The Expendables

[kingoffighters]

The bigger the shit the manlier the man.

Then Melody is the manliest of them all. Her poop is the size of Texas.

[Dolemite]

already curious how much boohooing is gonna happen about ~my character development~ in this movie about alpha males shitting bullets into brown people again

When it comes to action movies, the less character development and more death, the better.

That's why The Raid rules. I don't think I've seen a movie with less plot and so much awesome.

[cka]

didn't gi joe get this treatment too?

[Timber]

didn't gi joe get this treatment too?

Yep, and it wasn't all that bad of a budget game. Especially when you unlocked the classic costumes

[FuryFox]

When it comes to action movies, the less character development and more death, the better.

That's why The Raid rules. I don't think I've seen a movie with less plot and so much awesome.

I want to see the raid, it looks really cool, even though I'm about to disagree with what you're saying. The Raid seems to successfully set a tone and carry it through its scenes, so I feel like it will be an exception.

However, you know what's boring as fuck? Explosions. Action shots cut to reaction shots. Faceless bad guys. Heavily-edited car chases. When I was 12, I loved this sort of stuff, but now action scenes without gravity or context are absolutely as dull as plodding exposition. The best fight scenes, and I'd even say the only fight scenes that are just filler, are the ones that advance the plot and establish relationships between the abilities and motivations of the characters involved. This doesn't mean I want character development in the traditional sense (and I'll no doubt be lampooned for asserting even this), but I want the events that lead to the fight, events during the fight, and the result to all mean something to the characters and story.

Something like Commando gets a lot of passes because it again sets a tone and carries it through, escalates the nature of risk, and gives a lot of personality to the antagonists. It's memorable as much for its writing and editing as it is for the spectacle and owes so much to Arnold's presence (for however you regard that).

Movies like the first Matrix and Fist of Legend are examples (albeit hasty picks) where all the action/fight scenes relate directly to story and characters. You can easily explain the lead up and importance of the results of each action scene. Conversely, I don't remember anything from the Expendables except some fools being exploded by the big shotgun for a few seconds.

[Dolemite]

Well, while I say that story and character development are secondary to death, blood, and mayhem where pure action movies are concerned, I do agree that characters need personality, and a decent plot idea to drive the carnage along doesn't hurt, either.

For example, Taken works so well not just because Liam Neeson becomes a human meat grinder to the European underworld, but because he's racing against the clock to find his daughter before she disappears forever. Taken's plot is simple and bare-bones, yet effective. Also, you know just as much about Neeson's character when the movie ends as when it started, but he's a great, charismatic leading man who effectively conveys his anger through his many stabbings, bludgeonings, and shootings, so you root for him, if only so he will kill and maim yet again.

Idea < Execution.

[Advocate]

So, before Expendables 2 is even out talks of Expendables 3 is already in the works.

Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, and Nic Cage.

http://screenrant.com/expendables-3-...harrison-ford/

for those that hate clicking links.

The Expendables 2 opens this weekend and is expected to dominate the competition, meaning Expendables 3 is more an inevitability than a far-fetched hope. Series producer Avi Lerner says they’ve already attached Nicolas Cage to play a character in the threequel – assuming it gets the green light (again, the odds are in its favor).

Lerner is also confirming that grizzled acting icons Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford have been approached to join the Expendables crew for their third go-round. While that means the two are “in talks,” it should be emphasized their discussions are preliminary (so hold off on telling your friends that Dirty Harry and Indiana Jones are in a movie that features Rocky, Terminator, and The Transporter).

Cage was rumored for Expendables 2 last year, but that casting possibility did not come to fruition for undisclosed reasons (the actor was busy starring in as many B-movies as possible). Hence, it’s not surprising that a deal was worked out for Cage to join the third Expendables installment. We’ve heard rumblings that another previously-sought candidate, Steven Seagal could also sign up forExpendables 3 – in addition, Antonio Banderas has said he’s open to the idea, after passing on Expendables 2 due to his hectic schedule.Lerner informed Total Film about Cage being up for Expendables 3, along with news of gestating deals with Eastwood and Ford. The former emerges from semi-retirement in next month’s Trouble with the Curve, where he portrays anotherage-appropriate curmudgeon; it’s the sort of role Eastwood and Ford prefer nowadays, and Expendables 3 should offer just that. The threequel may be a bit too, well… stupid low-brow (not, per say, in a bad way) for Eastwood, so Ford seems the more likely to actually accept.

Expendables 2 adds vintage action movie icons Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme to the mix, while also upping the screen time for Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The sequel is being touted as closer to Sylvester Stallone’s vision for the first film, with more bromance, old-fashioned killing, references to its cast’s back-catalogue – and, of course, explosions galore. It’s not exactly a recipe for a critical darling, but the “bigger and badder” mantra seems to work forExpendables 2 (and thus, logically, should be carried over for Expendables 3)

Wesley Snipes is also on the wanted list for Expendables 3, though Lerner admits they’re waiting for the Blade actor to finish his current prison sentence before they can actually make an official offer (he’s up for release in July of 2013). Moreover, Mickey Rourke was not brought back for Expendables 2, but could return in Part 3 – so long as “he won’t be too crazy,” says Lerner. There’s increased demand forall aging action stars to sign on for Expendables 3, as it could be the finale.

The Expendables 2 opens in theaters this Friday.

We’ll keep you updated on The Expendables 3 as the story develops.

[Dolemite]

There's no way Eastwood or Ford would do this. Snipes and Cage are guaranteed, however.

[Chux]

They're part of the Need Money Crew.

[aren]

Wonder who'd be the equivalent of the Expendables of this generation? I can only think of is Liam Neeson. Might as well throw him in the third one. And where the hell is Seagal? Seems like he's the only one missing from the chatter.