Retro Review: The Expendables (2010)

The Expendables
2010
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statum, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Gary Daniels, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke 
Genre: Action
Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $274 million

Plot: A CIA operative hires a team of mercenaries to eliminate a Latin dictator and a renegade CIA agent

'The First In The Trio'

For its lack of depth, The Expendables exists as a throwback or homage towards action films of the 1980s and 1990s. Yet as an action film, one is more focused on the action and less so the little details; the way I see it with the Expendables is it serves as a representation of every and any other action flick circa-1980s and 1990s, only with added star- power in Bruce Willis, Arnie, Stallone, Jet Li, as well as Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statum: throw in Gary Daniels, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin as the baddies, action stars of whom had this been a B-version of The Expendables featuring direct-to-DVD actors, they could've and might have been the heroes of this film, and be it a franchise, and you have yourself something that action movie fanatics can lap up. 

I entered the film with less emphasis on the story, which comfortably subsists on a Direct-to-DVD-level, although that in itself, did catch my attention as it wore on, as to how The Expendables would be played out onscreen, and when it came to the action, there was plenty of it on show. The story was better than the dialogue, which isn't worth shouting about but still, one doesn't pay too much attention to this aspect through Stallone, Jet Li, Statum, and even some MMA/UFC representation through Randy Couture. Rambo's Stallone leads the charge as a soldier, Barney Ross as he and his ragtag team of old school middle-aged -yet skilful mercenaries are hired to take out a South American dictator, only to go up against an ex-CIA operative and find themselves in the middle of a botched CIA operation.  

 

As a standard, standalone actioner, it does exactly what it says on the tin: it makes no bones about the fact that it is a pure, out-&-out gung-ho action film with lots of guns, shooting, hand-to-hand fighting, good guys facing bad guys and seeing this represented by not just one action movie star, but plenty of others on board for the ride. It doesn't take itself seriously and fully embraces the nostalgia aspect of action films, with the violence akin to that of Die Hard, Rambo and Schwarzenegger's Commando, which is to be expected. Yet The Expendables' weakness lies in the female characters: the Latina Sandra, who is a resistance fighter, who gets kidnapped, abused and is left to be rescued and Jason Statham's character's onscreen girlfriend, who leaves him to be with another guy - only to be a victim of domestic violence. Jet Li does okay, but his role here isn't really sufficient enough to leave a mark, whilst Dolph Lundgren wasn't given a lot to do, compared to the follow-up sequel, whereas they could have done a lot more with Steve Austin as well. 

The Expendables was released back in 2010 and covers all the bases as previously seen in hundreds of other action films of the 1980s and 1990s, but of which have been noticeably absent throughout over the 2000s, right into the 2010s and now beyond from a Hollywood cinematic experience. Besides, whilst it doesn't wow me or leaves me shellshocked, this is, still, after all, a shoot-em' up, beat'-em-up fest, not Casablanca. 

Had the Expendables been made in the late 1980s or during the 1990s, with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan, Billy Blanks, the two Jeff's: Wincott and Speakman, Brandon Lee - had he still been alive and his career was thriving- Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, Donnie Yen, alongside Jet Li, Stallone, Schwarzenegger etc during the height of the action movie craze, then we'd be looking at perhaps a greater action film that what we have seen in the 2010-produced effort.  

 

 

Final Verdict:

The Expendables isn't amazing by any sense, and whilst and despite being heavily cliched and predictable, one could see how the movie would unravel, as an action film, it still has all its bases covered. Unapologetic, brainless, brain dead -yet full of brawn, it knows exactly what it wants to be, which is an action flick; and its attempts to do so with minimal fuss that there is little for me to have gripes with.

Overall:

Mini Retro Review: The Next Karate Kid (1994) #badmovies

The Next Karate Kid aka The Karate Kid Part IV

1994

Martial Arts Drama

It's not a horribly bad film per se, but the story just wasn't strong or compelling enough to get behind. After the previous three entries of the 1980s, The Next Karate Kid should have gone for a more dynamic and action-oriented film and with an equally good story to boot, but instead, it is lacklustre. A reboot of sorts, The Next Karate Kid waned the longer the film went on and with that, I lost all interest. In her second major movie offering, Hilary Swank tries her best, but under her acting efforts, she is swamped by a weak story that doesn't convince, nor take any bold risks, as well as limited martial arts scenes on display. Pat Morita plays Mr Miyagi and appears to be a less interesting character, whilst Michael Ironside turns in another typecast evil bad guy routine. Yes I see to it this is a B- or be it Z-movie martial arts film, but there appeared to be less action martial arts sequences in this instalment compared to the first 3 Karate Kid films. It's too predictable, cliched, and the lead character, Julie played by Hilary Swank is difficult to root for. Million Dollar Baby, the so-called boxing equivalent to The Karate Kid, and movie that helped bag Swank her second Oscar win, and which came out in 2004, appears to do everything and more than The Next Karate Kid, and do it better. This, on the other hand, exists as a cash-grab for the Karate Kid franchise. A gender-flip version of The Karate Kid sounds all right; just the execution of it should have been a whole lot better.  

