I won't be seeing this until next week. So, I've decided to go on an action movie bender. Since it'll all be shit featuring the Expendables, I thought I'd post about it.
The Expendables (Director's Cut) Well, I thought this would be a logical place to start. I've been curious about this version since it came out, but never got around to giving it a watch. It's still the Stallone and Statham show, which is fine. They have an easy macho chemistry that could carry a dozen of these movies. The other characters all get added moments that allow them to shineRandy Couture gets philosophical about his ear, Dolph demands a viking funeral and Crews gets a family. These bits really add a lot and I wish they had been included in the theatrical cut. Supposedly the whole film was re-edited, and I wouldn't doubt that. The action, while still a touch too modern, isn't as frantically edited as I remember. Oh yeah, Terry Crews and his shotgun is still insanely over the top and I'm glad it'll be back for part 2.
Commando This ended up being kind of an oddity for Arnold, which is a shame. I wish he managed to do more of these modestly budgeted straight-up action flicks. The plot is straight forward with no bullshit. The fights are amazing (watching Arnold throw down with Bill Duke is like watching Godzilla thrash it out with Mechagodzilla). The one liners are absolutely ridiculous. And then there's the final battle. When I think 80s action, this is what I think of. Arnold takes on a small army and in the process chops off limbs, blows buildings up, and kills a hundred men. It's glorious. Plus Arnold gets into a knife fight with Freddie Mercury, who for some reason is wearing chain mail.
Lock Up Stallone's version of a prison flick. All the genre cliches are present and accounted forevil warden, brutal guards, wise older inmate and cockroach races. Sonny Landham is the inmate personally selected by Donald Sutherland to torment Stallone. And boy does he do his job. Stallone gets the ever loving shit beat out of him and he willingly accepts it. That is, until he's pushed to far. The tone is kind of serious, which makes the ridiculous story seem even more outlandish than it should. If this had all taken place in the prison from Tango and Cash, I don't think it would have been a problem. Still, it's a solid enough flick with Stallone delivering an earnest and likable hero.
If everyone is cool with this, I'll keep posting.
