As you can see from the ad, they have cover art already. Best yet, is that Demolition Man will include an audio commentary with Marco Brambilla and Cobra will include a making-of featurette, as well as an audio commentary with director George P. Cosmatos.

The source didn’t mention anything for Assassins or The Specialist, so it’s safe to assume a trailer at most. This is extremely exciting news for fans of Stallone, as well as of some action packed flashbacks.

Thomas Jane (Punisher, HBO’s Hung) will star opposite as a cop. “He’s a hitman, I’m a cop, and we’re just opposite in every f*cking way,” says Jane. “We need each other to get this job done. And of course I’m like, ‘As soon as this job’s over, I’m going to take you to jail, you know, you’re a killer.”

Sounds great.

Source: Arrow

Stallone will play a New Orleans hitman who teams with a New York City cop in the action film to be directed by Wayne Kramer (The Cooler) from a script by Alessandro Camon (The Messenger). The trade says that “Stallone’s character teams with a young NYPD detective in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C.

No word on if The Expendables 2 was really going to be his next or if Hitman puts any sort of delay on the film.

No cover art has yet been released.

Producer Basil Iwanyk talked to Coming Soon, and revealed that work on the sequel is already under-way. “We’re doing a sequel, we’re doing it right away,” he said. Although, Iwanyk has yet to talk to Stallone about what will be featured in the film. “I haven’t talked to Sly at all about what’s going to happen in the sequel,” Iwanyk said. The only details that have been mentioned so far is that Stallone wants Bruce Willis’ character as the film’s villain (here).

One of the many aspects fans loved was the addition of Hollywood’s major action stars in one film. The sequel will be attempting to add even more, but Iwanyk isn’t sure which we’ll see. “It’s going to rock and you can just imagine in your head who will be in that cast in addition to the people who are there now. But I’m not sure,” he said. You can probably expect filming to begin next year with a release sometime in 2012.

The Film:

Even with the success in Rocky Balboa, a film that concluded perfectly the Rocky franchise and the character, many had a little trepidation about a new Rambo film. The third film fits nicely into the standards of the late 80s/early 90s action film conventions, but politically, it’s very dated. The saving of the Afghans in the film seems like a gigantic ‘oops’ considering the recent years and our conflict in the Middle East. So with that as a backdrop, what would the fourth-and long awaited-Rambo film be like politically? It’s a question that needed to be addressed, since Rambo as a character was born out of political backlash to the Vietnam War.

Stallone takes us mentality away in Rambo to Burma with the conflict that’s happening there, a smart move, since it needed attention and serves as an escape from the Bush War in Iraq and on terror for us audiences.

The results are interesting on a few angles, notably the duality between who Rambo is and the counterpoint to the Christian Missionaries. By bringing help and supplies, along with the good word from the Lord, the missionaries’ assignment is innocent and fundamentally good. But when it’s up against the absolute brutality of the Burmese army, it’s no match. Before good can happen, war against each other is inevitable, a painfully realization of that can be seen in Julie Benz’s character’s eyes at the end of the film. Rambo knows their intent is good, but in order to spread the message, sadly, you must match their war mentality with your own, and with that, the politics stop and Rambo shows modern action films how it is done.

By no means perfect, it’s a trip to see the evolution of the Rambo character in these four films. He was conditioned to be an ultimate bad-ass for Vietnam, yet when he came home in First Blood, he found life in the States even more hellish as how we treated many troops during the return to us. From there, the following two sequels eclipsed the prior standards of an action hero and gave us the Rambo we now know from pop culture. Here, in Rambo, the character has evolved into an action version of Jason Voorhees: kills, kills, and cannot be killed. It’s not quite the send-off Rocky had and that maybe we wanted for the John Rambo character, but the film is pure violent fun.

With The Expendables now in theaters, Lionsgate Films allowed Stallone to go back and flesh out some scenes for this new extended cut. First of all, the title is changed to John Rambo, but don’t expect more action. Instead we get plenty of dialogue exchanges between Rambo and Sarah, that fleshes out more what I was talking about in the second paragraph. How pivotal are these scenes? Not very. But it slightly adds more to the political nature of the film and the themes of war that in the original theatrical cut, kind of gets lost amidst the decapitations and violence.

