Okay, I've always been a big Sly fan, but this movie...lawd have mercy. I should have seen the writing on the wall, and maybe I did, but I didn't care...it's Sly! And Drago, and Terry Crews, and Jason Statham, and Jet Li, and the rest of those guys. The action I give a B+, but the script I give a big fat F-. I could wring Sly's neck for those corny tag lines and predictable script. I can't believe he made Jet Li act like a complete wimp (I can't tell you how but somehow it made me cringe) Oh but there was one surprise plus out of this fiasco, Eric Roberts was excellent as the villian.

I really like Rocky I, II, III and VI and First Blood (Rambo Pt.1), and his dramas such as Copland, F.I.S.T, and maybe Nighthawks but other than that, Sly has a talent for chosing or writing the worst scripts.

I mean, dude is actually really smart and kind of a very humble nice guy, and I really love his fitness book "Sly Moves" but come on, his role choices or some of the screenplays he wrote are often terrible. He´s thinking about going the Clint Eastwood route as he´s getting older, i.e spend more time behind the camera than in front of it, and I respect that, and he could pull it off if he really tried a bit harder but at this point, people are so used to seeing him as an action hero in movies with corny dialogues that it´s very hard for him to get out of that selfcreated mess, and movies likes The Expendables or the last installment of Rambo are further proof that he´s a bit out of touch.

I probably would have liked it when I was 12 or 14 but I´m not a little kid anymore and mercenary movies don´t really do much for me.

And it is actually even a remake of some b-movie from the 80s.

If it wasn´t for his grotesque botox abuse and his stupid movie choices, I´d say that I´m a fan of Sly but he makes it really difficult for me. A bit like Prince.

They already decided to shoot a sequel....I think it´s already in the making.

KoolEaze said:

I really like Rocky I, II, III and VI and First Blood (Rambo Pt.1), and his dramas such as Copland, F.I.S.T, and maybe Nighthawks but other than that, Sly has a talent for chosing or writing the worst scripts.

I mean, dude is actually really smart and kind of a very humble nice guy, and I really love his fitness book "Sly Moves" but come on, his role choices or some of the screenplays he wrote are often terrible. He´s thinking about going the Clint Eastwood route as he´s getting older, i.e spend more time behind the camera than in front of it, and I respect that, and he could pull it off if he really tried a bit harder but at this point, people are so used to seeing him as an action hero in movies with corny dialogues that it´s very hard for him to get out of that selfcreated mess, and movies likes The Expendables or the last installment of Rambo are further proof that he´s a bit out of touch.

I probably would have liked it when I was 12 or 14 but I´m not a little kid anymore and mercenary movies don´t really do much for me.

And it is actually even a remake of some b-movie from the 80s.

If it wasn´t for his grotesque botox abuse and his stupid movie choices, I´d say that I´m a fan of Sly but he makes it really difficult for me. A bit like Prince.

They already decided to shoot a sequel....I think it´s already in the making.

Are you serious???? Damn, didn't waste anytime. Did they really think this movie would be that much of a success at the box office to make a sequel? I mean don't get me wrong, I loved seeing all the guys, but I don't think I can take too much more of the corny dialog.

I agree with your statement by the way.

KoolEaze said:

I really like Rocky I, II, III and VI and First Blood (Rambo Pt.1), and his dramas such as Copland, F.I.S.T, and maybe Nighthawks but other than that, Sly has a talent for chosing or writing the worst scripts.

I mean, dude is actually really smart and kind of a very humble nice guy, and I really love his fitness book "Sly Moves" but come on, his role choices or some of the screenplays he wrote are often terrible. He´s thinking about going the Clint Eastwood route as he´s getting older, i.e spend more time behind the camera than in front of it, and I respect that, and he could pull it off if he really tried a bit harder but at this point, people are so used to seeing him as an action hero in movies with corny dialogues that it´s very hard for him to get out of that selfcreated mess, and movies likes The Expendables or the last installment of Rambo are further proof that he´s a bit out of touch.

I probably would have liked it when I was 12 or 14 but I´m not a little kid anymore and mercenary movies don´t really do much for me.

And it is actually even a remake of some b-movie from the 80s.

If it wasn´t for his grotesque botox abuse and his stupid movie choices, I´d say that I´m a fan of Sly but he makes it really difficult for me. A bit like Prince.

