garcia's finest work.

Enjoyed Big, Seen Little...
One of Andrew "The Fugitive" Davis' few non-suspense movies, this comedy recieved terrible reviews and zero box office upon its theatrical release--but it would be well worth seeing for many. Full of terrific character actors and sporting a jumbled chronology, the film tells the story of identical twin brothers (Andy Garcia, once again a naturally joyful presence) at war with each other over their adoptive mother's bountiful estate. The more selfish of the two siblings may have a lot of politicans in his pocket, but his generous opponent has a few tricks up his sleeve as well. Though essentially a "dramedy" in tone, there are occasional detours into slapstick that treaten to tip the balance. On the whole, however, this is the kind of fresh and highly moral piece of entertainment that comes out of Hollywood pretty rarely. It's so much more popular, it seems, to be smug and ironic. "Steal Big, Steal Little" doesn't go that route and leaves me feeling positive and optomistic.

An excellent movie
I have been waiting for the release of this movie on DVD for years and finally my dream came true. It is a very enjoyable movie talking about love, money and greed. Andy Garcia is a wonderful actor and it is a double pleasure to see him acting as twin brothers. Own this DVD and you won't be disappointed.

One of Andy's Best
As with many of his other movies, Andy Garcia pulls out another great performace in Steal Big Steal Little. In this movie Garcia plays identical twins that are on opposite sides when their step mother dies and leaves thousands of acres up for grabs, in the lush valleys of California. Filled with great suppporting roles from very familiar faces this movie is a must see especially if you are an Andy Garcia fan.

TWICE AS NICE!
The only improvement they could have made to the film is to have Andy Garcia playing triplets. He is SO AMAZING. I love the way it jumps back and forth. Okay, one teeny tiny little detail. They could have done a better job super-imposing him on the horse at the end. A very nice story, especially with Ruth Dunbar. This film didn't get near the attention it deserved. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

No comparisons are needed
As you may know, this film is loosely based upon DIAL M FOR MURDER, first a stage play then a movie by Alfred Hitchcook in 1954. A lot of people want to compare the two films. Even though Hitchcock was "the Master of Suspense", in my opinion, no comparisions are needed. I see both movies very differently. While both films may share certain plot points that is where the similarities end. DIAL M was patterned after the play and was very good in that context. A PERFECT MURDER succeeds because it doesn't even try to out do the '54 film. Michael Douglas as a Wall Street tycoon, plays well off of the other main characters to help make an interesting triangle. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a great performance as the wife of Douglas. She plays a complicated part and pulls it off. She plays it both tough and vulnerable at the same time. Rounding out the trio is Viggo Mortensen as Paltrow's lover. When Douglas finds out his wife is having an affair, he hires her lover, to kill her in order to gain access to her money quickly. The husband needs the cash to cover up some bad business deals. None of the three main characters are just a victim here. All of them have a dark side and each one ends up looking out for themself at some point during the film. Directed by Andy Davis, (THE FUGITIVE)
the movie is in more than capable hands. It has fine performances and has a good script by Patrick Smith Kelly

The special edition DVD has 2 so-so commentary tracks and behind the scenes info. The best feature is the alternate ending. Its always fun to compare and contrast. I don't know which one I like better. I don't think you will be disappointed either way. This is a good movie and DVD for your collection

MONEY TALKS...
This glossy, stylish, and elegant remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film, "Dial M for Murder", forges its own identity, as it leaves behind the theatrical underpinnings of the original film. Screenwriter Patrick Smith Kelly offers up an intelligent, well written script with some surprising twist and turns. Beautifully directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege, The Package), the film delicately weaves its ingenious plot.

Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) is a driven, wall street tycoon whose wife, Emily Bradford Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an heiress, fabulously wealthy in her own right. They live in a lavishly appointed apartment in Manhattan. The only fly in their ointment, or so it seems, is that Emily is having a love affair with a down and out artist, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen).

It seems, however, that there is a dark side to the relationship between Steven and Emily, as Emily is decidedly unhappy with it. Moreover, unbeknownst to Emily, her artist boyfriend is not all that he appears to be nor is her husband, Steven, who is not as rich as he purports to be. Apparently, a series of bad investments have left him with margin calls that are set to leave him on the brink of bankruptcy. What's a guy to do?

Well, if you are like Steven Taylor, a ruthless, self-absorbed creep, you look to get your wife's money, at all costs. He knows about his wife's lover and will seek to use him, making David an offer he can't refuse. This decision sets in motion a cat and mouse game that leaves the viewer wondering, just who is the cat and who is the mouse? Who will live and who will die?

