I’ve got a lot of great stuff planned, so get ready for that. Let me know what you guys like and what you don’t and I’ll get it all sorted out!
Details on Super Hero’s First Films
Fight of the Week: Choose Your Weapon Level 2
Jackie Winst Best Choreography at HK Film Awards
Distant Shores is Cancelled and Images for Ninja 2
New Trailers for Once Upon a Time In Vietnam and Fists of Legend
I’ve got some good news and bad news for fans of Scott Adkins. Firstly, it appears as though the film Distant Shores, the one with Randy Courture, will not be going ahead as planned. While details are still scarce, I can tell you that it had to do with the financing of the film. Personally, I’m not too worried about the film since there are so many projects that Adkins is working on. I’m sure that we’ll hear something new from him soon.
However, in order to make some of you feel better, I’ve also found some new images for Ninja 2, which recently wrapped.
What? Still not happy? Well, how about learning that Legendary: Tomb of the Dragon is being scored right now and will have a 3D screening in May at the Cannes Film Market? Like I said, Adkins is always hard at work, and the news of 1 film being cancelled won’t take the wind out of my sails.
I’ll keep you guys posted as I learn more, but rest assured that there is plenty more with Scott Adkins to come!
Source: Scott Adkins Fanz
(Special thanks to webowner Nik for his response on the matter!)
Another busy week, but totally worth it. Be sure to give the new podcast a listen!
Posters for Badges of Fury, Fist of Legend, and Trailer for Saving General Yang
Scott Adkins Heads Toward Distant Shores
Trailer for the Princess and the Seven Kung Fu Masters
Police Story 2013 Begins Editing
Man with the Iron Fists Review
I’m starting to think that Scott Adkins is a man that doesn’t sleep. I feel like he’s working on something new every time I read about him, but that’s a good thing. The Undisputed actor will be sharing the screen with fellow Expendable actor Randy Couture. The film is titled Distant Shores, and will have the same feel as the Grey and Dead Calm.
The movie will focus on two individuals that sail out to commit suicide, but are stopped by the appearance of another vessel. This forces the two to fight for their lives even though they were ready to die.
Frankly, this could be a pretty cool story aspect if done correctly. I’m not sure how dramatic it will be with Adkins and Couture, but at least the action will be solid. Filming is expected to start after Ninja 2 is done filming in Thailand.
I want to go ahead an apologize for the camerawork on this one. I was trying to make a conscious decision to lift the camera up higher to stay in frame, but I guess I was tilting it up too much. I don’t have a front facing scree, so I apologize for the bad framework. I’ll be better next time!
Female Expendables on the Way?
Tai Chi 0 + Hip Hop = This (UPDATED)
A Trailer and Some Clips for Blood Money
Background Info
The original Expendables was a big hit that brought back a lot of action stars that had been out of the spotlight as well as some new faces. A sequel was planned before post-production finished on the first, so numerous veteran action stars were contacted. Would having an even bigger cast lead to a more explosive hit?
Story/Characters
The story to the Expendables 2 is much weaker overall when compared to the original. This is a tale of revenge, and that’s about it. The story tries to make you care about certain events more than you really do, and it feels pretty forced. That’s not to say that the film is worse for it, the simple story makes it easier to follow what’s going on and gives you more time to know the characters….if there was any depth to them.
One thing I liked about the original Expendables was the chemistry between the characters. While you’ll still get the fun banter between the guys (and girl) you won’t have any more info on what each character went through. One of my favorite moments in the original was the talk between Rourke and Stallone, it gave the characters a sense of history and remorse. Here, all you get is a group of angry guys that want some payback.
While I’m taking about characters, let me go ahead and address what’s probably one of my bigger issues with the film. This is the movie where you finally get to see Norris, Van-Damme, Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger in one film. While I should have been screaming like a 12 year-old girl at a Bieber concert, I ended up feeling this weird conflict inside me. Most of these characters are simple caricatures of what they used to be or are today. They’re not there for any reason than fan service, and it really sucks. You’ll get what you want, but you’ll be left wanting something deeper after it’s all said and done.
Action/Choreography
Stallone decided to step away from the director’s chair this time, and the action benefits from it tremendously. There is no shaky-cam this time around, letting you see exactly what’s going on. The fights are much easier to follow, and some sequences (like Jet’s) really shine. There are some fights that are a little too dark for my tastes, and one fight that loses lighting for no logical reason. Scott Adkins fans can rest assured as he has a good run, and the other fights are done pretty well also. You can tell that these guys are getting up there in age, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a little fight left in them, either.
Own it, Watch it, or Skip it?