They already decided to shoot a sequel....I think it´s already in the making.

The first four Rocky's are my favorites too, but 5 and 6, (even though the 6th was better than 5th) he could've kept those in his vault.

The original First Blood is the only Sly movie that I own; I used to be a big fan of the Rocky saga some years ago, but now I could only watch part VI (and, since it's the very last part, it really doesn't make sense if you ignore the previous films, which I do ) and parts III and IV in FF mode, just because of the combats and the training sequences: everytime I need a huge dose of motivation for my training, I watch those scenes. But I can't stand part I, II and V anymore. They're very disrespectful, the kind of film which insults the whole society, the typical "You can't be happy if you're not rich & famous", the typical "I wanna be somebody not an average man" CRAP!!!!

I truly wanted to see The Expendables, I thought it would be a solid, funny and cheesy summer action movie, but I've read a lot of negative reviews from fans and critics alike, so fuck it Rambo IV could have been great, but he destroyed the film with the excessive gore and the run-of-the-mill script. I guess The Expendables could have been good but he blow it with another so-so script...

And I don't care about the rest of his films, including Cop Land, which I found depressing...The same with Ah-nuld (I only own T1 and T2) or Bruce Willis as an action man (the original Die Hard only...)

[Edited 8/14/10 17:28pm]

JoeTyler said:

The original First Blood is the only Sly movie that I own; I used to be a big fan of the Rocky saga some years ago, but now I could only watch part VI (and, since it's the very last part, it really doesn't make sense if you ignore the previous films, which I do ) and parts III and IV in FF mode, just because of the combats and the training sequences: everytime I need a huge dose of motivation for my training, I watch those scenes. But I can't stand part I, II and V anymore. They're very disrespectful, the kind of film which insults the whole society, the typical "You can't be happy if you're not rich & famous", the typical "I wanna be somebody not an average man" CRAP!!!!

I truly wanted to see The Expendables, I thought it would be a solid, funny and cheesy summer action movie, but I've read a lot of negative reviews from fans and critics alike, so fuck it Rambo IV could have been great, but he destroyed the film with the excessive gore and the run-of-the-mill script. I guess The Expendables could have been good but he blow it with another so-so script...

And I don't care about the rest of his films, including Cop Land, which I found depressing...The same with Ah-nuld (I only own T1 and T2) or Bruce Willis as an action man (the original Die Hard only...)

[Edited 8/14/10 17:28pm]

I concur with you on the Rocky III and IV's training montage. I love the training montages in III, but by far IV's is my absolute favorite (not to mention when he wears those tight black pants with the hott jacket and hat to match... that man was so sexy in that movie it was rediculous ).

I also have always loved the montage scene flipping back through all of the previous Rocky movies in IV (the scene where Rocky is driving his sports car after his argument with Adrian "you can't win!!!") To me the real end of the Rocky movie franchise is IV. V was done because Hollywood wanted Sly to do it and VI was done in effort to say "yes I fucked up when I did V so here's one last version to correct my fuck up".

I felt the same way you did about "The Expendables" too...I thought it was going to be more of like the "action" version of the Ocean's 11 movies (with a whole bunch of stars working as a team) but after the first 20 minutes my face was still . At that point I knew that it was going to be yet another one of Sly's movies with more action than sense of a good script. I'm still trying to figure out the point of Bruce and Arnold being in the movie, their characters weren't even needed...it was like their presence was telling the audience "you remember these guys? They were in action movies too" but we already know that

Speaking of that...wonder why Sly didn't invite Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to participate in this massacre?

Copland bored the hell out of me. I've only seen that movie once and don't need to see it again.

[Edited 8/14/10 19:54pm]

missfee said:

Okay, I've always been a big Sly fan, but this movie...lawd have mercy. I should have seen the writing on the wall, and maybe I did, but I didn't care...it's Sly! And Drago, and Terry Crews, and Jason Statham, and Jet Li, and the rest of those guys. The action I give a B+, but the script I give a big fat F-. I could wring Sly's neck for those corny tag lines and predictable script. I can't believe he made Jet Li act like a complete wimp (I can't tell you how but somehow it made me cringe) Oh but there was one surprise plus out of this fiasco, Eric Roberts was excellent as the villian.

He WHAT?!

