Who the heck are these guys? (Expendables 2)

So, I was watching the new Expendables 2 trailer, and something that bugged the heck out of me with the first movie resurfaced when I read the cast list.

See, the Expendables to me represented all my childhood action heroes from the 80's one-hand-carried-assault-rifles-genre of action movies, gathered in one movie. You all know them, since they're legends - Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren and Bruce Willis, and additionally in the 2nd movie now, Norris, van Damme and more Schwarzenegger.

So, with that concept in mind, I got to ask you guys...

Who the hell are Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews and Liam Hemsworth, and what makes them think they're worthy of being on the same big screen as the above-mentioned legends? When I was a kid, being a former MMA fighter, "pro wrestler" ( ), or acting in the Australian TV soap opera "Neighbours", didn't qualify you to call yourself an action star.

Who's with me on this?

Edit to add: The Expendables 2 trailer:

reply to post by Gauss

Remember, Arnold was a body builder first.

*but with the exception of Austin (I like him, hehe) I agree with ya for the most part.

None of those guys are going to be blockbuster stars, even with McMahon's money backing them.

reply to post by LadySkadi


You're right, he was, which I admit is a weak point in my argument - that they all started somewhere. I think my beef is, though, most of these guys haven't been in that many action movies before joining the Expendables crew, which sucks since this movie is supposed to represent the "best of the best" when it comes to action movie stars.

I guess I could see Steve Austin being in the movie since he plays a villain anyway, and villains never had the "requisite" to be big action movie star legends like the heroes do in these types of movies.

Terry Crews deserves it cause he looks the part, but Couture and Austin? c'mon now, they can barely act.

reply to post by LadySkadi


But, Hollywood will probably have another hit with this flick. They've thrown in just about every single has been action star into the same pot. With enough pyrotechnics, the chocolate goober eating masses, will gobble it up.

Des

reply to post by DeadSnow


See, it's not just about the looks or their acting skills, though. Though, while they're not exactly Liam Neesons, the action stars of "old" can act decently, it's, to me, more a matter of...well, frankly put, badassedness. Now, don't get me wrong - the four are probably very badass in person, but they don't have the same weight to their names that men like Lundgren and Stallone do. That's the core of my beef with having them on the movie.

reply to post by Destinyone


You're probably right. I'm pretty sure it will be an awesome movie in spite of the four unknowns being part of it, simply because Norris, Lundgren, Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Willis are all in it.

Originally posted by Gauss
reply to post by Destinyone

 

You're probably right. I'm pretty sure it will be an awesome movie in spite of the four unknowns being part of it, simply because Norris, Lundgren, Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Willis are all in it.

Yep...I'm of the age, that those old farts, still make my heart flutter...except for Schwarzenegger. He gives me heartburn...

Des

reply to post by Gauss

It's a bit of the "changing of the guard" with the new guard not quite stacking up, no?

Reminds me of Kobe's comment about his Dream Team and Jordan's reaction to it. Lolz

Terry Crews

I love Terry Crews, he seems to actually have a since of humor about himself.

warning some foul language.



Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho for President 2012!

reply to post by Gauss


I would not consider Couture or Austin as "unknowns". The other 2, yeah. But those two have been in their respective trades for decades. A lot of people who watch these types of movies also watched wrestling or MMA as kids. And you'd be surprised at the little kids nowadays who don't know who Stallone is, but will watch the movie because Stone Cold Steve Austin is in it. So the studio found a way to get a broader audience.

That's my theory, at least.

reply to post by Destinyone


My favorites were always Lundgren (Being Swedish like me) and Norris. Schwarzenegger is badass, but his accent makes me laugh.

reply to post by LadySkadi


You know, LadySkadi, that was really spot on the issue. The only ones of the new guard stacking up in my book are Jet Li and (barely. ) Statham, but that's just me.

reply to post by benrl


Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Crews is a great guy. Action star, however? Mmmm, I wouldn't say that, since I've never seen him in an action movie, nor heard of him before the Expendables.

reply to post by Gauss


On a serious note I guess they added crews for the humor, every good action movie needs some cheesy humor.

reply to post by OrphenFire


That sounds pretty plausible to me, though I suspect I'm not the only one it has the opposite effect on either, when it comes to people who are fans of the older generation of action stars.

Double post. FML.

reply to post by DeadSnow


I thought Toll Road with his swollen ear was the comic relief character?

reply to post by Gauss


But I'm probably not wrong in assuming that you're going to watch it anyway. The studio only wants to make money. You and anyone else who like those old actors are going to watch it and put money in their pockets lol.

Someone like me, however, will not. I'm not part of the target audience.

reply to post by OrphenFire


Except back then the UFC was barely known and fighters were allowed to stomp each other heads whilst fighting bare knuckle. The UFC has only risen to fame over the past 5 years, as for Austin...I liked him when I believed wrestling was real, and that was a long long time ago. They should've gone with the rock!