Trailer Tuesday: The Expendables



Given that nostalgia levels for anything 80's are at an all time high at the moment (2010 sees the release of an A-Team movie, a Predator sequel and Nightmare on Elm Street remade), it makes sense that someone has finally turned the greatest 80s' action movie fantasy - brawny stars Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis ALL in the same movie - into a reality.

The Expendables is unofficially known as the Manliest Movie of the Year. There are jokes online that anyone woman who watches it will emerge from the cinema pregnant. You see, The Expendables is the ultimate action movie - packed with action icons, old (Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren), new (Jason Statham, Jet Li, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Terry Crews) and always Goddamn cool (Willis, Mickey Rourke). MMA stars Randy Couture and Gary Daniels are also there for good measure.


Written and directed by Stallone himself, The Expendables exists as a kind of cross between The Dirty Dozen and 2008's Rambo, Stallone's last big screen project as writer, director and star. The film centres on a group of cynical, battle-hardened mercenaries, The Expendables, who accept a mission that no one else will take - namely the overthrow of a ruthless South American dictator, General Gaza (David Zayas), who is assisted by a corrupt CIA agent (B-movie baddie supremo Eric Roberts) and his henchmen. As betrayal and complications mount, the Expendables prepare to pull out. However, the men have a change in heart when their local contact, a spirited freedom fighter, is arrested and tortured. Suddenly the Expendables' mission is about more than money - it's about justice for the innocent.

The Expendables' cast rundown is as follows:

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Bao Thao (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

Rourke is a former Expendables member-turned-tattoo artist, while Willis and Schwarzenegger pretty much just make a single scene cameo appearances in the film - so don't get too excited. Willis is Mr Church, a mysterious figure who hires the Expendables, and Schwarzenegger is the head of a rival mercenary group who hates Ross.


Out of interest, during The Expendables' development, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal and Wesley Snipes were all reportedly approached to appear in the film. All turned down their roles, with Forest Whitaker stepping into Snipes' already written role, only to be replaced by 50 Cent and then, finally, Terry Crews.

I love cheesy, overblown 80's action films (Commando especially), and their thousands of B-grade descendants, so count me very excited about the clearly retro Expendables. As long as Stallone doesn't make his Rambo mistake of inserting too much off-putting political commentary and dictatorship 'realism,' I think audiences are in for a great time. I'm especially looking forward to chaos being unleashed at the dictator's mansion. It looks just like a stage in Action Half-Life.

The Expendables opens in the United States on 13 August. As usual, there is no indication when the film will be released in South Africa. Ho hum.

Comments

Terrance said…
I've always had a soft spot for popcorn action movies and The Expendables looks to be aimed squarely for people like me. I already know its going to be mindless action with a plot that's thinner than a wet tissue but I know I'm going to enjoy ever minute of it with a big, goofy smile on my face :)
Pfangirl said…
Thanks for commenting, Terrance. I hope that's what the film is like too:)
AmyK said…
Great write up - thank you! I too, am very excited about the Expendables. Whether the plot's thick or thin, it's going to be an awesome adventure. With Sly directing, I don't think it'll be thin. Different from you, I liked the political and "realism" overtones of Rambo, but I agree that similar didactic intent would be distracting in a movie like Expendable's. I dunno, we'll see what Sly does with it. I'm so sorry that you have to wait beyond the U.S. release date and hope that it finds you soon after!
MEigenauer said…
I'll do one midnight release a year and this is the one i've been waiting for all year so I can't wait!

This type of movie with so many names will go nowhere in the awards shows but I'm sure I'll buy the BlueRay when it comes out... Only people it's missing is
Kurt Russel (Tango & Cash)
Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon & Recent Outburst)
Van Damme (doesn't want Dolph to beat him up)
Wesley Snipe (doesnt want to pay his taxes)
Steven Segal (doesn't want to die in the first scene)

Regardless this is what Hollywood should have been doing for years! Bringing big names all into one and finally giving us something new!