I only wanted to see it for Jet Li and Steve Austin

bboy87 said:

missfee said:

Okay, I've always been a big Sly fan, but this movie...lawd have mercy. I should have seen the writing on the wall, and maybe I did, but I didn't care...it's Sly! And Drago, and Terry Crews, and Jason Statham, and Jet Li, and the rest of those guys. The action I give a B+, but the script I give a big fat F-. I could wring Sly's neck for those corny tag lines and predictable script. I can't believe he made Jet Li act like a complete wimp (I can't tell you how but somehow it made me cringe) Oh but there was one surprise plus out of this fiasco, Eric Roberts was excellent as the villian.

He WHAT?!

I only wanted to see it for Jet Li and Steve Austin

I'll have to orgnote you, don't want to give any spoilers in case some orgers do actually want to see this.

missfee said:

bboy87 said:

He WHAT?!

I only wanted to see it for Jet Li and Steve Austin

I'll have to orgnote you, don't want to give any spoilers in case some orgers do actually want to see this.

I think I'm going to see it tomorrow. I still hold out hope that it is impossible for this film to be anything but 100% awesome.

missfee said:

I'm still trying to figure out the point of Bruce and Arnold being in the movie, their characters weren't even needed...it was like their presence was telling the audience "you remember these guys? They were in action movies too" but we already know that

Speaking of that...wonder Sly didn't invite Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to participate in this massacre?

yeah, and I also wonder why he didn't invite Seagal and Van Damme as well... oh wait, I know the answer, Seagal is basically a weirdo with no friends and Van Damme is one jaded, old, cynical, bitter man ...

btw: I've always felt that Rocky IV is basically an excellent mid-80s MTV videoclip mixed with an excellent bodybuilding VHS tape, set in the height of Reagan's crusade against the reds...G-E-N-I-U-S

RodeoSchro said:

missfee said:

I'll have to orgnote you, don't want to give any spoilers in case some orgers do actually want to see this.

I think I'm going to see it tomorrow. I still hold out hope that it is impossible for this film to be anything but 100% awesome.

I felt it was simply 55% awesome , and that's just for Statham, Roberts and the last 30 minutes...

JoeTyler said:

missfee said:

I'm still trying to figure out the point of Bruce and Arnold being in the movie, their characters weren't even needed...it was like their presence was telling the audience "you remember these guys? They were in action movies too" but we already know that

Speaking of that...wonder Sly didn't invite Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to participate in this massacre?

yeah, and I also wonder why he didn't invite Seagal and Van Damme as well... oh wait, I know the answer, Seagal is basically a weirdo with no friends and Van Damme is one jaded, old, cynical, bitter man ...

btw: I've always felt that Rocky IV is basically an excellent mid-80s MTV videoclip mixed with an excellent bodybuilding VHS tape, set in the height of Reagan's crusade against the reds...G-E-N-I-U-S

Okay according to Wiki, Van Damme was offered the role personally by Sly, but he turned it down because he felt his character had no substance. Dolph Lundgren was then offered a role and he accepted. It was said that Van Damme told Sly that he should be "trying to save people in South Central"....????? The role that Terry Crews played was initially meant for Wesley Snipes but was later rewritten for Forest Whitaker who was then going to play the role but due to scheduling conflicts, Whitaker dropped out and then 50 cent was attached to the role. Ultimately he dropped too and the result was Terry Crews. Steven Seagal was invited to be a cameo in the film but turned down the offer because of a negative relationship with the movie's producer Avi Lerner. Kurt Russell was offered a role but turned it down because "he was not interested in ensemble acting at this time"...hmm sounds a bit snobbish to me. Bruce Willis was later offered and accepted this role.

Wiki doesn't say anything about Sly offering Carl Weathers anything, but this could be because of the fact that Sly asked Carl to use him flash back scenes in Rocky VI but Carl refused because he wanted an actual role in the movie. So maybe Sly and Carl aren't exactly on good terms.

"In 1976, he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky as Apollo Creed, a role he would reprise in the next three Rocky films in 1979, 1982 and 1985. For the final film in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone asked Weathers, Mr. T, and Dolph Lundgren for permission to use footage from their appearances in the earlier Rocky movies. Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren acquiesced, but Weathers wanted an actual part in the movie, even though his character died in Rocky IV. Stallone refused and Weathers decided not to allow Stallone to use his image for Rocky flashbacks from the previous movies. They instead used footage of a fighter who looks similar to Weathers.^"

[Edited 8/14/10 20:35pm]

JoeTyler said:

RodeoSchro said:

I think I'm going to see it tomorrow. I still hold out hope that it is impossible for this film to be anything but 100% awesome.

