Review of The Expendables 2 (2012) by Harry W — 19 Oct 2014

With The Expendables 2 receiving a lot more positive feedback than its predecessor and an updated cast which includes an all time personal favourite of mine Jean-Claude Van Damme as the central antagonist, if I missed The Expendablese 2 I just knew that it would be like missing seeing the moon landing for me.

From the instant in the opening scene that the team of the titular Expendables ride up in armoured vehiclese and shoot out every enemy in sight, I immediately knew that the central flaw in The Expendables had been fixed in preparation for The Expendables 2. The main flaw in The Expendables was that it did not capitalise on its large cast as well as it should have and spent too much time focused around Barney Ross, thanks in part to Sylvester Stallone's role as director being a bit self-indulgent. With The Expendables 2, the role of director has been given to Simon West this time around who has had experience directing many other action films in the past. But he proves that The Expendables 2 is his greatest film to date because of how he handles the script of the film with such energetic passion and because he injects an exceptional style of directing into the film which makes it an unforgettable visual experience.

There is a lot more detail in the film. While The Expendables had some entertaining action scenes and fairly large scale stunts, quite a few of them played out in setting that were too casual instead of in ones that had been written and designed with exceptional detail. The first action scene in The Expendables 2 depicts the titular crew riding into a setting in heavily armoured vehicles decked out with weapons and then shooting every single terrorist in sight with submachine guns, blowing everything up with explosives and beating up every enemy with hand-to-hand combat. The entire film is rich with versatile scenery and strong production design which makes it feel legitimate as well as an intense musical score which helps the atmosphere, but ther is nothing that holds a candle to the quality of the action scenes. Arguably the most important asset to the film's success, Simon West gives The Expendables 2 some of the greatest action scenes I've seen in any mainstream films in years. There us a huge quantity of big scaled battle scenes filled with explosions and gunfire as well as knife fights and close combat scenes. The action is amazing, high in quantity and quality up on a large scale and so consistently entertaining from start to finish. The quantity of action in The Expendables 2 is very high and the quality, purely amazing action captured with magnificent cinematography and edited very timely. In a world where action is dominated by excessive quantities of visual effects or shaky cinematography and choppy editing, The Expendables 2 goes back the best type of action: lage scale shootouts and explosions which find the balance between one-man army confrontations and the battle of an epic war. The Expendables 2 has so much perfectly shot and timed action that it is just unforgettable, and definetely one of the finest action films ever made. One particular excellent aspect of the action scenes in The Expendables 2 is the way that in most frames, there are multiple characters all in the one shot. Simon West stated in intereviews that this was his intention as a way of capitalising on the fact that all of the legendary action heroes have come together, and it is really well emphasized on a consistent basis over the course of the many action scenes that run for through the 102 minute running time.

The script makes a lot of obvious references to The Terminator as a way of capitalising on Arnold Schwarzenegger's presence which are not even subtle but are hilarious, as well as to his part in Total Recall. There are even references to Bruce Willis' role in the Die Hard saga, including one specific scene which makes a subtle reference to Die Hard 4.0 where Barney Ross eliminates a helicopter by driving a motorcycle into it. To put it simply, the script in the film gives it the perfect level of comedy and capitalises on the type that should please fans of all the film, and while it may seem a little over the top for some viewers, fans of classic action cinema should find themselves loving the jokes and laughing consistently at them. I loved the humour in The Expendables 2 because it made the film a lot more light hearted, and yet the film was able to keep the perfect atmosphere. The Expendables 2 has a lean and intense atmosphere, and while the script makes it easy to laugh it, it does not detract from the serious nature of the story. The Expendables 2 therefore succeeds as a legitimate action film with subtle elements of being a parody of one, and the dialogue is good enough even though as Gunnar Jensen makes a secretive reference to in one scene it is packed with cliche. The fact is that Simon West is able to play them off as part of the film really easily and handles the film well enough for it to have plenty of strong characters.

But the novelty of the cast in The Expendables 2 matches the quailty of the action scenes as being the most important aspect of the film, and this time around everything is a lot better.

