THE EXPENDABLES Movie Review

So here comes a movie packed with action heroes from the last couple of decades. You have Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Willis, Statham, Rourke, Li, Lundgren and many more. The movie is more star studded then a KISS costume. Sylvester Stallone not only stars in this action packed flick but he is also the one who gave this idea birth and directed it.

The story is based on a group of mercenaries hired to overthrow South American dictator General Gaza (David Zayas of Dexter). Once given their mission from Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) team leader Barney Ross (Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) a former SAS and blade enthusiast head out to meet with their contact on the remote island Vilena. The contact Sandra (Giselle Itie) is a freedom-fighter there and they come to find that the situation is not exactly how it appears to be on the surface. The secret places a monkey wrench in their whole plan and the guys leave the island without the contact because she wants to stay and fight. Because of Ross' feelings towards the situation happening there he returns with a few of his men to make things right in that country.

The other mercenaries are Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) precision sniper and combat veteran, Ying Yang (Jet Li) who is a master at close combat, Ross' long time friend Hale Ceasar (Terry Crews) who is an expert with long barrel weapons, Toll Road (Randy Couture) who oddly enough is the intellect in the group and a skilled demo expert. Now I can't leave out the opposing team here or should I say the 'bad guys' who are James Monroe (Eric Roberts) ex-CIA operative and his accomplice Paine (Steve Austin). I have to mention (Mickey Rourke) as well because even though he doesn't go out and fight everybody in the flick he does make a mean tattoo. His role is that of Tool who is a bit of a ladies man and expert knife thrower who is always in a bit of a competition with Statham's character when it comes to knife throwing. His shop is where the guys meet to talk business.

From this point on there is non stop action when Ross and band of brothers go back to take care of business. With explosions, knife fights, gun wars, chases and fist fights you get a bit of everything for your action dollars. A couple of things that I think could of been added or taken out are just little things like Statham throwing a bit too many knives and they could have had a couple of more chases. There's a bit of a love story with Lee Christmas and a life changing moment gets revealed with Tool. I can't say too too much without giving things away here.

Overall the action scenes are great and a couple of them merit awards, just remember I mentioned the jet scene on the island that will blow you away. A couple of bloopers here and there and one-liners make the movie a true hollywood hit. There is a part when a truck gets all shot up to shit and then a few minutes later you see the exact same truck that looks untouched and also a classic one-liner that Bruce Willis uses about Schwarzenegger. What I also found interesting was with all of the advertising for the movie (poster wise) you will see Bruce Willis and not Arnold Schwarzenegger but they have just about the same amount of air time in the movie. Could it just be because of the significance of their roles or purely a strategic marketing tool? Who knows and who really cares aside from me. Just get out and go see the flick already because it won't be the same when it's just a rental.

Tags: expendables