A young boy comes to the realization that a famed superhero, who was thought to have gone missing after an epic battle twenty-five years ago, may in fact still be around.

In terms of cinematic dominance, the superhero genre is currently the king of the box office. Daring heroes and heroines face down monsters and madmen, and audiences flock to witness these colossal battles of mighty Earth-bound gods. Now Sylvester Stallone is ready to step into the ring with a new take on the genre in Samaritan, and this is a dark and edgy piece of cinema that hits hard. Director Julius Avery centres his film in the dark and foreboding environment of Granite City, and Samaritan takes a boots-on-the-ground approach to its narrative delivery. This is a dark and gritty story that mirrors the mucky, rain-soaked environment in which it takes place. There’s no four-colour spandex in this world, and the relevance of Samaritan’s legacy as a hero has great significance to the story.

While Samaritan does have intense action beats and fits very squarely in the classic superhero action mould, Avery and Stallone focus much of their attention on a character study of the reclusive former hero Joe Smith. As a city garbage man, Stallone’s Smith is unassuming and not looking to buck the system, he’s hidden himself away from the world and spends his time fixing broken things. In short, this is a very different kind of character for Stallone to play, and it’s incredibly interesting to see him play so much against type. While Stallone is no stranger to the superhero genre, it’s interesting as an audience member to see him play such an introverted and reclusive character. As the narratives move forward his decisions for retiring the cape are made clear, and there’s one hell of a shock that you won’t be ready for.

Fans of the superhero genre will also be interested in how Avery and Stallone inject a classic sense of mythology and archetypal symbolism into Samaritan. With its presence of warring fraternal twins, the ashes of a destroyed city and the need for a hero to rise, Samaritan takes much inspiration from the classics in its construction and this grounds its narrative and gives the journey of Joe Smith much more dramatic weight.

Samaritan takes its time with its action moments, and while there are a few scraps, it’s not until the third act were things heat up. And it goes nuclear pretty quickly. This third-act throwdown makes for one hell of scrap on screen. And Stallone brings the fight. This is mano-o-mano action delivered with an old-school sluggers intensity. The explosions are big, the hits nasty, and Stallone jumps right in. His full-on bout with Pilou Asbæk’s gang lord Cyrus makes for a thrilling watch, and Avery turns up the heat. This final fight also carries a huge shock for the narrative, and audiences won’t see this hit coming, making the action more intense.

Sylvester Stallone ain’t slowing down for a moment, and his work on Samaritan is epic to witness. This character and narrative offer him a chance to play against type, along with finding a new side to an established genre and fans of superhero fiction will take something unique away from this one.

Samaritan is now streaming on Prime Video.

Image: Prime Video

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Rambo (Stallone) travels to Mexico to save his adoptive daughter who has been kidnapped by a Mexican cartel.

If you’re looking for an action movie to pump you up, well you’ll get it with Rambo: Last Blood and trust me when I say that this film doesn’t let up for a moment. Set 11 years after John Rambo’s return to the U.S. this haunted military man has now found some semblance of peace on the plains of Arizona. But when this tranquillity is shattered the beast inside rises up, and Rambo once again returns to war. Taking the reigns of this action cinema legend is director Adrian Grunberg, and he gives the fans what they want here. Rambo: Last Blood is bold and bloody and it seriously amps up its audience.

Returning to his roots once more is Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo, and he offers us a change of pace here. For the entire first act of the film, we’re seeing a civilized Rambo, a man who has returned to his families Arizona farmstead and who has managed to shake off the spirit of his wartime trauma and found a sense of meaning as the adoptive father to his niece Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal). What we see is the archetypal story of the warrior who finds peace after putting down his sword, but when this peace is robbed of him by unexpected violence Rambo must return to the beast that he once was.

While Stallone easily steps back into the extreme action that has come to be a hallmark of the franchise, we get to see a deeper side to the Rambo character. Quiet and stoic, this is a man who puts himself at the edge of danger to protect the innocent, and when he can’t do this it eats at his soul. Stallone’s Rambo has an inherent need to protect things, to safeguard the good and to do the right thing, and when of course there is no recourse for this he’s got to roll up his sleeves and get the job done himself when the need arises for vengeance.

Joining Stallone and aiding him in his quest is Paz Vega as Mexican journalist Carmen Delgado and it’s a different turn for Vega. While audiences have come to know Vega as a scintillating Mexican beauty, here she grunges herself up, and carries a deep sense of trauma as she tries to fight her own battles on the edge of the Mexican border. Sensing the pain that Rambo feels after tragedy strikes his family, Carmen is the one person to offer him support and it is through her that he can get his vengeance. Vega and Stallone create a good interaction between one another and as an audience member it’s good to see her mixing things up on the screen.