This is a solid thriller that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. Excellent performances are given by all. Michael Douglas is excellent as Steven Taylor, a cool and collected ruthless character who has sacrificed his very humanity to greed, power, and conspicuous consumption. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is a role similar to that of Gordon Gekko, the character that Douglas played to critical acclaim in Oliver Stone's film, "Wall Street".

It is Gwyneth Paltrow's performance, however, that is the most notable. She infuses the role of Emily with a surprising strength and vulnerability, creating a sympathetic character. This is no easy task, considering that her character, a gloriously wealthy, gorgeous woman who is two-timing and deceiving her husband. Considering her husband, however, it is understandable. She does, however, seem to be looking for love in all the wrong places, as her lover has his own issues.

Viggo Mortensen gives an excellent performance as Emily's lover, David. It appears, however, that Emily may have picked a lover not all that different from her husband. Viggo Mortensen plays his part both hot and cold, as he is clearly conflicted by what Steven has asked him to do, despite the fact that it will give him what he originally set out to get. He manages, however, to turn the table on Steven, only to have Steven turn the table on him.

Sarita Choudhury gives a warm performance as Emily's friend, Raquel Martinez. David Suchet of Hercule Poirot fame effectively plays the part of the wily detective, Mohamed Karaman, who comes into the picture when Emily is almost murdered and is most sympathetic towards Emily.

All in all, this is a wonderful film that those who enjoy thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy having in their personal collection. Bravo!

A Perfect Murder
A Perfect Murder is a re-make of the Hitchcock film, "Dial M for Murder." Steven Taylor, played by Michael Douglas, pays David, an artist played by Viggo Montenson, to kill his wife Emily, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Emily and David are having a affair. The plan seems perfect, but is it? The murder is thwarted and the rules change. There is much suspense, and the plot contains several twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Douglas, Paltrow, and Mortenson do excellent jobs with their roles. The DVD contains commentary by the director and Michael Douglas. It also has an alternate ending that I don't think works as well as the one in the theatrical release. "A Perfect Murder" is a very good movie.

A Good Murder Mystery
To make a long story short, if you only ever own one Michael Douglas movie on dvd, it should be this one! Great story, great movie!

Boasts a first-rate cast and not much else
"A Perfect Murder", inspired by the great Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder", boasts a first-rate cast and not much else. Directed by Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive", "Collateral Damage", "Holes"), based on the "Dial M for Murder" script by Frederick Knott, written by Patrick Smith Kelly ("Don't Say a Word"), and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen, one just has to wonder how such talented people could churn out such a mess of a film.

I had no empathy for any of the characters in this film. I felt very detached from all the characters in this film and thus didn't really care what happened to any of them. This eventually leads to boredom, as it did in my case.

Boredom: another thing that plagues this film. In a desperate attempt to make things more interesting, the writer throws in a bunch of twists and turns that failed to shock or interest me in the least. Frankly, this film got downright tedious. During some of the more "suspenseful" sequences, I often found myself checking my watch. No good.

The sole redeeming factor of this film is the trio of A-list actors we get to watch. Michael Douglas is pitch-perfect as a scheming, greedy businessman. The eternally elegant and ethereal Gwyneth Paltrow is mesmerizing to watch and brings a little bit of light into this otherwise dark film. And then we have VIGGO (Mortensen, that is). Incase you've been living under a rock for the past few years; we all know and love Mortensen as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Though Viggo had been in many films prior, this is probably the biggest role he'd ever had in a mainstream film at the time. It's fascinating to watch the man who, in probably only a few months, would be on his way to New Zealand for the role of his career. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gene Hackman is a career officer assigned a routine mission well beneath him: deliver a prisoner (Tommy Lee Jones) from Europe to the United States. However, the simple assignment becomes a daring cat-and-mouse game played as the last flames of the Cold War are flickering. This is the first of three films that teamed Jones with director Andrew Davis. In 1989 Jones was a wild card: an actor respected but only popping up in grade B fare. After Davis's Under Siege and The Fugitive, Jones was America's favorite gruff character actor, with an Oscar on his mantel. With a weaker script, Davis still creates the same kind of magic here. Hackman is superb as the officer, an action role similar to others that the nearly 60-year-old unexpectedly excelled at (Bat 21, Narrow Margin) during this period. Tight, tense, and with no letup in the third act, The Package is a good gem for a Saturday night flick. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (6)

