:The Expendables – one last time?:
Although ratings from the US audience pulled my expectations down quite a bit, I’m still thrilled for its first screening in Hong Kong on the 26th this month. After all, these are the childhood hero and villains I grew up watching and admiring. At the very least, it “scratches the itch action fans have had since the ’80s,’” as some reviews put it.
So far, criticics point fingers to the overuse of testosterone-driven actions, the dumb plot, excessive violence and etc. Let’s not forget that this is a movie with 9 all-time badasses, who are known mainly for the size of their muscles, not their witty crime-solving capabilities.
Critics are comparing the actor’s performances to those of more recent action stars, like Robert Downey Junior in Iron Man, or Will Smith, in his countless save-the-world films; others, put the Expendables next to Stallone classics, such as Rambo and Rocky. Have we forgotten that Schwarzenegger is 63 this year? Stallone is 64 and Rourke, 57! They are or can be grandfathers by now. I’m just glad they’re still up and about, and still able to be so badass doing whatever they do.
The Expendables can easily be the last old-school testosterone fest by these action veterans. Even if it’s not as well-made as it should be, I think it deserves a chance, just for old times’ sake.
