The cast of ‘The Expendables’

Let me flop this in, turn down the lights, make sure our sodas and popcorn are ready to go. And we can sit back for two hours of comic twists or heart-pounding excitement.

What has happened to the cinema lately? Unless you have a sure-fire hit in your hands, like “Salt” with Angelina Jolie or “Avatar,” directed by James Cameron, the concept for watching good movies has become old hat.

Oh sure, we can say “indie film” to call attention to the fact that there are still people out there with a good story to tell. The days of Gerardo de Leon, Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya may be long past, but is there hope for the future? Is there a better way for us to spend P500-P700 on a movie, with a date, refreshments, and fast food?

View The Past

A good way for us to enjoy movies is to watch with a CD player or a computer. And if you happen to live near a reliable store, the choice is infinite. What was it about the Civil War movie “Gone with the Wind” that made it a worldwide hit? Is “Midnight Cowboy” really about sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Are parts of “American Gangster” true to urban life? Can one survive as a “Forrest Gump?”

Viewing the work of Filipino icons can be equally advantageous. What was it about Manuel Conde’s “Genghis Khan” that made it a hit in the 1952 Venice International Film Festival?

Knowing what happened in the past can make the present a truly worthwhile experience.

LOOK AT NOW!

Okay, so you’re adequately connected with the stories of the past. What do you do now? You can’t see the latest blockbuster from Hollywood, right?

Well, be prepared for the thrill of a lifetime. Sylvester Stallone is back in the driver’s seat.

‘The Expendables’

What is most expendable in a movie, dubbed “The Expendables,” in terms of box office weight? Well, the story, one surmises considering the fact that this movie, directed by and starring Sly Stallone, boasts such box office stars as Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke, ably supported by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger!

So you come to this movie with a minimum of expectation. You sit back, and voila, you have entered a brutal, true-to-life, action-adventure that defies all convention. The mission, as explained by Willis, is simple and matter of fact.

You touch down on the island of Vilena in the Gulf of Mexico, overthrow the regime headed by a brutal dictator, General Garza, while killing the true brains behind the drug smuggling government, an ex-CIA operative named James Munroe.

Enter a bunch of mercenaries here, called “The Expendables,” headed by Sly Stallone, and you’ve got the biggest thrill ride ever. Ably assisted by blades specialist Jason Statham and martial artist Jet Li, plus a romantic entanglement via the General’s daughter Sandra (played by Gisele Itie), Sly gets the action sequences done, with the same fierce vengeance as Rambo and the never-say-die optimism of Rocky.

Never before has Mickey Rourke played an ageing mercenary or Dolph Lundgren a dope addicted member of a task force until now. The screenplay, written by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, definitely delivers.

The film made its US debut at 3,270 theaters with approximately 4,300 screens, which earned it $34.8 million in its opening weekend and took the #1 position in the US box office. “The Expendables” is definitely worth watching.

TAKE A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE

You can also retreat this week for a bit of down-to-earth research. Time to get connected to what’s new, un-tried, and revolutionary. Bring out your books on cinema, and explore the realms of imagination with your computer.

It’s time to get discovered as the next Sylvester Stallone. Way back when “Rocky” was new, just barely the draft of a screenplay. Or better yet, just bring out the popcorn! And watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster on screen.

Czar Viriña has worked as a writer and creative director at advertising agencies in Manila, New York, and Toronto. He currently resides in Antipolo. Contact czarvirina@yahoo.com for the latest info tidbit.