Machete vs. The Expendables

[Testsubject909]

In case no one had noticed, "the world" wasn't too fond of The Expendables either.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_expendables/

And no, I am not trying to say, "Moar ppl agree with me there4 i m rite!"
I'm just saying, Bob is not the only one in the fucking world that hated The Expendables.

Quite the opposite, the movie made $177,228,000 worldwide, so yeah, the world was fond of the Expendables.

Scott Pilgrim? Not so much.

Wait, Rotten Tomatoes isn't the whole world? Someone should tell them!

You have to admit, though, Scott Pilgrim was a good action comedy. And widely beloved movies like Office Space and Fight Club did poorly in the box office, too. I hope it makes up for it on DVD and Blu-Ray, it deserves it.

In contrast, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace made megabucks. Like The Expendables, it did so by riding a tsunami of popular hype. Surely, if the box office is a reliable measure of quality, then Episode I must be at least three times better The Expendables.

I have the odd feeling that if you ask a lot of people, you're going to get a lot of positive "Yes, it was"...

But, you can't forget the hold recent impressions holds. After all, many people often temporarily discard their old-time favorites for the passion-du-jour.

 

[romxxii]

If you want to fight the audience, I humbly suggest a mailbag showdown next time; although the column this week was excellent.

-snip-

This. But to be fair, he was right about the Expendables, just like he was right about the sparkly vampire movies (which I saw no one defend when he panned it). Hell, all of the complainers I categorize as part of Team Retard from Yahtzee's Mailbag Showdown. No offense.

 

[Bat Vader]

this is the third time (123) time he has said something about Expendables, thats not being a critic, thats a snob. MOVE ON Bob.

Why does it matter to you about how many times Movie Bob talks about The Expendables film? If you do not like that he talks about it so much than don't read what he writes about it. Just because he has talked about The Expendables three times does not mean you can insult him.

 

[titaniumChampion]

This. But to be fair, he was right about the Expendables, just like he was right about the sparkly vampire movies (which I saw no one defend when he panned it). Hell, all of the complainers I categorize as part of Team Retard from Yahtzee's Mailbag Showdown. No offense.

Whether he was right or not on Expendables is irrelevant when understanding why all of the "Mailbag Showdown" -- as you call it -- occurred. Yahtzee was not fond of the game itself, and people went on the offensive for not liking the game. Most of the comments that I have found on the "MB vs Expendables" subject are NOT referring to him having an unfavorable opinion of Expendables, but instead are for insulting the audience and not properly reviewing in his normal style.

I hold the opinion that MB has done his job proper with this article. And I think that your analogy, that people that complained about Yahtzee hating SSBB and those that were responding to a vitriolic hate of an audience are equal, is invalid.

In short, I believe that you are a part of the Team Retard for responding to a thread you know nothing about. No offense.

 

[Primus1985]

I wanna know what the Hell Bob's problem is with Steven Segal and Dolph Lundren? I liked both movies, however I think Machete was one of he best movies of the year. I think The Expendables wasnt supposed to have much depth. Now I will say reducing Jet Li to a bit part...when he can take apart these guys without blinking...is absurd.

But still Steven Segal and Dolph lundren are badass i'd lke to see them in more movies.

 

[VanityGirl]

Question, why did so many people give a shit when MovieBob blasted the Expendables and ridiculed those who saw it, yet when he did the almost EXACT thing for Transformers 2, no one said a word.

You know, Expendables is the kind of movie you'll forget about as time passes. The real difference between it and Machete is that Machete will be the movie that you talk about 6 months from now.

 

[Testsubject909]

Question, why did so many people give a shit when MovieBob blasted the Expendables and ridiculed those who saw it, yet when he did the almost EXACT thing for Transformers 2, no one said a word.

You know, Expendables is the kind of movie you'll forget about as time passes. The real difference between it and Machete is that Machete will be the movie that you talk about 6 months from now.

Big names in The Expendables, no pre-set status (Transformers already had a wide fanbase to which they'd be adamant to the story or subject, etc. So there were expectations to be had), Transformers was a romance movie first before an action movie due to the protagonist libido, clear inconsistencies between Transformers 1 and 2 were present as well (so it was a sequel as opposed to being the first original, which gives you more leeway as expectations aren't as high).

Both are guilty pleasures, but the Expendables has more going for it, so there's less to annoy the fanbase and more to protect.

Personally, I'd think this movie would've probably been less irritable if it had maybe half the amount of star members featured. Too many big stars on screen and you end up having to share those 2 hours through all that many more people, which leaves little time for exposition or for kickassery per cast member.

Actually, if they'd stick to just two or three star members, they'd still have been able to kick a whole lots of wholesome ass and do it far more righteously.

 

[Arisato-kun]

Machete vs. The Expendables

It's a B-movie shootout between Rodriguez and Stallone.

Read Full Article

You are a genius. I want you to know that. Don't let the rest of those assholes get to you when they complain that you called them idiots. You have every right to feel the basic human emotion of anger and more so to blame those who deserve it. Good work this week Bob!

