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The Expendables 3 (2014)

The Expendables 3 © 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

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Director:	Patrick Hughes
Writers:	Sylvester Stallone
Cast:	Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Kelsey Grammer, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Robert Davi, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Released:	Friday, August 15, 2014
Length:	126 minutes
Studio:	20th Century Fox
Genre:	Action/Adventure
Rating:	Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Synopsis

In THE EXPENDABLES 3, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team come face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables -- but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.

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Sylvester Stallone has confirmed that Nicolas Cage will be joining the cast of "Expendables 3". The director/actor/writer is said to be thrilled about the casting, but he is still looking to add a couple more tough guys the cast.During a conversation with El Pais, Stallone said, "We are preparing the film with the same passion and commitment as the previous two. We have confirmed Nicolas Cage, a...  More>>

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Since "The Expendables 2" hit cinema screens earlier this summer, there has been talk of who would be in for a third installment of the franchise. So, with Sylvester Stallone wanting to expand the ever growing list of major action movie actors, many names have been mentioned, most notably Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage and Clint Eastwood.Producer Avi Lerner has already stated that Nico...  More>>

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The Expendables 3 Theatrical Review

The night the lights went out on…Lincoln Road. A power outage affected the entire block. In the theatre, The Expendables 3 continued to play. Like the proverbial cockroach. Except for the sound. The sound had cut out, and the crowd agreed that the film had just improved ten-fold. Should Stallone be bored enough to toil over a fourth, a fabulous suggestion would be to move away from the talkie explosion. Throw it back to the days of silent film.

Before entering the theatre, one is anticipating intensity, suspense and thrills…loads of action. We get the latter. In the opening sequence alone (one we've seen plenty of times before) Sylvester Stallone (as Barney Ross) navigates a chopper full of bulky, overly armed men (Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner, Randy Couture as Toll Road, and Terry Crews as Caesar) who casually hang off as if they're wetting the line off the dock. As they and the train that they're on (yes, with the chopper) near the inevitable collision, their recently rescued prisoner/comrade (Wesley Snipes as Dr. Death) is on the edge of a bloody and painful death. He is hell bent on evening a personal score before escaping this eminent crash. One expects some degree of angst, perhaps a cringe when the "bad guys" are annihilated, but the moments come and go with nary a wince or a blink.

Between the action, we are graced with a thespian's performance. Kelsey Grammer as Bonaparte is a sparkle amongst some dull acting. The essence of his character so effortlessly delivered. (Recalling many an acting coach's words, "a good actor does not let his performance be brought down by a bad one.") Unfortunately, his performance is redundantly drawn out. For too long, Grammer and Stallone recapture the Doris Day-Rock Hudson car ride feel of the early sixties on a quest to assemble a new team of Expendables. We want to meet them, but a little variety would be nice in lieu of a nod to Groundhog's Day.

Enter Antonio Banderas as Galgo! His performance is scrumptious. Banderas has the ability to embrace and use his confident sex appeal while sprinkling it with enough aloofness to allow his formidable acting chops to shine through. His portrayal of Galgo is spectacularly delivered. It would have been nice to have seen more of the competent and thoughtful Galgo that we merely glimpse in a wilderness scene. Banderas also manages to infuse his character with a touch of today's everyman…a little desperate, a little lonely and very much in need of a job. Thank you for that, Mr. Banderas. An actor's job, after all, is to bring the author's imagination to life. Sadly, this character seemed to have been written more as a bumbling idiot which could only be overcome so much.

In such an action packed film, Jet Li (as Yin Yang) is wasted as we don't see any of his always amazingly executed moves. He serves as the butt of a joke…a few times…the same joke…not even funny the first time. Mel Gibson (as Stonebanks) is a phenomenal villain. Gibson invokes that classic sardonic psychopath that entertains us all. Harrison Ford (as Drummer) phones in his President Indiana Solo performance. We recognize him. He might even be delivering some of the same lines. It doesn't matter. He doesn't really make us care because he doesn't seem to. (Can I hit the Kraft table, now?)

Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Trench) returns to the action genre a lot more laid back. While several new action stars round out The Expendables 3…Glen Powell (as Thorn), Victor Ortiz (as Mars), Ronda Rousey (as Luna), and Kellan Lutz (as Smilee).

The dialogue (as the action) is outdated and, frankly not funny. Every possible bad cliche is included and poorly executed. You'll want to laugh at the classic humor of old that still captures your heart, but…it's just not all that. Skipping the looping and continuity issues… Why all the damaging stereotypes? Banderas fueling our perception of "un gallego." Snipes setting us back with the vengefully violent buffoon of old. All those mindless "Midas" men that smash and/or shoot anyone or anything that they possibly can.

Albeit banal, the action throughout the movie is…plentiful. It is very much an ammo unload overload. (I don't think an arsenal would hold the amount of ammunition that these dudes happen to carry on them at any given time. I suppose you just never know when you're going to run into an entire, actual army…which they do.) Several many punches, choke holds, elbows, limb snaps and kicks further fill out their tactics. Rounding out their warfare are many speedy, but precise stabs and throat slices; the gruesome explicitness of which we are, thankfully, spared. Although, when taking into account the quality of production, it would more likely have appeared as a juvenile gag. Kind of like this film. Most pre(to post) pubescent boys from the mid-eighties will undoubtedly enjoy this film. (I felt like it had been shot by a few that I had known back then…)

-- Judith Raymer

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Exclusive Interview With Actor Kellan Lutz
Up and coming actor, Kellan Lutz, sits down with FlickDirect to discuss some of his stunt on Expendables 3 and what he would like to see happen with his acting career.Subscribe to the FlickDirect...