My review was written in January 1989 after watching the movie on Media Home Entertainment video cassette.
Filipino action specialist Cirio H. Santiago comes up with a well-made but ho-hum Vietnam War saga in "The Expendables", which played off theatrically last year.
His excellent handling of English dialog makes this indistinguishable from all-American films, as gung-ho Capt. Rosello (Anthony Finetti) leads his band of misfits on various missions, notably to capture a Vietnamese colonel (the ubiquitous Vic Diaz) for interrogation.
With its usual quota of explosions and battles, film is enjoyable on a mindless action level, but bogs down in some rather pretentious verbal exchanges as Philip Alderton's script tries lamely for significance.
Cast is adequate in executing stereotypes (the religious fanatic nicknamed Lord, a bitter black soldier, a racist in the platoon, etc.). Glum ending is overly downbeat.
Filipino action specialist Cirio H. Santiago comes up with a well-made but ho-hum Vietnam War saga in "The Expendables", which played off theatrically last year.
His excellent handling of English dialog makes this indistinguishable from all-American films, as gung-ho Capt. Rosello (Anthony Finetti) leads his band of misfits on various missions, notably to capture a Vietnamese colonel (the ubiquitous Vic Diaz) for interrogation.
With its usual quota of explosions and battles, film is enjoyable on a mindless action level, but bogs down in some rather pretentious verbal exchanges as Philip Alderton's script tries lamely for significance.
Cast is adequate in executing stereotypes (the religious fanatic nicknamed Lord, a bitter black soldier, a racist in the platoon, etc.). Glum ending is overly downbeat.