Since I'm going to mention the box office anyways, might as well let you guys know that Expendables 2 came in at 21st place with just $500 grand for the weekend. Safe to say EX2 is done with roughly $85 Million domestically. The international number will only continue to grow though with Japan opening EX2 on October 20th. EX2 is presently at $285 Million worldwide.
But I did want to mention the box office to point out the great opening for Bruce Willis's new movie LOOPER which opened in 2nd place with $21 Million on a $30 Million dollar budget. I wouldn't call it an action film per see, it has action but its more of a drama/sci-fi story. It's an excellent film with a compelling story and great performances, definitely worth checking out!!!
But I did want to mention the box office to point out the great opening for Bruce Willis's new movie LOOPER which opened in 2nd place with $21 Million on a $30 Million dollar budget. I wouldn't call it an action film per see, it has action but its more of a drama/sci-fi story. It's an excellent film with a compelling story and great performances, definitely worth checking out!!!
BULLET TO THE HEAD REVIEW
POSTED BY ABKING, SUBMITTED BY STALLOWNED
THE REVIEW:
Please don't ask me to spoil the details because I signed a confidentiality contract. That being said...
The crowd was all for the film. It was packed. People clapped, people laughed (when they were supposed to). It is not in 3D. Sly and Hill did not attend. Imagine Sly's Get Carter character, only less of a conscience and more cold. It is much different than what he's done in the past. It is NOT a buddy film like Rush Hour. Him and Sung Kang do not like each other and when they crack jokes at each other, it's at the fact that they're both annoyed with each others actions. Sly's character Jimmy Bobo just doesn't really respect Kang's character that much but uses him to do what he needs to do. The chemistry works for the plot to move forward. Kang was weak in my opinion but the way I see it, this is Sly's show and he's there to make Sly look his best. Also regarding Sly's character - he is not all out "bad" in any sense of being a villain. He is bad meaning his character is just cold and ruthless and serves his own cause. He doesn't murder any women or children nor is he cocky in the film. His character is a man of few words who prefers to use his violence as a means to an end. However, when he voices his opinion, it's so straight forward it can make you laugh because it's dark humor. He's a man who has seen it all and knows the game.
Momoa was a good villain and was never given too much screen time, but when he was on screen it was to present himself as a formidable foe and setup for the finale. Adebisi (Mr. Echo from LOST) was good in his role but nothing too stand out-ish.
Regarding the whole TOM JANE FIRING CONTROVERSY: I will say that the way that the character was written, I dont see how it would make sense with Jane. The story would have played much differently because Sang's character is much less capable of doing what it takes and is hindered from being as effective due to him being a cop. If Jane was in the role, it would have to have been written differently because the "race" card was pulled a few times.
There is some character development in the story but it's done in a more realistic way. Problems between his daughter aren't solved. As in real life, things just are the way they are and sometimes we can't do anything to fix them. It is what it is. And that's what is represented in the film. They don't try to fix each other, they accept each other for who they are and that's the dynamic of his relationship with his daughter. There are some acting moments but its nothing that the "character" wouldn't normally do like spill his beans about his emotions.
Keep in mind guys, this isn't Running Scared kind of violence. The violence belongs very much in the Walter Hill universe. Brutal gunshots, straight forward murders, etc. With all that into play, it allowed them to throw in a joke here, and a joke there but the humor never surpassed or downgraded the violence which what I was concerned about. The axe fight was definitely something different for Sly in terms of final fights.
It might have been a temp score used seeing that this was a test screening, but overall it was hard, gritty New Orleans blues. And I'm a huge fan of the gritty blues.
I will say as a Sly vehicle I enjoyed it more than EX1 and EX2 - BUT the Expendables films don't count to me because of the ensemble nature. I won't compare this film to Rocky or Rambo but as a stand-alone Sly actioner, it's a d**n awesome film that I personally would rank up as one of my top favorite Sly films. Keep in mind, it's a much different tone of film than his other work so it's hard to compare it to the likes of Demolition Man, Tango & Cash or Cobra. As far as why the film got delayed, I will say that I think it's so it can ride the wave of the Expendables hype.
To sum up this review: Sly is at his most ruthless. this is the most anti-hero I have ever seen Sly. VERY hard R. Awesome final fight. Walter Hill delivers.The shootouts......whew, pack a mean punch. Good humor, short and not forced. Gritty, dark, and very violent. Since the film is still fresh in my mind I will give it a rating of 9/10. Maybe when time passes and my hype wears thin it could go to an 8, but nothing lower than that since I was generally pleased.
Call me Stallowned if you use this review.
POSTED BY ABKING, SUBMITTED BY STALLOWNED
THE REVIEW:
Please don't ask me to spoil the details because I signed a confidentiality contract. That being said...