People are idiots because they decided to go to a movie with every action star ever over a movie with Micheal Cera?

Alright then.

Nah people are idiots because they went to see a mediocre action flick over an awesome action flick solely because Michael Cera was in the latter. Everyone knows that Kieran Culkin's performance is reason enough to see Scott Pilgrim.

 

[Irridium]

Machete vs. The Expendables

It's a B-movie shootout between Rodriguez and Stallone.

Read Full Article

You are a genius. I want you to know that. Don't let the rest of those assholes get to you when they complain that you called them idiots. You have every right to feel the basic human emotion of anger and more so to blame those who deserve it. Good work this week Bob!

People are idiots because they decided to go to a movie with every action star ever over a movie with Micheal Cera?

Alright then.

Nah people are idiots because they went to see a mediocre action flick over an awesome action flick solely because Michael Cera was in the latter. Everyone knows that Kieran Culkin's performance is reason enough to see Scott Pilgrim.

Micheal Cera has played the same type of person in the same types of movies for ages. So its logical people would conclude that this is more of the same.

 

[romxxii]

Question, why did so many people give a shit when MovieBob blasted the Expendables and ridiculed those who saw it, yet when he did the almost EXACT thing for Transformers 2, no one said a word.

You know, Expendables is the kind of movie you'll forget about as time passes. The real difference between it and Machete is that Machete will be the movie that you talk about 6 months from now.

This. He's reviewed a lot of terrible movies this way. Eclipse received just as much hate.

 

[titaniumChampion]

-snip-

When you say everybody, did you really look through all of the posts for the Expendables? Your analogy is still terrible because as I said before most were offended at his stereotyping, and not because he hated the film. Unfortunately, if you would've done any research you would've known that the Eclipse review is entirely different than the Expendables. Expendables starts off by mentioning what it earned in the box office, and not talking about the film itself. Eclipse did not have him cursing out the audience saying it was "sheep" this or "just when you thought the human race couldn't prove itself any more f*cking worthless." He measured the film's worth based off of his affection for another. Do you believe the review would've been different had something else reached #1 in the box office? I do. That is what I mean by a review not done in his usual style. Typically his reviews are very thorough and are only on the movie in focus, and it never mattered what reached #1 at the box office. And as you can see, it's not a defense but reality.

The reason that the sheep comment bothers people is that it seems he wants to become a shepherd. His problem isn't that there are sheep, it's that they aren't being led in the direction he desires. Brainless entertainment is one thing, but trying to tell people you know what's best for them is a tad presumptuous.

Lastly, calling me retarded outright with full offense intended shows your character. I was only doing so in a tongue-in-cheek fashion in the same way you implied. Just because someone disagrees with you, and can prove your points invalid, shouldn't result in name-calling. Your lack of civility is proof enough that you have no class or substantial evidence to back your claims. Please stop antagonizing me if you have no credibility. Thank you, and good day.

 

[DiscoAtThePanic]

Bob, maybe you cannot convince other people to think like you and you should stop trying? If you had not come out and attacked the fans of the Expendables instead of just saying you did not like the movie, maybe the whole mess never would have gotten so out of hand. Maybe you might not have to keep discussing the movie if you stopped trying to get the last word. Someone is always going to answer any point you try to make about it, so you will never get the last word. I think there IS some truth to the accusation you attacked the Expendables because of Scott Pilgrim. The fact is Scott Pilgrim failed because of Scott Pilgrim, not because another movie killed it. Let the people like what they like and do not try to tell them they are wrong Like what YOU like and tell us WHY. When you try to make it a battle, you will lose because there will always be more people that are not you than there are people that are you. Like they say, when it's you against the world, bet on the world.
Very Demotivational [http://verydemotivational.com/2010/03/19/demotivational-posters-and-the-world/]

I think he's avoiding explaining why because he did say why.


It's... not that tough. I'm actually quite confused each time I see someone posting "Explain to us why you didn't like the expendables instead of attacking us!"

Because... Quite honestly, if you can get over the fact that he's attacking the fans, why he didn't like the movie is pretty clear, especially now after this article and his triad of revies of Machete, Scott Pilgrim and The Expendables.

Also, the whole deal about telling people they're wrong? Sometimes, sometimes (let me stress this again. Sometimes.) it's a good idea. In this day and age of information where the idea that all opinions are right being reinforced despite it's many flaws and it's troubles it brings us as a society and in politics... It wouldn't be bad to drive people into the proper path, even if we gotta do it with a freaking hammer to their heads.

People aren't always fully aware of what's best for them, or of the consequences of their actions. Not many people see beyond their immediate profit, and even then, some misjudge exactly what is a profit for them. Now, ignorance is bliss, but even in ignorance you can suffer and many people suffer ignorantly (See the US. If you don't know what I'm talking about... well. Um... don't bother replying or reading my post?).