Sylvester Stallone gives the role Barney Ross another punch and comes out shining even better this time. Instead of being the single main character this time, The Expendables 2 spreads it out among the cast while still giving Sylvester Stallone the role that he needs. In The Expendables 2, Sylvester Stallone returns to the part with the same brooding action hero charisma once again and delivers his lines with agression and subtle emotion while also driving the film's narrative forward as the central hero that leads the team. The Expendables 2 even capitalises on his legacy in Rocky by giving him a hand-to-hand combat scene with Jean-Claude Van Damme which is a game of punches against kicks, and all throughout the film Sylvester Stallone puts up a hell of a fight. He pays Barney Ross the attention needed to make him a compelling leading man and a heroic action hero which shows him leading the team even better than he did the first time around. Sylvester Stallone works with the script and director Simon West to make The Expendables 2 another chance for him to get out in the battle and give it his all, and it becomes exactly that.

Jason Statham does an awesome job returning to the part of right-hand man Lee Christmas. While his role is a lot more toned down this time to make way for all of the characters receiving a more even focus, Jason Statham does his part by using his magnificent gihting abilities and quick movements to destroy every one that dares face of with him. Jason Statham makes use of his abilities as a martial artist an expert skills with knives a lot more in The Expendables 2 while also holding his weaponry like the pro he is. His monotonous angry line delivery is spot on once again because it is key to his legacy as an action hero. Jason Statham kicks plenty of ass and maintains a lot of subtle ferocity in his performance in The Expendables 2. and so he is essential to the film once again.

Terry Crews is just perfect in The Expendables 2. This time around in the role of Hale Caesar, he is a whole lot more over the top and portrays the badass African-Aermican action hero archetype and he injects perfectly energetic line delivery into the role. You can tell he has a lot of fun in The Expendables 2 because he captures the pefect level of agression for his badass persona and his friendly chemistry with the surrounding cast is great. Terry Crews is a lot more pivotal to the success of the film this time around, and so his presence is a hilarious and welcome one.

Dolph Lundgren plays out his part a lot better in The Expendables 2. As this time around, the film is a lot more direct with characterising him instead of playing around with the idea of whether he is an ally or an enemy to The Expendables. This time, we know he is a hero and cheer for him, as well as the fact that his friendly chemistry with Jet Li immediately establishes that he is more likable. The film makes reference to his real-life degree in chemical engineering as well. He makes a great member of the cast particularly because of how he emphasizes the increase in humour for the film, and he is able to make viewers laugh at times. Although at times his character seems a bit much about the comic relief more so than standing as a strong character, he does his part to create some laughs and teams it up with is ability to kick ass an action hero with brooding muscular strength. Dolph Lundgren's performance in The Expendables 2 is his best in years, possibly in decades because he plays out the novelty role of Gunnar Jenson with the perfect persona for the part, and he works as a warrior and a source of comice relief in the film easily.

Jet Li's role in The Expendables 2 is superior to what he played in The Expendables, even though his quantity of screen time is way lesser this time around. He only participates in the start of the film, but the fact that he engages in superior quality action scenes with his exceptional wushu skills a lot more powerfully this time around is unforgettable. He delivers his few lines with strength and he kicks a lot of ass with his fighting skills which means that it take shim no time to establish a memorable role in the film. He acts quick and handles his weaponry without fear, and so Jet Li gives it an awesome fight during his brief part in The Expendables 2.

Liam Hemsworth plays a pivotal part in The Expendables 2. While he grasps his weapon like an awesome action hero and makes a fine addition to the team of titular mercanaries, he is more key to the film because of the kind of drama he brings to the part. Playing the youngest addition to The Expendables, he is a character with a lot to live for and therefore a lot more anxieties. He really conveys that kind of trouble easily with his line delivery which includes one scene where he delivers a dramatic monologure very well. So Liam Hemsworth makes himself a capable dramatic foil for The Expendables 2 and proves himself as an action hero as well since he makes a compelling and sympathetic part.

Randy Courture's part in The Expendables 2 is a lot less notable because his screen time is so minimal and his character receives so few lines that it is often easy to forget about his general existence in the film. He has some moments at the start of the film and some appearances later on but that is essentially it. His presence is not really capitalised on, but I guess that's understandable in the face of so many other characters in the film. Still, it would have been good to see him using his pro-wrestling and MMA skills a bit more.