The crowd was all for the film. It was packed. People clapped, people laughed (when they were supposed to). It is not in 3D. Sly and Hill did not attend. Imagine Sly's Get Carter character, only less of a conscience and more cold. It is much different than what he's done in the past. It is NOT a buddy film like Rush Hour. Him and Sung Kang do not like each other and when they crack jokes at each other, it's at the fact that they're both annoyed with each others actions. Sly's character Jimmy Bobo just doesn't really respect Kang's character that much but uses him to do what he needs to do. The chemistry works for the plot to move forward. Kang was weak in my opinion but the way I see it, this is Sly's show and he's there to make Sly look his best. Also regarding Sly's character - he is not all out "bad" in any sense of being a villain. He is bad meaning his character is just cold and ruthless and serves his own cause. He doesn't murder any women or children nor is he cocky in the film. His character is a man of few words who prefers to use his violence as a means to an end. However, when he voices his opinion, it's so straight forward it can make you laugh because it's dark humor. He's a man who has seen it all and knows the game.
Momoa was a good villain and was never given too much screen time, but when he was on screen it was to present himself as a formidable foe and setup for the finale. Adebisi (Mr. Echo from LOST) was good in his role but nothing too stand out-ish.
Regarding the whole TOM JANE FIRING CONTROVERSY: I will say that the way that the character was written, I dont see how it would make sense with Jane. The story would have played much differently because Sang's character is much less capable of doing what it takes and is hindered from being as effective due to him being a cop. If Jane was in the role, it would have to have been written differently because the "race" card was pulled a few times.
There is some character development in the story but it's done in a more realistic way. Problems between his daughter aren't solved. As in real life, things just are the way they are and sometimes we can't do anything to fix them. It is what it is. And that's what is represented in the film. They don't try to fix each other, they accept each other for who they are and that's the dynamic of his relationship with his daughter. There are some acting moments but its nothing that the "character" wouldn't normally do like spill his beans about his emotions.
Keep in mind guys, this isn't Running Scared kind of violence. The violence belongs very much in the Walter Hill universe. Brutal gunshots, straight forward murders, etc. With all that into play, it allowed them to throw in a joke here, and a joke there but the humor never surpassed or downgraded the violence which what I was concerned about. The axe fight was definitely something different for Sly in terms of final fights.
It might have been a temp score used seeing that this was a test screening, but overall it was hard, gritty New Orleans blues. And I'm a huge fan of the gritty blues.
I will say as a Sly vehicle I enjoyed it more than EX1 and EX2 - BUT the Expendables films don't count to me because of the ensemble nature. I won't compare this film to Rocky or Rambo but as a stand-alone Sly actioner, it's a d**n awesome film that I personally would rank up as one of my top favorite Sly films. Keep in mind, it's a much different tone of film than his other work so it's hard to compare it to the likes of Demolition Man, Tango & Cash or Cobra. As far as why the film got delayed, I will say that I think it's so it can ride the wave of the Expendables hype.
To sum up this review: Sly is at his most ruthless. this is the most anti-hero I have ever seen Sly. VERY hard R. Awesome final fight. Walter Hill delivers.The shootouts......whew, pack a mean punch. Good humor, short and not forced. Gritty, dark, and very violent. Since the film is still fresh in my mind I will give it a rating of 9/10. Maybe when time passes and my hype wears thin it could go to an 8, but nothing lower than that since I was generally pleased.
Call me Stallowned if you use this review.
Check Out Arnold Schwarzenegger's New Look For His Upcoming Film TEN
Courtesy Of THE ARNOLD FANS
ESPN 30 FOR 30 "ARNOLD'S BLUEPRINT"
AICN UNIVERSAL SOLDIER 4 VIDEO FROM FANTASTIC FEST
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER ST. PETERSBURG PREMIERE
| | PHOTOS FROM THE PREMIERE http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2a20/2Swxyp6kUaw.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2a29/Y9em9XcnA84.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2a3b/ymhMW57WhBU.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2a4d/B0cO7uuXskg.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2a83/KeCO_8HMT3k.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2aba/gKGfnJ9YPNI.jpg http://cs403223.userapi.com/v403223668/2ac4/sJaPwAEopPQ.jpg http://cs403920.userapi.com/v403920030/2b05/WO2M7QXunsM.jpg |
JCVD's Son Kris Doing His Best Jean Vilain
A GREAT COLLECTION OF EXPENDABLES 2 PHOTOS
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FRENCH EX2 BLU-RAY COVER ART, ARRIVES IN FRANCE DEC.22
Thank You To: Der, Tomasz, Christophe, Deespefd, derlanger, Dean & Kicker
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