Providing the catalyst for Rambo’s revenge is Spaniard Sergio Peris-Mencheta who takes on the menacing role of Mexican cartel leader Hugo Martinez and it’s a role that is all business for Peris-Mencheta. As the big boss on the other side of the border who is mixed up in sex slavery and human trafficking, there is very little that Peris-Mencheta’s Martinez will do to ensure a profit, and this causes him to cross the line with Rambo. Frighteningly menacing, Peris-Mencheta works well in his performance as Martinez and this builds to the epic confrontation between himself and Stallone’s Rambo in the third act. Peris-Mencheta shows talent here and I’m hoping that we’ll see more of him in the Hollywood mainstream going forward.

If there’s a word to describe the action of Rambo: Last Blood then I think gnarly works well. The Rambo films have always worked in the extreme and with each new film, Rambo finds some new and more inventive way to dispatch his enemies. Here this rises to a whole new level and Rambo gets surgical here as he brings out his bowie knife and the gore factor ramps up quickly. As always we see Rambo’s preparation and thinking coming into play, courtesy of his Special Forces background, and Grunberg brings out the character’s Vietnam ‘tunnel rat’ past with an extended and fast-paced action scene set in a series of underground tunnels where Rambo goes to work on the Martinez cartel and butchers the hell out of them!

Thematically and stylistically, Rambo: Last Blood moves away from its war film setting and instead we get a unique Western tone. Assuming a cowboy person as the now Stateside Rambo, Stallone brings out the character’s Native American heritage here, and his knowledge of the land and elements as an expert tracker shows us a different side to him. Stallone’s performance in Rambo: Last Blood is a real throwback to John Wayne, and the film is in keeping with such classic westerns as The Searchers and The Wild Bunch. The film’s archetypal characterizations are also in keeping with classic mythic structures as we see the old warrior rise back up to face the horde and your heart will be palpitating with the action that is unleashed on screen here.

If you like your action heavy and bloody then you’ll be in for a wild ride with Rambo: Last Blood as Stallone puts his final stamp on this action cinema icon.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed (Jordan). 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 (Sylvester Stallone) is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what is worth fighting for, and discover that nothing is more important than family.

Creed 2 was the sequel we’ve long been waiting for and director Steven Caple Jr. steps up to the fight. Set three years post Creed, Creed 2 picks up with Adonis as a solid contender for the Heavyweight title with everything to win. But after gaining the belt things get interesting and the old adage ‘that the wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill’ suddenly rings true and that’s exactly where Creed 2 takes us. Wherein Creed we were watching the Heroes Journey playing out, here in Creed 2 we’re watching what comes next and how Adonis has to face new challenges when he suddenly has everything to lose.

Caple Jr. really focuses on the interior of his characters in Creed 2 and through the film’s most heartbreaking moments you see Adonis, a proud, strong fighter at his most vulnerable. For me Creed 2 is an exploration of what happens when you take the character of the hero apart, dissect it, retool it and put it back together. By the time of the eventual final showdown between Adonis and Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), you’re looking at a completely different man and it’s an interesting route to take. If I were to liken Creed 2 to any of the previous Rocky films I’d have to place it in context to Rocky 3 as it follows a similarly redemptive tale and Adonis has to return to the basics and get truly tough again to overcome an immense obstacle in front of him. The drama punches hard in Creed 2 and Caple Jr. is definitely the one to thank for it.

Since Creed Michael B. Jordan has established himself as a legitimate A-list star, but his work ethic and commitment to the character of Adonis Creed still remains here and the result is an exceptional performance on Jordan’s behalf. It’s always interesting when an actor takes on a character for a second act and here we get to see a different side of Adonis, as husband and father, and a man who has other more important responsibilities placed upon him rather than just winning the belt. His is an interesting performance here and as Adonis goes through his redemptive journey you see the character at his most emotionally raw, and this is only amplified by his new position as a father and trying to be there for his child in the way that his own father, Apollo Creed, couldn’t be there for him. In addition to the emotional power of his performance, Jordan is also a beast in the ring and lets just say he’s shredded to the core and his mission to get truly tough again will leave you feeling pumped.

Again providing back-up in Creed 2 is the one and only Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, the former heavyweight champ who has become a godfather of sorts to Adonis. Like the first film Rocky is again a man caught in time and stuck in a life he no longer understands. Like Jordan, Stallone is equally raw in his performance and as Adonis is trying to learn what it means to be a father, Rocky is struggling to reconnect with his own son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia). Creed 2 is very much an exploration of fathers and sons and how they impact each others lives and in all the film’s central male characters you see this being played out. This thematic presence elevates the film above a mere popcorn blockbuster tale and it absolutely leaves you engaged.

