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发帖数: 29846 | 1 by John P. Hanlon 25 Aug 2012, 9:00 AM
Sylvester Stallone’s character is asked what the plan of attack is against
the man responsible for the execution of a fellow "Expendable." His
directive, like the movie itself, is simple.
“Track him. Find him. Kill him.”
That mission - seeking revenge for a fallen comrade - is played to great fun
in the action-packed throwback "The Expendables 2."
Considering the success of its predecessor, it's no wonder most of the
original's cast returned for more mayhem and violence. Both movies rely on
an elemental conceit: bringing a team of well-known action stars together to
kick butt onscreen. And this time, a few new stars join the fight including
the tough-as-nails Chuck Norris and the undervalued Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Liam Hemsworth, who starred in "The Hunger Games" earlier this year, also
joins the cast.
As the story begins, the team of highly-trained operatives is sent on a
mission to rescue one of their associates. From the first moments of the
uneven script, we can see how intense and self-referential the violence is
going to be.
Eventually, a mission from the authoritative Church (Bruce Willis) sends the
crew and a new ally named Maggie (Nan Yu) to recover some files from a
downed airplane. Their task is interrupted when the psychotic villain—
appropriately named Vilain (Van Damme)—steals the files and murders an
innocent in cold blood.
The story then becomes a revenge tale as Barney (Sylvester Stallone), the
leader of the group, decides to seek vengeance against the cold-hearted
Vilain.
Unlike other action films, "The Expendables 2" embraces its basic and—at
times—ridiculous premise. The film appreciates the fact it was made for
moviegoers looking for a certain brand of action movie- a movie that
blatantly copies some of the action films of the past.
Fans looking to see their favorite action stars from the ‘80s and ‘90s
work together on the big screen will not be disappointed, especially during
the exciting and bloody climax where these stars get to show off their
talent for destruction.
Where the movie lacks is in its inability to overcome the shortcomings of
its premise. The movie is great when the mega-stars are carrying machine
guns, and it also works with its subtle and not-so-subtle nods to some of
the biggest films of these star’s careers. But the movie never adds a level
of intelligence or depth to the story that would leave audiences intrigued
when the action slows down.
For those looking for a great action film or a thoughtful one, "The
Expendables 2" is not for them. Fans of these major action stars should
rejoice, however, in seeing some of their favorites back on screen showing
their appreciation for the personas that made them so alluring and exciting
to begin with.
"The Expendables 2" may not be for everyone, but it knows its core audience
and offers fans what they have been craving. Those who miss those '80's
action films will find it more than enough to keep coming back for more. |
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