The Expendables 2 (2012)

The Expendables 2

• This was a step up from the first movie, and though it’s still a bit cliche, it's still really fun. It has the same vibe as the first movie, though I think the story is a little bit more well constructed. A lot of it reminded me of Rambo (2008), so I enjoyed that tone. The entire plot is more gripping than the first movie. Bits of it also reminded me of Mission: Impossible, so if you like those, then you’d like this one. The fight scenes were fantastic, and I really loved the fight/conclusion between Stallone and Van Damme. I was captivated by many of the gunfight/action scenes. They were super entertaining, and it’s always fun watching a bunch of dudes blow crap up. All the characters were awesome, and the same cast from the first movie returns. And, a couple other cool additions, such as Van Damme and Chuck freakin Norris. When Chuck showed up with the main theme of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” playing, I absolutely lost my crap. I literally shouted. I also loved Stallone again, and he only makes me love him more. One thing I really liked was some references to previous characters played by the actors. The references to Terminator, Die Hard, and First Blood sent me through the roof. The music was pretty great again, although it wasn’t anything special. Overall, I’d recommend this one to all action fans, and it’s even better made than the first movie. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!