I felt it was simply 55% awesome , and that's just for Statham, Roberts and the last 30 minutes...

I wish Terry Crews had more of a role...he seemed to be the only one who was dying to keep the sense of humor alive. Mickey Rourke too. Eric Roberts did an excellent job doing what he does best...playing an asshole.

I can't deny that I didn't feel the sense that the film was paying homage to the action films of the 80's (especially with the weak storyline) but somehow, I still feel that it could have been done better.

It was also great seeing Dolph Lundgren again...the last role I saw him play was the lead in "I Come In Peace"

[Edited 8/14/10 20:26pm]

missfee said:

JoeTyler said:

yeah, and I also wonder why he didn't invite Seagal and Van Damme as well... oh wait, I know the answer, Seagal is basically a weirdo with no friends and Van Damme is one jaded, old, cynical, bitter man ...

btw: I've always felt that Rocky IV is basically an excellent mid-80s MTV videoclip mixed with an excellent bodybuilding VHS tape, set in the height of Reagan's crusade against the reds...G-E-N-I-U-S

Okay according to Wiki, Van Damme was offered the role personally by Sly, but he turned it down because he felt his character had no substance. Dolph Lundgren was then offered a role and he accepted. It was said that Van Damme told Sly that he should be "trying to save people in South Central"....????? The role that Terry Crews played was initially meant for Wesley Snipes but was later rewritten for Forest Whitaker who was then going to play the role but due to scheduling conflicts, Whitaker dropped out and then 50 cent was attached to the role. Ultimately he dropped too and the result was Terry Crews. Steven Seagal was invited to be a cameo in the film but turned down the offer because of a negative relationship with the movie's producer Avi Lerner. Kurt Russell was offered a role but turned it down because "he was not interested in ensemble acting at this time"...hmm sounds a bit snobbish to me. Bruce Willis was later offered and accepted this role.

Wiki doesn't say anything about Sly offering Carl Weathers anything, but this could be because of the fact that Sly asked Carl to use him flash back scenes in Rocky VI but Carl refused because he wanted an actual role in the movie. So maybe Sly and Carl aren't exactly on good terms.

"In 1976, he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky as Apollo Creed, a role he would reprise in the next three Rocky films in 1979, 1982 and 1985. For the final film in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone asked Weathers, Mr. T, and Dolph Lundgren for permission to use footage from their appearances in the earlier Rocky movies. Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren acquiesced, but Weathers wanted an actual part in the movie, even though his character died in Rocky IV. Stallone refused and Weathers decided not to allow Stallone to use his image for Rocky flashbacks from the previous movies. They instead used footage of a fighter who looks similar to Weathers.^"

[Edited 8/14/10 20:35pm]

This is hilarious. How you gon be in the movie if your character died two movies ago. What did he think he was gonna do, have Apollo come to Rocky in his dreams???

I havent seen it but i want to...im also wondering how small (or large) were willis's & arnolds roles?

i have a feeling they probably had the fewest lines?

sonic said:

I havent seen it but i want to...im also wondering how small (or large) were willis's & arnolds roles?

i have a feeling they probably had the fewest lines?

You are correct.

jaybendy said:

missfee said:

Okay according to Wiki, Van Damme was offered the role personally by Sly, but he turned it down because he felt his character had no substance. Dolph Lundgren was then offered a role and he accepted. It was said that Van Damme told Sly that he should be "trying to save people in South Central"....????? The role that Terry Crews played was initially meant for Wesley Snipes but was later rewritten for Forest Whitaker who was then going to play the role but due to scheduling conflicts, Whitaker dropped out and then 50 cent was attached to the role. Ultimately he dropped too and the result was Terry Crews. Steven Seagal was invited to be a cameo in the film but turned down the offer because of a negative relationship with the movie's producer Avi Lerner. Kurt Russell was offered a role but turned it down because "he was not interested in ensemble acting at this time"...hmm sounds a bit snobbish to me. Bruce Willis was later offered and accepted this role.

Wiki doesn't say anything about Sly offering Carl Weathers anything, but this could be because of the fact that Sly asked Carl to use him flash back scenes in Rocky VI but Carl refused because he wanted an actual role in the movie. So maybe Sly and Carl aren't exactly on good terms.

