Eraser

This movie has everything you need. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Conan the Barbarian) plays a Witness Protection agent with a style all his own. He hides people where no one will ever even look for them, let alone find them. He’s known as the eraser, because he’ll erase your identity. He was taught well by his friend and mentor (James Caan, Godfather).

His newest project is an upper level executive (Vanessa Williams, Shaft) from a private arms manufacturer with government contracts who has just gotten in a little too deep and found out a little too much. During her evactuation, the team is assaulted by a high powered experimental weapon that uses x-ray technology and resembles a rail gun. After a botched mission, it’s revealed that Arnold’s boss is in bed with the crooked arms dealers, who are planning to sell the rail gun which was developed for a US Govt. contract to terrorists. 

Arnold calls in a host of his erased contacts after being doublecrossed, and goes to save the executive and then confront the bad guys. There’s actually some very enjoyable action sequences in this movie, and the rail gun is very effectively done. All the CG is expertly crafted including a giant man-eating alligator, and a falling without a parachute sequence. 

For entertainment value this is clearly a 2, and while it goes into the more brainless category, there is always something so redeeming and  so awesome about the characters Arnold Schwarzenegger plays. It’s a celebration of justice and strength in the face of adversity. It typifies in many was some of the virtues of man, and really calls to attention a major problem in the world, which is arms dealers. 

The rai gun really comes out so well in this movie. At one point, Arnold is crashing through buildings with a double rail gun set. It’s amazing.