Along with the return of Adonis and Rocky, Creed 2 also sees the return of the infamous Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) who killed Apollo Creed more than thirty-three years ago inside the ring, and now the former Russian heavy hitter is ready to come back with his equally intimidating son Viktor (Florian Munteanu). Wherein Rocky 4 Ivan Drago was this bigger than life giant, the man we meet now is a shell of his former self, abandoned by his country and the woman he loved, and determined to regain his former glory no matter the cost. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a performance for Lundgren and he excels up on screen as Ivan, as does Munteanu as his son Viktor and this relentlessness to retake the belt no matter what the cost presents a strained and very fractured relationship between father and son.

If you’re seeking to get your heart rate going then you’ve come to the right place with Creed 2….cause the action here is brutal. Both Jordan and Munteanu attack it with everything they’ve got and the intensity really shakes about the ring. The fights are bone crushing and when these two warriors enter the ring someone will leave broken. Like all good Rocky-Creed films there’s also the build-up to the actual fight and with a powerful score from Ludwig Goransson and ASAP Rocky and the atmosphere of the  barren Californian desert, which is beautifully captured by cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, Adonis gets a lesson in what it means to be tough as he unearths his animal side once more. The film’s climatic fight is a full on war and the legacy of Creed/Drago is on the line here in an exhilarating match-up.

If Creed was about ‘who are you’ then Creed 2 is definitely related to ‘why do you fight?’ This existential question gives the film real substance and it’s an essential part of the make-up of any fighter. This is Caple Jr.’s focus throughout the film and each time Adonis steps into the ring he gains further understanding of why he fights, and with some hard lessons learnt and the pain that comes with them his full realization as to his life’s purpose is present in the climatic final battle with Drago.

If you’re seeking a solid TKO then Creed 2 is the film to give it to you. Packed out with raw emotion and some gnarly fight action, this film is a tremendously exciting next step in the Rocky-Creed mythos and cements the legacy of Adonis Creed and Michael B. Jordan as both character and actor who is truly one of the best around.

Image: Roadshow Films

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This statement made by rising contender Adonis ‘Hollywood’ Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) is the driving force behind director Ryan Coogler’s Creed, and will move audiences to cheer loudly as this young fighter makes his play to define his own legacy. Here’s the synopsis:

Adonis Johnson Creed (Jordan), the illegitimate son of former World Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps. It’s this motivation that brings him to Philadelphia where he meets his father’s former opponent and best Friend Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to request his help to become champion.

While fans of the Rocky film series are sure to line up for this epic spin off, Creed is very much a unique and strong contender in its own right. Here’s five reasons to watch:

5. All in the ring

Creed is firmly about the culture of fighting, and the physical, mental, and spiritual strength that it requires to be a fighter. All of this leads to some incredible ring footage courtesy of Coogler and his cinematographer Maryse Alberti. With the use of well-defined steadicam footage audiences will feel every punch that is pulled, and every smack that comes Adonis’ way. Coogler also continues a long time tradition of filling the Rocky films with real fighters including Tony Bellew, Andre Ward and Gabriel Rosado.

4. Philly: the city of brotherly love

Playing a larger role in the film’s events is the city of Philadelphia, which comes to serve as Adonis’ training ground, and inspires his connection with Rocky Balboa. Coogler demonstrates his understanding of the significance that Philadelphia plays within the Rocky franchise, and utilises well-known landmarks and events made famous by the previous films, while finding new ways to shine a light on their importance to Adonis’ growth as a fighter.

3. Sylvester Stallone: The Italian Stallion

The legendary Sylvester Stallone has returned as former two-time world champion Rocky Balboa and while it’s been a number of years since his final bout against Mason Dixon, he’s still mourning the loss of his wife Adrian, and now his best friend Paulie. While the arrival of Adonis sparks a renewed interest in his life, Rocky still has his own personal battles to fight, and once again this underdog rises to the challenge with a new ally in his corner. Stallone effortlessly channels the local neighborhood hero we’ve come to know and love, and slips into his role as a Adonis’ mentor pretty fast. It’s a change of pace for audiences seeing Rocky as a trainer rather than at the punching bag, but Stallone has the gravitas, knowledge, and respect to convincingly pull off Rocky in this new phase.

2. A new interpretation 

Director Ryan Coogler has openly commented that he is a lifelong fan of the Rocky series. With Creed, he brings us a familiar tale in a whole new light that extends the franchise with terrific new possibilities. Drawing from his own real life experience as an athlete to shape Adonis journey, and his working relationship with Michael B. Jordan which was formed on the phenomenal Fruitvale Station, Coogler really pulls the audience into the film through Adonis’ solid character arc from back alley punk to contender. At all times the audience feels the respect that Coogler gives to Stallone, while still making the film is own with solid directing and total control over the story.