"In 1976, he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky as Apollo Creed, a role he would reprise in the next three Rocky films in 1979, 1982 and 1985. For the final film in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone asked Weathers, Mr. T, and Dolph Lundgren for permission to use footage from their appearances in the earlier Rocky movies. Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren acquiesced, but Weathers wanted an actual part in the movie, even though his character died in Rocky IV. Stallone refused and Weathers decided not to allow Stallone to use his image for Rocky flashbacks from the previous movies. They instead used footage of a fighter who looks similar to Weathers.^"

[Edited 8/14/10 20:35pm]

This is hilarious. How you gon be in the movie if your character died two movies ago. What did he think he was gonna do, have Apollo come to Rocky in his dreams???

Exactly. I didn't get that either. I guess he figures in soap operas, it's done all the time... Or maybe he figured Sly could have written a role where Apollo's son is following in his footsteps and then Apollo appears to his son as Mickey appeared to Rocky (in V)...but that would had been a stretch.

"Get up you son of a bitch, cuz Mickey loves ya!!!"

missfee said:

JoeTyler said:

I felt it was simply 55% awesome , and that's just for Statham, Roberts and the last 30 minutes...

I wish Terry Crews had more of a role...he seemed to be the only one who was dying to keep the sense of humor alive. Mickey Rourke too. Eric Roberts did an excellent job doing what he does best...playing an asshole.

I can't deny that I didn't feel the sense that the film was paying homage to the action films of the 80's (especially with the weak storyline) but somehow, I still feel that it could have been done better.

It was also great seeing Dolph Lundgren again...the last role I saw him play was the lead in "I Come In Peace"

[Edited 8/14/10 20:26pm]

"I come in peace".

"You leave...in pieces!"

I loved it - wanted to sit thru it twice but had stuff to do..

It's not gonna get any oscar nominations, but I thought it was ok. My wife and I both thought it was worth the matinee admission price.

saw it didn't care 2 much about the plot it gave me what i needed ..BLOW SHIT UP!!

L4OATheOriginal said:

saw it didn't care 2 much about the plot it gave me what i needed ..BLOW SHIT UP!!

Yes well it definitely didn't disappoint in that area The fight scenes were good...Steve Austin definitely kicked Sly's ass...but I kept getting irritated when it seemed like Sly kept coming to the aid of Jet Li when he was fighting Dolph Lundgren Doesn't he know that Jet doesn't need no damn help???!!!! URGH!!!!

sequel?

http://today.msnbc.msn.co...rtainment/

PositivityNYC said:

sequel?

http://today.msnbc.msn.co...rtainment/

Oh lord. Maybe he should get Mr. T. back into shape and add him in the cast for the sequel.

I haven't seen it and I know I won't go to the theatre to see it, but it's definitely a renter when it comes on dvd.

I'm also very happy it beat out that shit and sappy Eat, Pray. Love movie.

It is Sly.......I'll see it when it comes 2 Blu-ray. The only thing missing was Wesley Snipes.

Graycap23 said:

It is Sly.......I'll see it when it comes 2 Blu-ray. The only thing missing was Wesley Snipes.

As I stated above, Terry Crews role was originally for Wesley, but we all know about Wesley's recent troubles which was why he wasn't in it.

missfee said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

saw it didn't care 2 much about the plot it gave me what i needed ..BLOW SHIT UP!!

Yes well it definitely didn't disappoint in that area The fight scenes were good...Steve Austin definitely kicked Sly's ass...but I kept getting irritated when it seemed like Sly kept coming to the aid of Jet Li when he was fighting Dolph Lundgren Doesn't he know that Jet doesn't need no damn help???!!!! URGH!!!!

word and then i kept saying 2 myself, why is jet li fighting dolf , then i remembered that flick that dolf did with brandon lee ...duh!! lol

but tell me u weren't just wishing once steve austin said "what?!" or gave sly the double barrell fingers

missfee said:

Graycap23 said:

It is Sly.......I'll see it when it comes 2 Blu-ray. The only thing missing was Wesley Snipes.

As I stated above, Terry Crews role was originally for Wesley, but we all know about Wesley's recent troubles which was why he wasn't in it.

I dig...Terry is a nice replacement though.