775 replies to this topic

[Messervy]

Guess you've already seen it, but it's quite good:

http://www.youtube.com/expendables

[Safari Suit]

I must admit my spirits were lifted by a positive review from the the AV club, because they are normally snarky hipsters in extremis, but they know how to let their hair down when they feel it's worth it

[Harmsway]

Someone at work--who's a bit of a geek--saw it last night at a midnight screening and loved it to pieces. Said the kills were terrific. He noted, though, that the whole theater erupted in laughter at Mickey Rourke's speech.

[0024]

Ah, that's great to hear, Harmsway. I hoping to jones the movie a lot!

[Tarl_Cabot]

Saw it today. My thoughts: The Expendables is a B movie and it was never supposed to be anything more. If you accept that it wasn't made to show the new kids how it's done than you'll enjoy it for what it is. I liked the retro-vibe but I'd like to see a better thought-out mission next time. Rambo had a superior men on mission, climax than TE but...I think Sly made a new brand worth seeing again for the first time since 1982.I'd welcome a sequel.. I really liked Dolph Lungren. He's never been more intimidating. Jason Stathum gets most of the reps here and Eric Roberts does what he does best, playing a mega sleeze. He looks leaner and meaner than he did in The Dark Knight-of all the old school actors I think this is the comeback for him because he deserves loads of work.

Highlights:

The airplane rocks. I want to see that plane open up a can of "led Zepplin violence" every two-three years forever. Stathum can takeover as the lead and a new franchise can just keep going...


Bruce Willis...interestingly was the most threatening of the super star trio in the scene.

Stallone makes the wise choice not to have a romance with a women 1/3 his age.

Mickey Rourke is...Mickey Rourke. Good job.

anyways, I enjoyed it for what it was. A hard R rated action B movie with room for improvement. Bring it on Sly(after Rambo V).

[Loomis]

There are times I wish I lived in the States. This is one of them. Glad you enjoyed it, Tarl. If you'd disliked it, I'd be seriously worried, because you and I park our cars in the same garage when it comes to Stallone, and indeed to action flicks in general.

I don't mind if Stallone doesn't star in EXPENDABLES 2 (he can always do a cameo anyway), but I do hope he remains with the franchise as (co-)producer and ideally also (co-)writer and director. He does need to be involved somehow, but the cool thing is that he can sorta just come and go with future entries in the series, doing more on some of them than on others.

[Tarl_Cabot]

There are times I wish I lived in the States. This is one of them. Glad you enjoyed it, Tarl. If you'd disliked it, I'd be seriously worried, because you and I park our cars in the same garage when it comes to Stallone, and indeed to action flicks in general.

I don't mind if Stallone doesn't star in EXPENDABLES 2 (he can always do a cameo anyway), but I do hope he remains with the franchise as (co-)producer and ideally also (co-)writer and director. He does need to be involved somehow, but the cool thing is that he can sorta just come and go with future entries in the series, doing more on some of them than on others.

SS has to be in E2. So should a newly retired politician, Willis. Yes, I enjoyed the flick. It's fun. I will get the DVD when it comes out and that's the highest comliment I can pay a movie.
I'd to see in future Expendables:


Kurt Russel,Mel Gibson,Harrison Ford,Kevin Costner,Michael Bien,Keifer Sutherland
Tony Jaa
Jesse Ventura
JCVD


Bad Guys:
Steven Seagull
Gary Busey
Powers Boothe
Michael Madsen
Michael Jai White

[Loomis]

I'd like to see Carl Weathers in EXPENDABLES 2 (of course, he wasn't just in the Rocky flicks, but also PREDATOR), although I'm led to believe that he and Stallone don't get on (I gather they had some sort of dispute over ROCKY BALBOA - allegedly, Weathers demanded a role in the film even though Apollo was dead [!]).

Mr. T would also be great (and it'd help make up for the disgraceful failure on the part of the makers of this year's A-TEAM movie to cast him as B.A.).

Who else? Well, Daniel Craig would be terrific, although I daresay he'd turn his nose up at the project. But it'd be great to have James Bond on the team - maybe Brosnan would be up for it (albeit that he doesn't exactly have the physique for an Expendable)? And then there's Beat Takeshi (who more than makes up for in 'tude what he lacks in build), and, of course, the one and only Mr Charles Norris.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I forgot to mention my absolute favorite highlight: Sly and Stathum drinking a celebratory beer post mission...while flying a plane(!). Ahhh, I love unapologetic political incorrectness.

