Occasionally a movie comes along that cannot be fairly reviewed like every other movie. To even compare it to normal movies would be like comparing a child’s math skills to the math skills of someone in college. These movies tend to be so bad, so dumb, and so ridiculous the only way to have fun, is lower the scales and shut off the brain. “The Expendables 3” perfectly defines this genre.

“The Expendables 3” is an action movie directed by Patrick Hughes and stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many other action movie stars old and upcoming. After a severe injury to a key member of the Expendables squad, Barney Ross (Stallone) decides to put together a team with new blood to take down a villain from his past, Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson). When the mission goes wrong and his new team is captured, Ross must once again turn to his old team to get them back and take down Stonebanks once and for all.

Even if a film is not good by the standard definition, fun can still be had. The film is the best in the series because it has the most action. It still has problems, but it also has something the other films did not have.

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It sets up a world previously nonexistent in the other movies.

In the other “Expendables” films, it never felt like this was a real inhabited movie universe. It was as if the other films had plenty of action and one-liners and that was it. There is never an indication to what the “Expendables” are besides a bunch of tough mercenaries who one day decided to get together and shoot everything up. This film gives the series history and it gives its characters feelings, thoughts and motivations, even if some of them are a little trite and overused.

One of the best aspects of “The Expendables 3” is who steals the show.

Gibson and Antonio Banderas are near perfect in the film. While the film does not always rise up to the talent of both actors, they definitely elevate their roles. Gibson is a frightening villain and the greatest of the series. He is not only more intellectual than Eric Roberts from “The Expendables 1,” but he is also more imposing than Jean-Claude Van Damme in “The Expendables 2.” It is only disappointing he is not given more time on screen.

The last sentiment also applies to Banderas. Every moment Banderas is in a scene, your eyes are transfixed on him. He is a ball of energy, adventure and passion. This is nice to see in comparison to actors like Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture, who show very little emotion at all.

It is a difficult task to suggest whether or not to see “The Expendables 3.” I could sit here and explain all of the reasons why it is a terrible movie, and by standard definitions, it is a very bad film. If you are able to shut off your brain and have fun with a film, then “The Expendables 3” is for you. If not, skip it. It is that simple.

Jacob Pierce can be reached by email at [email protected] on Twitter @JacobPierce1_DE, or at 536-3311 ext. 273

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