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Movie Review: ‘The Expendables 2’ - Better than the First

A cast of long in the tooth action stars provides adrenaline junkies with a summer film sendoff that is “loud and dumb but great fun.” Critics say it is bigger and better than the original.

Practically all the living action hero movie stars known to man are back in “The Expendables 2.” In this sequel to the 2010 film “The Expendables,” Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) leads his motley, muscle-bound crew on a simple job commissioned by Mr. Church (Bruce Willis). When things go wrong, Ross and the gang -- according to the movie website -- cut “a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time.”

Is the action-filled sequel worth seeing? Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as the “sendoff adrenaline junkies are seeking before the more sedate pace of fall releases.”

“Taut, humorous and attractively packaged, the sequel is both fleet footed and engaging enough to captivate audiences with more than just nonstop action,” Lowe wrote.

Genevieve Loh of TodayOnline.com also complimented the film (albeit somewhat backhandedly).

“It's still all brawn and no brain as Sylvester Stallone and his band of Expendables return for this sequel,” Loh wrote. “It's a bit of a cliche to say it, but yes, ‘The Expendables 2’ is so bad, it's good.”

Here’s what other critics had to say about “The Expendables 2”:

“Loud and dumb but great fun, ‘The Expendables 2’ is an explosive crowd-pleaser that vastly improves on its poor predecessor.” – Ben Rawson-Jones for DigitalSpy.com
“A sequel to Sylvester Stallone’s 2010 hail-Mary all-action-star effort to regain relevance at the box office, ‘The Expendables 2’ may be the biggest, bloodiest and most willfully stupid film since the last time Michael Bay stepped behind a camera.” – Marshall Fine of Hollywood & Fine
“The action lover's dream team doesn't disappoint in ‘The Expendables 2,’ a sequel that's bigger, bolder and more badass than the original. This isn’t a great movie in the by-the-book sense, but it's loads of dumb fun and an old-fashioned action flick that works as a nostalgia trip for fans of the muscle-bound shoot ‘em-ups of the ‘80s and ‘90s.” - Jim Vejvoda of IGN.com

“The Expendables 2” also stars Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth and more.

The movie is rated R for strong, bloody violence.

Showtimes: 

Regal Snellville Oaks Stadium 14, 2125 East Main Street, Snellville, 2:00  2:55  4:25  5:30  7:00  8:00  9:30  10:25pm

AMC Colonial 18, 825 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd., Lawrenceville, 10:30  11:25am  1:10  2:05  3:50  4:50  6:45  7:35  9:35  10:20pm

Carmike Gateway 12, 416 Exchange Blvd., Bethlehem, 1:40  2:00  4:10  4:30  6:55  7:15  9:20  9:40pm  12:05am

AMC Discover Mills 18, 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, 10:10  11:15am  12:45  2:00  3:30  4:45  6:20  7:30  9:10  10:40  11:55pm

Great Escape Hamilton Mill 14, 2160 Hamilton Creek Parkway, Dacula, 11:45am  2:15  4:45  7:15  7:45  9:45  10:15pm

AMC Stonecrest 16, 8060 Mall Parkway, Lithonia, 10:15  11:15am  1:10  2:10  4:05  5:05  7:00  8:00  9:55  10:55pm


