Sly Stallone's 'The Expendables': Why has the movie split the conservative movement?

I guess if conservatives can't agree on really important things in life, like whether Israel should bomb Iran or not, then it should come as no surprise that they can't agree on whether "The Expendables" is a good movie, much less whether it's actually devoutly patriotic or anti-American. Film critics, for example, have pretty much all decided that the Sly Stallone over-the-hill gang action picture was a lousy movie with a great marketing campaign. But in the conservative blogosphere, a heated debate has arisen over the film's relative merits. As a liberal, I think this is a good thing, since liberals can never agree on anything, so it's reassuring to see our conservative brethren in a similar situation. 

New York Post blogger-critic Kyle Smith, who is unusually pragmatic about most ideological matters, is in the lousy movie camp, writing that while "The Expendables" is clearly a hit, "let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it’s a good movie, shall we? I wanted it to be good too. I have no problem with manly derring-do.  And no, it’s not 'so bad it’s good.' It’s just bad."

But Big Hollywood's John Nolte, who sees pretty much everything in strictly black and white terms, seems to think "The Expendables" might be the most stirring, patriotic film to come out of Hollywood since John Wayne's "The Green Berets." Nolte went to great lengths to bash my colleague Steven Zeitchik, whom he called a "cultural enforcer" for gently making fun of the film's old-school take-no-prisoners patriotism. For Nolte, the film "is a much more impressive achievement than the likes of the flood of 'Syrianas' that have bombing one after another at the box office over the past few years."

But over at Libertas Film Magazine, my pal Jason Apuzzo has a completely different point of view, finding "The Expendables" entirely wanting, especially when compared with Angelina Jolie's "Salt." As he put it, "The Expendables" features "a nasty, anti-CIA plotline featuring Eric Roberts as an ex-CIA drugrunner who waterboards women; Jolie's film paints a much more flattering picture of the CIA and our intelligence services in general, besides being completely pro-American." 

I guess the tie-breaker here would be knowing what Bill O'Reilly thought of the film, but so far I can't find any evidence of him weighing in on the subject. Until Papa Bear makes his views known, let's just say that it's reassuring to know that when it comes to Sly Stallone movies, conservatives are displaying a healthy diversity of opinion,

Photo: Sylvester Stallone at a screening of "The Expendables" last week in Las Vegas. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

 

Comments

[Joe J]

No, we're tired of the Hollywood left telling us that all Americans are rotten and America is a corrupt nation. Surprisingly whatever you hate, most of America loves!!! Why, because you on the Left Coast are busy eating borscht instead of Apple Pie, and your bent is more Mao, Lenin than anything on the right. So, as your level of non-patriotism rises; we, the real people make ours rise. I have not seen the film; but I will definitely be going now that I know none on the Left Coast like it !!! Thanks for the endorsement for you serve as the contrary indicator for everything good and noble about our nation.

[Pat]

Sly is a FOX! What a smart man! On O'Reilly, tonight, he stated he wouldn't want anyone to know his politics. Our family LOVES his action flicks and we are THRILLED we don't know his political party. THANK YOU, SLY!

[Lance]

Ive not seen the movie yet. but who cares what political party you are from. personally I think BOTH party's need to be abolished and we start over. and why do most every one in this country keep voting back the retards in washington?!?! they have had 70 years to do some thing right and for 70 years they have done every thing wrong!!!
stop voting for incumbents and vote fresh meat in. and do your research. dont vote for progressives. lets try something new... lets vote nothing but independents in for once. lets see what they can do.
as for the movie. I cant wait to see it, political statement or not. I like action movies!!!

[Juan Carlos]

Here is my take for Expendable 2,

Villan - Jonie Lauler(AKA Chyna).
Ying needs more ink.
What happen to the bad guy's bag of money (in addition to the 5 mil from Church)?