Jan

Movies To Watch Out For 2010 – The Expendables

Movie
The Expendables

Release Date
August 13, 2010

Director
Sylvester Stallone

Writers
Sylvester Stallone
Dave Callahan

Cast
Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Danny Trejo, Terry Crews and Brittany Murphy

Plot
A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator

Trivia

Jean Claude Van Damme was offered a role but turned it down claiming that there was no substance to the character he was offered.
Steven Seagal also turned down a role after falling out with producer Avi Lerner.
The movie is costing between 70 and 80 million dollars.
It is Brittany Murphy’s last film.
Wesley Snipes had to turn down a role due to his tax problems which prevent him from leaving the US.
Forrest Whitaker was originally set to star but had to withdraw due to scheduling problems.

Why You Should Be Excited
Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming The Expendables is every 80’s action movie fans’ wet dream. Boasting powerhouse names from the steroid action hero era such as Sly himself, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke, the Expendables it seems, cannot fail to cater for everyone in the late 20’s to early 40’s age group.

But then, in a clever twist, add in the names of more contemporary action hero stars like Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Danny Trejo and Terry Crews and what you’ve got is the single most impressive cast list for an action movie EVER!

Honestly, if I was only allowed to watch one movie this year, then that movie would be The Expendables. Sylvester Stallone’s last movie; Rambo, was perhaps the rawest and most kick-ass action flick I’ve ever seen, and I was never what you could call a Rambo fan.

Sylvester Stallone is coming of age as a film maker, gone are the days of Rambo 3, Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot and the other pieces of crap he threw down our throats back in the day, now his movies, despite still being somewhat out there, are grounded in some sort of psuedo-reality.

Stallone’s iconic characters Rocky Balboa and John Rambo are no longer superheroes, now they are troubled 50 something’s out of place with the world around them, dinosaurs if you like, trapped in a world which no longer needs them but humours them.

And it is that very maturity that Stallone showed in the handling of his two biggest roles why I’m so excited about The Expendables. Sure it’s going to be over-the-top (excuse the pun) and yeah, you’re probably going to have to suspend your belief at some points but ultimately, I believe after you watched it you’re going to leave the cinema with a feeling of “yeah, that could have happened.”

Five years ago and I would have not even bothered with this movie, but that was before Rocky Balboa and Rambo 4, now, well, now I’m as excited as a drug mule who has successfully navigated through Bangkok customs.

Behind The Scenes On The Expenables