The Expendables has ranked number 1 in both UK and US box office charts this week. Stallones movie which has the biggest action cast ever assembled including Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger is proving to be a cash cow for movie goers this summer.
But is this action packed testosterone fest all Brawn and no Brains?
The Synopsis
A team of mercenaries’ led by Barney Ross (Sly Stallone) are hired to take a job no one else wants, to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. But the men realize things aren't what they appear finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. The mission threatens to destroy the band of brothers and an innocent life is in danger. With the mission thwarted they find out just how expendable they really are.
Cast. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Eric Roberts, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke. With Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Written by Sylvester Stallone and Dave Callaham
The 411.....
(warning may contain some spoilers)
When I first heard about this movie, especially the cast that had signed on, I, like any other boy who grew up in the 80's that was an action movie junkie, couldn't wait for this one. I was expecting one of the best action movies the big screen had seen for a while.
What I can tell you is there's plenty of action sequences, plenty of violence all receiving A-budget cash thrown at them, however the story is nothing more than B-movie material.
I shed my first tear at the over-hyped appearances of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis with Stallone, although probably one of the most exciting scenes in the movie for action fans is also the briefest, if you have seen the trailer you more or less seen their part!
The main problem with this movie is the characters are neither developed or offer anything more than brute strength. Over the top action and endless explosions vaguely cover up a very poor script, a story that seems to go nowhere from scene to scene.
As for cast performance, no one really stands out at all. If I had to pick a favourite it would be Mr Statham as he offers up a few lines that I actually found quite funny and his acting was not that bad at all. Stallone is exactly what you expect, the dodgy lips occasionally having a stroke, and the many grunts he hasn’t lost since his Rocky days, although I will say his acting is far better than his writing and directing skills.
Overall this movie is far from an action masterpiece, and probably doesn't deserve the box office ranking it has achieved, but for non stop action and 80's cliché over kill, this movie is a huge guilty pleasure for testosterone filled action mongers everywhere, and as much as I hate to admit it the guilty pleasure was all mine!
6 comments:
This is really not my sort of movie at all, although a fair write up. :)
Now, I am partial to the old action movie...but The Expendables doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, and every film appeals to me on some level...even if it's just "Oh, he's hot!" But this film doesn't even have that! Haha
Great post, very well written but I have no intention of ever watching the film.
RE:Seams Appealing
I must admit, my partner is in total agreement with you. But if your partial to the old action movie, maybe when this eventually appears on TV on a day where there is nothing else on, you might be surprised....its a big 'might' but you never know :)
Thank you for your comment
Waiting for this movie is, of course, a very large range of Action Hero on the best (if not the best) has been the history of cinema. So I went to this movie a bit of a lot of trepidation and anticipation.
Not the best but we just had to go see it. How could you not?
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