Broken Arrow

Think Speed with nuclear weapons as opposed to a little bomb under a bus, and you will have a succinct synopsis of Broken Arrow.

Well, OK, it's not quite that simple, but you get the basic idea. Travolta's latest attempt to capitalise on the resurgence of his career (thanks Mr Tarantino, no really, I mean it), sees him cast as Deakins, a one-time pilot partner of Riley (Christian Slater) who is now ever so slightly erm...insane. Deakins nabs off with a nuclear weapon (the broken arrow of the title to clear up any Robin Hood confusion) and Riley sets off to retrieve the weapon, save the world and attempt to get the girlie (Samantha Mathis). That, in a nutshell, is that.

What follows next is a series of beautifully choreographed shoot 'em up routines, orchestrated by master of gratuitous mayhem, John Woo (Hard Boiled). With a script by Graham Yost (who also wrote the screenplay for Speed) you should know exactly what to expect. Slater shows slightly more ability in the acting department than Keanu Reeves and although Mathis is not Sandra Bullock she makes an attractively feisty counterpart for Slater. Travolta, meanwhile, has a great time spitting out his dialogue and generally chewing the scenery.

With the bullets flying thick and fast and nobody taking the proceedings too seriously, Broken Arrow is best enjoyed if the braincells are checked in at the door.

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