Category: Expendables

More Reactions to Expendables Test Screening

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

On February 10, 2010, Moviehole rounded up some more reactions from The Expendables test screening.  Here are some of the comments:

“They get away with a lot – especially considering it’s aiming for a PG-13. Some pretty rough stuff in there… Loved [name removed] death scene. The Schwarzenegger/Bruce Willis cameo at the start of the film is fun too… Yeah, it’s fun – it’s a lot of fun…”

‘This is a just a fun, action romp that wows and dazzles with it’s ultraviolent action set pieces and cast of familiar favorites…”

“The site FanBoyWeb also enjoyed the bejesus out of the film…”

You can read the whole piece by clicking here.

The Expendables Test Screening

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

Ok, the reviews for a test screening of The Expendables have started appearing on-line.  Most have been overwhelmingly positive.  Here are some examples of comments posted with links so you can read the full review:

Ethelmae said: :… THE ACTION IS C R A Z Y!!!… Mickey Rourke steals every scene he is in … Sly and Jason Statham create an on screen chemistry we haven’t seen in many a moon…

Sir Steve said:… We all knew this film had the greatest action stars of all time in one film together… Stallone has written a script that gives plenty of bits to every Expendable… Stallone — He’s in virtually every scene as the ringleader, but I was impressed by how he kind of hangs back and lets all of these other great action stars play out their roles… I was cheering and pumping my fists with the rest of the crowd.

The Recruiter said:… Two standout action scenes are also worth mentioning: The first was a pier full of baddies getting blown to bits as the result of some creative airplane flying from Stallone and Statham, and the other is the ending siege on the standard issue bad guy fortress…The last “good” item I’ll mention is the hyped cameos from Bruce Willis and the Governator.

Sly even had some thoughts on the test screening that he discussed with Harry at AICN and you can read ’em here.

Sly’s X-Ray Post

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

I knew that when Sly sent us his x-rays in to silence the doubters, that the post would get a lot of attention.  Here are a few places it was picked up:

Sly Checks In

Craig / / 2010, Celebs, Expendables

Sly has been following some of the discussions on the message boards and wanted to set the record straight:

Dear Craig,

For the doubters and the haters, a picture is worth a thousand words. You
walk the walk, you pay a price. But, as bad as it was at least we have it on
film.

Keep punchin’
Sly


P.S. To the haters, I don’t need to invent pain, there’s enough of it out
there to go around.

P.S.S. The reason I was never seen in a neck brace is because I stayed home
for three weeks to heal.

P.S.S.S. Van Damme may mean a great deal to some of you, but what he’s
putting forth is not truthful.

So there you have it, SZoners.  Don’t waste your time arguing with the doubters and the haters.  – Craig

Sly Hurt During “Expendables” Filming

Craig / / 2009, Expendables

On January 6, 2010, TheDailyMail.co.uk posted an item with the following headline: “Sylvester Stallone Breaks His Neck Shotting Fight Scene in Veteran Action Heroes’ Movie”.  The report comes from an interview that Sly gave to FHM magazine.  In the interview Sly talked about how tough the shoot on “The Expendables” was, partly because of all the testosterone on the set.  Of course with Sly, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li and Randy Couture what else would you expect?  The DailyMail goes on to quote what Sly told FHM:

“Man, it was seven guys, kicking each other’s ass, one guy tougher than the next. No joke, our stunt guys were begging for mercy.

‘Actually, my fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin was so vicious that I ended up getting a hairline fracture in my neck. I’m not joking.

‘I haven’t told anyone this, but I had to have a very serious operation afterwards. I now have a metal plate in my neck.’

You can read the full DailyMail report here.