Is It Worth Watching?

Unfortunately no

Overall: 

Retro Review: Cast Away (2000)

Cast Away

2000

Cast: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Sercy

Genre: Survival Drama

Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $429 million 

Plot: A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island 

'I'm A Survivor!'

Castaway sees Tom Hanks playing a Fed-Ex manager and Robinson Crusoe type in this one-man show adventure from Back to the Future and Forrest Gump director, Robert Zemeckis. One day as he and his family are sitting around at the table for Christmas dinner, Chuck Noland answers a call: he needs to fly off to Malaysia. Leaving Kelly behind with the promise he'll return by New Year's Eve, he takes off in the skies on a plane, the plane explodes and Chuck ends up underwater and eventually ends up on a deserted island. Usually, when the plane explodes, everyone or be it most of the people onboard, die; yet Chuck manages to survive with only the contents of several Fed-Ex packages. 

The film's concept may not be that appealing for a Hollywood blockbuster film: I mean, who wants to sit through 2 hrs, or be it in the film's case, over 1 hrs worth of scenes where a man is stranded and marooned on a deserted island? 

Hanks is alone for very much of the film's duration, and his character's plight makes for curious viewing as he struggles to keep himself together, both mind, body and soul. With his memories of fiance, Kelly still etched in his mind, Chuck establishes an unusual buddy relationship with an inanimate object in the form of a Wilson- made Volleyball that Chuck refers to him as, & wait for it, Wilson that doubles up as an imaginary friend- of sorts. 

Whilst it is argued that the film unravels to an unsatisfactory last third of Castaway and ending and it took away from the second act, as haphazard & anti-climatic it looked it caught me off-guard, it was also watchable at the same time. The third act manages to avoid going down the overly melodramatic route and opting for a quintessential romantic ending that could have reduced Castaway to a second-string film. Chuck gets one shot with Kelly, but realising they can't be together; with that, it was equally measurable and as entertaining as the middle third, stirring emotions and thus, it elevates the film further as it transitions from a survival adventure to an active drama as further events in Chuck's life unravel. Quite frankly, had the film ended with Hanks' character remaining on the island or Kelly and Chuck getting back together, it would feel unfulfilling.  

Castaway is a story not about the survival of the fittest as Chuck is the lone person on the island, rather the plot is driven forward by the struggles and challenges the hero faces himself. In theory, it asks if you were stranded on a desert island, just how far would you go to survive, and what are the things you need and need to do to enable you to survive. What it is to be human?, how does one cope with loneliness, isolation and in an environment where there aren't any people residing in it? On an emotional level, Castaway touches on Chuck's feelings, emotions, and it does so one step, gradually at a time. The scenes never drag on for longer than they should and are presented in a simple, effective way for the viewer to understand. 

Tom Hanks is almost perfect for the most part as Chuck who is often at times relatable; he also took a year off during the middle of filming, losing 50 lbs in weight and growing his hair out in preparation for his character, whilst Helen Hunt meanders on in an unsympathetic character role as Chuck's girlfriend, but as a pairing, despite the lack of screentime shared together, there is a lack of chemistry displayed between the two actors. One would argue Hunt's character, Kelly is not well written and is underdeveloped and with that, she came across as a person one could never fully get on board. 

Final Verdict:

I did enjoy the film more as it went on and with that, Cast Away was an extremely good watch. This is the most challenging role Tom Hanks has done, well, until say perhaps Cloud Atlas and whereas in sitting through Cast Away would have been one of tedium, Hanks' presence, as well as the ways the film presents itself bypasses that. There are very few films that stand the test of time today from the year 2000 far better than others: Memento, Erin Brockovich and adding to that, Cast Away. 

It may not be the crowd-pleaser that gets people raving in the same way that 1994's Forrest Gump did, but despite having precious little dialogue, Cast Away poses more questions, & its events and characters' motivations, actions are open to question and interpretation; plus, and as a film and throughout the story and in Chuck's journey, it offers a far more rewarding and competent experience than Tom Hanks' Spielberg effort, 2004's The Terminal.

Overall: 

Mini Retro Review: Edison (2005) #badmovies

Edison aka Edison Force

2005

Thriller

Morgan Freeman, LL Cool J, Justin Timberlake, Kevin Spacey, Dylan McDermott, John Heard, Cary Elwes... one would think with a cast of (B) movie actors, Edison will have something going for it as a film. Timberlake appears to be the wrong fit as a reporter investigating police corruption, Kevin Spacey has a dodgy - looking hairstyle, although the performances themselves aren't formidable for a so-called crime thriller that deals in a serious subject matter (John Heard overacting in the last third scene). F.R.A.T seems to be a play on S.W.A.T. Directed by a TV producer (with credits in Law and Order, Seaquest DSV), this is a straight to DVD flick all-round, borrowing heavily from Training Day, but felt like an episode of Law and Order with dull filler and very little good action & suspense to get behind. As it dragged I can see why it didn't get a theatrical release: I had a hard time getting around to liking Edison; sluggish viewing, a sluggish story which as it droned on, made little sense, it had nothing. 

Is It Worth Watching?:

Nope

Overall: