A young, innocent-looking couple sitting under the moonlight, about to kiss for the first time… If you were interested by that statement, you’re reading the wrong review.
Bullets piercing people like darts, knives to the jugular, and explosions turning people into clouds of red mist are but a few of the overly grotesque shows of violence that provide the backbone of The Expendables. Taking cues from every B-grade, 1980s action movie ever made, Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed, produced, and starred in what is the one of the biggest, loudest action films since Die Hard itself.
Leading a group of highly trained mercenaries into a Latin American stronghold to overthrow a corrupt dictator is just another Tuesday for everyone’s favorite gravel-voiced action hero, Sylvester Stallone (Rocky). Joining him on this outing is possibly the biggest collaboration of A-list action stars every assembled on one screen: Jason Statham (The Transporter), Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), Jet Li (Hero), Terry Crews (The Longest Yard), and many others.
Not for the faint of heart, The Expendables earns its R-rating through its stylized violence. Not even five minutes into the movie, a man is blown in half, with the death (and many, many more to follow) shown in unapologetic detail.
It’s no surprise that there isn’t much originality to be seen in The Expendables. You have a better chance of spotting Bigfoot on a Chicago subway than finding originality in a typical action movie. Car chases? Check. Explosions? Check. Secret inner struggle dealt with by the main character? Check. Dramatic stand-off with the main bad guy? Check. You’ve seen The Expendables before and there’s no reason not to see it again.
The Expendables can essentially be seen as Sly’s “passing of the action hero torch” to future generations. His second in command in the movie, Jason Statham, is allowed to shine even more than Stallone himself does, complete with cheesy one-liners and effortlessly executed fight scenes. Statham has already asserted himself as an action star, having starred in many a popcorn flick throughout his career, but thanks to Stallone’s official blessing, his career is about to elevate to heights it has never reached before.
There isn’t much here for non-action movie fans, especially those who aren’t familiar with 80s action movies. The entire movie is reminiscent of its predecessors, and if you don’t know the difference between John McClane and Martin Riggs, The Expendables is not a movie for you.
At every movie’s heart is a message that many people receive, consciously or subconsciously, that is much deeper than the movie itself. This can range from the dangers of money to the power of love, and The Expendables is no different. Below the surface lies a message that every person in America would do well to embrace: don’t mess with a 50-something year old action hero. It’s not going to end well.
Beating out female empowerment flick Eat, Pray, Love and graphic novel adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Expendables raked in over $30 million on opening weekend, a feat to be expected considering its all-star lineup.
Action fans nationwide have thoroughly enjoyed The Expendables as well, with Brett Erlich of The Rotten Tomatoes Show saying, “The film knows what it is, and it delivers. It’s a spectacle, and I really liked The Expendables.”
If guns blazing and explosions rocking everything on screen sounds appealing, The Expendables will not disappoint. With such powerful 80s nostalgia, you’ll leave the theater saying, “Yippee ki yay, mother-”
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