The Blu-Ray:

Audio/Video: LGF releases this on a stellar Blu-ray. The new footage is seamlessly incorporated in the film, as the colors, details, and clarity remain high, just like the 2008 Blu-ray release.  The night scenes seems a little dark and grainy, but it’s very minor, and doesn’t hurt this superb transfer. Speaking of superb, just listen to the 7.1 DTS track. Need I tell you about the big, loud sound stage or the deep bass for you to enjoy? No, just listen.

Outside of some trailers promoting The Expendables and LGF Blu-ray films of relation to that film, the main extra is a wonderful 85 minute documentary, that mixes real behind-the-scenes footage, with a commentary by Stallone on the 42-Day shoot, called To Hell and Back. He’s quite candid as a commentator about the grueling production and the footage makes you feel as if you’re there, instead of some glossy clips and interviews type of doc. It’s worth the purchase alone.

Conclusion: While the new footage just slightly adds to the final film, the additions offer an interesting, yet subtle look at the characters and themes. But the disc shines from a stellar LGF release, along with the great documentary. The footage won’t make you re-buy the film, but the doc will.

The Film: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Blu-ray: Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

But if you were there, man, those flicks were something. Times might have changed, but when The Expendables makes good on its action promise, as it’s a heck of a good time. Now, understandably, with the cast they rounded up – Stallone, Willis, Stratham, Li, Rourke, Austin, Lundgren, Schwarzenegger, Couture, Roberts, and Crews – expectations could be unfulfilled. Anyone expecting the action epic of all action epics, would be epically wrong. The script is a sticky note or two of an idea, sadly, just something to string together the mercenaries to take down some money men and a dictator, but thanks to casting directors  Mary Tricia Wood and Deborah Aquila, The Expendables is an event picture instead of a direct-to-DVD movie. That’s going to be the main gripe of the film. The story doesn’t give the talent much to do, as it’s the same old trite stuff we’ve seen for decades.

On the contrary, I think that’s sort of the point. For some it’s a nostalgic trip down old action roads, but The Expendables is an ode to a bygone mentality of the genre, we now balk at. In all of its glory, it’s a film that knows its audience, and that audience wants a swan song for these old legends where it’s a shoot-first, ask-questions-later attitude, with tough guy talk and quips, and balls-to-the-wall action. In that regard, The Expendables delivers tenfold. Each action hero gets their time to shine, whether it’s a one-liner or action sequence, fans of a particular action hero will not be disappointed. While things are different now days in the action genre, The Expendables reminds us how much fun we had in the late 1980s going to the theater and browsing the action section at Blockbuster growing up.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Final will be to read Killer Film‘s pending review.

I’m Professor Jon Peters, who has a MFA in Action, and students, welcome to Know Your Expendables 101.

Sylvester Stallone (plays Barney “Schizo” Ross)

Action Debut: Death Race 2000 (1975)

Best Film: Rocky (1976)

Famous for: The Italian Stallion is mostly known for his role of Rocky Balboa, in the six film series, mostly since the first was an Oscar winning Best Picture. His naive, but tough guy demeanor resonated with the working class people of the late ’70s, but the underdog story of the film captured everyone’s heart. From there, Stallone’s next best character was John Rambo in the four film series that begin with First Blood. Outside of the first film, which was more of an action/political agenda movie, the sequels have been the stuff of action genre standards.

Fans will also love his action films Cliffhanger, Daylight, Cobra, Over the Top, Copland, and Judge Dredd.

Best One-liner: From Rocky II: “Yo, Adrian! I did it!

Last Best film: Demolition Man (1993)

Why he’s an Expendable: Sly is a pivotal action hero from the 1980′s. Besides acting, he’s a notable writer and director, but none of that matters too much when Rocky and John Rambo are pop culture icons.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (plays Trench)

Action Debut: Hercules in New York (1969)

Best Film: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1992)

Famous for: He might be the Governator now, but Arnold – one of the few action stars to go by a first name basis – defined action in the 1980s and early 1990s. Awarded Mr. Universe at the age of 22, Arnie captured all of our imaginations with a string of successful and classic action films early in his career with James Cameron’s The Terminator, followed by Conan the Barbarian, and Predator. From those three films, he launched one of the action genre best career’s with numerous #1 openings and box office dominance. What’s not to love here? Running Man, Red Heat, Total Recall, True Lies, Kindergarten Cop, Eraser, are all of his most notable, but fans will most likely have a soft spot for 6th Day, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Last Action Hero.

