My quick rating - 5.0/10. Time for another summer popcorn movie at its core by definition. Part 4 limps into theaters with all the explosive grandeur expected nearly a decade after the last, but unfortunately, it fails to live up to the franchise's once-mighty reputation. With a staggering $100 million budget, one would expect a film polished to perfection, yet this installment falls short on several fronts, leaving me with a bitter taste of disappointment. First and foremost, the blatant and poorly executed use of green screen technology is impossible to ignore. In an era where seamless CGI is the norm, the amateurish implementation of special effects in key action sequences is jarring and unforgivable. I was basically dumbstruck questioning how a movie with such a substantial budget could overlook this fundamental aspect of modern filmmaking. Adding to the film's woes is the sudden and inexplicable inclusion of Megan Fox as a high-ranking Expendable. Her character's introduction lacks depth and leaves you bewildered, wondering where she came from and why she holds such a significant role within the team. The lack of character development makes her presence feel forced and out of place, disrupting the established dynamic of the series. The cringe-worthy dialogue and gratuitous sexual jokes further mar the viewing experience. What might have been intended as humor often comes across as tasteless and uninspired, eliciting groans rather than genuine laughter. Such attempts at humor feel outdated and out of touch, failing to resonate with the viewers. Moreover, the film suffers from a lackluster villain who fails to leave a lasting impression. A memorable antagonist is crucial in action films, but in this case, the villain's motives are uninspired, making it difficult to invest emotionally in the conflict between the heroes and their adversaries. It didn't even seem like the actor playing said villain was buying into his own role. I am being vague there so I don't spoil the only twist this flick even attempts. The excessive use of shaky cam directing adds to the disappointment, obscuring the action and making it difficult to follow the choreography of the fight scenes. This technique, when overused, detracts from the excitement rather than enhancing it, leaving viewers frustrated and disconnected from the action. Lastly, the wasted potential of Sylvester Stallone, a cornerstone of the franchise, is disheartening. His character lacks the scree time and gravitas that made him iconic in the previous films, reducing him to a mere shadow of his former self. While Jason Statham's performance might appeal to his fans, it's not enough to salvage the film from its overall mediocrity. After recently watching The Raid 2, it is great to see Iko Uwais kicking some big-budget ass though, and there is nothing to dislike when Tony Jaa enters the picture. Also newcomer Levy Tran as Lash is an excellent addition to the team assuming they attempt to go forward possibly with a new generation. But to wrap this up, this flick is a disappointing misfire that squanders its considerable budget and talented cast. I sit on this generous rating since it has good action scenes in there but just wow on the shortcomings. As a fans of the franchise I am hoping for a return to form in potential future installments, as this one falls far short of the mark.
The usual suspects have this one for theater pricing as of 11.08.23 (in case you feel the need to disagree in 6 months when it is $10 cheaper)
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