The Expendables 2, a meaner and more exciting movie than the original

August 21, 2012 blackbow11234 4 Comments

File:The Expendables 2 poster.jpg

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Randy Couture, Yu Nan, Charisma Carpenter

When it comes to the original I was not the biggest fan, I am also not a fan of when Stallone directs he can be a hit or miss director. The original brought a fun concept to the movie but never really really embraced the ridiculous plot and just had a some great action and hit or miss acting, Dolph Lundgren didn’t hit the mark with his character and was nothing more than a muscle bond drug addict who betrays his team. The new one makes up on loss ground and presents itself as a self aware film that pokes fun at the action heroes that the cast portrayed early in their career and Dolph Lundgren plays his part well this time and at times makes references to his genius level intellect. This time around the actors seemed like they were enjoying themselves much more than in the previous one and had more one-liners that plagued 80’s action movies. The only problem that I noticed was the fact that Arnold was really rusty when it came to his acting, it is probably the few years that he took off of acting to be the governor of California, he has always been an actor that always seemed to be stiff when it came to acting and his scenes show proof of that.

Barney Ross, Lee Christmas, Yin Yang, Gunnar Jensen,Toll Road and Hale Caesar — with newest members Billy the Kid and Maggie aboard — are reunited when Mr. Church enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries. But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time – six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world.

The opening ten minutes alone make up for the mistakes made in the first one, the action was intense and was well played. It was great to see all the action stars working together to free their target and get out of it alive. The action throughout the movie is also an upgrade, it doesn’t feel choppily edited or rushed. I like that they are continuing bringing in action stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris, both who seem to be enjoying their roles especially Van Damme who plays a pretty good villain by the name Jean Vilain (haha), and even Chuck Norris pulls a Chuck Norris joke which was amusing in itself. The best part of course was when Stallone, Arnold, and Willis all join together to take on a bunch of enemies, something that was teased in the first but comes to together in this film and I couldn’t be happier with the end results.

I really like the idea and concept of this franchise but the first one is a bit disappointing but what the first one lacked the new one makes up for it. If their is any movie to see this August or to finish off summer this movie is it. It is the last great action movie of the summer and definitely lives up to the hype.

8 out of 10

Jean Claude Van Damme – Jean-claude Van Damme ‘honoured’ To Star In Expendables 2 (contactmusic.com)
Your Expendables 2 Power Rankings [Grierson & Leitch] (deadspin.com)
Take Two Explosions and Call Me in the Morning (movies.nytimes.com)
Exclusive Poster for THE EXPENDABLES 2 Adds Muscle to “The Last Supper” (collider.com)
Who is the Best Expendable? – Round 1 (oldgamereviewer.com)
Teen Talk: Nothing serious about “The Expendables 2″ (swrnn.com)
Dolph Lundgren’s Wild Ride (thedailybeast.com)
The Expendables 2: Movie Review (screencrave.com)
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jason Statham had fun making The Expendables 2 (arts.nationalpost.com)
Dolph Lundgren Talks ‘The Expendables 2′, ‘Duke Nukem’ & ‘He-Man’ (screenrant.com)

Movie Trailers

Two aging action stars make competing in The Last Stand and Bullet to the Head Trailers

August 17, 2012 blackbow11234 2 Comments

Next year both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone both are releasing major action films in the beginning of the year. Having seen both trailers now I have to say I am more excited for Bullet to the Head than I am for The Last Stand, both seem like great action movies but Bullet to the Head seems like the better of the two. I have always been a fan of both of Arnold’s and Sylvester’s older action films and I feel that both won’t live up to such high standards from First Blood and Terminator but they both look like dumb fun and I intend on watching both, realizing how each star has aged and still take on such intense roles, that is something that I appreciate about them they never give up on being in the films that brought them fame and still manage to make such movie when their age might hinder them doing so. Whenever I am in the industry, lets hope that actually happen or my education will be all for nothing, I hope that I can be like them and still put my heart and soul into my project when I am their age.

Bullet to the Head

In the film, a hitman (Sylvester Stallone) teams with a young NYPD detective (Sung Kang) in a high-stakes investigation that leads from dingy back alleys all the way to the power corridors of New Orleans. The unlikely duo, brought together by two vicious murders, take on all who stand in their way, willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.

