THE EXPENDABLES (Sylvester Stallone, 2010)

[Moltisanti]

A sequel of some sort seems inevitable. While I'm happy to see it had a strong first day at the box office it'll be interesting to see how it holds in the coming days. If next weekend it only drops the traditional 50% like most action films then that's good. What I hope doesn't happen is a steep 70% drop like what happened to PREDATORS. But the overall reaction and buzz with THE EXPENDABLES appears to be a lot stronger than PREDATORS so I'm optimistic that won't be the case.

[MFS]

Finally seen it, I feel relieved for some reason . A solid 4/5, liked it alot. Gonna start naming a few flaws (things I didn't like), though: some of the action was shot too close, some of the main characters should have had a few more "moments" for us to get to know them, the CGI was occasionally bad, and the second act had it's problems with structure. But hopefully, they'll get these things right in the SEQUEL!

Now the thing I really liked was it's tone. It was very sincere, and it's so nice with a actionmovie that can be humourus, but still contain a soul and not go all post-modern or jokey. It was a good blend of action, humor and drama. I found the pace of the film quite refreshing, felt like something from the 70s or 80s, a bit slower and lingering than we're used to.

As for Dolph, well he stole the show everytime he appeared, got to be both goofy and deadly, and he sure looked like he enjoyed it. Plus he had some pretty cool quotes and moves I'm not gonna spoil here. The rest of the cast was good to, very convincing as badass mercenaries.

What I hope doesn't happen is a steep 70% drop like what happened to PREDATORS. But the overall reaction and buzz with THE EXPENDABLES appears to be a lot stronger than PREDATORS so I'm optimistic that won't be the case.

Predators had to face Inception in it's second week, which The Expendables, of course, will not. It won't have any real competition until Machete IMO, perhaps Piranha 3D to an extent but definately not Takers ( ). It'll just have to get word of mouth, and it should land at atleast $70-80 million Domestic, though I'm hoping for $90 or more.

[Warchild]

Hi guys just got back from watching TE and let me say it, that this movie is one of the best action movies ever made, ok so some people wish they got to know some of the characters alot better like Crews, Couture and even Dolph, well the problem is the movie as plenty of characters, in order to know more about the characters, the movie had to be at least 3 hours long and not 2 hours.

Stallone concentrated in his character and statham character alot more due because they are the main characters and it felt like they shared 50/50 screen time while everyone else was alot less some 30 minutes some 15 minutes or less.

Dolph's character was the one people reacted in audience the most, especially when he blew the guy in half with his shotgun. His character was the most likable and he did an amazing job with him.

The action was everything i had hoped for and it brought new life to 80's action movies, Stallone did an amazing job and this movie could well be his best movie ever, i liked the humour, drama, and action all mixed together, i can't described the awesomeness of it

At the end of the movie, it left me wanting more to get to know TE characters and wanting for a sequel with new characters maybe Vin Diesel, JC, Olivier Grunner, Steven Seagal i think would make a very good villain.

The movie gets 10/10 it was everything i had hoped for.

[Sec]

At the end of the movie, it left me wanting more to get to know TE characters and wanting for a sequel with new characters maybe Vin Diesel, JC, Olivier Grunner, Steven Seagal i think would make a very good villain.

Agreed. I have a feeling that the DVD will be extended with extra footage. I'm not sure I would like to see the likes of Vin Disel or The Rock but I would love to see Olivier Grunner, JCVD and Seagal. How about some Chuck Norris action as well!

Who else would make a good addition to a cast in the sequel? Don "The Dragon" Wilson? Jack Scalia? Jeff Fahey? Lorenzo Lamas?

[MFS]

The Expendables seems to have a better-than-expected-hold on Saturday, might make $36 million this weekend or more :
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/forums/vie ... 586802013c

[savagesketch]

For the most part, I thought the film was great as well. Dolph was without a doubt the best part of the movie. I wish we would've gotten more of him. And there is where I had the biggest problem with the movie... There were just too many characters with not enough time for us to know about them. As cool as the fight scene between Dolph and Jet Li, Li was barely on screen enough for us to care about him. His character almost could've been written out of the film and Statham could've been the one engaged in the rivalry... Did I have a great time in the movie? Hell yes... But as other reviews have stated, the subplot involving Sly, Dolph, and Li was the area of the film that should have been expanded on more... Unfortunately, we didn't get it because of the central storyline at the core of the film...

Either way, it's great to see Dolph getting so much attention and a unanimous decision that he's the most memorable.

[pca201]

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0 ... -1,00.html

"We do give points to Lundgren, as the one truly expendable Expendable (hard drugs have made him untrustworthy), because he calls the kick-boxing Li "Happy Feet," he manages to use "insect" as a curse word and he has the snarliest grimace and prettiest teeth in the business."

[Darling]

Here another nice Interview Dolph and Jason in Berlin
http://www.areagames.de/artikel/detail/ ... lin/109809

[udar55]

Saw it last night and enjoyed it. I agree with MFS and think Stallone did a poor job of filming/editing the fight scenes. The fight between Dolph and Li was good, but could have been amazing. In fact, Stallone should screen some of Dolph's directorial efforts to get a better grasp on how to film action.

