Collateral Damage (R)

Schwarzenegger in very violent vigilante film.

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Movie details

Studio: Warner Bros.
Directed By: Andrew Davis
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Running Time: 105 minutes
Release Date: 02/02/2002
Video/DVD Release Date: 10/30/2002
Genre: Action/adventure
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA Explanation: extensive violence and language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie is very violent, with extreme peril. Many characters are killed, including a child. A character is killed by having a poisonous snake forced down his throat. A character's ear is bitten off and spit out. The movie has strong language, and references to drug trade. The jitters of a character who appears to have had an overdose of cocaine are supposed to be funny.

Families can talk about the impulse for revenge and how to determine the best way to respond to terrorism. Were any of The Wolf's claims legitimate, even if his tactics were not? Do all conflicts create "collateral damage?"

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

There have been protests about the portrayal of Colombians.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Extreme peril and violence, many characters killed, graphic torture scene. Extreme peril.

Sex

Mild for an R-rated movie.

Language

Some strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Gordy, a fireman whose wife and son are killed when a bomb goes off in a terrorist attack. As he becomes convinced that the government will not do anything to bring justice to the man responsible, a Colombian nicknamed "The Wolf," Gordon decides to get justice for himself, by finding The Wolf and killing him.

Is it any good?

The original release of COLLATERAL DAMAGE was delayed following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. It may still be too soon -- in fact, it may never be possible to be as casual about fictional terrorism again. The movie is too close to reality to be able to enjoy it as pure entertainment and too far from reality to be able to get any feeling of satisfaction from it.

It is very formulaic. Gordy is told of the insurmountable obstacles. He surmounts them. Viewers see how bad a guy the bad guy really is. Gordy is very clever and utterly unstoppable. The movie tries to make a connection between Gordon and The Wolf. Both are formerly gentle and loving men who became killers after losing children. The Wolf even asks Gordon how they are different. Gordon replies, "Because I am just going to kill you." The best parts of the movie are the brief appearances by John Turturro as a Canadian mechanic and John Leguizamo as a charming cocaine producer. The decision not to allow Gordon to carry a weapon provides for some moments of creativity in the plot. But Arnold is getting too old for this kind of thing, and, given our recent experiences, audiences may feel that they are, too.