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Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:16 am
David, it's still there we are just in the process of working out the bug on uploading photos toRead More articles that we authored (ugh!). I just didn't want to promote it and have people try and upload photos unsuccessfully. Depending on how long it takes to address this issue, I may keep June open through part of July - I hope not. If you have any photos you want to add, email them to me and I will upload them for you in the meantime.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:19 am
That is the strawberry fields. I have a picture of the strawberry fields between the welcome toRead More Loganville and welcome to Grayson signs that I will get up soon.
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 18, 2013 at 09:49 pm
Rabies tag on dog leads to a disconnected owners number
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 06:11 pm
Yea, sorry David. We are still dealing with some "issues." It rejected Jason's blog, andRead More none of us, not even our top regional editor, is being given authority to release it. Poor Jason, I know he so hates being rejected! And we hate it happening to him. The people not being "bugged" by technical issues, however, are reporting that it is super easy to use.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:10 am
I wonder. Will Patch restore the reply button and add a responded to your comment notification?
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:21 am
Please keep these comments coming. We are forwarding all these issues to our production team. TheRead More ones that are most pressing are more likely to be addressed first. Once we have the initial roll out completed and working well, the tweaking will begin.
TheSkalawag June 18, 2013 at 08:29 pm
I don't think that Ray needs a tinfoil hat but I just don't see the inexorable march to theRead More dystopian world Ray is foretelling either. I do understand the gloom and doom outlook and I attribute that to the unrealistic quest for the Norman Rockwell version of life in America. That kind of life was made for tv. Life never really was like that. At least not that I remember anyway. And I would wager not for the majority of Americans.
Good Grief Y'all June 19, 2013 at 09:55 am
Ray was wearing his tinfoil hat when he wrote this. Yikes! America being dominated by fear andRead More repression is exactly what the progressives have been fighting against all along, especially so since 2007. Cynicism is creepy.
Dave June 19, 2013 at 03:12 pm
I have it on good authority that the revolution will begin in October. Stay tuned.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Tom, I will see if I can find the connection.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Good news! Her name is Izzi and she has been reunited with her owners.
Tom Laverick June 18, 2013 at 09:42 pm
Great News!!!!
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:42 am
I agree with Raven Nichols. I think that it is more important to find out the reasons WHY kids areRead More contemplating and committing suicide. GGY is right. It is a dark subject and off putting but the fact that kids are taking their own lives at such a young and tender age is an even darker subject that can't wait to be addressed until they are in college they may not make it that far. I disagree with Tammy in that I don't think girls have don't have a more drama in High School than boys. It's just drama over different things. And I don't think that the teacher was looking for objectivity but insight into the reasons for teen suicides. After all who would have a better understanding of the why suicides occur in teens than other teens. I applaud the teacher.
Good Grief Y'all June 19, 2013 at 09:49 am
I see your point Skalawag and I raise it. Maybe this would be a good CDC survey subject. ImagineRead More the backlash, though! I still think it's a dangerous topic as a class assignment. We probably already know the reasons for teen suicide. We do need better methods and awareness to identify those at risk.
Dave June 19, 2013 at 03:18 pm
Yeah, that's the ticket! Get the government involved to tell us what to think. The CDC is a greatRead More place to start.
Octo Slash June 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm
My kids drink coffee every morning because they need something to accompany their cigarettes.
Tammy Osier June 14, 2013 at 01:12 pm
Tr - the perfect diet - the Mediterranean diet has a lot of fish in it. Olive oils etc... OurRead More American diet has a lot of animal fat in it and look at us as opposed to other nations! Fish oil is brain food. A multi is good, but we should ask our pediatricians about adding fish oil to our kids' diets. We should get our (good) fats through diet. Good fats help vitamins go where they are supposed to and do what they're supposed to do.
Deedee June 15, 2013 at 08:12 pm
My grandma always drunk coffee all day and I started around 30 and I am no good without at least oneRead More cup a day but she always stated that we couldn't have any as kids because it will stunt our growth. I have always felt that there is something to many of those old sayings and did not let my son touch it.
Tammy Osier June 17, 2013 at 01:53 pm
DR, seems like an oxymoron doesn't it? I'd like to hear from someone who is actually from there toRead More find out their spin on why they even enter a contestant in the first place. It's my understanding that a woman that shows that much skin in public will be flogged or worse? Maybe democracy is taking ahold in some places, who knows?
Good Grief Y'all June 17, 2013 at 03:24 pm
I was wrong. Guys are interested pageants. You would no doubt be happy if the contestants justRead More wore the face shawl with their bikinis.
Karsten Torch June 17, 2013 at 04:30 pm
Couple of thoughts - One, why hold it in a land where there is going to be this kind of protest?Read More Just move it and don't worry about it. Other, I find it interesting how the Muslims want us to be understanding and inclusive of their beliefs, but don't even think they'll allow anything they don't agree with. Just a tad bit hypocritical...
R June 14, 2013 at 02:06 am
You mean the FEES don't you? Cause they aint taxes don't you know...
Bonnie June 14, 2013 at 11:50 am
I call it a "rainbow!"
M.K. Osborne June 14, 2013 at 03:30 pm
Fees is when its lightning too .
Mr. B June 13, 2013 at 01:29 pm
They're not Americans. They don't deserve to step foot on American soil.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:34 pm
Meh, a difference without distinction.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:37 pm
Huh, you learn something once in a while on Patch blog threads. I didn't know you must be anRead More American citizen to be tried and convicted of crimes against America . . . ;p I think John and Sarah could handle them . . . you betcha! They would probably beg to be sent back to Gitmo. LOL