The Last Stand

This 2013 movie was directed by South Korean Keen-woo Kim and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first lead role 10 years after Terminator 3. Arnold plays Ray Owens, a former LAPD policeman who has retreated to being sheriff of the quiet bordertown Summerton Junction, far away from the violence of LA. Unfortunately the quiet life is soon about to end as a Mexican drug lord manages to escape and heads for Summerton Junction at high speed in souped up Corvette. His men are already on site secretly building a bridge across the canyon so that the drug lord can make his escape to Mexico. A simple story, visually well done, mixing road movie elements with the western genre and graphic violence Korean style added on top. Arnold is well cast as the ageing seasoned crime fighter that has had his share of violence, now reluctantly deciding to make the last stand against a notorious drug criminal. The over the top villains, the violence contrasted with the boring quiet of everyday the village life, it is reminiscent in many ways to the atmosphere of old Spaghetti westerns like ‘For a few dollars more’. Quite enjoyable.