"The Expendables" Movie Trailer Review

Movie Trailer Review

"The Expendables"

By our guest blogger, Joel Crabtree

It's clear from the cast that "The Expendables" is an ode to action movies past--quite possibly the last movie of its kind. For the film, director Sylvester Stallone has assembled a crew of Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, former WWE superstar Steve Austin and UFC fighter Randy Couture just to name a few.

Stallone is the most fitting choice to direct "The Expendables," because he's the only major action star from his generation to never evolve into anything more. Arnold Schwarzenegger went into politics and Bruce Willis continued getting roles that shifted the actor from his John McLean persona. Stallone never moved on from "Rocky" and "Rambo," and with some duds in the '90s ("Judge Dredd," "Assassins" and "Daylight" just to name a few), it looked as if Stallone's days were numbered.

As with every trend (especially in Hollywood), "Rocky" and "Rambo" came back into the spotlight, and without having to change, Stallone found himself popular again. With his rediscovered success, Stallone decided to do what he does best with "The Expendables."

The movie follows a group of mercenaries (Stallone, Statham, Li, Couture and Terry Crews) as they go on a "hell-and-back" mission to overthrow a South American dictator. The trailer is riddled with cameos (Stallone brings out the big guns with Schwarzenegger, Willis and Mickey Rourke), one-liners, explosions and some really gritty action scenes.

The trailer reaffirms that Stallone and his crew really understand the material. The movie won't appeal to all audiences, but for fans of throwback action films it will be a welcome return to form for the genre. "The Expendables" may be the last true guilty pleasure guy-movie ever made in Hollywood. Enjoy it.

"The Expendables" opens Aug. 13.

View the trailer for "The Expendables" below.  What are your thoughts?