I really cannot begin to express my joy at the fact that Chuck Norris was in The Expendables 2. I've been a fan of his ever since he appeared in The Delta Force, one of the greatest action movies of all time in my opinion. I remember that when I first went to see The Expendables 2 in theatres I was very tired and began to drift off in one particular scene. But my heart began racing when I heard the theme song from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and I woke up to see Chuck Norris' muscular beard on screen. Legends say that there is another fist hidden beneath that beard, and anyone who has seen The Expendables 2 and enjoyed it would believe that it is a fact. It is a Chuck Norris fact, just like the fact that he and his character survived a cobra bite with the result being that the cobra died after days of pain. And to add to it all, the name of the character he portrays is Booker, a reference to the name John T. Booker who was the role he played in the 1978 action film Good Guys Wear Black. The clever exchange that Booker shares with Barney Ross also refers to Booker as a "Lone Wolf", a clear reference to his role as the titular Lone Wolf McQuade in the 1983 action film of the same name. Chuck Norris' presence in the film is exciting because he is an icon in contemporary society as the source of many jokes emphasizing his masculinity. Chuck Norris' cameo is excellent, and he brings some exciting comic value to the film while brandishing his weapon like the warrior he has a legacy for playing in every film.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is also top notch. Playing on his legacy for one-liners in 1980's action films, The Expendables 2 hands Arnold Schwarzenegger the role of Trench Mauser and he takes the oppurtunity head on. Delivering all of his lines with the perfect level of charisma and seamlessly shooting down every villain in sight, Arnold Schwarzenegger makes an awesome part in The Expendables 2. He makes the film a lot more fun by seriously increasing the comic value of the project. His expanded cameo makes the film a lot more valuable in terms of its comic aspects.

Bruce Willis manages to establish the same because his tension in the role of Church is spot on when it comes to his line delivery, and the film makes clever plays on his role in the Die Hard series. He stands in the part with firm confidence and brings his iconic action hero charisma to the role, grasping all his weaponry firmly in his hands and unleashing a bulletstorm on everyone in sight without fear. Bruce Willis is a perfect addition to the cast in The Expendables 2, and he plays out his badass persona within a very brief period of screentime easily.

Yu Nan does not really seem that key to The Expendables 2. She recieves a large amount of screen time which equates to more than many of the other central actors, but her character cannot compare to the many others. If anything, it seems her presence in the film is simply for the purpose of diversity because there is not many other reasons I can think of for why a thinly sketched female character would play such a prominent role in a film dedicated to depicting masculinity. The film barely even capitalizes on putting much humour into the fact that she is the one woman in a team of masculine male mercenaries. At least she isn't an overly sexualised female character and instead stands as as strong female figure, but even then she really just doesn't add much to the film. Yu Nan does her part in the role, even though her line delivery is only half decent the majority of the time, and there are a few scenes where her martial arts abilities are capitalized on even though they are insufficient in quantity. The Expendables 2 gains a better rep for its positive depiction of female characters because of how it has one particular scene which depicts the mothers of a Russian village gathering together and brandishing weapons in an effort to protect their youngest children. It projects the drama of the characters very well and depicts its females as strong figures willing to really fight for what is right, and that is more than anyone can say about the character Maggie Chan. So Maggie Chan is not a great character for the film, but that is in no way a reflection of Yu Nan because she does her part with decent acting charisma and the determination to pack a punch, and all in all considering the lackluster value of the character, Yu Nan plays out the part well enough.

Jean-Claude Van Damme is the absolute perfect casting decision for the role of central antagonist Jean Vilain in the role of The Expendables 2. The film capitalises on a lot of his iconic traits including his skilled ability at executing a roundhouse kick, but more specifically his ability at playing a villain. In contrast to the role that Eric Roberts played in The Expendables, Jean-Claude Van Damme is a superior villain because he has the legacy of an action hero. He actually gets in on the fight directly and packs a mean punch with his physical strength, as well as the fact that as an antagonist when he has his team of mercaneries surrounding him he really stands strong. His crew, The Sangs, stand their ground behind him with intensity. And Jean-Claude Van Damme stands his ground in the part excellently with a perfectly villainous performance. As he mentioned in an interview, he is so instinctively good at fighting that he focused more on the acting in The Expendables 2, and it pays off because he portrays a manipulative.