I can't wait until 2010, the year that I predict the Constitution will be amended so a foreign-born citizen of the United States can become president.

I want President Schwarzenegger there on the other end of the bargaining table, dealing out hot-leaded justice to the rogue states in the Middle East. Let's face it, Ah-nald kicks ass.

Last time out, the Bavarian Barbarian saved the entire free world from nuclear annihilation in "True Lies." Two years later, the threat is back in "Eraser." This'll be the film that puts Schwarzenegger over the top in popularity ratings, making him a hero to millions of Americans. He may not be a corporate crime fighter and champion of all things right and good, but he plays one on TV. A super-spy role, popular two years ago, has mutated into the role of Federal Marshall John Kruger - the baddest lawman that ever was. With this tougher, less sentimental incarnation, there comes the new role of witness protection detail. Sure, on its own, it's nothing Schwarzenegger can't handle, but when a corrupt corporation intent on selling its top-secret super gun to the evil Russian Mafia gets involved, it's only natural that he has to kill a lot of people to bring them to justice.

Think Iran-Contra with a lot of explosions ... "Bodyguard" with a vengeance. Vanessa Williams is in over her head when she steals the classified plans on a gun that isn't supposed to exist. The Justice Department (run by a super-smooth James Coburn) promises her protection, but only Arnold can deliver her from the multitude of villains who would gladly see her dead. It's interesting to see Hollywood struggle with new, post-Cold War enemies. One year it's the Arabs, another it's terrorists. It's an election year, so Eraser's bad guys are the Washington fat cats in league with the Russian Mafia. New World Order, anyone?

I sat through the entire film, mouth agape, blown away by the sheer power of the movie. This is the sort of brutal, blood-soaked summer action flick that makes me proud to be an American. Director Chuck Russell ("The Mask") lacks the artistic pretensions of John Woo, but makes up for it in pure, brute force. And there's an art to that - action movies with complicated plots are a snore, while films devoid of any coherent story get confusing and, well, trite.

Blockbuster hits to be are often referred to in the biz as "vehicles," and Eraser is a 100-ton train with Schwarzenegger at the helm, bringing fiery death and destruction to all the naughty boys and girls out there. He's back in classic form, with his signature one-liners and rugged, tougher-than-leather good looks. Stallone may have forsaken the action movie genre, but nobody wanted that one-dimensional dork around anyway.

See ... Schwarzenegger can really act. I mean, I don't expect to see him in "Hamlet" anytime soon, but he knows his range and always manages to choose the right film. Even his box-office failures, like "Junior" and "Last Action Hero," were artistic successes, and are, in fact, very interesting if you overcome your irrational fear of these two oddities.

Sure, it's formula and based on past successes - Arnold wasn't kidding when he said, "I'll be back." The one-liners from "Commando" and "The Running Man," the trench coat and sunglasses straight out of "Terminator," and the goofy sidekick from "True Lies" - this time instead of Tom Arnold, it's Robert Pastorelli (Eldin, "Murphy Brown") - have returned. Does it work?

Well, it depends on your point of view. If the reincarnated spirit of Forrest Gump appeals to you, then you've probably already got your ticket stub from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" or "Phenomenon" in your wallet . But if over-the-top cartoonish violence is more your "Speed," I'd advise you to check out "Eraser." Hey, I'm not just a movie critic, I'm an American ... so you might want to skip the annual burning of "A" Mountain and head straight to the cineplex, where the real fireworks are.