Speaking of every woman who goes and sees this movie ending up preggo, that would be ideal but for some reason I think it will be filled up for midnight! Maybe afterwards ;)p

Iggy

PS:
Sly you've rocked for years and Demolition Man was kick ass, wish I could kiss Sandra once ;)
Jason the movie SNATCH was too good, and CRANK WTF hell yeah I dig :D
Jet Li the moves you have are perfect and the roles you play thank you very much I enjoyed many of your roles!
But to all of the people who put into this movie I just wanna say I appreciate it and I love your guys work! Sooooo Keep it up and make another one! F*ck It, make some new Red Dawn updated stuff ;)
Anonymous said…
The Expendables will be releasing exclusively at Nu Metro Cinemas in South Africa on the 17th of September (just a month after the US).
Big John BSU TV said…
From Rambo, Rock, Get Carter to Terminator, Conan, Commando I would really like to see these greats in a movie all the way. Yes I can not wait to see this movie Stalone has put together with some of the greatest in action movies. Li came out in Romeo must Die and several action movie too many to name. Terry is so versatile from Everyone Hates Chris, White Chicks to 6th Day and Training Day! The cast is just Awesome. I hope that the mix really brings them all out.
Pfangirl said…
Thanks for commenting everyone, and a special thanks for whoever selected this blog post to appear on the official Expendables site. I think so many of us are super-excited about this movie. Just a few more short weeks to wait:)
Cleric said…
I don't know how you got linked on the official site tbh, but congrats on that :)

I have also been wondering when someone will be brave enough to put so many awesome action stars in one movie. I think the risk is, that it's either kick ass, or a miserable disaster. But we'll have to wait and see.

I hope the story is at least engaging besides the awesome raw action power I'm sure we'll see. But with so many action stars in it, I'm sure we guys will be smiling through all the explosions and gun fire, and witty comments :)

Can't wait!
Anonymous said…
I think it is missing one other person,Clint Eastwood.
I think it would be hilarious,even if he only had one line. Cameo,working at a gas station or fast food joint.
Perhaps at a gun store,with his back away from the camera.
They ask him a question & he turns around,"what can I do for you,punks!"
Unknown said…
You know this movie is going to be cliche filled with a ton of references to our favorite "Has Been" stars from yesteryear but to be honest... who cares?? It will be good to catch all these boys again in a testosterone filled flick that will remind us of how much we have missed them all...

As for pfangirl...SOOOOO disappointed that you didnt list Lord of the Rings instead of Harry Potter.. I mean Tolkein STARTED the genre.. his ideas are the basis of Dungeons and Dragons.. the role playing game invented by Gygax. D&D in turn is the basis for ALL onlien gaming because it gavce us level advances and hit points and energy and so so so so so many other things.

Anyway, kudos on the site but :P on the lack of Lord of the Rings.. we need to talk..:)
yashraj said…
.hello sir.,,how r you,,,i m yashraj....i have been watching your moives for 12 years...i am a big fan of you sir,,[Sylvester Stallone]..... u r my heart,,,bcoz i live for u....sir i wanna tell you somthing...... ..its not a joke .... i wanna work with in your moive....as you do.....really sir ...i m living for this time.....plsss sir....take me in your movie......any role....but i m work with you....i wanna do somthing for....nothing pay to me....just hold my hands....that's need you...that's is calling you ...plss....Rocky...give me chance to fulfil my dreams....to watch and work and walk ...with you......pls...john...its a heartly pray to my god...pls....hold my hands...you can....but i cann't....bcoz...i m a small person....u r the title of this planet ...so your hands can reach me.......touch me.....but i cann't.....so pls....sir.....if u r listening ...then....put me.inside with you...plss......i m praying.....bcoz ...i live for u...and wanna see you in real life........i m 23 years old.....plssssssssss...........sir........plsssss.....i will wait for you......your's loving dear.....
Amaresh said…
@yashraj

What the crap! Yours is the comment of the week. :D
The Expedables said…
The movie was somewhat like its trailer, the same just 90+ minutes long. Having said that, i don't regert seeing it one bit, no sir.

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