The Expendables

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Nick R It promised to be the manliest movie ever with a star-studded cast, but was just flat all-around. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Michael P Entertaining and funny. Although, the expendables dont EXPand enough of storytelling. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Anthony F One of those movies you can just enjoy without really thinking too hard. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/24 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time! I enjoyed the rapport that these men have with one another throughout the movie. The sarcasm and innuendos, even during the most heart stopping, edge of your seat moments are hysterical, sometimes even heart warming. Knowing there are now 3 more following this movie (as of 2024), excites me to no end! I look forward to even more! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review Matthew D Legendary action stars have to carry this lackluster action spectacle with a bad script. Director Sylvester Stallone’s action ensemble thriller The Expendables (2010) is entirely underwhelming. For how many great action actors star here, charismatic personalities have to make up for Stallone’s dull direction, choppy editing, ugly digital cinematography, bad writing, and dull lighting. Stallone delivers some fun characters that are underwritten and a few cool fights and shootouts. However, big explosions are not enough to make a proper action movie. Writers Dave Callaham and Sylvester Stallone give each guy a few moments of heart, but underdeveloped their arcs and came up with a generic rescue mission as a pretense for action scenes. I really wish they gave Jet Li more to act as well as some cooler martial arts combat since he’s so talented. Every guy just looks so old and tired that The Expendables feels only mildly entertaining. Sylvester Stallone tries to be commanding as the mercenary group leader Barney Ross. Stallone has heart and grit, but lacks the warmth and liveliness of his best work. Jason Statham is a riot as knife wielding smartmouth Lee Christmas. Statham’s martial arts choreography feels believable and intense. Jet Li is funny and cool as their friend Yin Yang, who wants more money and delivers killer martial arts displays. I just wanted Jet Li to have a bigger role and character since I’d say he’s the best actor in the cast and easily the greatest fighter. Dolph Lundgren is funny as the crazy mercenary Gunner Jensen. Eric Roberts is menacing as the evil and greedy ex-CIA agent James Munroe. Randy Couture is amusing as the therapy seeking action hero Toll Road. Steve Austin is generic henchman Paine like David Zayas’ forgettable villain General Garza. Giselle Itié is pretty and sympathetic as the general’s daughter Sandra, who bravely remains defiant. Charisma Carpenter remains gorgeous and compelling as Statham’s girlfriend Lacy. I wish she had a larger role too because she’s a wonderful actress on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Terry Crews is funny as the muscular Hale Caesar with his loud bolt gun. Mickey Rourke is gritty and raw as the tattoo artist and motorcycle chop shop owner Tool. His monologue about losing his soul feels sincere and gripping. Bruce Willis gets a cute cameo as CIA contact Mr. Church, who hires Stallone and company. Arnold Schwarzenegger is funny in his quick cameo as Trench Mauser with witty quips to taunt Stallone. Editors Ken Blackwell and Paul Harb’s cuts feel hacked together for incoherent and hard to follow action sequences. Cinematographer Jeffrey L. Kimball’s ugly digital look and shaky camera work is awful. I cannot believe how cheap The Expendables looks. Lighting from Michael Ambrose and Dan Delgado is too dark and not very cinematic. The dozen or so camera operators providing shaky camera footage is very annoying. The sets look cheap, the practical effects are solid, but the CGI looks like a PS2 cutscene. The stunt fights and car chases are excellent and easily the action highlights. Composer Brian Tyler’s score is alright, but totally generic action slop music. In the end, The Expendables is just a cheap bit of action entertainment to let audiences see their old favorite action stars one more time. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review matthias s "The Expendables" is a nostalgic gathering of iconic action stars, and watching them interact is a treat for fans of the genre. The action is undeniably over-the-top and provides a certain mindless entertainment. However, the film is weighed down by a plot that’s paper-thin, barely holding together the barrage of explosions and gunfire. While the cheesy one-liners and predictable plot points might appeal to some, they left me feeling more fatigued than thrilled. I appreciated the occasional comedic moments that lightened the tension, but they weren’t enough to lift the film above its generic formula. I enjoyed "The Expendables" more when it first came out, but with time, its flaws have become more glaring. If you’re into mindless action, this might be a masterpiece, but it’s simply not for me. Two stars. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Expendables

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now