Disc Reviews

The Expendables 3 Blu-ray Review

3rd Dec 2014

Barney Ross and his team of Expendables suffer a blow when they come up against former Expendables partner Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson). Ross decides to disband the team in favour of a younger group – with the full intention of using them to take down Stonebanks at all costs.

Upon its theatrical release Expendables 3 was met with a huge amount of disdain from its established fan club thanks largely to the 12A rating it got in the UK. This series started as an 18 rated blood and violence fuelled romp that was trying to call back to the action heyday of the 80’s.

Now it’s all been filtered down to a 12A rating to lure in young kids, but seemed to only put off the existing fan base. Even the second film toned it down (especially the language) and ended up with a 15 rating.

It’s with delight then that the home edition comes with a 5 minute longer cute of the film (and the option to watch the kid friendly version as well). The extended cut has a few F bombs, and some slightly more adult friendly action. It’s clear though that the film was shot without much in the way of squibs as it is still an all but bloodless affair (there is also some questionable CGI in the mix (some shocking back projection), despite some impressive practical stunts.

There is an awful lot of fun to be had though. From the opening sequence where they rescue an incarcerated brother in arms (Wesley Snipes) right through the film doesn’t spend much downtime messing around. The film is pacier than the staggered second film and probably the funniest to date as well. The dialogue is still awfully trite in places, but director Patrick Hughes keeps the film pacing along so that the film never lingers.

Another issue with the film that was met by the critics was the bloated cast for the third film. The usual faces return from the first two films, two older cast members are added (Snipes and Antonio Banderas – both thrilling to watch when given the chance), and then also a team of younger fighters (none of them even remotely thrilling to watch).

It’s so bloated that Stallone remains the only prime cast member who is there throughout as he toys around with the old gang in the first third of the film – then goes off to play with the kids in the second third, and then brings everyone together for the closing act. And the closing act suffers from the fact that there are literally 13 good guys to keep track off (one of them literally spends the time climbing a wall). Harrison Ford also pops up as the guy in charge (who hilariously can’t understand a word Statham says), but was clearly shot separate from everyone else at the films climax.

As for the bad guys – well Gibson has to hold it together alone as he is surrounded by a tram that you could well name “the Disposables”. Wave after wave of armed men there to me mowed down by Stallone’s team in a very bloodless affair. But 80’s aficionados will enjoy a brief cameo from Robert Davi. Gibson though is on fire and steals every scene he is in.

Statham gets an elongated battle sequence in the final reel (which is vastly improved in the extended cut of the film). Bandera’s Galgo brings the event alive with his overly enthusiastic approach, Snipes takes a kip, young member Kellan Lutz rides around aimlessly on a bike, Arnold and Jet Li act as back up and Sly and Gibson get to face off very briefly together before the inevitable “Escape the exploding building” climax

The bloodlust is most definitely missing, the focus on the older team members is most definitely missing – but there is still some mojo on set between the group that could see them yet go on to scale the heights they originally intended.

Trimming out the young and sticking with the old, increasing the rating back up to an 18 (we can dream!) and perhaps filming in a different country for a change might give the film something that it desperately needs right now (Seriously? Getting a bit fed up of Bulgaria and the use of abandoned buildings for shoot-outs). An about face would be nice for the next film if it comes.

The extras are not too shabby. There is a 50 minute documentary charting the production of the film. The first 10 minutes reeks of cast members slapping each others’ backs to a cringe inducing level – but eventually you get some interesting pieces (not least Statham almost killing himself when the breaks to his van failed on set and he ended up taking a plunge into the drink).

There is also a 16 minute featurette on the new cast members, a fairly entertaining gag reel and an extended scene of Statham on his gauntlet in the final act of the movie.

Overall the theatrical version of the film is a complete joke that should be avoided at all costs. The 15 rated extended version is the one to watch. It’s a more fun movie that the second film but they have still yet to crack the code of what their audience actually want to see. But Expendables 2 is not without its value – thanks largely to a better director and some engaging performances.