Review : Expendables 2

Hollywood’s biggest action stars hold nothing back in ‘Expendables 2’

Extravagant chase scenes, flying bullets, extremities dangling from mangled bodies and almost every action star for the past 30 years making an appearance — “The Expendables 2” boomed into theaters this weekend with no mercy for its foes.

“The Expendables 2” has additions to its previously star-studded cast, including kickboxing guru Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Booker (Chuck Norris) and Billy (Liam Hemsworth). These three actors help “The Expendables 2” hold nothing back with an all-out assault spanning the globe.

Simon West takes the director chair from Sylvester Stallone, who directed “Expendables” in 2010. West uses his experiences directing “Con Air” and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” to help add his personal touch.

“The Expendables 2” begins similarly to the first movie, with Barney (Sylvester Stallone) and his band of aging friends killing bad guys and saving a hostage from being tortured.

However, Agent Church (Bruce Willis) spoils the troops’ return home with a new mission: To find a safe in the midst of plane wreckage in the Albanian woodlands and retrieve its contents.

Church assigns Maggie (Nan Yu) to assist the boys on their operation and, with Maggie’s help, the boys venture off to find out what is in the safe.

After being ambushed and learning the contents of the safe, Barney and comrades must fight their way through rogue post-Cold War Russian villages to stop nuclear material from falling into terrorists’ hands.

Hemsworth, a nice addition to the cast, delivered an adequate acting performance. With all signs of the mythic Thor behind him, he creates a solid role and adds some romance to the movie.

Norris’s character, Booker, only makes brief appearances, but his influence is strongly felt.

Virtually unknown in Hollywood, Yu, the only female in an otherwise all-male cast, performs as well as could be expected among such heavy-hitters as Norris, Willis and Stallone.

The setting spans rural Eastern Europe to Russia, it takes the viewers on a visually appealing journey. Although nothing too flashy, the cinematography shines with its rustic settings and beautiful landscapes.

In the film, there are subtle hints to past action films, which had the audience laughing if they understood the inside jokes. All together, “The Expendables 2” fires on all cylinders as another great summer flick.