POLITICAL THRILLER WITH OVERTONES OF THE JFK ASSASSINATION..
..only in this case, its a Russian premier they are after. The ending, i.e., the very last scene is a macabre twist, which leaves the audience intrigued about who was running it all. Overall a predictably Hollywood production with some inspiration from Oswald findings. Occasionally a well-done action sequence or two injects some life into the picture, but it never really grabs fully, instead leads us to a quick, anticlimactic ending which doesn't reward us for our patience. The pace is commendable, the characters sacrificed for the plot (as in a typical thriller) and the twists and turns are engaging. Worthy rental, nothing more nothing less.

it's "Fugitive" Lite!
just saw an amazingly clean print of this on one of the national cable channels, first viewing since theatrical release. What struck me immediately were the similarities to The Fugitive, director Andrew Davis' later film, most notably the Chicago shooting locations, actors, and plot elements. There's the Hilton Towers' ballroom (locale of the medical-conference confrontation between Drs. Kimble and Sykes)! There's the bagpipe parade! There's Ron Dean (Fugitive's Detective Kelly "Now you all know in what high regard I hold this scumbag") as a cop! Regardless, The Package never really gels as a thriller--and the Cold War denouement plot is obviously dated--although Davis' directorial style (lots of medium and long shots, few closeups, harsh and gloomy light/color) always gets points for relying on the music score rather than hyperkinetic editing to build tension. But it is fun to watch Hackman and Jones together (even if they're not exactly chewing up scenes with their usual aplomb) and more fun to check out the late-80s hair (Joanna Cassidy's is piled high; Dennis Franz actually has some).

The Package Rocks
Very good cold war suspence film with typically good performances by Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones. You won't be disappointed. I was really surprised. I thought it would be good, but it was better than that.

Good thriller, lousy DVD.
Bravo MGM; you've managed yet again to screw up a great movie with a terrible DVD. -It's actually an ORION picture, and I'd hoped that they would've cared more about its appearance, but no such luck. Of my 100+ DVDs, this is one of the worst looking with dull colors and a fuzzy image. (Let's hope they're more careful with their upcoming Woody Allen ORION collection.) This is a rather oldfashioned straight-ahead action suspenser like they just don't make them anymore in Hollywood, but it's difficult to be thrilled about that when you know you can enjoy a much sharper version on TV. Hackman, Heard, Cassidy and Jones lead a good cast, but in order to see them clearly we desperately need a remastering of this otherwise wonderful movie. Until then, avoid like the plague.

A great political espionage film
The Package is one of the best films about the end of the Cold War. The plot was interesting and easy to follow. The characters were impressive. I don't think that this was a weak or depressing film at all. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Superb
Both of the Under Siege movies are great! The original is excellent, with good action scenes and a great script, while the second is good, but has a few flaws, such as Seagal outrunning a train. Other than that, a superb film, and a great set! ... Read more

Reviews (136)

This looks Great!
Arnold's new movie looks fantastic!
I can't wait for it to be released as Arnold looks like he's back on action form and its being directed by Andrew Davis whom directed the smash hit 'The Fugitive'.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the king of action,noone can beat him!

Oh and jesse ventura,whatever your name is,movies are made for entertainment,fun,an escape from reality.You've just wasted about an hour writing all that nonsense.Are you jelous of Arnold cos it sure looks like you are.
Noone can change what happened on september 11th but if we all censor violence,sex whatever it means the terrorists/badguys win.

Anyway feedback on collateral damage has been extremely positive and looks to be a big success as with all of Arnold's movies.
(Well barring Red Sonja!)

Arnold's fight on Terrorism
It's surprising that films such as Collateral damage and Behind Enemy Lines were filmed before September 11th. Collateral Damage which is about a fireman (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who loses his wife and son to a terrorist bombing. He seeks revenge and trys to find the man responsleable for what happend. The film was pushed back after September the 11th, I guess that was sort of smart. I mean I doubt it's the type of movie people would rush to see after what happend. But what his character does is pretty much what anybody would of liked to done to Bin-Laden after what he did. So in some ways this is sort of a feel good movie, lol.

Well anyway the movie is always engaging and suspenseful and Arnold is actually very good. There's some nice twists at the end too. The movie is sort of silly and not very realistic of course but at least Arnold doesn't turn into Commando and kill an entire army by himself like he does in.....Commando. If you want to see something like that then you should be looking forward to Stallone's fight on Terrorism. As it's been rumored that Rambo 4 will be set in Afghanistan. Next Steven Seagal and Van Dame will probably have a movie like that too, lol.

Collateral Damage movie imitates real events
Collateral Damage is the great and partially real action film in which Arnold Schwarzenger plays a fireman hell bent on getting his hands on the Terrorist who killed his wife and kid
and many other citizens near a shopping mall.

