One liners, explosions. THE EXPENDABLES!!!

Rating: 8/10 (20 August 2010)

The Expendables brings the old action clichés and aims to celebrate them as much as possible and what on Earth is wrong with that? It is easy to say this but sometimes you do just have to sit back and enjoy the onslaught of violence. I mean with a cast of Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnie. It gives action fans exactly what they want and lets the world know there is testosterone in the movie world after all. How does the plot play, well it involves the team heading preparing to overthrow a dictator. With Sylvester Stallone at the helm naturally he heads the group and therein lies a sort of problem. Stallone leads alongside Jason Statham mostly meaning we don't get the team fighting together as much as we'd like now usually that wouldn't be a problem as we can get more time for some form of character development. Well as much as an action film like this one will allow. The thing is I wouldn't have minded an onslaught of the entire team in combat but we don't get that as much as we would like. Regardless it is a hugely enjoyable film for action fans. The key word there people is ACTION fans, you are not going to get something thought provoking as it knows what it is supposed to do. In spite of my mild complaints about the amount of time on screen some characters get it isn't bad and allows it to build tension and come into its own and is just a joy to watch. Do we get the moments of humour we all like in films like this? Of course, do we get the implausibility where it is extremely difficult to get hurt? Of course. Possibly the aspect I appreciated the most about this film is that they did not hold back in the action and go for the lower rating, again it is giving the action fans what they want. Alright there is the shaky cam but is it still enjoyable getting past that factor? Yes it is because at least there isn't the slow motion holding up things. The characters are likable for the most part as well and you don't really need to be hit over the head in order to root for them.
To conclude The Expendables works well to the best degree that the usual clichéd action movies that remind us mostly of the 'good old days' where we would make a manly salute in appreciation of action by the bucket load. Just sit back, relax and realise it won't be making a sweep at the Oscars.