THE EXPENDABLES 3 (Patrick Hughes, 2014)

[Jox]

It's more of a TV spot.

[Tom]

This is looking really good and probably a little more stylistically relevant to (decent) modern blockbusters. Kind of reminds me of a Mission Impossible film mashed together with Rambo.

I do like that there seems to be a lot more variety of action in this.

[savagesketch]

This one almost seems to have a different vibe than the other two. Where as the first two were unabashed '80's throwbacks, this one seems to be a more modern action flick that bears a resemblance to the feel of the F&F films (as others have noted). This looks a little more flashy and modern with brighter colors, etc. The first two were gritty with darker colors and tones. Don't know how I feel about this...

Then again, I am loving the shot of them interacting in city environment and wearing suits. THAT is something we haven't seen yet...

[Jox]

It was meant to have a different vibe from the beginning (hence the choice of Hughes as the director), I believe even Brian Tyler's score will be renewed. That doesn't meant this one won't be gritty (don't be fooled by the teasers and TV spot which are not representative), which is supposed to be.

[dude hallenbeck]

I can't imagine it will be all that gritty since it's a family movie. Looks like it shifted too far into the modern age.

[Jox]

Well it wasn't shot as a "family movie" (and just because it lacks some blood doesn't mean all PG13 movies are "family movies") and was supposed to be more gritty than the second one. Like Sly said it's a middle-ground between the first two between the character-based original and the comedic side of the second one that was too over the top.

[Tom]

To be honest the first two were probably a few seconds a piece from being PG-13. I think we've all, as fans, already come to terms with that fact this franchise isn't going to emulate Predator's level of R-rated blood, guts and swearing.

For the sake of box-office I think it needs to be done as well. Most of the major players in the cast are box office kryptonite at the moment. Even the mass combination of all of them might not be enough to bring in the same returns as 1 and 2. If they can entice some younger folk to watch it, then hopefully it'll help the film at least match the last two films in the box office returns.

[Mosquito]

Most of the major players in the cast are box office kryptonite at the moment. Even the mass combination of all of them might not be enough to bring in the same returns as 1 and 2.

I don't know. Their image and box office power hasn't declined since the last two movies. On the contrary, Expendables has most likely supported their careers. With the guys and the 80's/90's kind of movie Sly brought the older action crowd back to the cinemas. And the older crowd is where the money is. Also: how many Exp. movies will come? Not that many because the guys aren't getting younger. So why draw a younger audience in preparation for the next 10 years?

[Jox]

I think Tom was referring to more recent flops of theirs since EX2 (THE LAST STAND, BULLET TO THE HEAD, ESCAPE PLAN, SABOTAGE, GRUDGE MATCH, HOMEFRONT etc).

The younger audiences bring much more money to their movies than this "old school" kind of stuff, even the more "modern" FAST AND FURIOUS does (grosses 3-4 times more money although they have twice the budget) etc.

[GeneralMcFaiL]

The funny thing is a lot of these guys are still pretty popular overseas compared to here in the U.S. of A. I don't get it either because there are exactly ZERO bonafide action stars in hollywood anymore... if you discount the guys like tom cruise/gerard butler/hugh jackman types who are more dramatic actors that land action roles.

It's sad that the genre might truly be dead in favor of costume super heroes of which I have little to no interest in outside of a few of the less superpowered guys like batman or the punisher. I think also a decent amount of the movie going audience nowadays are cynical bastards and automatically pass on a movie like this because the cast is "too old" for these types of roles anymore. As if some kid flying around in a spider costume slinging webs out of his hands is anymore "realistic" than guys in their 50's blowin crap up who could still probably kick the crap out of 80% of the male population on the planet.

[Tom]

Seems in America that audiences are buying into characters and franchises more so than specific movie stars. There aren't as many bankable stars, who could sell just about any movie on their own name, as there were 10-20 years ago.
If you look at Johnny Depp for example, he turned from indie star to box office behemoth but in recent years he's struggled to sell tickets for anything where he doesn't appear in a Pirate outfit.

[Tom]

Most of the major players in the cast are box office kryptonite at the moment. Even the mass combination of all of them might not be enough to bring in the same returns as 1 and 2.

I don't know. Their image and box office power hasn't declined since the last two movies. On the contrary, Expendables has most likely supported their careers. With the guys and the 80's/90's kind of movie Sly brought the older action crowd back to the cinemas. And the older crowd is where the money is. Also: how many Exp. movies will come? Not that many because the guys aren't getting younger. So why draw a younger audience in preparation for the next 10 years?

I suppose part of the thinking will be that the younger Expendables could perhaps branch off into their own potential franchise (unlikely probably), but I'm sure Avi, if the ticket sales are good enough, will try and eek out another 1-2 Expendables pics after the third one.

It's also one of Millenium and Lionsgates best money spinners, so they'll want to get as much as possible. I do think perhaps they're over-estimating the popularity of some of the younger stars, particularly Lutz (off the back of his Twilight fame).

But honestly, the rating doesn't concern me much. The Bourne films, the last three Bonds and The Dark Knight all felt more intense than the Expendables (particularly Exp 2). Likewise Taken which was pg-13 and quite intense. I don't think it will make the film any less manly and grrrr (ha ha) being PG13. Not these days anyway.

[Jox]

The funny thing is a lot of these guys are still pretty popular overseas compared to here in the U.S. of A.

That's exaggerated though, yes THE EXPENDABLES 2 made slightly more money overseas but on their own they're not bringing more people into the theaters and their names still seem to make people laugh and go "huh? what era are you talking about, grand-pa?"...

But honestly, the rating doesn't concern me much. The Bourne films, the last three Bonds and The Dark Knight all felt more intense than the Expendables (particularly Exp 2). Likewise Taken which was pg-13 and quite intense. I don't think it will make the film any less manly and grrrr (ha ha) being PG13. Not these days anyway.

Exactly. It's a false issue. Better this than bad CGI blood and badly placed F words for the sake of it. R-rated movies aren't what they used to be anyway (and sometimes more violent and shocking IMO but in a shitty way)

[Jox]

Another "live" video of the red carpet arrival (for the screening of Tommy Lee Jones' THE HOMESMAN)
https://vimeo.com/97554893


Photos of Dolph
(the only one who wasn't brandishing his iphone)
http://nwmediaimages.photoshelter.com/g ... 9HevGw1nMU

[dude hallenbeck]

Well it wasn't shot as a "family movie" (and just because it lacks some blood doesn't mean all PG13 movies are "family movies") and was supposed to be more gritty than the second one. Like Sly said it's a middle-ground between the first two between the character-based original and the comedic side of the second one that was too over the top.

I didn't mean it will be a kids movie, I meant it would be a more Fast & Furious style adventure. I face palmed when I saw the bit with Kellan Lutz riding his bike up the building. Which isn't exactly what I want to see from this.

PG-13 doesn't mean no blood. It means the series staple of deaths that make you squirm are gone. The Gary Daniels neck break from the first was totally bloodless, but would not pass for a PG-13. The problem becomes it's starts to look like every other action movie now. I don't want another Bourne (Especially since, ratings aside, the action in those is fucking atrocious), or Bond, or Dark Knight because there's a million of those released every year.

I'm also pre-emptively objecting to being called a gore hound or immature or whatever as a form of rebuttal. The movie doesn't have to be a Rambo 2008 style massacre, but something more akin to the 80's, people get shot on screen, they die on screen, impact from fight scenes aren't cut away and everyone once in a while we get a holy shit kill.