With the attacks on Sept 11 , movies have tried to cash in but Collateral Damage is different. Arnold even dedicated the movie to firefighters everywhere in an interview with Byron Allen.
The movie is brilliant in showing what only what the motivation behind terrorist attacks , but the depiction of slow agencies like fbi to counter these terrorist attacks.

Basically, the FBI and CIA tell Gorden Brewer(Arnold
Schwarzennger) that they are working to bring down the
terrorist who killed his family, when in fact they have no good leads on the suspect.

Rather, than sitting on his butt, and waiting for the FBI to do something, Gordon takes the law into his own hands and seeks to get justice for his family by going into Columbia and getting "The Wolf" as the terrorist is called.

There is a great scene in which Gordon goes crazy
and literally beats the hell out of a cold-blooded radio news reporter who says that the victims are pure garbage by saying their "collateral damage". The radio reporter explains the reasons behind terrorist attacks but shows no feeling for victims. I loved this scene, because this reporter clearly has no remorse for the dead. He probably has no family of his nose, and doesn't know the meaning of life, except to cover his own.
Now you might say to yourself what's the difference between
Arnold's character (who is going for justice) and the terrorist well here is the big difference from Arnold himself:

"The difference between me and you is that
I am only going to kill you".

Unbelievable action and twists at the end, that you're literally be on the edge of youre seat, and just when you think the movie is over.... it's not !!!

Director Andrew Davis not only gives a fact type based movie based on Columbia, but also a factual based type movie that deals with Terrorism and the lessons that we must learn to see that things like this don't happen again.

In fact, most people will remember the horrible case of Wall
Street Reporter , Daniel Pearl, who was executed after the
U.S. failed to meet the demands of the Middle East terrorist holding.

The U.S. should have gone after these terrorists like the way Arnold does in this movie. However of course not all terrorists
are MiddleEastern like some racist white bigots like this person
named Nate Howard, an Army Ranger who has been harassing people says. In fact alot of Terrorists have been born and bread here in the US, Timothy McVeight, the UnaBomber and God knows how many others.

This is a great action film that you must see

SMOKE SCREEN
Arnold Schwarzenegger is starting to show his age, as evidenced in this below average Arnie film. In an attempt to rely more on his thespian abilities than his massive brawn, Arnold plays a fireman who loses his wife and son in a terrorist bomb attack. The range of emotions he is required to exhibit demonstrate the Austrian's limitations. Granted, he's a much better actor than he was years ago, but he cannot truly convince us that he is the character he plays. Of the supporting cast, only Elias Koteas as the CIA rogue, displays any true acting abilities. Francesa Neri as the Wolf's wife comes close, but she telegraphs a key plot twist early on. Cliff Curtis as the Wolf is stock nasty hero and the movie's message that terrorism vs. terrorism tactics is not the humane thing. There are a couple of nasty scenes involving a snake and Arnold's mandibular strength. The movie slows down somewhat in the Colombian sequence, but the climax in DC is appropriately tense and exciting.

Certainly not one of Arnold's best, but somewhat entertaining.

you get exactly what you expect with this one
A film by Andrew Davis

"Collateral Damage" was originally supposed to be released in September or October of 2001. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a movie about terrorism on US soil would be seen as insensitive and inappropriate, but it would also have been a bad business decision. It seemed that this movie was marred by the taint of association. It was also marred by the fact that it was a fairly ordinary movie.

Gordy Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a New York City firefighter. His wife and son are killed in a terrorist attack and Brewer just happened to get a look at the man believed to be the terrorist. The terrorist who pulled off the attack is a Columbian known only as The Wolf (Cliff Curtis). The Wolf's agenda has to do with getting the Americans (and their interests) out of his country. Unfortunately, other than agent Peter Brandt (Elias Koteas), the intended target of the attack, nobody in the government is willing to pursue the Wolf in his own country. In fact, Brandt is being pulled off the case and reassigned. Brewer decides to take matters into his own hands and finds a way into Columbia and starts to track down The Wolf.

Have you seen Arnold's other action movies? Are you a fan of the genre? If so, you know exactly how this movie will play out. If you like these kind of movies, you'll like this one. "Collateral Damage" has its moments, and when Arnold actually gets to Columbia, the movie is at its most interesting (despite being at its most implausible). This is simply an average movie. It's not particularly awful, but neither is it very good. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

make segal stop
some of his first movies were ok but make him stop or make him get some new ideas. All of his movies are the same. The first ones were better too. It is pointless to tell the plot because it is really basically the same as allof the others. ... Read more