Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X.

Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself).

If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

The Suicide Squad will be released in Australian cinemas August 5!
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Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X.

Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn.

Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement.

And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU

It first must be said that the film features some extremely graphic faux boxing footage and is not for the weak of stomach. Secondly it dips quite often into populist sentimentality. Within those constraints however, it is a very enjoyable film and mumble as he might, Stallone holds his end up quite admirably.

Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as Adonis Johnson is Balboa’s protégé and he really sells the role with his gym sculptured bod and obvious ring training. He isn’t your typical damaged goods either as he has an intelligence and civility that is usually absent in films of this ilk.

The film offers little in the way of surprises but is very entertaining and there are some very good choice of results that add to the viewing pleasure. Not for the faint of heart with it’s audacious boxing footage, it is still very entertaining.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow

We catch up with John James Rambo living out in the country on his father’s farm. He shares the space with his niece Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal) and Maria (Adriana Barraza) who ran the farm for his father. Theirs is an idyllic setting but John still carries the scars from the war and mostly lives in the caves underneath the farm.

When Gabrielle travels to Mexico to find the father that ran out on her when she was young, she gets caught up in the sex trade and it is Rambo to the rescue. This part of the film is uneven and some strange decisions are made. It introduces some characters then they just disappear, Paz Vega as the lady journalist Carmen Delgado being a prime example while others are under-utilised.

Aficionados of all out carnage might feel a bit short changed as the ratio of back story to body count is tilted to the former and not the later. The final resolve is action packed and has some inventive and gratuitous violence but some of the impact is blunted by the dark and low resolution setting. It ends up playing out like Home Alone, but for adults and with fatalities.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow

Now, Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. A deadly journey of vengeance, RAMBO: LAST BLOOD marks the last chapter of the legendary series.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD is directed by Adrian Grunberg and stars Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Adrianna Barraza, Yvette Monreal, Genie Kim aka Yenah Han, Joaquin Cosio, and Oscar Jaenada.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD releases in Australia in theatres on September 19, 2019.
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Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family.

Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

CREED II is directed by Steven Caple Jr. and stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, reprising their roles of Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa, respectively. The film also stars Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad and Dolph Lundgren.

CREED II releases in Australia on November 29, 2018.
www.facebook.com/creedmovie

Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

CREED II is directed by Steven Caple Jr. and stars Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad and Dolph Lundgren.

CREED II releases in Australia on November 28, 2018.
www.facebook.com/creedmovie

In his latest film Creed, Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa one last time (perhaps) in a surprisingly effective and very visceral boxing film. This time he exists outside the ring as he becomes the mentor to the illegitimate son of one of his greatest opponents.

It first must be said that the film features some extremely graphic faux boxing footage and is not for the weak of stomach. Secondly it dips quite often into populist sentimentality. Within those constraints however, it is a very enjoyable film and mumble as he might, Stallone holds his end up quite admirably.

Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as Adonis Johnson is Balboa’s protégé and he really sells the role with his gym sculptured bod and obvious ring training. He isn’t your typical damaged goods either as he has an intelligence and civility that is usually absent in films of this ilk.

The film offers little in the way of surprises but is very entertaining and there are some very good choice of results that add to the viewing pleasure. Not for the faint of heart with it’s audacious boxing footage, it is still very entertaining.

Rob Hudson
www.creedthemovie.com

Which is why it is especially perplexing that The Expendables has so many talky bits in it and lengthy ones at that. Do we really care about Jason Statham‘s endless diatribes on his lucklessness in love? Um… no. Do we care about how Randy Couture got his cauliflower ears? Hmmm… not really. Do we want more shooty bits and explosions? Oh, yes please!

Sly Stallone‘s new flick is the epitome of WYSIWYG movie making, what you see is definitely what you get. With an all-star gym-jockey cast which includes Stallone, Statham, Li, Lundgren, Rourke, Austin, Willis, Schwarzenegger and Eric Roberts as the bad guy, what more could we want? (Well, I suppose JCVD, Segal, Rutger and Norris would be nice but, hey, let’s not spoil ourselves!) The plot revolves around a group of hard-ass mercenaries who head to a small island in the Persian Gulf to do… something. It doesn’t matter, the point is they get into trouble and then get to shoot lots of folk and blow shit up and that’s all we care about. Slight disappointment in the lack of a Stallone/Lundgren grudge fight – it comes tantalisingly close but, alas, no cigar. The Rambo-ish, over the top cartoony violence does not disappoint, however.

How do you top a movie like Rambo (the circa 2008 version)? Well, you grab a dozen odd Rambos, throw ’em into one movie and press play. The result is predictable and less than the sum of its parts but it is a satisfying slice of beef (and cheese) cake nonetheless.

Stuart Jamieson