Sabotage [Blu-ray]

Having been a huge Arnold Schwarzenegger fan for nearly 30 years, I am always excited to see what the legendary actor is up to even today. His cameo in The Expendables was good fun (although his appearances in the sequels leave a lot to be desired), and his roles in Escape Plan, The Last Stand, and most recently, Terminator Genisys, at least were entertaining. The movie that gets the most scrutiny though since his full return to acting is Sabotage. Honestly, that makes absolutely no sense to me, this movie is really quite a treat.To be clear, this is not necessarily an action film. It does have action elements, but I would classify this as a thriller/mystery first and foremost. Schwarzenegger plays Breacher, the leader of an elite DEA squad of dirty cops. This team is composed of a who's who of recognizable faces: Sam Worthington (who has always gotten the short end of the stick from critics, but the guy has been the lead in some successful big-budget sci-fi films like Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans, and Wrath of the Titans; here he is bald and has a tied up goatee beard); Mireille Enos (who is fantastic as a drug riddled and sex obsessed undercover member of the team; you might remember her as the wife in World War Z or the lead in AMC's The Killing); Joe Mangeniello (he's the big dude who looks like a supermodel in Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL; here he's got a graying beard and cornrows); Terrence Howard (the star of Hustle & Flow and Fox's Empire, as well as the original War Machine in Iron Man plays the quietest member of the group); Max Martini (you'll recognize him from Saving Private Ryan, Pacific Rim, and The Unit); and Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost). The strong cast supports Arnold well, with Arnold easily giving one of his best performances on film as the tough-as-nails and infamous leader of the group. After they steal money from the cartel, they are suspended for months until they are cleared to return when no one can prove their guilt. Their reputation shot because of that theft, as well as their hard as nails attitudes and roughneck looks, makes them a force to be reckoned with as well as some of film's dirtiest lawmen. The rest of film follows the group as they are killed in horrific ways and who is behind these attacks. Investigating them are 2 agents played by Olivia Williams (the other star of the film, who does good work in support of Arnold) and Harold Perrineau (most recognizable still as Michael from Lost, but he's been around in The Matrix Reloaded, 28 Weeks Later, and many others). They get involved in the web spun by these dirty cops, investigating not just the cartel who has a past in abducting, killing, and sending the body parts of Breacher's family back to him, but the cops themselves, who are all suspicious enough to have done any of the crimes and killings themselves.The most obvious thing about this movie is that it is excessively violent. Some reviewers have commented that it almost resembles a slasher film, which is a tad much, but could fit the bill. I don't mind the violence as it fits with the tone set by the over-the-top characters that the film has introduced us to. David Ayer is well known for delivering wavering and violent cops or armed forces in past films, from writing Training Day and directing End of Watch, Fury, and Street Kings (as well as handling both duties on the upcoming villain centric comic book film, Suicide Squad). He does so here as well, giving us loads of blood, guts, and shoot-em-ups to match with Arnold and his corrupt team of police. Speaking of Arnold again, as I said, he gives one of his better late career performances. He is different than the usual heroic self, tattooed, grizzled, and somber in his old age and weary of everyone since his family has been killed in such a horrible way.I suppose my love for this movie comes from the unity of such a hard nosed group of people working together for a cause, despite them being unlikeable a-holes. The acting and comradely are top notch (in my opinion anyways), and I buy what the film is selling. They work together like a unit similar to Arnold other great commando unit movie, Predator, or even Stallone's Expendables. The investigation leads to some dark scenes and gory deaths. The film also does contain some good action, something else the film is often criticized for. Unfortunately, the marketing dictated that this would be an action film, which it really is not. The team building action is very cool and precise like that of a real SWAT unit, but few and far between with scenes of exposition, investigation, and talking filling the gaps.The Blu-ray gives plenty more to fill in the gaps, in the form of deleted scenes and alternate endings. A brief featurette also covers the making-of, mostly praising director Ayer and action star Schwarzenegger for their work on the film. I cannot see this movie ever hitting cult status, but if it does, it would be nice to get more information on behind-the-scenes.If you are a fan of Schwarzenegger, and want to see him do something a little different than most of his past films (but still be a badass), then open your mind, try not to read too much of the negativity this film has attached to it, and enjoy the proceedings.

There's a fair amount of action in this flick but wasn't feeling the ending (don't want to ruin it for those who haven't watched this title). It's an ok sexy lil blu ray.

OH Arnold......what were you thinking???? This is not a really horrible movie, and always nice to see Arnold, but a very disjointed movie. When see DVD extras, deleted scenes, and realize that they tried to change emphasis of his character, understand where they went wrong. SPOILER ALERT....I WILL TRY NOT TO BE TOO SPECIFIC BUT IF YOU WATCHED MOVIE YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT I MEAN......They partially changed a scene near end, where bad guy talking it up, but left in the female FBI agent's reaction to Arnold's characters action, that was totally unnecessary and very confusing. He reason for his action was clear in that version, although bad guy running mouth, also went for gun, so not the mystery they made it out to be. Also given that Arnold's character and agent slept together, and she was given info about his personal past, you would think she would have pieced things together rather than wander around confused. Realize they wanted him to be hero, which is fine, that would have stayed in character as to what we had a sketchy understanding of character's life. It is just that in removing part of movie that they reveal him as being surprise bad guy, they did not fix it properly. Earlier portions of story also very disjointed. No real character building and only brief explanation as to why the good guy DEA agents had to act the way they do. I guess you just don't form any connection with any character, so when bodies start dropping it is more of like a slasher film than shock that these people protecting us from drug dealers are falling. They just needed a bit more explanations.....just a bunch of fixes. Seemed it was released before it was complete. Not fully developed story. They also removed all scenes about subplot, but left in some dialog concerning it, just weird. Shame, this probably could have been a really good movie. Wish I would have waited until in bargain bin.

