Expandables

Rating: 7/10 (3 September 2012)

Read some reviews of this and the critics complained about the clichés used in this ("I'll be back"). Actually, if I hadn't read about this, it wouldn't have bothered me. In fact, when the time came to hear this, I didn't care. This is the movie you go to see the guys whom you haven't seen in a while. Most of them made zillions of dollars in their action flicks and now here they are years later, and they look good. They've added Liam Hemsworth, and you can't complain because he and his brother Chris are easy on the eyes. They've also added Nan Yu, who blends in nicely with the gang of tough dudes. The opening scene is great, as you get to see each guy show off his strengths. Jet Li has a wonderful martial arts segment and Jason Statham plays with knives. Everything seems to be going well until Church (Bruce Willis) comes along to get Ross (Stallone) to pay on his debt. Ross reluctantly takes on the job, but tragedy befalls one of the crew. That puts Ross in revenge mode. The Villain, played wonderfully by Jean-Claude Van Damme is not going to be easy to catch. And then there's the play on words with his name: Villain. Van Damme aged well, and does show off his signature kicks in the show-down with Ross. But who really steals the show is Chuck Norris. Figuring the guy is 70-something, he comes in a blazing with his guns. And there's the play on the names with him: "Lone Wolf" from Lone Wolf McQuade and "Booker" from Good Guys Wear Black. There is a lot of blood in this, hence the R rating. It moves quickly and it delivers. The sets are so-so, but you really don't care because you know they're going to get blown up anyway. This is one of those fun, action flicks that you go to see and not care about the story line or the sets. It's fun and they should definitely go for an Expendables 3. How about digging up a few other oldies but goodie action heroes like, Michelle Yeoh, who just turned 50 this year, and Yun-Fat Chow, who's 57. Both were wonderful in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. And what about Jim Kelly from Enter the Dragon? He's "only" 66. You figure you've got Chuck Norris from Return of the Dragon, which basically jump-started his career, and is 70, why not Jim Kelly? If you're a fan of these type of action flicks you will not be disappointed in this one.