Of course, there are certain compromises to values and ideals going on at work here. It's like the fine line between dictatorship and democracy... Actually, it's finding a third path. One were the ideals of democracy are upheld, but with a dictatorial touch of sort, where the ones qualified for the tasks would be counted in. (of course, I think my ideas here are moving more towards politics here then personal opinions, but can still be applied on various subjects. Though the answer, as always, tends to be, educate the masses and they will grow and learn, to which case, they will then become fitting for what was stated prior to this little add-on.)

PS. It's 2:15AM, anyone else here mentally tired yet for some reason can't seem to fall asleep?

That makes no sense. Liking a movie that is simple entertainment that does not try to be anything else is niether dumb nor bad for you. Your Anti-American posturing and ridiculous "Middle ground between democracy and dictatorship" mental clevland steamer has nothing to do with Bob calling people stupid for not liking the movies he likes.

 

[DiscoAtThePanic]

Question, why did so many people give a shit when MovieBob blasted the Expendables and ridiculed those who saw it, yet when he did the almost EXACT thing for Transformers 2, no one said a word.

You know, Expendables is the kind of movie you'll forget about as time passes. The real difference between it and Machete is that Machete will be the movie that you talk about 6 months from now.

This. He's reviewed a lot of terrible movies this way. Eclipse received just as much hate.

He explained, very well, that his biggest problem with the Twilight movies was the Mormon abstinance and marriage views put forth in the movie, beyond just how bad the movies were, and I do not remember him directly calling the fans idiots. He attacked the people who enjoyed the Expendables as idiots, even though he defended the people who enjoyed GI Joe for likeing a movie that was just pure entertainment. Your arguments make no sense.

 

[bicepfetishist1]

Argghhh MovieBob! The only thing baffling about the Expendables success is your baffling in ability to understand it's appeal...That's not the same thing as liking it btw. You don't have to LIKE Twilight to understand why other people (/girls) do. Movie reviewers are supposed to have OBJECTIVELY and an OVERVIEW of the movie industry. Bob has neither.

The Expendables vs Scott Pilgrim now the Expendables vs Machete can't you evaluate a movie in it's own right on it's own merits? On how effectively it's doing what it's TRYING to do?

Also the Machete was far more lame OTT and just plain silly than the kind of semi-reality rooted hard edged action and chaos the Expendables shoots for and achieves in most people's eyes. Lots of people like the Expendables for EXACTLY the reasons you hate it BOB. And that still doesn't make them idiots!

You hate MMA style fighting on screen? Good for you. Me and half of the Escapist loved it by all accounts. Fyi it's the same shaky cam style that's in Borne (which you hold up as an example of improved post 1980s action btw). Consistency Bob...you suck at it.

Depth? Seriously? Depth! You think anyone is seeing either of those movies to learn something about the world they didn't already know? Holy Cow Bob it just gets better and better. Wait racism=bad, Latinos = Good. You needed to see Machete to figure that out did you? And while we're on the subject of depth where the hell was it in G.I Joe Rise of Cobra and Pirhana 3D? Good ol Consistency Bob...

So in summary you wanted the ensemble action movie of the century to be a Robert Rodriguez vanity project inspired by anti-Latino racism topical US boarder issues and featuring Jessica Alba doing Wi Fi high kicks? And anyone who disagrees with this can suck an egg? Okay Bob whatever you say...

MovieBob vs the World...continues.LOL

 

[PeterDawson]

Okay, seriously, I am glad this is the last anti-Expendables rant for a while (so he claims), because I'm still not seeing anything new. I should add before I go any further that I do think Machete was the better film. That point stands, no question.

First up, he called it bafflingly-popular again. Movies with fan-followed casts usually do well unless they really sucked. Stallone, Willis, Statham, Li, Rourke, those five alone in a movie together can probably guarantee you a couple dozen million. If nothing else, the film did deliver a cast of awesomeness, even though it didn't live up to the potential it had. It sure as hell didn't suck either.

Other thing I'm flat out calling him on is the claim of a lack of depth. I mean, its certainly not as deep as some films, but its still better than a good chunk of the films from its genre. Rourke's scenes combined with the views of the more prominent cast members really offers a good look at what happens to mercs when they want to get out of the job. It's got some depth, easily. This isn't Transformers 2 where we have inconsitent drivel about destiny that somehow lets a guy cheat death. In spite of the cartoonish violence that crops up its decently grounded, which really helps the impact. If anything the fact that it doesn't fully embrace either the cartoonish-ness or the depth is its big flaw, aside from having Couture show us his non-acting and the piss-poor camera work present in many scenes. In the end though its quite satisfying. Really my big problem is how to compare it to the A-Team. It was certainly more interesting than the Losers, but the A-Team? Both ride on nostalgia and while having entertaining scenes don't quite give us what we'd really, really like to see. A-Team did give us that cool tank bit though. Toss-up.

 

[Someperson307]

Machete wasn't all that good. It got really boring towards the end. But I loved it when Machete performed a triple-decapitation at the beginning.