The Expendables

Films of this kind can never excite me, already from their very basic nature – heroes that only rely on their muscles can never be heroes to me (and they aren’t). The Expendables are a celebration of dumb brute force – and a pretty expendable film as far as I’m concerned. Long live modern action films that rely on something other than how long and how often a hero on ‘roids can drop “funny” wisecracks. Back in the 80s, that may have had its charm (which I can feel even today when I watch those old films), but I don’t see any reason to go back to that. PS: The church scene was incredibly artificial and forced, like the rest of the film. PS2: The inferno at the end is pretty cool in the details but utterly confusing as a whole. (29.08.2010)

Satisfaction for me on all fronts. From the fighters’ hangout (admittedly, the church scene could have been a minute or two longer), to the witty banter and poking fun at themselves, to the sheer action-packed charge that always kicks in at the right moment. You could criticize it for all sorts of things, but the same also applies to classic nostalgic films. At times I felt like clapping loudly and shouting at the whole movie theater. Particularly the "fistfight" at the end was asking for it permanently. 4 1/2. I think I'll go see it again. Edit: I went again and the enthusiasm has lessened. I’m bothered a bit by the tediousness of the first half and the neglect of some of the team members (Couture, Crews). But from the moment Stallone breaks into the basement dungeon, it's one of the action highlights of (probably not only) the year. Regarding the fun factor, though, Joe Carnahan otherwise won... (26.08.2010)

Paradoxerweise hätte das ganze noch eine Stufe stumpfer und direkter sein sollen. Dem Film schadet ausgesprochen, dass er sich um eine raffinierte Motivation eines lebenslangen Mörders bemüht, der zumindest ein Stückchen seiner leeren Seele retten will. Im John Rambo hat dies Stallone sie in Blut und dank des bulldoggeähnlichen Tordrang ertränkt. Hier hat der Film damit zu kämpfen und hat Schwierigkeiten damit, dem Betrachter zu erklären, warum die Charaktere dort sind, wo sie eben sind und warum sie das tun, was sie tun. Nolens volens sehen somit The Expendables - Stahlharte Söldner wie inkohärente Testosteron-Actionsskizzen und eine Fibel mit "Meta-Filmsprüchen" aus (je mehr sie sich auf der filmemacherischen Karte der 1980er auskennen, umso mehr werden dies hier genießen). Die Handlung ist physisch solide, jedoch manchmal meines Erachtens verwirrend - wieder einmal haben wir es hier mit den "greengrassähnlichen" Kinetikversuchen zu tun - und zu überhastet. Außerdem fehlt hier der erforderliche 80er-Jahre-drive im Stil des Švejk-Spruches: "Sie haben meinen Onkel umgebracht, also gibt´s was auf die Nuss". Aber damit ich nun die Stirn nicht unnötigerweise runzle - ich habe mich gut amüsiert, konnte jedoch nicht das Gefühl loswerden, dass Stallone die magische Linie eben nicht überschritten hatte und nicht vollends in diesen Retro-Fluss gefallen war. Manchmal schien es, als bemühte er sich unnötigerweise, sich da "hineinzuplappern", obwohl es eigentlich notwendig war gerade eine Tür einzutreten. Deshalb zögere ich, ob ich denn den vierten Stern vergeben soll. (11.08.2010)

I hope someday they publish a collector’s edition on an over-played VHS videotape with the special Czech “speed-dubbing" and normal editing. Then and only then can these be considered to be the real McCoy action movies “like out of the eighties". But as it is half way between a pleasant movie playing at being nostalgic and real, unadulterated nostalgia (the church, the church!). But it has three main problems. Too much “Bournesque" editing, too little work with the personality cults of various testosterone legends (this happens only in scenes with Jet vs. Dolph and in the church) and of course the must fundamental problem - no Asia Argento, but instead (no) Charisma. (20.08.2010)

The script was so stupid and leaky that even 80 of them couldn't carry it. The church scene was great though, no question about it. But afterwards? I'll quote Subjective: “shot, ‘pow’, shot, ‘bang’, shot, ‘smack’, shot, ‘left hook’, shot, ‘right hook’, shot, ‘tie’, shot ‘crane’. By the time I understood where the action was happening, I was already watching it from somewhere else." Most of the time I didn't care who was doing the shooting, or why (because the reasons were either nonexistent or stupid and pathetic), and because the shooting went on for most of the movie... I'll watch the second one, it's supposedly better; but I guess since I was looking forward to it so much, it ended up being very, very disappointing. A weak 2 stars. (24.05.2013)

I was absolutely sure that I wouldn't like it, but from time to time one must endure mental torture in order to appreciate even more the movies that are truly worth watching. Half of the members of the cast I categorize as "My Least Favorite Nightmares," and some of them, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, I don't consider actors, but rather stereotypical figures, while others, like Sylvester Stallone, as below-average actors, and it is characteristic that if a quality action actor like Bruce Willis appears in something like this, they just briefly show up on the screen. The Expendables pay homage to violent action films from the 80s with muscle-bound heroes and these sorts of productions didn't make the slightest impression on me even at 15 years old, let alone today. Action productions that I appreciate include titles such as Indiana Jones, Die Hard, or the Bourne series, in general, movies that rely on a quality screenplay and top-notch acting. The Expendables is just as dim-witted as its genre predecessors and the scene of the contract negotiation in a church, which has humor, can't save it. For me, The Expendables is the same as a really strong cigar for a devoted non-smoker. Overall impression: 15%. (07.11.2010)