The Last Stand

Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sheriff of the quiet US border town of Sommerton Junction after leaving the LAPD following a bungled operation. Following his escape from the FBI, a notorious drug baron, his gang, and a hostage are heading toward Sommerton Junction where the police are preparing to make a last stand to intercept them before they cross the border. Owens is reluctant to become involved but ultimately joins in with the law enforcement efforts.

First Trailer for BULLET TO THE HEAD Starring Sylvester Stallone (collider.com)
BULLET TO THE HEAD – Trailer (shyfyy.wordpress.com)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone for The Expendables 2: What we’ve learnt from Boris (telegraph.co.uk)
Sylvester Stallone – ‘competitive’ Atmosphere Drove ‘expendables 2’ Stars, Claims Sylvester Stallone (contactmusic.com)
THE LAST STAND – Trailer (shyfyy.wordpress.com)
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Arnold Schwarzenegger And Sylvester Stallone Had Planned On-screen Link-up For Years (contactmusic.com)
‘Expendables 2’ provides more bang for the buck (sacbee.com)
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Arnold Schwarzenegger Claims ‘egos’ Helped ‘expendables 2’ (contactmusic.com)
CHAKRAVYUH – Trailer (shyfyy.wordpress.com)
‘The Tomb’: First Official Pic Of Stallone And Schwarzenegger In Upcoming Prison Film (screencrave.com)

Reviews

The Campaign between two comedians that try out do one another!

August 14, 2012 blackbow11234 Leave a comment

The Campaign

Directed by: Jay Roach

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zack Galifianakis, Dylan McDermott, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd

I have always liked the movies that Will Ferrell does, Anchorman is hilarious if not stupid and The Other Guys is by far his funniest work, so when the first trailer for The Campaign I was seriously excited. The final product is quite funny but not as funny as I was expecting, even with the presence of Zack Galifianakis. The movie never really found its flow, at 85 minutes the movie at times fells to long and somethings come off funnier than others. Will Ferrell’s performance is pretty much his impression of George Bush which at times is way too much for the movie and Zack Galifianakis’s comes off as if he is playing him like the character from Due Date, with the pugs and everything, and he doesn’t live up to his performance in either Hangover or Due Date. The highlight of the movie has to be Dylan McDermott which has to be the funniest I have seen him, since American Horror Story I’ve become to enjoy him as an actor. While the movie has it’s shortcomings it did manage to be more funny than some other Will Ferrell movie’s, he not only punches a baby in slow motion and everything he also punches Uggie the amazing dog from The Artist.

Two powerful CEOs pit a blundering congressman against an unlikely political newcomer in order to seize control of a crucial North Carolina district in this satirical political comedy starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. On the eve of an upcoming election, incumbent congressman Cam Brady (Ferrell) makes a misstep that threatens to end his career in politics. Recognizing the opportunity to gain influence in the aftermath of the public gaffe, a pair of scheming CEOs handpick credulous tourism-center director Marty Huggins (Galifianakis) as Brady’s political rival, quickly shaping him into a viable candidate with the help of a seasoned campaign manager. As Election Day draws near, Brady and Huggins cast ethics aside to engage in the brand of hysterical mud-slinging that’s sent contemporary politics straight down the toilet.

The one major downside to the movie has to be the ending, though out the movie the characters become increasing ruthless but in the end the characters suddenly change their views in the politics and turns into something that I think doesn’t work to well with the movie itself. The characters are paper thin and have no development all that much but the movie was entertaining and humorous but doesn’t match what comes from Will Ferrell usually.

