expendables3Pulverize The Competition
The Expendables 3
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mel Gibson, Kelsey Grammar, Wesley Snipes, Terry Crewes, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Robert Davi, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford
Director: Patrick Hughes
Scriptwriters: Sylvester Stallone, Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt
Composer: Brian Tyler
Cinematography: Peter Menzies, Jr.
Lionsgate
Rating: PG 13
Running Length: 126 minutes
 
“The Expendables 3” cast has most of the Hollywood telephone directory. With “3” in the title, you know the first two films were successes and this one is sure to be with a built-in audience. There are probably future “Expendables” on the road. Sylvester Stallone, as a co-writer, knows his stuff.  Get action names, put them in action scenes with side quips, have devious bad guys and away you go. Wouldn't be surprised if  “The Expendables On Mars” would be a script.
 
This particular story has the group going against a former member, Stonebanks (Mel Gibson.) Before this happens, they have to rescue a current member, Doctor Death (Wesley Snipes) from a place that has numerous guards. Stonebanks is alive---presumed dead after being “killed” for being an arms dealer. Of course, he wants revenge. In the process, several Expendables are wounded, including Hale Caesar (Terry Crewes).
 
Barney (Sylvester Stallone, the Expendables leader) decides to see an old friend, Bonaparte (Kelsey Grammar) who helps get new recruits. This is part of the story, getting older. Thus, we see new faces, new talents and plenty of actors for continuing stories. Among the recruits is Luna (Ronda Rousey, the only woman in the group) and Mars (Victor Ortiz, Kansas boxing star), who, in the film, is afraid of anything too high. The Expendables are ready to go for Stonebanks. Harrison Ford is Max, who works with the Expendables and Arnold Schwarzenegger is Trench, Barney’s sometime rival.
 
The storyline is predictable, action sequences are many and well planned, comic quips are present and yet, it all falls together somehow. Each actor has a moment on film to himself/herself and there is scant time to make the most of it before on to action. There are a variety of weapons and skills with those weapons. Roughly two hours of entertainment where you can put your cares away and watch the group pulverize the competition.  One wonders, if  “The Expendables,” ever tried out for an Olympic team, would there be other competitors left?  Sylvester Stallone has a lock on this box office.
 
 
Copyright 2014 Marie Asner
 
For more action film reviews, see the following film reviews:
 
The Expendables
 
Escape Plan 
 
2 Guns