Arnold’s back... It worked! Stallone proved that a bunch of action legends won’t get in each other’s way, they can work together as a team in a movie about guys, for guys. The action is some top-notch, good, honest work that cost a lot of blood, sweat and broken bones, and the end result is totally worth it. The bombastic finale, the brawls and the brilliant old-style car chase. It’s beautiful. The cast is a whole other chapter of its own. THAT scene is milked to the last one-liner, every wink, every little jab is a sight to sore eyes for someone who was brought up on these old guys. Jason Statham has broken the jinx of co-starring fails with Jet Li. And Jet’s grumbling little squirt is such an impossibly nice guy, it’s incredible. Dolph Lundgren, one word – awesome. Ok, I’ll cut it short, but I must mention Eric Roberts who, if you don’t count the bad guy monolog, had almost exclusively snappy lines. And Tyler’s music rumbled away in all the right ways. A heartfelt matter. ...Arnold left. Now Sly’s here. Warning shot! (23.08.2010)

Stallone is such an experienced hard worker and intelligent person that he basically confirmed what was expected, and he doesn't disappoint in The Expendables. He made exactly what was expected of him, paying homage to classic action movies of the past decade. There is a clear and distinctive directorial style (gore, action), which is a good thing, of course. But on the other hand, considering that the last Rambo was made by the same director, I would have expected a more coherent action. Overall, it is watchable, so mission accomplished. (18.09.2010)

Ich kann sowohl diejenigen verstehen, die The Expendables fünf Sterne geben, als auch diejenigen, die den Film nicht gut finden, die ihm einen Stern oder ein Boo! geben, mit den Achseln zucken und weitergehen… Der Film ist nichts für sie. Ich gehöre zu der ersten Gruppe und freue mich riesig darüber. Als ein Fan von guten alten Actionfilmen, in denen nach einem ausgesprochenen Wort zehn leere Magazine folgten, bin ich im siebten Himmel. Ich habe Lust, "Actionfilm des Jahres" zu schreiben. Ich weiß nicht genau, wie Stallone zu der Zeitmaschine gekommen ist. Dafür, dass er uns aus den achtziger Jahren diesen Film mitgebracht hat, hat er aber Bewunderung, Applaus und noch einmal Bewunderung verdient. Der Film ist voller Action, es mangelt nicht an Humor und Spannung. Die ganze Muskelshow wird durch Tylers gelungenen Soundtrack verstärkt… Die ausgezeichnet dargestellten Helden sind ein eingespieltes Team. Bei den Schuften würde man sich nicht trauen, sie von Angesicht zu Angesicht zu kritisieren. Die Actionszenen sind roh, ab und zu herrlich übertrieben und vor allem am Ende so explosiv, dass man nur noch stumm oder mit gelegentlichen Ausrufen des Staunens auf die Leinwand starren und das Geschehen verfolgen kann. Sly hat es einfach geschafft, was will man mehr? Man spürt den Hauch der guten alten Zeiten, in denen diese Herren alles ernst gemeint haben. Wenn man sie beobachtet, muss man wohl oder übel nostalgisch lächeln…__PS: Den zweiten Teil bitte so schnell wie möglich.__PPS: Auch mit Chuck, Steven und Jean-Claude. (19.08.2010)

I know that the review at the end is exaggerated, but I just can't help it. I know that the story is incredibly simple and cliché, that there are scenes that play on emotions in almost unnecessary ways, which do not have any meaning for the plot, but when I watch the movie... It's still great. Sylvester Stallone had an idea. Get together more aging fighters, put them together with the young ones, and create a great gathering of stars. He succeeded a bit. Besides Sly himself, there are also Dolph Lundgren and Mickey Rourke from the old guard, Bruce Willis and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger in smaller roles. Finding these guys and adding stars like Jason Statham and Jet Li, as well as spicing it up with football star Terry Crews, MMA fighter Randy Couture, and wrestling giant "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, this had to be a hit in the end, whether you like it or not. Together, there is an incredibly packed and explosive team that has to stand up to a small dictator, his army, but mainly a scheming American who finances the dictator for his own interests. Among other things, the dictator is played by David Zayas, known from the TV series "Dexter," and the scheming American is played by B-list legend Eric Roberts. The story is not brilliant, not perfect, but the action scenes are just fantastic, each one has its place, each one has its style. Jason Statham is a knife thrower, Dolph is the brawler, Jet Li is the master of martial arts, and Terry Crews is a pro at really big explosions. I'm looking forward to the sequel, I'm looking forward to the third one, which I have no doubt will be made. My rating is high mainly because this is a return to legends, a return in a style that suits them. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/09/rebelka-perfect-sense-sprosty-holky.html (27.02.2013)