I'd like to see Carl Weathers in EXPENDABLES 2 (of course, he wasn't just in the Rocky flicks, but also PREDATOR), although I'm led to believe that he and Stallone don't get on (I gather they had some sort of dispute over ROCKY BALBOA - allegedly, Weathers demanded a role in the film even though Apollo was dead [!]).

Mr. T would also be great (and it'd help make up for the disgraceful failure on the part of the makers of this year's A-TEAM movie to cast him as B.A.).

Who else? Well, Daniel Craig would be terrific, although I daresay he'd turn his nose up at the project. But it'd be great to have James Bond on the team - maybe Brosnan would be up for it (albeit that he doesn't exactly have the physique for an Expendable)? And then there's Beat Takeshi (who more than makes up for in 'tude what he lacks in build), and, of course, the one and only Mr Charles Norris.

I'd like to see Tom Berenger. He was in Inception so he's still capable...he was in commando classic The Dogs of War and the Sniper series.

[Loomis]

Rambo got mixed reviews and I loved the out of it.

Well, Stallone always gets panned. It's an ironclad rule that critics (or at least those who wish to be considered "serious" critics) must roast him. I imagine that FIRST BLOOD, NIGHTHAWKS and ROCKY III were all mostly blasted by reviewers on initial release, yet nowadays they're rightly seen as genre classics. Has any Stallone flick other than ROCKY ever garnered good reviews across the board? (And even then I suspect that ROCKY had its share of poor reviews back in the day.) And, yes, RAMBO (2008) was absolutely slated, but like yourself I love that film. If THE EXPENDABLES is even half as good I'll be more than satisfied.

Now, a great deal of Stallone's output is, of course, unwatchable. Funnily enough, though, I don't think he's ever let me down as a director. Even the hilariously awful STAYING ALIVE is thoroughly watchable and entertaining. Perhaps THE EXPENDABLES is a camp classic in the same vein?

I've read a few reviews mocking Stallone's likely second career as a director by comparing him to Eastwood, but Eastwood, to my mind, is a very hit-or-miss director. Sometimes he's good (MYSTIC RIVER, GRAN TORINO), but he also has a tendency to make dull, sanctimonious Oscar-baiting plodders (MILLION DOLLAR BABY, CHANGELING). I know which director I trust more to give me a rollicking good time at the movies.

[DLibrasnow]

Seriously, this is my favorite movie of the year so far and possibly the best action movie for many years.

I heard some complain that it was riddled with cliche's. But that was sort of the point wasn't it, the movie was trying to harken back to the OTT action movies of the 1980s (like "Commando") which is why the scene between Schwarznegger, Stallone and Willis resonated so much with audiences.

[Turn]

Yesterday, I saw what was probably the ultimate walking advertisement for The Expendables target audience as well as an ultimate cliche.

I stopped to fill up my car and I hear this loud guy on his cell phone at the pump opposite me (isn't cell phone use at gas stations still discouraged?). I hear him say "So do you wanna' see that movie tonight?" and somehow I knew it wasn't going to be Eat, Pray, Love. He confirmed it.

It's funny because he's walking around the pump the whole time, not staying still. Then finally I see him in full - early to mid '50s, tank top although no real muscles to speak of and a big gold chain around his neck.

And guess what he was driving? Yep, a Hummer. Even had a gaudy pair of sunglasses hanging from it. The only thing that surprised me was he wasn't blasting Motley Crue or Guns and Roses from the CD player. I wish now I would have checked to see if he had a vanity plate.

[dodge]

Saw it today. My thoughts: The Expendables is a B movie and it was never supposed to be anything more. If you accept that it wasn't made to show the new kids how it's done than you'll enjoy it for what it is. I liked the retro-vibe but I'd like to see a better thought-out mission next time. Rambo had a superior men on mission, climax than TE but...I think Sly made a new brand worth seeing again for the first time since 1982.I'd welcome a sequel.. I really liked Dolph Lungren. He's never been more intimidating. Jason Stathum gets most of the reps here and Eric Roberts does what he does best, playing a mega sleeze. He looks leaner and meaner than he did in The Dark Knight-of all the old school actors I think this is the comeback for him because he deserves loads of work.

