The Expendables 2 - Part 2

[LostSon88]

Exactly. It knows what it's trying to be and does a great job at being just that.

Transformers and DEFINITELY Resident Evil try to be more than that. Rightfully so given the rich source material. However given the high standards of the matetial, fans expect more than what has so far been mediocre product after mediocre product.

Expendables knows what we came here for and gives it to us.

No more, no less.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

But all three franchises are so they say " loud dumb movies". Transformers and RE aren't really trying to be anything more than that. Expendables just gets the free pass because if the big name cast. Without them, these movies would be considered terrible just like Transformers and Resident Evil.

 

[LostSon88]

It was a mixed crowd of young and old (I am 24 and got the references) but I just didn't find that particular exchange to be all that funny. To me it was just a forced bit trying to be funny and provide fan service but fell flat.

My crowd ate it up. I think part of the issue was the quick cut right after he said it. Never really had a chance to 'breathe' before they cut to the next shot of Arnold shooting side by side w/ Norris.

 

[LostSon88]

But all three franchises are so they say " loud dumb movies". Transformers and RE aren't really trying to be anything more than that. Expendables just gets the free pass because if the big name cast. Without them, these movies would be considered terrible just like Transformers and Resident Evil.

But they should've been.

Like I said, Resident Evil and TF have a rich history they could mine through. The filmmakers just seem to half ass it.

Fans of these franchises expected an 'Epic spectacle, with a strong story and great characters'. What they got was a 'loud, dumb movie'.

Fans of the Expendables went in wanting a 'loud, dumb movie.'. And what'd they get?

A loud, dumb movie.

It's not about EX2 getting a free pass. It's about the fans getting exactly what they wanted.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Yeah it did sound like Mr. Chuch was working for another group as well as the CIA in EX2.

I thought for sure there was going to be some other cameo reveal as to who Mr. Church was working for as a bonus scene or something.

 

[LostSon88]

I'm calling it.

He's working for Eastwood.

 

[THUNDERSTRIKE]

I'm calling it.

He's working for Eastwood.

bingo

 

[<(o_o)>]

I thought for sure there was going to be some other cameo reveal as to who Mr. Church was working for as a bonus scene or something.

George Bush

 

[bullets]

It was a mixed crowd of young and old (I am 24 and got the references) but I just didn't find that particular exchange to be all that funny. To me it was just a forced bit trying to be funny and provide fan service but fell flat.

The dialogue was the weakest part of the film , imo. There were some lines that worked but most of it seems forced. That's my only real complaint about these films.

maybe this series can just keep going, even past the time Stallone has to hang it up. Let Statham run the show, then, and keep bringing in guys like The Rock, Vin Diesel, Tony Jaa, Ray Park, and maybe randoms like Rampage Jackson (I mean, really, who saw Couture coming?).

That would be awesome. They should let certain characters move on to make room for others instead of crowding the film with too many stars.
Norris has already said he's moving on. Which is good because then more actors could have their day in the sun.

Couture was a huge surprise and so was Terry Crews. There's a lot of potential and The Rock might bring in more box office.

 

[E.NormusJohnson]

I really hope the drop the cheese down a level for Ex3 (if it's greenlit). I think a final send-off for all these guys in a more serious "Dirty Dozen" type of tone would be awesome. As an aside I just rewatched DD for the first time in ages and loved every second of it.

I think they could pull it off with the right director/script and have them face the Drug Cartels or an Al-Qaeda like clone.

 

[Donnie Darko]

]
Couture was a huge surprise and so was Terry Crews. There's a lot of potential and The Rock might bring in more box office.

That's very true about Crews. I mean, he is jacked and awesome in this role, but he has really been known more for comedy than anything before Expendables.

 

[Mace Dolex]

Expendables just gets the free pass because if the big name cast. Without them, these movies would be considered terrible just like Transformers and Resident Evil.

But Transformers are good films and should never be uttered in the same breath as garbage like Resident Evil.

 

[LostSon88]

1st was good. 2nd was absolute trash. 3rd was okay.

Resident Evil? Yeah&#8230;that **** sucks.

 

[Gianakin_]

But all three franchises are so they say " loud dumb movies". Transformers and RE aren't really trying to be anything more than that. Expendables just gets the free pass because if the big name cast. Without them, these movies would be considered terrible just like Transformers and Resident Evil.

The RE movies after 4 have dropped the act and actually acknowledge they're big dumb fun, so I appreciate them more (well, no4 and I'm sure no5 will be more of the same). But the first trilogy was trying to actually do stuff and because of the non-talent involved they ended up being half-assed.