1. Michael B. Jordan: fighting for his name

At the centre of Creed is the phenomenal talent that is Michael B. Jorden, a young thespian who is slowly but surely proving that he has the chops to become one of the greatest acting forces of his generation. With absolute commitment Jordan jumps head first into the role of Adonis, and channels the resentment and anger he feels as Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son. His only way to overcome that is to fight, and Jordan does this with grit and determination. Adonis’ journey and quest for purpose is easily identifiable, and audiences will cheer him on as he fights to make his own legacy a reality.

Image source: Roadshow Films.

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After breaking out one of their own, Barney (Sylvester Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the Expendables undertake a contract to capture a notorious arms smuggler. The only catch is that the arms smuggler in question turns out to be Barney’s former teammate and co-founder of The Expendables, Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), a man who Barney had to put down after he went rogue. But Stonebanks survived, and has made it his mission to destroy the team he once called his own. The story really kicks off when one of Barney’s friends is caught in the crossfire, forcing him to recruit a younger generation of Expendables to help fill out the ranks for what will be all-out war.

Sylvester Stallone once again returns as writer and star of the lucrative franchise, and this time he’s enlisted the help of Australian director Patrick Hughes. The talented director has made sure to fill the screen with enough hard-hitting action and stoic one liners to knock the audience back into their seats.

While the team’s core troops, including Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) all return, Barney is gathering some old faces and new talent. First off, there’s Wesley Snipes as the slightly unhinged knife master Doctor Death. A former medic, and one of the original Expendables, Death has a few screws loose, but is an adapt soldier who is more than capable in a firefight and can hold his own when it comes to unarmed combat, as well as giving the Expendables resident blade master, Statham’s Lee Christmas, a run for his money. Snipes jumps into this role, and instantly steals the first fifteen minutes of the movie for himself. He brings a crazed personality to Death, as well as some much needed soulful flair.

Joining Snipes is Antonio Banderas as the acrobatically gifted Galgo. A former member of the Spanish Armed Forces and Bosnian War veteran, Galgo is desperate for a chance to prove himself and recapture his masculinity and warrior spirit once more. While Galgo produces a hell of a lot of laughs out of his desperation to experience combat again, he also carries a sense of sorrow (like all the Expendables do) from the harsh realities of war. Banderas has an absolute ball as Galgo, and is equally impressive with both his comedic and dramatic timing. He also brings this wildcard sense of energy, and passion to his fight scenes, holding his own, while also plying his irresistible charm. He’s a great addition to the Expendables roster.

But it’s not just the old dogs who are along for the ride this time, as the Expendables are getting some new blood. Kellan Lutz leads the pack as washed up former Marine John Smilee, who finds a sense of purpose and a role model in Barney, while also showing off some impressive motocross skills as he inflicts some serious damage to the bad guys. However, Barney isn’t just leaving it to the boys this time, introducing Rhonda Rousey’s Luna – a tough chick if we ever saw one. She definitely is the breakout star of this piece, and being a UFC World Champion has some serious ass kicking skills to boot. Rousey also proves that she’s got the acting chops and presence to be a major star. Additionally, The Expendables get a tech infusion thanks to Glen Powell’s thrillseeking, daredevil super hacker Thorn, as well as some badass new toys courtesy of Victor Ortiz’s high tech weapons specialist, Mars.

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as Barney’s resident frenemy Trench Mauser, who once again picks up an assortment of high-powered machine guns to terminate everything in sight. Kelsey Grammer gets in on the action as retired mercenary and ‘talent scout’ Bonaparte, throwing plenty of comedy in Barney’s direction, while legendary actor Harrison Ford show’s up as C.I.A case officer and authority figure Max Drummer, who isn’t content to just give orders, storming out into the field behind the controls of a helicopter gunship.

But the biggest part of the whole movie comes in the form of chief villain Conrad Stonebanks, played by an absolutely pumped and very scary Mel Gibson. While Eric Roberts and Jean Claude Van Damme antagonised Barney and the boys in the first two installments of the series, Mel Gibson is the arch villain that The Expendables deserve. Stonebanks has a serious problem with Barney, and Gibson perfectly channels his hatred for his former teammate. What works is that Stonebanks is portrayed as the somewhat twisted mirror image of what Barney could have become had he strayed from the path, and their mano a mano, no holds barred final confrontation is absolutely brutal.

The Expendables 3 certainly isn’t short of action, and there’s some pretty impressive set pieces. While the new kids on the block get more attention than I had anticipated, the old dogs certainly learn a thing or two from them, and when these two generations of Expendables finally team up together the results are explosive. The Expendables are back, locked, loaded and ready for action. Boom Lay Boom.

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