Highlights:

The airplane rocks. I want to see that plane open up a can of "led Zepplin violence" every two-three years forever. Stathum can takeover as the lead and a new franchise can just keep going...


Bruce Willis...interestingly was the most threatening of the super star trio in the scene.

Stallone makes the wise choice not to have a romance with a women 1/3 his age.

Mickey Rourke is...Mickey Rourke. Good job.

anyways, I enjoyed it for what it was. A hard R rated action B movie with room for improvement. Bring it on Sly(after Rambo V).

I'm not sure I can do better than this review, brother. I loved the film for what it was, as you did. Despite all my previous hyperbole, my expectations for the film were rooted in its being "a hard R rated action B movie." I'd love to see a sequel that honors a couple of bones of contention:

1) Sly shows his action directing chops most beautifully in the plane scenes: these drive the action forward and have us cheering in our seats. However, I felt let down somewhat by the later fight scenes: particularly those between Jet and Dolph, also between Sly and Couture. I mean, honestly, who the devil can tell what is happening? Why even hire Jet unless willing to let the guy move at his best? I couldn't even tell who was fighting Couture at the end--till the fight was over.
2) Let's have a bit more interaction between these men. We got to know Barney and Lee and Jet and Dolph's characters a little. But next to nothing about Terry Crewes, et all. STILL: the final scene of the movie, with Barney and the gang gathered at the tattoo parlor--with a wonderful surprise regarding one character--brought it all on home for me.
3) Next time we get to see an actor of Rourke's stature, don't shoot the wonderful key speech scene in extreme closeup, zeroing on his wet lip and capped teeth. For God's sake, let Mick use his eyes!

These are minor bones of contention. Not the greatest movie of all time, but a terriic R-rated B movie with generally terrific action scenes and great series potential.

[Loomis]

Oh, man.

I'll be seeing THE EXPENDABLES on Wednesday and I'm having trouble sleeping as I count down the seconds. Any guy who doesn't like this movie must be one of those girly men who likes reading books and stuff. And is probably also Democrat and believes in global warming.

This isn't just another film for me. I know that I'm in for a religious experience, as with ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO. If the excitement gives me a heart attack in the cinema and I don't make it out of there, at least I'll have gone out the way I woulda wanted.

BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tarl_Cabot]

Oh, man.

I'll be seeing THE EXPENDABLES on Wednesday and I'm having trouble sleeping as I count down the seconds. Any guy who doesn't like this movie must be one of those girly men who likes reading books and stuff. And is probably also Democrat and believes in global warming.

This isn't just another film for me. I know that I'm in for a religious experience, as with ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO. If the excitement gives me a heart attack in the cinema and I don't make it out of there, at least I'll have gone out the way I woulda wanted.

BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And drives a Prius with an Obama-Biden bumper sticker! Welcome to the Tea Party!


funny, when I went into the theater lobby is was flooded with middle aged to older women and I thought, wow, there is a whole underground chick Sly fan cult I never knew about!? The one of the ladies mentioned that mega chick flick Eat, Pray, Love was opening today.

[dinovelvet]

I'd like to see Carl Weathers in EXPENDABLES 2 (of course, he wasn't just in the Rocky flicks, but also PREDATOR), although I'm led to believe that he and Stallone don't get on (I gather they had some sort of dispute over ROCKY BALBOA - allegedly, Weathers demanded a role in the film even though Apollo was dead [!]).

Mr. T would also be great (and it'd help make up for the disgraceful failure on the part of the makers of this year's A-TEAM movie to cast him as B.A.).

Who else? Well, Daniel Craig would be terrific, although I daresay he'd turn his nose up at the project. But it'd be great to have James Bond on the team - maybe Brosnan would be up for it (albeit that he doesn't exactly have the physique for an Expendable)? And then there's Beat Takeshi (who more than makes up for in 'tude what he lacks in build), and, of course, the one and only Mr Charles Norris.

I think the more viable ex-Bond would be Timothy Dalton, who appears to be in fine shape and is making a modest comeback of sorts.

As much as it would be cool to see Norris' name in the all star cast (and give cheap thrills to internet hipsters), he reportedly turned down or wasn't available the first time round. (And it should be noted that he is 70 years old). Anyway, who do I want to see in EX2?

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.