Best One-liner: From Predator: “Get to the Chopper!”

Last Best Film: True Lies (1994)

Why he’s an Expendable: How else could they have a film like this without Arnold? His acting chops veered into comedy specific films for a time, and while he has had duds at the box office, simply put, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the action genre.

Jet Li (plays Yin Yang)

Action Debut: Shaolin Temple (1982, Chinese); Lethal Weapon 4 (1998, American)

Best Film: Tai Chi Master (1993)

Famous for: Jet Li is one of China’s best on-screen martial artist since the fall of the Shaw Brothers studio. His Once Upon a Time in China films made him a star and First of Legend,Tai Chi Master, and The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk only made him stay there. His skills were nimble and fast, yet deadly, as showcased in many wushu films from the 1980s and early 1990s, and it was only a matter of time when Hollywood came calling. Now most of his American films have been met with mixed success, his debut in Lethal Weapon 4 not only turned heads in the film, but in our eyes as well. Romeo Must Die and Unleashed are two of his better Hollywood films.

When he returned to China, Fearless and Hero were hailed as classics. He had the career Bruce Lee would have had.

Best One-liner: From Romeo Must Die: “Here’s the deal, Meatball. You let me go, I let you live.”

Last Best Film: Fearless (2006)

Why he’s an Expendable: Some of Jet Li’s martial art films in the late ’80s and early ’90s are some of the better since Bruce Lee died, the fall of the Shaw Brothers, and before Donnie Yen came MMA’ing his way into the field. He has been one of the few not to be totally neutered when he made the transition to Hollywood, something Jackie Chan can’t say. Plus, unlike most of his comrades in the film, he’s still making great action films.

Mickey Rourke (plays Tool)

Action Debut: Double Team (1997)

Best Film: The Wrestler

Famous for: While Rourke in the 1980s made a splash with critically acclaimed dramatic roles, fans will cherish him as Marv from Sin City. His return from a brief boxing career has earned him tough guy cred, and if Marv wasn’t dangerous enough for you, his role in Tony Scott’s Domino as a bad-ass bounty hunter, or a wash-up pro wrestler in his Oscar-nominated performance in The Wrestler should. Also, it took Iron Man and War Machine working together to defeat him in Iron Man 2.

Best One-liner: From Sin City: “Killing? No. No satisfaction. Everything up until the killing, will be a gas.”

Last Best Film: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Why he’s an Expendable: Simple: one cold look from his ravaged body will scare you into an early grave.

Eric Roberts (plays James Monore)

Action Debut: Best of the Best (1989)

Best Film: The Dark Knight (2008)

Famous for: He’s an unheralded tough guy, appearing in plenty of action films and dramatic roles, often playing a villain. Teaming with Akon or The Killers, Roberts is seemingly everywhere. He might not have the body mass as other actors in The Expendables, but he equally as devious.

Best One-liner: From The Dark Knight: “What makes you think I want to hear you talk?”

Last Best Film: The Prophecy II (1998)

Why he’s an Expendable: Tough and gritty as they come.

Dolph Lundgren (plays Gunnar Jensen)

Action Debut: Rocky IV (1985)

Best Film: Masters of the Universe (1987)

Famous for: Perhaps the last of the generation of action stars, Lundgren is all bad-ass all-the-time. From playing Drago who tried to defeat the American Icon of Rocky Balboa in an action debut, to going toe-to-toe with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lundgren might not have the action filmography as some of his brethren, but his films entertain nonetheless: Showdown in Little Tokyo, Universal Soldier, Red Scorpion, Johnny Mnemonic, or as the first Punisher, his small action films made him an minor action icon in the early 1990s.

Best One-liner: From Universal Soldier: “I’m all ears!”

Last Best Film: From Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2010)

Why he’s an Expendable: Who else could go up against Bruce Lee’s son and live to tell about it?

Bruce Willis (plays Mr. Church)

Action Debut: Die Hard (1988)

Best Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Famous for: Die Hard is the prototype for all summer action films from that release on, and while he makes actions films still, his career is defined by that franchise. Not only that, but as a collective career, his action films have all been incredibly successful, mostly since he portrays that guy we all know, an atypical action hero when compared to other Expendables.

