THERE'S nothing subtle about S.W.A.T., Clark Johnson's testosterone-fuelled action-thriller inspired by the popular 70s television series of the same name.

Almost from the word go, the screen is filled with explosions, flying bullets and gung-ho Los Angeles cops destroying their beloved city in the pursuit of justice.

Elite S.W.A.T. officers Jim Street (Colin Farrell) and his partner Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner) are thrown off the squad after a hostage situation turns sour.

Gamble quits the force in disgust but Street accepts his punishment, in the hope that one day he can rejoin the elite squad.

Several months later, Lieutenant Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson (Samuel L Jackson) is assigned to recruit five top officers for a new S.W.A.T. team.

Street makes the grade, as do Deacon 'Deke' Kay (LL Cool J), TJ McCabe (Josh Charles), Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez) and Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt).

Having barely completed their gruelling and intensive training, Harrelson and his team are thrown into the thick of the action when they are ordered to escort drug lord Alex Montel (Oliver Martinez) out of the city and into the hands of the Feds.

Their job is made infinitely more difficult when Montel offers a $100million reward on live television to anyone who can free him from the S.W.A.T. team's clutches.

Suddenly, the officers come under fire from every low-life in the city, desperate to claim the loot.

Director Johnson orchestrates the action sequences with breathless abandon, opening with the ill-fated siege.

Martinez's villain is smug rather than menacing and the big finale pales next to some of the earlier action sequences but for brainless fun, S.W.A.T. does exactly what it says on the tin.

Rating: 6/10