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I so wanted to like The End of Days, hereafter referred to as TEOD, without reservation. Da Arnult is da king of the sci - fi action movie, in my humble opinion, and T2 and True Lies are 2 of my favorite flicks. But....

TEOD is a sort of cross between Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist , and T2 , without really being as good as any of them. The basic idea is that Satan (nicely played by Gabriel Byrne as a sort of coporate shark Lord of the Underworld) needs to procreate with a human woman before midnight on 12/31/99. This will usher in the end of days when Satan, Jr. is concieved on the eve of the millenium. Schwarnenegger, a burned - out ex - cop turned private security person, winds up with the uneviable task of preventing Satan doing the horizontal rumba with his intended.

What follows is somewhat predictable. Lots of shootings, lots of gore, sufficient sex, and a loopy story line. The parts are better than the whole here. There is a nice fight on a runaway subway train, the climatic fight with the computer - generated Satan is not bad. His Schwareneggerishness even does some acting is his portrayal of the alcoholic, suicidal ex - cop.

All of this does not make up for the goofy story line and the attempts to make Arnold some type of Christ - like figure. A crucified Arnold, hung up by the FOSs (Friends of Satan)? Gimme a break. And the femal lead, whose name escapes me at the moment, has little more to do than running around having weird visions and begging her protector to, well, protect her.

Wait for this one on video. Or better yet, rent T1, T2, and True Lies , and see His Schwarzeneggerishness at his finest.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)