Haven't seen the film yet, but let's not pussyfoot around with a cameo tease for the sequel. Sly and a cigar-chomping Ahnuld, brandishing dual M16s as they cut down rows of goons/ninjas/robots. $100 million opening weekend right there.

I do like the Jesse Ventura suggestion. And let's not forget BILL DUKE!

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

[Loomis]

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

Wow. RAMBO (2008) took just $18 million on its opening weekend and only made around $43 million all in (at the Stateside box office, that is). And, of course, there's still a day to go of THE EXPENDABLES' opening weekend.

[Harmsway]

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

Wow. RAMBO (2008) took just $18 million on its opening weekend and only made around $43 million all in (at the Stateside box office, that is). And, of course, there's still a day to go of THE EXPENDABLES' opening weekend.

Whoa. I wasn't counting on it to sweep the weekend. I was actually banking on the rather good SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD to pull the win. I would have thought that its youthful appeal would make it a real winner.

[dinovelvet]

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

Wow. RAMBO (2008) took just $18 million on its opening weekend and only made around $43 million all in (at the Stateside box office, that is). And, of course, there's still a day to go of THE EXPENDABLES' opening weekend.

Whoa. I wasn't counting on it to sweep the weekend. I was actually banking on the rather good SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD to pull the win. I would have thought that its youthful appeal would make it a real winner.

It's Sly's biggest opening weekend ever! (Assuming it nudges out, ahem, Spy Kids 3D)

http://www.deadline....12m/#more-61420
Early weekend estimates:

1. The Expendables $34 mil
2. Eat pray love $24 mil
3. The Other guys $17 mil
4/5 Inception/Scott Pilgrim $11.5 mil

[Tarl_Cabot]

I'd like to see Carl Weathers in EXPENDABLES 2 (of course, he wasn't just in the Rocky flicks, but also PREDATOR), although I'm led to believe that he and Stallone don't get on (I gather they had some sort of dispute over ROCKY BALBOA - allegedly, Weathers demanded a role in the film even though Apollo was dead [!]).

Mr. T would also be great (and it'd help make up for the disgraceful failure on the part of the makers of this year's A-TEAM movie to cast him as B.A.).

Who else? Well, Daniel Craig would be terrific, although I daresay he'd turn his nose up at the project. But it'd be great to have James Bond on the team - maybe Brosnan would be up for it (albeit that he doesn't exactly have the physique for an Expendable)? And then there's Beat Takeshi (who more than makes up for in 'tude what he lacks in build), and, of course, the one and only Mr Charles Norris.

I think the more viable ex-Bond would be Timothy Dalton, who appears to be in fine shape and is making a modest comeback of sorts.

As much as it would be cool to see Norris' name in the all star cast (and give cheap thrills to internet hipsters), he reportedly turned down or wasn't available the first time round. (And it should be noted that he is 70 years old). Anyway, who do I want to see in EX2?

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.

Haven't seen the film yet, but let's not pussyfoot around with a cameo tease for the sequel. Sly and a cigar-chomping Ahnuld, brandishing dual M16s as they cut down rows of goons/ninjas/robots. $100 million opening weekend right there.

I do like the Jesse Ventura suggestion. And let's not forget BILL DUKE!

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

[Loomis]

BTW looks like The Expendables has taken the No.1 spot and reclaimed America's manhood with $34 million.

Wow. RAMBO (2008) took just $18 million on its opening weekend and only made around $43 million all in (at the Stateside box office, that is). And, of course, there's still a day to go of THE EXPENDABLES' opening weekend.

Whoa. I wasn't counting on it to sweep the weekend. I was actually banking on the rather good SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD to pull the win. I would have thought that its youthful appeal would make it a real winner.

It's Sly's biggest opening weekend ever! (Assuming it nudges out, ahem, Spy Kids 3D)

Ah, but have we adjusted for inflation? I imagine that Sly's biggest opening weekends ever were (and always will be) ROCKY IV, followed by RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, followed by ROCKY III - just a guess, though. But if Sly has indeed now trumped himself at the height of his box office powers, then.... wow.

[dinovelvet]

It's Sly's biggest opening weekend ever! (Assuming it nudges out, ahem, Spy Kids 3D)

Ah, but have we adjusted for inflation? I imagine that Sly's biggest opening weekends ever were (and always will be) ROCKY IV, followed by RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, followed by ROCKY III - just a guess, though. But if Sly has indeed now trumped himself at the height of his box office powers, then.... wow.