6.5 out of 10

Zach Gilfianakis, Will Ferrell’s Comedy “The Campaign” Is Goofy Good (guardianlv.com)
Grizzly Review: The Campaign (grizzlybomb.com)
The Votes are in: Campaign Misses the Mark (uloop.com)
Will Ferrell wages a losing ‘Campaign’ (mcclatchydc.com)
Will Ferrell wages a losing ‘Campaign’ (kansascity.com)
‘The Campaign’ is flimsy political satire (tbo.com)
The Campaign: Zach Galifianakis vs. Will Ferrell (seattleweekly.com)
Brian’s ‘The Campaign’ Review (screenphiles.com)
Zach Galifianakis In “The Campaign” Make’s Politicians laugh at themselves (guardianlv.com)
Will & Zach: On the ‘Campaign’ trail (miamiherald.com)

The Essential Information from Around the Web

August 10, 2012 blackbow11234 Leave a comment

I quit reporting about the box office number because nothing looked to outpace The Dark Knight Rises but this weekend is the first time a movie looks to be able to beat it. The Bourne Legacy may be a sequel to the Bourne Trilogy but it is lacking the main character which I feel is really going to make this movie a bit different from the rest. I have some hope for the movie but it never really sparked my interest like the other film, is it that Matt Damon is no long the lead I think so. It is going to be tough to tell if this movie is going to be any where close to the others. Another release this week is The Campaign which really sparked my interest since I tend to enjoy Will Ferrell comedies and this looks to follow in line with the rest of his movie. The Other Guys opened around the same time two years ago and I can see The Campaign replicating some of the same success. It is not going to be nearly as successful as as the surprise hit Ted that opened earlier this summer but I know it will be more successful then both That’s My Boy and The Watch, both were considered failures and both were R-rated comedies with big stars leading both movies. It looks to me that The Dark Knight Rises is not going to be as successful as it’s predecessor or The Avengers, which is sad since I thought it was a solid movie and probably the best of the summer. I don’t if the Aurora shooting had an effect or people just didn’t flock out to see this like The Dark Knight. I still see it at least making a billion dollars worldwide, more than the Dark Knight internationally but not domestically which i think will be close to 450-500 million. In my eyes The Dark Knight Rises is still a success and the second best movie in the trilogy, which is difficult to decide since it is such a fantastic trilogy with no weak links in the trilogy. This weekend is going to be a big one for me since I have to see Total Recall, Bourne Legacy, and The Campaign and it is hard to decide which one I’ll see during the weekend and what two I’ll see during the week. With summer coming to an end I would like to see what movie in August can make it big and which don’t (sorry Total Recall you are going into the bomb category following the likes of Battleship and John Carter).

‘The Bourne Legacy’ Reviews: What The Critics Are Saying (news.moviefone.com)
‘Bourne’ poised to take box office (lfpress.com)
Box Office Psychic: Weekend of August 10th (cwtampa.cbslocal.com)
‘Bourne’ Without Damon Signals Box-Office Drop for Universal (bloomberg.com)
‘the Dark Knight Rises’ Shows No Signs Of Sinking With $36.4 Million (contactmusic.com)
All Conquering ‘dark Knight Rises’ Stays At No.1 For Third Week (contactmusic.com)
‘Bourne Legacy’ Delaying Release Because Of ‘Total Recall and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (m.deadline.com)
Annette Bourdeau: Will ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Surpass ‘The Avengers’ at the Box Office? (news.moviefone.ca)
“Dark Knight Rises” Passes $732M to Become No. 2 Film of Year (spinoff.comicbookresources.com)
Five Reasons To See ‘The Bourne Legacy’ (mtv.com)

Movie Trailers

Killing Them Softly a simple yet elegant looking film.

August 3, 2012 blackbow11234 Leave a comment

Up until a few days ago I never actually heard of Killing Them Softly but once I saw the trailer I knew that it was going to be a movie that I would be interested in. I have a thing for gangster films, they are always entertaining to watch and see what life would be like in the Mafia, Cartel, etc. and they always tend to incorporate political commentary and social commentaries about a twisted version of American Dream. From what I can see in the trailer there is definitely some commentary about the business world but until I see I’ll wait to see it is present throughout the entire film, which it will most likely be. Brad Pitt yet again looks to be suited for the role, since he played a good Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford the directors last movie. If anything the movie has a very simple plot but it looks to contain a vast amount atmosphere and elegance that it won’t matter that much in the long run.

Jackie Cogan (Pitt) is a point man (a person who patrols ahead) for a hitman. Cogan begins investigating a heist of the mob’s assets.