Same with the TF movies. They think they're more, they give the main characters an arc, they genuinely try to create drama and all they do is drag the movie down and belate the scenes the people are actually there for: The Baysplosions.

The Expendables movies know what they are, especially no2, where Sly has dropped the pretentious dramatic scenes (which were few in E1 as it is), and they give the audience shameless and OTT action. They assume people know why they're there to watch them and people know what they seek from them when they buy the ticket.

 

[Gianakin_]

I really hope the drop the cheese down a level for Ex3 (if it's greenlit). I think a final send-off for all these guys in a more serious "Dirty Dozen" type of tone would be awesome. As an aside I just rewatched DD for the first time in ages and loved every second of it.

I hope they increase the cheese and never try to be anything close to the tone of DD. This is why those movies make the little money they make. Anything else and they're going the way of all the 00s action flicks: pretentious crap.

 

[E.NormusJohnson]

I hope they increase the cheese and never try to be anything close to the tone of DD. This is why those movies make the little money they make. Anything else and they're going the way of all the 00s action flicks: pretentious crap.

I'm not sure it's possible to increase the cheese from EX2 lol... and I'm not sure I've seen anything your referring to come close to the level of DD... but if there was a group to try and achieve that with these guys would be it!

 

[Gianakin_]

It's possible: Even more one-liners a la "Man and knife" even less dialogue. Cage as the villain alone would be enough to achieve it.

Not sure what you mean about DD. Could you explain?

 

[Kane52630]

 

[PWN3R]

Saw this today. It's much better than the first one. The intro is just pure chaos. Li's fight scene was my favorite part. Big loud fun - everything the first film was not. Hope they make another, and I hope Li comes back. Dolph is the supreme being.

 

[Figs]

finally about to watch this damn movie.

 

[flickchick85]

Watched this today. While I agree it was better than the first one, I was still disappointed.

The biggest disappointment was the "climactic showdown" for me. I don't give a s*** about Stallone or his character in these movies, even if he is the main hero, so I didn't care about JCVD vs. Stallone - I wanted to see JCVD vs. NORRIS!! I couldn't believe they never gave us that. Even if Stallone just had to get the final fight (these being his movies after all), they could have at least had JCVD take out Norris first (especially since Norris has said he's not doing another one). But no, and JCVD's fight w/ Stallone was super anti-climactic, imo. JCVD got 2 kicks in. TWO. Bummer.

I mean, that's not my only complaint (Jet Li's early disappearance was regrettable and don't even get me started on the Hemsworth character), but to sum up my general thoughts on the flick: Not enough Van Damme. 5.5/10.


EDIT: So I just discovered that Chuck Norris is 72?! Now I feel bad for expecting him to fight a guy 20 years his junior, lol. Wouldn't want him to break a hip or something. But damn, I really wanted to see that match-up.

 

[DarthPollo]

Watched this today. While I agree it was better than the first one, I was still disappointed.

The biggest disappointment was the "climactic showdown" for me. I don't give a s*** about Stallone or his character in these movies, even if he is the main hero, so I didn't care about JCVD vs. Stallone - I wanted to see JCVD vs. NORRIS!! I couldn't believe they never gave us that. Even if Stallone just had to get the final fight (these being his movies after all), they could have at least had JCVD take out Norris first (especially since Norris has said he's not doing another one). But no, and JCVD's fight w/ Stallone was super anti-climactic, imo. JCVD got 2 kicks in. TWO. Bummer.

I mean, that's not my only complaint (Jet Li's early disappearance was regrettable and don't even get me started on the Hemsworth character), but to sum up my general thoughts on the flick: Not enough Van Damme. 5.5/10.


EDIT: So I just discovered that Chuck Norris is 72?! Now I feel bad for expecting him to fight a guy 20 years his junior, lol. Wouldn't want him to break a hip or something. But damn, I really wanted to see that match-up.

I really wonder if Norris at 72 could do a decent fight scene, and if he tried, maybe people would be like.."that was sooo lame!!!, he looked slow and funny!!"

 

[Figs]

I agree about JCVD flickchick. I cant believe he got beat so easily. Although I still enjoyed this movie I think I liked the first a little better.

 

[Cagefighterkip]

As an action fan I loved it. I wish the Muscles from Brussels had more action (seemed a bit wasted, he's my favorite action-star) but still... the final battle was epic and he oozed charisma. Solid 8.5 out of 10.

 

[Superhero 101]

Saw this last night with some friends and I loved it definitely better than the first. The one shot with all of them including arnie and Willis shooting at the airport was amazing!!! Van damme was awesome

Spoiler

I wish he could have been kept alive for another sequel