As you can imagine the Stallone injury story was picked up and ran all over the net.  Here are just a few of the places:

High Expectations for “The Expendables”

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

As we rolled into 2010, folks everywhere began making their lists of Must See Movies for the Coming Year.  As you’d expect, “The Expendables” made the cut:

  • MoneyControl.com: #5 Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables
    No action film in living memory has generated as much anticipation and dread. Anticipation, because it has got just about every actor of note who has ever put in appearance in an action flick: Besides Stallone, the cast includes Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke and cameo roles by Bruce Willis and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dread, because fans believe there’s no way the film can live up to the expectations they have from such a testosterone-overloaded ensemble. The film is slated for release in August.
  • Examiner.com: Movie Preview 2010: Action Movies
    Directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, the film The Expendables is set to come out on August 20. The film also stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke in a tale about American mercenaries sent to overthrow a South American dictator. The late Brittany Murphy also makes an appearance in this film.
  • Coed Magazine.com: Top 20 Most Anticipated Movies of 2010
    Plot Outline: A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.
    Director: Sylvester Stallone
    Cast and Crew: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Brittany Murphy, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren
    COED’s Take:     Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Ivan Drago Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin and Randy Couture are a team of mercenaries headed to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. How F’ing awesome is that?! As soon as I hear “written and directed by Sylvester Stallone” my ears perked up. Throw in the action movie hall of fame cast and you’ve got a winning formula. Sure this movie probably won’t win an Oscar, but the body count will be ridiculously high and your balls might explode from a surge of testosterone.
  • California Chronicle.com: 10 Films for ’10
    …the most kick-butt movie of them all may be August’s “The Expendables” with Sylvester Stallone starring in and directing a cast with Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mickey Rourke.
  • Mirror.co.uk News: Hot List for 2010
    Sly Stallone will be teaming up with Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Arnie and Jason Statham for the kick-ass mercenary adventure The Expendables (August 20).
  • Entertainment and Showbiz.com: 2010 An Action Year
    The Expendables: Just read the star cast, and I am sure I won’t have to elaborate anymore. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin, Jason Statham, Jet Li…..Phew, I am out of breath.
  • 7×7.com: New Year’s Resolutions for 2010
    I resolve to try to contain my excitement over The Expendables, the new thriller starring a dream team of big-screen action heroes: Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
  • TimesLeader.com: 20 Hottest Properties
    #11. “The Expendables” (Aug. 20) For his first film since the underrated “Rocky Balboa,” Sylvester Stallone rounds up a crew of action icons (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin) for the saga of mercenaries tasked with toppling a South American dictator.
  • Inside Pulse Movies: 10 in ’10
    1. The Expendables
    It seems like every time I hear a bit of news about this movie, it gets more and more awesome in my mind. Could there really be a better cast for an action fan than one that includes Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren? How about one with those guys along, with Mickey Rourke, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Randy Couture, and Eric Roberts, along with cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is like some kind of dream that I don’t want to wake up from. The only way the cast could be better is if they could add Carl Weathers, Clint Eastwood, Chuck Norris, and the ghosts of Bruce Lee, Lee Marvin, and Charles Bronson. [Ain’t that the truth – Craig]
    The plot may end up being ridiculous and I’m not expecting any Oscar glory to come out of this movie, but what I am hoping for is a nonstop barrage of action with a capital A from start to finish. You put Rambo, Chen Zhen, the Transporter, Ivan Drago, and Marv from Sin City in the same movie together, this better be the most gut-punching, face-kicking piece of awesome I’ve ever seen. It may end up being impossible for this movie to live up to my expectations, but with Stallone at the helm and that cast, there’s just bound to be enough visceral excitement to sneak through that this won’t be able to be anything but terrific.
  • MTV Movies Blog: Five Movies We Can’t Wait to See in 2010
    THE EXPENDABLES
    Release Date: August 20, 2010
    Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger
    The Rundown: There’s only one thing you need to know about “The Expendables.” For the first time, you’ll see Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis together in an action movie. There’s also a giant ensemble cast of ass-kickers, many of whom play crack soldiers charged with taking on a South American army and its leaders. Coolness.

“The Expendables” Makes the Grade

Craig / / 2009, Expendables

On December 9, 2009, Canada.com posted a list of Ten Films for 2010.  It included the ten films that critic Jay Stone is most looking forward to seeing next year and included: “The Book of Eli”, “Shutter Island”, “Iron Man 2”, “Toy Story 3”, “The Expendables” and more.  Here’s what he had to say about “The Expendables”:

The Expendables: A bunch of mercenaries take on a job in South America, and if Stallone and company aren’t enough, it also features Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, and Arnold Schwarzenegger (hey, who’s managing the California budget overrun?) This could be a classic of its type, and if they weren’t all in such good shape, we’d be tempted to call it The Expandables. But we can’t. (Aug. 20)

You can read the full piece here.