- Film Review
- Reviewed By Alan Jones
-
3 out of 5
With capable Simon West (Con Air) at the helm rather than Sylvester Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris added to the action-man stew, this sequel is much better than the original in terms of both nostalgia and entertainment value. A well-cast Van Damme plays the villain (called Jean Vilain) who plans to change the balance of world power by selling a cache of weapons-grade plutonium to the highest bidder. Bigger in scope than the original, the film's nonstop mayhem includes cartoonish battles, geysers of CGI blood and seemingly impossible stunts, with the geriatric gang of beloved icons placed centre stage for maximum thrills. The laughs come thick and fast, too, mainly at Arnold Schwarzenegger's expense, though he does get one of the best jokes in the film. Of the other tough guys, Norris is given the most memorable entrance, returning Jet Li has a blink-and-you'll-miss-him part and Bruce Willis enjoys a bit more time in the spotlight.
Plot Summary
Mercenary leader Barney Ross is recruited by the CIA to recover a top-secret package, only to come to blows with a rival band of hired guns. Barney swears revenge when the other faction kill his protege, and leads his men on a mission to stop their enemies taking over a former Soviet nuclear facility. Action thriller sequel, starring Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Barney Ross
- Sylvester Stallone
- Lee Christmas
- Jason Statham
- Yin Yang
- Jet Li
- Gunnar Jensen
- Dolph Lundgren
- Booker
- Chuck Norris
- Hale Caesar
- Terry Crews
- Toll Road
- Randy Couture
- Billy "The Kid" Timmons
- Liam Hemsworth
- Hector
- Scott Adkins
- Maggie
- Yu Nan
- Jean Vilain
- Jean-Claude Van Damme
- Mr Church
- Bruce Willis
- Trench
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Pilar
- Amanda Ooms
- Lacy
- Charisma Carpenter
Crew
- Director
- Simon West
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