Rule number one, never promise a concept that is then not delivered. Expectations are created and inevitably are crushed by the realisation that the film you wanted is not what is shown. I love me a good action blockbuster, even the cheesy 80s low budget messes. Yet, somehow, this was mediocre. A team of mercenaries take on a private mission to eliminate a dictator so that the island's resources can be obtained. Blah blah blah who cares, the script writers certainly didn't. It's a generic plot about drugs and money that functions as a means of showcasing the action that we all want to see. Unfortunately, these action scenes are far and few between thus providing a sluggish pace that is riddled with cumbersome dialogue. It's not even quotable dialogue like in action classics that this film attempted to gain inspiration from. Schwarzenegger still remains the ultimate quotable machine, but his cameo appearance wasn't enough. The chemistry between Statham and Stallone works and didn't feel too forced. A well executed microcosm to distinguish the combination of veteran action stars with the modern newbies. Perhaps too much focus on these two, I would've liked to have seen the other members have standout moments. The sarcastic banter between the characters allowed them to work as a unit. Think of them as a working family powered by guns, blades and muscles. All cast members gave committed performances that oozed masculinity, I mean the testosterone levels were insane. The action scenes were mostly well shot with perhaps too many quick cuts, although the green screen for some segments was rather apparent. A scene involving Statham decimating a group of guys at a basketball court was a highlight and conveys his dedication to the stunt work. On the one hand, The Expendables works as a generic mindless action flick. However on the other hand, it fails to consistently captivate due to a clunky script and inconsistent pacing. Unremarkable, therefore a misfire in my opinion.

Shame on all these actors who participated in this abomination.That the movie sucks is one thing... (Have a look at all one star ratings and see what's common in all of them. Well, I agree.) That you think you can condone the movie content because it's CIA cracking down on some Latin ""dictator" and to think this joke can still work at this age, where you have your whistle-blowers confessing stuff to do even more bad deeds but confessing anyway, to think this horse manure would pass undetected... is such an insult.Have some respect for the world history before you venture into mindless, psychopathic, machismo buffoonery whitewashed with some perverted notion of heroism! The old Hollywood vomit, regurgitated once again into unsuspecting, innocent minds? Between the sheets, maybe. But not any longer. Go back to sucking oligarchs' balls and this time keep quiet already. Geez.

The ExpendablesLet's face it if you grew up in the 80's then you grew up watching these guys. Sly, Arnie, Willis and Lundgren where a staple for the youngsters of that decade. Along with a whole host of other stars, some also featured in this movie. Films such as First blood, The Terminator and Die Hard were big business and the stars of such were superheroes of the time. No tights or cape needed. Just bulging biceps and the well timed one liner. Fast forward on to 2010 when this flick was released and todays youth are fed a diet of Iron man and other marvelicious delicacies. For the grown ups action stars now come with a PHD. Jason Bourne has moved the action genre on forcing even James Bond to step up his game. The Expendables goes back to old school action. A flick that could have come straight from the 80's. But let's face it, getting Rambo, the Terminator and John McClane on screen together back then would have been impossible. Just think of the budget needed just to pay their salaries. Every young boy in the world would have exploded in their cinema seat with excitement. Probably every boys father too! In 2010 it's a reality and you've got to admire Sylvester Stallones business brain. Rocky sure knows how to make a dollar or two. He's selling us nostalgia and we'll eat it up because nostalgia is good. Take the A Team movie that was released around the same time. It flopped slap bang on its ass because nobody wants to see someone else playing their beloved heroes. We want to actually see our beloved heroes. Can you imagine if Mr T and the original gang returned for that movie if it was possible. Everyone would have flocked to the cinema to see it and I would have pitied the fool that didn't. Stallone's action mash up reminds us of an era when the cheesy action flick was something you looked forward to. A trip down to the local video store in hope that Rocky 15 didn't have that little red tag on the top of the box that said it was on hire. The Expendables is a silly film about fictitious good guys beating the snot out of fictitious bad guys in a fictitious country. That's it, plain and simple. No point in analyzing the plot because there barely is one. The negative reviews on here are ridiculous. They are over analyzing something that has been manufactured to wash over you. A product that allows you to take out your brain leave it on the side table and just be entertained. If you analyze the acting, script,plot,direction and every other thing then you've totally missed the point. If this type of movie isn't for you then don't waste your precious time watching it. You know what it's gonna be it says so right there on the tin. As for the rest of us, what's wrong with a little trip down memory lane? A walk down Nostalgia Avenue?

The Expendables is an 80's style action movie with an all star cast brought to life by action icon Sly Stallone. Sly was on a roll with excellent sequels to both Rocky and Rambo making a strong comeback to the cinema. Then he made this and rounded up a very good cast of tough guys with Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolf Lundgren,Randy Couture and Terry Crews. The much under rated Eric Roberts is an excellent villain and Steve Austin and Gary Daniels are excellent heavies. Plus cameos from Arnold and Bruce Willis. While this film is in some ways flawed with not too much time to spend on character development and not the best dialouge, I appreciate and enjoy The Expendables regardless. The film looks great and delivers huge on action. Great shootouts, explosions, fighting with fists, knives, feet. It also is very violent and bloody along the lines of the last Rambo film. While not quite as gory or violent as Rambo, the action scenes are bigger and more over the top. The tone of the film is lighter than Rambo and has much in common with the 80's action flicks that this is in the same tradition of. However, this is an ensemble piece and plays like a modern version of The Dirty Dozen. While not as good as The Dirty Dozen, it is a breath of fresh air for me as I am not a fan of most modern action movies that rely on cgi and cast with wimpy actors. The Expendables has a very credible cast of tough actors and brings down the thunder with the firepower and gritty violence much needed in modern cinema. This is not the type of film that critics will praise, but is just what the doctor ordered in an era where the film market does not make films specifically for men anymore, The Expendables are much needed and were a shot in the arm to otherwise lame Hollywood action. Almost a decade has gone by and this holds up pretty well and is much better than the sequels. I did like the second film, but it had too much comedy and was more of an 80's action parody rather than 80's styled action film. The third film was complete garbage and a complete mess and waste of time.