And, of course, you have to love Dolph. Great character and great acting. His opening kill is pretty damn incredible. So good to see him on the big screen again. Realized I hadn't seen him on there since 1995 (JOHNNY MNEMONIC).

Also, I don't know how this info passed me by, but Gary Daniels is in it. Great to see him in there too! I can only hope that a sequel gets made and Stallone brings in more recognizable folks.

[evegotbet]

Yes, as long as Dolph basks in the warm light of GOD he'll be all right. Sometimes GOD makes the interviewer ask silly questions, but luckily GOD then makes Dolph answer the question in a good and GOD-like way. GOD, thank GOD that you help Dolph GOD his way out of un-GOD-like situations.

that is so funny .

[Jox]

Wow, Dolph has probably never gone down as well with critics in the past.

His performance in JOHNNY MNEMONIC was praised almost as much but the movie wasn't and did bomb at the BO so it didn't have the same impact. And also I don't post the bad comments about DL even though they're fewer...

Dolph Lundgren, stealing the show as Gunnar Jensen.

http://www.bscreview.com/2010/08/the-ex ... ie-review/

Dolph Lundgren, a vastly underrated actor, gets some character work in as a drug-addicted oaf.

http://www.talkentertainment.com/TalkBa ... ?art=21181

So box-office wise in one week-end TE raises to UNIVERSAL SOLDIER's entire gross ($35-36M) in the US, will see if it makes more than ROCKY IV's $127M! (drops are way higher and quicker than 25 years ago)... Interestingly BoxOfficeMojo says "61 percent of Expendables' audience was male (slightly more than Basterds) and 60 percent was 25 years and older (younger than Basterds)."

Millennium Films/Nu Image Films’ “The Expendables” opened internationally day and date with the film’s domestic bow in about 20 markets via a myriad of territorial distributors.
Universal reports its No. 2 Spain opening of the Sylvester Stallone super-action vehicle, costarring Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke, tallied an eventful $1.7 million from 344 sites. Roadshow opened “The Expendables” No. 1 in Australia at 188 locations for an estimated $2.5 million.

[Jox]

Here another nice Interview Dolph and Jason in Berlin
http://www.areagames.de/artikel/detail/ ... lin/109809

Some funny bits from Dolph, notably about Bruce and Arnold

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/inte ... ables.html

Coming up today on BBC Shropshire at 14:00, Dolph Lundgren chats about The Expendables with Clare Ashford
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0099k2m

[Jox]

Lundgren's performance is amazing since he's basically playing a wacked out drug addict, something he hasn't done before, and he nails it. He has a scene with Steve Austin that's just oozing with menace. Had they fought it no doubt would have been nasty and disgusting (someone would have puking blood by the end of it). I also want to commend Lundgren for carrying the small shotgun in that one scene (the small shotgun has become a kind of Dolph Lundgren movie trademark the last ten years or so. He doesn't shoot anyone in the head at point blank range, though, which is kind of disappointing. He does get to shoot a guy in two, though, at the beginning of the movie. That's damn cool).

http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/ ... 10:-Issue-

Stallone talks with The Hollywood Reporter about the Box Office and sequel
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... ter+-+Film)

THR: So "The Expendables" opened bigger than anything else you have directed. It seems you're still setting personal bests.

Stallone: I didn't do this all by myself. It was a movie about teamwork, and the team helped make it a success. I always say that if you are a star -- even a faded star -- the light never goes out. You just need to rekindle it.

THR: Have you written a script for a sequel to 'The Expendables'?

Stallone: It's plotted out in my mind's eye. I believe this group has to continue to evolve; it just can't become the same people. So how do you get new people introduced into the group, and how do you have some of the other people leaving? Those are the challenges.

THR: So the challenges remain, eh?

Stallone: My proudest moment ever was not "Rocky," it was the last Rocky picture, "Rocky Balboa." To be able to meet the challenge of completing that series after all these years, that was great. But this one here tops that -- not in an emotional way but for excitement. This should have never happened. (Producer) Avi Lerner really took a big gamble on me with this when nobody else would. I know because I heard about it every day! He kept worrying about the reviews.

THR: 'The Expendables' was never going to be a critical darling.

Stallone: Most action films tend to rub people the wrong way. This is not to disparage critics, but the more physical and brutal an action film is, the least well it is received. It's actually a barometer I use. That, and how many times I hurt myself.

THR: Things turned out well enough though.

Stallone: I never thought we would win this weekend, as we were up against some tough competition. I told Lionsgate and (CEO) Jon Feltheimer and Avi that I'm so grateful how those guys just dug in. Lionsgate hung tough and opened the purses. The campaign worked because it was honest. What you saw in the campaign was what you got. This movie is pure escapism. You just buckle up and enjoy a rocket ship ride down memory lane.

[Warchild]

Bring on the Sequel Please, i think to make the sequel more dramatic maybe one of TE should get killed either Couture or Jet Li because they were the least likable characters, and introduce a new menber Jean Claude Van Damme anyone??

Some of you may disagree with me, but Stallone can create a great character for JC.

[Jox]

http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-1 ... a=19134910