The Last Stand

Sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Shwarzenegger) is happy living the quiet life and dealing with what little crime there is in his sleepy town of Sommerton Junction, on the Arizona border. When international drug lord Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) escapes from FBI custody in Las Vegas and makes off in a modified Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 and makes a break for the Mexican border at speeds over 200mph. Hot on Cortez’s heels is FBI agent John Bannister (Forrest Whitaker), but with Cortez being a skilled race driver and in a car faster than any police chopper, the FBI can’t touch him. Owens discovers that Cortez plans to cross the border into Mexico by passing through his town, making him and his deputies The Last Stand against him. 

The Last Stand is Arnold’s first major starring role and return to movies since the end of his run as the Governor of California and a decent return it is. While bombing at the US box office, The Last Stand failed to find an audience and I can see why, but the film will easily be embraced better on the home format. It’s a good reintroduction to the big screen for Ah-nuld, allowing him to stretch his legs and find his feet for his acting chops again. While some of his performance is amiss, showing how long he has been out of the game, but when he hits, it’s like seeing the Arnold of old. While they do play up the aging factor of the films lead, even him being asked in the film how he is feeling - to which he replies; Old. 

Extras included on this disc are: 

* Not in my Town: Making The Last Stand

* Cornfield Chaos: Scene Breakdown

* The Dinkum Firearm and Historic Weaponry Museum Tour

* Actor-Cam Anarchy: with Johnny Knoxville and Jaimie Alexander

* Deleted Scenes

* Extended Scenes  

The Last Stand is a solid nights viewing and a step in the right direction for Arnold returning to his old leading action man status. If he keeps gradually building on films like this and better, step by step he will make a pretty grand return indeed!