Skip to content

FictionMachine

Deconstructing the machinery of cinema.

  • About
  • Essays Index
  • Reviews Index
  • External Reviews
  • Spoilers

Tag: Sylvester Stallone

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: The Expendables 2 (2012)

February 17, 2021 Grant Watson

The requirements for a good sequel are fairly clear. The audience wants more of the same, but they also want something different. A change of tone, a progression of the characters, a raise in stake, or whatever transformation a filmmaker … Continue reading REVIEW: The Expendables 2 (2012)

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)

January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Let us start with what usually happens. A film is made and becomes a small-to-moderate hit. There is not a huge appetite for a sequel – not in theatres at any rate – but there is enough brand value and … Continue reading REVIEW: Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: Escape Plan (2013)

January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) breaks out of prisons for a living, using his unique skills set to find the weaknesses in America’s maximum security facilities. When he is hired by the CIA to undertake the same task on an international … Continue reading REVIEW: Escape Plan (2013)

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: The Expendables (2010)

November 30, 2020 Grant Watson

The Expendables is a classic example of a film giving an audience exactly what it wants – whether that is a good thing or not. In its defence, for the large part that does seem a good thing: Sylvester Stallone’s deliberately generic film … Continue reading REVIEW: The Expendables (2010)

action, review4 Comments

Review: Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

September 21, 2019January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) lives on his family ranch with Mexican housekeeper Maria (Adriana Bazzara) and her granddaughter Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal). When Gabrielle – a high school graduate on her way to college – receives details on her … Continue reading Review: Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

drama, review1 Comment

REVIEW: Creed II (2018)

November 26, 2018January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Following his boxing victory over middleweight champion Danny Wheeler, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) continues his path through the ranks of world boxing. When he reaches the height of the sport – world heavyweight champion – an unexpected challenger … Continue reading REVIEW: Creed II (2018)

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

April 4, 2018January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Three years into his prison sentence, Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is pulled out of incarceration to participate into a secret reconnaissance mission into Vietnam to look for prisoners-of-war still in custody. The mission is supposed to be a … Continue reading REVIEW: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

action, review4 Comments

REVIEW: First Blood (1982)

March 26, 2018January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is passing through the Washington state town of Hope when he is picked up and harassed by local sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy). Refusing to back down at Teasle’s threats, he finds himself arrested … Continue reading REVIEW: First Blood (1982)

action, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: Rambo (2008)

March 23, 2018March 23, 2018 Grant Watson

Troubled Vietnam War veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) lives a reclusive life in rural Thailand when he is approached by a group of Christian missionaries. They want passage up-river to Myanmar, where they intend to provide medical assistance and prayer … Continue reading REVIEW: Rambo (2008)

drama, essay1 Comment

“One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time.” | Creed (2015)

February 26, 2018January 27, 2021 Grant Watson

Halfway through the 2015 drama Creed there is a scene of a boxing match. The two boxers tap gloves, the bell rings, and they begin to warily circle one another. They start to get in some hits, back and forth. … Continue reading “One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time.” | Creed (2015)

Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×