No I didn't adjust for inflation. Just for the sake of it, 1985's Rambo II and Rocky IV opened to 20 and 19 million, which would be 35-36 mil in today's coin. But then again movies performed differently then - whereas these days its all about the big opening weekend followed by big dropoffs, back then movies would roll out slow and there was less of a cult of having to see it on day one. Off the almost meager-sounding $20 mil opening of Rambo, the film went on to make $150 mil, with Rocky IV also ending up with $127. So to compete with those, The Expendables would have to keep going week after week and end up with $250 mil, which is a wee bit unlikely.

However, this is certainly Sly's biggest box office since 1993's Cliffhanger.

[killkenny kid]

To the entire cast and crew of The Expendables....


On friday I saw a movie with very litte cgi, no long suffering vampires and paleface girls who love them, no topless werewolves in shorts, and no freakin' 3D. And for that I thank you. nuff said.

btw check this out,

http://screenrant.co...ie-pauly-67099/

[dodge]

To the entire cast and crew of The Expendables....


On friday I saw a movie with very litte cgi, no long suffering vampires and paleface girls who love them, no topless werewolves in shorts, and no freakin' 3D. And for that I thank you. nuff said. btw check this out,

http://screenrant.co...ie-pauly-67099/

Bang on, wizard!

[DamnCoffee]

My god, this film is awesome! I've just seen it tonight, at an advanced screening as well.

[Loomis]

Well, having now seen THE EXPENDABLES, I'm delighted to report that it's about 95% the flick I hoped it would be.

Strangely enough, the bits that engaged me most were the bits that I'd expected to engage me least, and vice versa. My one quibble with THE EXPENDABLES is that the action isn't amazing. Now, it's hardly bad (and indeed some of it is quite good), but then again it's rarely more than competent, and it's difficult not to feel a slight sense of disappointment. The final battle, in particular, is something of a damp squib - just a common-or-garden orgy of bullets and explosions of the sort we've seen a million times before. There's no real "wow" factor.

However, where THE EXPENDABLES really comes alive is in the moments where, on paper, "nothing happens". What makes this movie work - and work very well - are the characters and their connections to each other. We like THE EXPENDABLES and believe in their relationships with each other. And what's refreshing is that Stallone does not choose to weigh them and the film down with unnecessary backstory. We don't need to know anything about Sly's military background, or how he started The Expendables, or how he met Mickey Rourke, or how Jason Statham wound up in the U.S.A., or how Jet Li or Dolph Lundgren joined the team. We don't need to know about what these guys got up to in various wars. And, accordingly, we're not given this info. It's more fun for the viewer to make up his own mind.

In quality terms, THE EXPENDABLES is much closer to ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO than it is to middling Stallone action fare of yesteryear like COBRA and CLIFFHANGER. Then again, he has plenty of help - as expected, the main attraction of THE EXPENDABLES is the cast, and these guys really deliver. Rourke is superb, and also Statham, Lundgren, Li, Eric Roberts (in a role one suspects was originally intended for Steven Seagal), and, of course, Schwarzenegger and Willis.

Fast-paced and never boring, with an unexpected and endearingly goofy twist at the end that wittily reverses audience expectations for this sort of fare, THE EXPENDABLES is, if you'll pardon the pun, a real blast.

[dodge]

Well, having now seen THE EXPENDABLES, I'm delighted to report that it's about 95% the flick I hoped it would be.

Strangely enough, the bits that engaged me most were the bits that I'd expected to engage me least, and vice versa. My one quibble with THE EXPENDABLES is that the action isn't amazing. Now, it's hardly bad (and indeed some of it is quite good), but then again it's rarely more than competent, and it's difficult not to feel a slight sense of disappointment. The final battle, in particular, is something of a damp squib - just a common-or-garden orgy of bullets and explosions of the sort we've seen a million times before. There's no real "wow" factor.

However, where THE EXPENDABLES really comes alive is in the moments where, on paper, "nothing happens". What makes this movie work - and work very well - are the characters and their connections to each other. We like THE EXPENDABLES and believe in their relationships with each other. And what's refreshing is that Stallone does not choose to weigh them and the film down with unnecessary backstory. We don't need to know anything about Sly's military background, or how he started The Expendables, or how he met Mickey Rourke, or how Jason Statham wound up in the U.S.A., or how Jet Li or Dolph Lundgren joined the team. We don't need to know about what these guys got up to in various wars. And, accordingly, we're not given this info. It's more fun for the viewer to make up his own mind.