Well made movie, good acting, very interesting plot...and of course lots of action. I was surprised that the movie didn't have any sex scenes, which for an action movie with lots of profanity is odd. Getting back to foul language, I don't understand those people who were put off by the curse words in this film,...what did you expect? that they will speak a Shakespearean English? If you did not like Sabotage (2014) because of a "presumably big amount of curse words" used by the characters, than go watch a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, and leave movies like Sabotage to people who live in real world and not fantasy. Schwarzenegger even in his senior years is still kicking azz, and if you enjoyed watching The Last Stand with him (2013)------- -----you will like this one as well.What really makes this movie is the intrigue and characters. The "conspiracy" plot is very-much Hitchcockian. Sabotage reminded me of David Ayer's acclaimed action movie the Training Day (2001). As a matter of fact, Sabotage is very similar in nature to the Training Day and S.W.A.T. (2003). You have the good characters, and the semi-good characters, and of course the bad guys or gals. What also makes these movies similar are the: betrayals, revenge, redemption, and intense endings with the main hero being...$@#!%^ ---One thing is certain, David Ayer's films really stand out from all the other action movies produced in Hollywood these days.

DVD was just as advertised. Would purchase from again.

Enjoyable entertainment

Buenas noches.A mi parecer una buena película del grande de la acción Arnold Schwarzenegger.Me lo he pasado en grande viendo esta peli de acción.Saludos.

Esperaba muy poco de esta película pero como fan de Arnie, me ha encantado ver a ese Schwarzenegger castigado por la tragedia.

A very mediocre movie with none of the usual Arnie magic. Will not watch twice, passed to PDSA.

Arnold Schwarzenegger einer der Größten Schauspieler überhaupt. Der Film bedeutet Aktion und Spektakel, aber Irgendwie ist das immer das selbe und nie was neues. Ich bin ein großer Schwarzenegger Fan und Deswegen habe ich den Film gekauft

Of all of the Arnie films which have been released since The Governator stepped down, Sabotage is by far the most violent. The deaths, of which there are many, are realistic and grim, bloody and remorseless. Bystanders and main characters all meet their doom without fanfare, most of the main crew are unlikeable, and you should not expect a happy tale of ending like most of the classics from Arnie’s catalogue. Ayer brings the realism and a well-written script from a dialogue perspective, but the story is uneven, and the characters have essentially no room for growth; these are grunts only good for firing or being filled with bullets.The film begins with a full-throttle, full-blooded drug heist. Immediately we see that the action movie of today is much more grounded in ‘realism’ than previous decades – the group attacks like a group, using tactics and planning that the writers have pulled from real world scenarios, rather than John Woo or Commando attacks. Our group are part of the DEA, but it transpires that they have plotted to wipe out the bad guys, burn most of the money, and keep $10 million for themselves. However, someone double crosses them and their money is lost, setting the rest of the plot in motion. There is intrigue, mistrust, fragile brotherhood, paranoia, and a lot of bloodshed as the group tries to cover their own tracks while investigating who stole their money – the tension heightened when they begin to get picked off.As an action film, the movie ticks all the boxes – the gunfights are varied, realistic, and exciting – well-executed and convincing, and with a trilling car chase conclusion. The plot as a whole is fine, offering a number of twists and plenty of funny dialogue. The problem though is that everyone is a jerk, and the films offers little in the way of characterization or attempts at empathy. Arnie’s family are killed – we don’t care. The group are picked off one by one – we don’t care; in fact, the group themselves don’t care. They are presented as a close-knit force which has been through all kinds of hell multiple times, yet when they are killed off in increasingly gruesome ways, none of them seems to mind that they have lost a friend or that they may be next. Each of the characters relies on machismo and violence, but not a lot else, meaning there is little or no distinction between them – one is a woman, one is married to the woman, one has muscles, another has bigger muscles etc etc. It’s a pity, because it wastes what is an otherwise stellar cast. If we got a bit of background on each, or even - Aliens style - a few moments or examples of individuality whether it be a look, a quote, a style of speaking, it would have been a stronger film. The films does try to do this with a collection of haircuts and accents, but it fails as a whole.The story almost tries to throw too many twists, and too many characters into the mix. I can’t say that it keeps you guessing, because you likely won’t care enough to guess, but I wouldn’t say it is predictable. It’s all about the action and the bloodshed, and it does give an unflinching look at a world most of us would never want to glimpse. It’s great to see Arnie back to doing what he does best, although his finest moments come towards the end of the movie. The rest of the cast, or stunt cast, are exemplary in the set-pieces, as are the special effects. Arnie has a similar gruff persona to his role in End Of Days, but with less charm, while the rest of the cast do well in their roles – they may not be likeable, but they’re good at convincing us of that fact. Action movie and Arnie fans should be happy with the movie, but those expecting something more, or those hoping for another Arnie classic, may be disappointed. It’s still a decent entry for Arnie, with stronger action than his final few pre-Governator films, but doesn’t come close to the likes of Predator, Commando, Terminator, or Conan The Barbarian.