Dinesh Kamath's column on Hollywood movie 'The Last Stand' that was published in Newsband

The Last Stand is an action drama film written by Andrew Knauer and directed by Kim Ji-woon. The film will be Arnold Schwarzenegger's first leading role since Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines in 2003. This will be the first American production for Kim Ji-woon and cinematographer Kim Ji-yong as well as composer Mowg.

The movie has an interesting plot. Sheriff Ray Owens is a man who has resigned himself to a life of fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction after leaving his LAPD post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with failure and defeat after his partner was crippled. After a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, Gabriel Cortez, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is hurtling toward the border at 200 mph in a specially outfitted car, a Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members. He is headed, it turns out, straight for Summerton Junction, where the whole of U.S. law enforcement will have their last opportunity to make a stand and intercept him before he slips across the border forever. At first reluctant to become involved, and then counted out because of the perceived ineptitude of his small town force, Owens ultimately accepts responsibility for the face off.

The film has Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Ray Owens, Johnny Knoxville as Lewis Dinkum, Rodrigo Santoro as Deputy Frank Martinez, Zach Gilford as Deputy Jerry Bailey, Forest Whitaker as Agent John Bannister, Genesis Rodriguez as Agent Ellen Richards, Jaimie Alexander as Sarah Torrance, Luis Guzmán as Mike Figuerola, Peter Stormare as Burrell, Eduardo Noriega as Gabriel Cortez, Harry Dean Stanton, Daniel Henney and Tait Fletcher.

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns with guns blazing this time around. The Last Stand is everything that action fans have been hoping for since our hero took office as the "Governor" of California. The big screen has been a lot less explosive since then, and action movies have become something of a lost art.

The '80s and '90s were rife with bullet-riddled classics from Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis. When The Last Stand got released, it was like every weekend unleashed another banger replete with as many gun shots as one-liners. The 21st century hasn't had that same luxury, and it's time for the heroes to return.

Schwarzenegger shows a new generation how it's done as Sheriff Ray Owens. After leaving narcotics detail in Los Angeles, Owens took over as Sheriff of the sleepy Sommerton. It's quiet until a dangerous cartel boss with a penchant for racing sports cars named Gabriel Cortez, a menacing Eduardo Noriega, decides he's going to speed through town and across the border into Mexico. Cortez has a bevy of gun-wielding trained killers at his disposal and they descend upon Sommerton after an inventive snatch-and-grab scene in Las Vegas. Even though Forest Whitaker's Agent John Bannister is trailing Cortez from afar, there's only one man on the frontlines. Luckily, it's the Sheriff.

The ensuing action stands on par with the likes of Commando and Predator in terms of incendiary bliss. The gunfights pop off with a one-two punch of '80s bombast and modern sheen. However, The Last Stand's sense of humor burns equally brightly. When inspecting a body, Schwarzenegger puts on reading glasses, drawing laughs from the theater. There are also some lines that belong high up in the Schwarzenegger lexicon. Guzmán and Knoxville enhance the laughs and ignite the perfect comic chemistry with Schwarzenegger. As always though, the action is equally a star. Director Jee-woon Kim has done a fantastic job of pacing the movie as a nonstop, tough, and thrilling rollercoaster ride. It's been a while, but The Last Stand is the action event of the decade, and Arnold Schwarzenegger's best move since.

Korean director Kim Jee-woon's American filmmaking debut turns out to be an extremely great one, full of big, violent set pieces and broad comedy. Arnold too proves he's still game for the mayhem as he fires off rounds and tosses off one-liners.

What truly sets The Last Stand apart from other modern action films is the use of tons of practical effects. There's digital in there — a guy gets shot in half by a gun digitally — but there are also a bunch of thrilling car scenes done in camera, and there's a bunch of squib-work on display as well. The action scenes have a palpable intensity, and Jee-woon and his unit shoot them with expert precision. The Last Stand's action scenes range from shoot outs to crazy car stunts to a daring escape in Las Vegas to a great fist fight, and every sequence is fun and engaging.

Do watch the movie The Last Stand.