In quality terms, THE EXPENDABLES is much closer to ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO than it is to middling Stallone action fare of yesteryear like COBRA and CLIFFHANGER. Then again, he has plenty of help - as expected, the main attraction of THE EXPENDABLES is the cast, and these guys really deliver. Rourke is superb, and also Statham, Lundgren, Li, Eric Roberts (in a role one suspects was originally intended for Steven Seagal), and, of course, Schwarzenegger and Willis.

Fast-paced and never boring, with an unexpected and endearingly goofy twist at the end that wittily reverses audience expectations for this sort of fare, THE EXPENDABLES is, if you'll pardon the pun, a real blast.

Glad you liked it, Loomis--and we're very close in our verdicts on it. I guess Sly's misuse of Jet Li could have been anticipated by anyone who thought back about watching STAYING ALIVE: at that time Sly was probably the only director on earth who took more interest in Travolta's muscular torso than in JT's wondrous dancing feet. It's natural enough that he should have no interest in the mechanics of Lee's magic.

Then again, the film had its share of Major Movie Moments...and it left me cheering at the end.

[Joyce Carrington]

I'm not as positive as some have been, but I did enjoy myself.

I thought the screenplay was... well, not very good. The action was decent, but nothing really interesting there.

Yet I am fascinated by this whole... macho-ness. Probably because I don't have testicles? I don't know, but it keeps me watching, and keeps me entertained.

As for my own viewing experience this Thursday morning around 11 AM... when I walked into the cinema, it was great to see the audience made up of men for about 97%. But what was really funny was the fact that the cinema played Dutch 'cuddle rock' (men singing really really sappy songs about how they need women to hold them tight while they cry) before the film started.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Well, having now seen THE EXPENDABLES, I'm delighted to report that it's about 95% the flick I hoped it would be.

Strangely enough, the bits that engaged me most were the bits that I'd expected to engage me least, and vice versa. My one quibble with THE EXPENDABLES is that the action isn't amazing. Now, it's hardly bad (and indeed some of it is quite good), but then again it's rarely more than competent, and it's difficult not to feel a slight sense of disappointment. The final battle, in particular, is something of a damp squib - just a common-or-garden orgy of bullets and explosions of the sort we've seen a million times before. There's no real "wow" factor.

However, where THE EXPENDABLES really comes alive is in the moments where, on paper, "nothing happens". What makes this movie work - and work very well - are the characters and their connections to each other. We like THE EXPENDABLES and believe in their relationships with each other. And what's refreshing is that Stallone does not choose to weigh them and the film down with unnecessary backstory. We don't need to know anything about Sly's military background, or how he started The Expendables, or how he met Mickey Rourke, or how Jason Statham wound up in the U.S.A., or how Jet Li or Dolph Lundgren joined the team. We don't need to know about what these guys got up to in various wars. And, accordingly, we're not given this info. It's more fun for the viewer to make up his own mind.

In quality terms, THE EXPENDABLES is much closer to ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO than it is to middling Stallone action fare of yesteryear like COBRA and CLIFFHANGER. Then again, he has plenty of help - as expected, the main attraction of THE EXPENDABLES is the cast, and these guys really deliver. Rourke is superb, and also Statham, Lundgren, Li, Eric Roberts (in a role one suspects was originally intended for Steven Seagal), and, of course, Schwarzenegger and Willis.

Fast-paced and never boring, with an unexpected and endearingly goofy twist at the end that wittily reverses audience expectations for this sort of fare, THE EXPENDABLES is, if you'll pardon the pun, a real blast.

This is where Rambo totally owns The Expendables. That movie had a wow factor on Tony Montana's mountain of coke(!). I wonder if this was a budget issue. It seems like the plan wasn't well thought out. I woulda like to see the ousted general in prison breaken out by a pair of Es and have them rally loyal troops..etc. The whole thing should have been bigger, more epic...etc. I do like the lack of exposition too.

Anyway, I do think Sly can fix some of the issues the next time if he has a good script and financial support.

[Harmsway]

So, Loomster, what's the verdict? Should I bother with Stallone's latest opus?