HOLLYWOOD - Arnold Schwarzenegger's new action film, Collateral Damage, has provoked harsh comments from Colombian activists, who believe the film is insulting to Colombians and firefighters.Damage stars Schwarzenegger as a firefighter who watches his wife and young son die when a bomb is set off by a Colombian terrorist in Los Angeles. The firefighter then travels to Colombia to seek vengeance against the bomber.
Rev. Brian Jordan, a Franciscan priest who helps workers at Ground Zero, criticized the film at a news conference Sunday, The Associated Press reports.
"It is discriminatory against Colombians,'' said Jordan, flanked by professionals and politicians of Colombian descent. "The sins of the few should not be inflicted on the rest," he said, referring to the guerillas in Colombia's civil war.
Rev. Jordan went on to say he also believed Damage portrayed firefighters, who have emerged as heroes after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, in a very negative light.
Rev. Jordan admitted he has not seen the film but did request a preview from the studio, which was denied.
Warner Bros. pulled the movie from its original Oct. 5 release date due to the sensitivity of the Sept. 11 tragedies. Collateral Damage now opens in wide release this Friday.