The Expendables 2 gives you everything you want, but that’s it. It doesn’t push the envelope in any way, and the characters are very thinly spread out. The sense of humor is still there, and the action is solid, but don’t go into this thinking you’ll be blown away. While the film will leave most people happy as they exit the theater, a select few will be left with the desire to see their idols be more than just one-sided characters. It’s still a fun film and worth a watch, but I just can’t really justify a purchase.
Watch it
Background Info
People always fondly remember their childhood heroes. Many young men have watched stars like Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis growing up, which helped shape the expectations of action movies to come. Director Sylvester Stallone had a lot to prove when he decided to create the Expendables. He wanted to show that action movies could still be testosterone-filled, adrenaline-pumping experiences and that he still had what it took to play a badass. He called in a number of action film stars to help him see this goal out, covering almost every base possible. Was this going to be the movie action fans were looking for, or was it simply trying to hide the fact that these men are well past their prime?
Story/Characters
The story to the Expendables is nothing too terribly unique. At the same time, it’s not something that requires a lot of thought either. You know who the bad guy is and what needs to be done in order to take him down. There is some interesting plot development, but it would really be a stretch to call it a plot twist. However, the plot never gets in the way and lets the audience sit back and enjoy what they really want to see, the action.
“I’m getting a text…”
Truthfully speaking, I think that character development is the strongest aspect of the Expendables. There is a sense of comradery that is immediately apparent when the characters start interacting with one another. There are a lot of jabs and jokes at the expense of others, but this is all done in an entertaining manner. You truly get a feel for how each character is and who they are, even if some shine more than others. Some even have a past that haunt them every day of their lives. I believe that it’s this realistic bond between the characters that makes the action sequences that much better and meaningful.
Action/Choreography
There are two things an action movie can have: martial arts or guns and explosions. The Expendables does its best to blend these two types of action together, and the result is decent. A lot of people get shot up and plenty of things (and people) explode. In other words, those that love bloody shoot ‘em ups won’t be disappointed at all.
Corey Yuen does a decent job making everyone look good for fights, but the shaky-cam is back to rear its ugly head. I wondered why a man who has made so many action films would resort to this technique, and I’m still not too sure. He could be trying to cater to a more modern audience, or he may be trying to cover the fact that this movie has a bunch of old men fighting each other. Things only got really confusing near the end, when there are 3 separate fights going on, yet the action seems to switch between them whenever Stallone saw fit. This can be disorienting and takes a few seconds for the audience to realize which fight they are watching.
Own it, Watch it, or Skip it?
Sylvester Stallone took a huge risk when he decided to create the Expendables. Trying to get all of these stars onboard while giving them all an appropriate amount of screentime is no easy task. Most action fans will be more than happy with the result that has come from the Expendables. While I found myself wanting more from the choreography and martial arts I still had a good time watching the film.
It’s bond that the characters have that really brings the film to life, and I think it would have been a disaster if the writing wasn’t handled so well. As it stands, the Expendables is a very solid action film that deserves a watch, but maybe not something that martial arts fans will come back to time and time again.
*Also, I should point out I watched the original version. I’ve heard the director’s cut has longer fight sequences, like Jet Li vs. Dolph Lundgren, but I have not seen them.
Watch it
The Expendables DVD (US Version)
The Expendables Blu-ray Combo (US Version)
The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut DVD (US Version)
The Expendables Extended Director’s Cut Blu-Ray (US Version)
Before I get too far ahead of myself, I was going to save the info on the Expendables 2 for tomorrow. But, as fate would have it, things don’t work out as planned. See, IGN is having a special trailer premiere on Thursday, May 3rd. However, they posted a trailer for that trailer, and this is it:
How amazing was that? I couldn’t just let this slip by, so I’ll update this page when the official trailer comes out. For the time being, here are some new images from the film as well.
I’m sure that the trailer will be just as explosion-heavy as the teaser, but we’ll all be able to see it when it comes out tomorrow.
(UPDATE!)
Here is the trailer for you. I’ll save all the talking for later. Enjoy!
Before I get to posting my review online for this week, let me share with you some characters posters I found for the Expendables 2. Enjoy!
Jason Statham
Sylvester Stallone
Chuck Norris
Dolph Lundgren
Jet Li
Jean Claude Van Damme
Liam Hemsworth
Terry Crews
Bruce Willis
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Yu Nan
On top of this, it’s been announced that a trailer will be released very soon. I’ll keep you guys posted as soon as I come across it.
Stallone’s action packed movie, the Expendables, is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray in the US. This movie pretty much takes anyone who made a popular action movie in the 80′s and plopped them all in one film together. (more…)
