Movie Review: 'Expendables 2? | Movies & TV | Arts - Epoch Times

A-List action heroes back with a bang

By Victoria Ku
Epoch Times Staff Created: August 18, 2012 Last Updated: August 19, 2012

Liam Hemsworth in the action-adventure ?The Expendables 2,? a film about the Expendables who seek revenge after one of their men is murdered, putting them up against an unexpected threat. (Frank Masi/ Lions Gate Entertainment)

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Every member of Hollywood?s adrenaline-pumping dream team is back. ?Expendables 2? wraps up the summer blockbuster season with explosives and nonstop use of heavy machinery.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) leads his Expendables team?Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture), and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) with newest additions Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan)?to complete the one mission that secret operative Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) assigned.

What at first seems to be an easy job quickly becomes a treacherous quest for revenge after a valued member of their team is brutally killed by the ruthless Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and his Eastern European crime cartel.

The Expendables 2

Director: Simon West
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Yu Nan
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Rating: R

With only payback on their minds, the Expendables chase after Vilain to avenge their fallen brother and unexpectedly encounter a greater threat that involves weapons of mass destruction.

Oftentimes, films that pack a lot of star power fall into the trap of faulty storylines and fail to use it to their advantage. This is not the case here under the direction of British filmmaker Simon West, whose experience includes ?Con Air? and ?Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.?

West meticulously leverages his all-star cast with the straightforward screenplay by Richard Wenk and Sylvester Stallone.

The faces in the ?Expendables? belong to the most recognized action stars in the world. ?Expendables? fans are sure to love the fight scenes between Stallone and Van Damme, as they are two of the world?s action icons.

The screenplay allows co-stars Statham, Lundgren, Couture, and Crews enough time for their characters to shine through without overshadowing each other. Newcomer Hemsworth gives a solid performance as a young, world-class sniper.

?The Expendables 2? is everything one expects of an action-heavy sequel: guns, explosions, and not much wit. But the simplicity of one-liners (that many may find referencing the cast members? past filmography) and brainless dialogue doesn?t take anything away from the film. It only makes it bigger, better, and immensely more entertaining than the first.

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Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/movie-review-expendables-2-281180.html

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