The Expendables Review

The Expendables, 2010

Reviewed By: Dan S.

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

Written By: Sylvester Stallone and David Callaham

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Mickey Rourke.

Language: English

Keeping thiis mini-epic limited to cliché warehouses and exotic islands, writer/director Sylvester Stallone keeps The Expendables lean and lite while masterfully juggling a giant ensemble cast of convincing middle aged tough guys. While the focus is primarily on the amusing macho banter between Stallone and Statham, everyone is cast to their strengths and at least gets one moment to do their thing and do it well. In more limited roles, Rourke delivers a soulful rambling monologue like only he can while Bruce Willis drops a bunch of F bombs like only he can. As can be expected, Arnold's cameo is short but sweet. Lundgren gets a surprising amount of screen time in a memorable weird performance while Eric Roberts threatens to steal the movie as the arrogant wise cracking villain.

Much like the story, the action is brutish and simple. Don't expect too many complex emotional twists or turns, just the bad guys being dicks, and the heroes blowing them to pieces with large guns in retort. Of course Stallone uses every opportunity to pour on the gore, but it should be noted that while the violence is graphic it is not nearly as mean and nasty as the violence in his last Rambo outing; it's all in good fun this time out. There are also plenty of well staged fight sequences cast to the strengths of the performers; Li and Lundgren work a smart kung fu fight, Statham beats up a gang of obnoxious punks, UFC star Raynd Couture breaks limbs with mixed marital arts holds, while the aging Stallone gets his "ass kicked." Charisma Carpenter has a small well acted part but no 80s throwback nudity this time around.

Rating:

District 13 Review

District 13, 2004
Reviewed by Daniel S.
Directed by: Pierre Morel
Written By: Luc Besson, Bibi Naceri
Staring: David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Dany Verissimo.
Language: French

An understudy of French super auteur Luc Besson, director Pierre Morel's gritty debut is a blur of an action movie that blitzes through its short running time with a non-stop barrage of shaky camera work, kinetic editing, and dance club beats. Producer/writer Luc Besson's script is effectively simple and straightforward, merely establishing motivation and urgency for District's 13 tightly chained action sequences. Blessed with incredibly talented and innovative martial artists, Morel boldly turns his performers loose without the use of CGI or wires, making for a truly unique action experience.

Performing more stunts than dialogue, colorful French martial artist David Belle steals the movie with his innovative “Parkour” stunts in lengthy foot chases up and down stairs, across roof tops, and even the narrow hallways of apartment buildings. His work is unique and jaw dropping not so much for the risks but the athletic creativity he demonstrates. Having a bit more screen time and dialogue, the stoic Cyril Raffaelli handles the much more traditional martial art fight sequences as an undercover cop, though he is no less creative, incorporating unusual props such as car stirring wheels into his brawls. In supporting roles, late character actor Tony D-Amario is memorable as a bumbling henchman, youthful looking adult film actress Dany Verissimo is surprisingly sympathetic as the babe in peril, and Bibi Naceri is convincing as the sleazy villain.

Rating:

Invisible Target Review

Invisible Target, 2007

Reviewed by Dan S.

Directed by: Benny Chan

Written by: Benny Chan, Rams Ling, and Melody Lui

Starring: Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Wu-Jing, Jaycee Chan

Language: Cantonese, Mandarian.

Liberally lifting ideas and scenes from such genre classics as Hard Boiled, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Ong Bak, and The Matrix to name a view…Benny Chan’s buddy cop yarn Invisible Target is a two plus hour marathon of action movie clichés. Seemingly on a tight budget, the movie has a cheaper look than its Hong Kong contemporaries and is mostly located in abandoned low budget standbys that wouldn’t be out of place in an Amercian direct to video production. While Chan does manage to string together a couple of fun downtown chase sequences its nothing you haven’t seen before, and done much better.

Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue share leading man duties but the script doesn’t really give either actor much to do except chase bad guys and beat them up. Despite this emphasis on action, both men prove to be lackluster martial artists, showing little personality and relying heavily on wire assisted kicks. As the villainous gang leader Wu Jing is the film’s most experienced martial artist, staging and carrying the film’s better fight scenes. As a rookie cop living with his grandmother, the youthful awkwardness of Jaycee Chan gives the movie its only emotional pull, providing some good laughs and touching moments. Seemingly aware of these two performers’ value, Chan is smart enough to give his supporting talents a most unusual amount of screen time, elevating an otherwise average production as a result….but one wanders why he just didn’t trim out the unnecessary fat all together and focus the movie on them.

Two Fists Out of Five