Best One-liner: From Die Hard: “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!”

Last Best Film: Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Why he’s an Expendable: He saved the world in Armageddon and is our go-to guy to stop terrorists. 

Jason Stratham (plays Lee Christmas)

Action Debut: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Best Film: Bank Job (2005)

Famous for: Statham is like an old school action star in a modern world of action film making, and while it often clashes, he handles the roles with a stiff grace. Crank, War, Transporter, and Death Race all best represent this attitude. If you crave action that you seen from the 1990s, then here’s your action man to follow.

Best One-liner: From Crank: “Don’t pop a blood vessel, you little penis!”

Last Best Film: Crank: High Voltage (2009)

Why he’s an Expendable: He’s an action tough guy cut from a dying breed. Plus, he’s a Westerner that gave Jet Li a run for his money in War.

Steve Austin (plays Dan Paine)

Action Debut: The Condemned (2007)

Best Film: The Condemned (2007)

Famous for: He might have only been in a few films, but it’s his career in the WWE in the 1990s that made Stone Cold a lovable tough guy, who drank a beer and whupped ass. Not only was he more popular than Hulk Hogan, he’s beating another non-Expendable tough guy’s ass numerous time, in Dwayne Johnson. I have VHS evidence of this.

Best One-liner: “You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn’t get you anywhere! Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16… Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!

Last Best Film: The Stranger (2010)

Why he’s an Expendable: True, he doesn’t have the action film cred yet, but I’ll take this wrecking ball in any fight, anywhere, against anyone. Ask The Rock or Vinnie Jones.

Terry Crews (plays Hale Ceasar)

Action Debut: The 6th Day (2000)

Best Film: Street Kings (2007)

Famous for: Crews might not register to some fans of action, but he got his start on Sundays in the NFL, before going gladiator in American Gladiators for a time. Used in comedies as the tough, bald, black guy, until recently he took this persona to the action genre with Terminator Salvation, Gamer, Get Smart, and Street Kings.

Best One-liner: From Idiocracy: “Number 1: We’ve got this guy Not Sure. Number 2: He’s got a higher IQ than ANY MAN ALIVE. and Number 3: He’s going to fix EVERYTHING.”

Last Best Film: Middle Men (2009)

Why he’s an Expendable: The only man alive who could force any other Expendable to use Old Spice.

Randy Couture (plays Toll Road)

Action Debut: Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Best Film: Redbelt (2008)

Famous for: Like Austin, he’s mostly known for his action skills outside of film. An UFC Hall of Famer, Couture isn’t someone you want to take lightly. His left ear could beat most men up. As an action star, he went blow-by-blow with Chiwetel Ejiofor and was the main villain in Scorpion King 2.

Best One-liner: From Redbelt: “Yeah, how’s that sound?”

Last Best Film: Redbelt (2008)

Why he’s an Expendable:

Got it? Good. Enjoy The Expendables on August 13th from Lionsgate Films.

The story, written by Stallone, centers on a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things arent quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Watch the brand new clip below, thanks to CS!, and see the awesome poster below.:

The Expendables is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things arent quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

The feature stars the talents of Stallone along with Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Danny Trejo, Steve Austin and Eric Roberts. The adrenaline-filled picture from Millennium, Nu Image Films and Lionsgate blasts into theaters on August 13th. Watch the new trailer below (via Collider).:

The story centers on a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. The feature includes the talents of Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Giselle Itié, Terry Crews, Steve Austin and Mickey Rourke.

The Expendables jumps into theaters on August 13th.:

The action-filled feature, also written by Stallone, is about a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.

Some of the images are posted below from the website, and if you want to see the rest click on the link here. The Expendables blasts into theaters on August 13th from Lionsgate.:

The story, written by Stallone and Dave Callaham, is about a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. Those in the cast include Jason Statham, Stallone, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Danny Trejo, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke.

Once again, The Expendables blasts into theaters on August 13th. Check out the two new glare-worthy images below, and if your interested in keeping up to date with even more Expendables goodies, be sure to “like” it’s official Facebook page.:

“I think Rambo’s pretty well done. I don’t think there’ll be any more. I’m about 99 per cent sure.”

I thought the previous film was a good way to end the series, and for Stallone to move onto other roles.

Stallone can next be seen in The Expendables opening on August 13, 2010.