‘The Expendables 2′ Brings 1980’s Action To 2012 – Movie Preview

If 2012 does bring about the apocalypse, at least we'll be able to see the ultimate action film before we go. After a action-star studded first outing, the Sylvester Stallone led 'The Expendables 2' ups the ante with the addition of Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and expanded roles for Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

#3. 'The Expendables 2'

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme

For those of us who grew up on the adrenaline filled bravado of 80's action films like 'Commando' and 'First Blood Part 2' -- 'The Expendables' brought us back to a simpler time when plot lines were trumped by explosions and heavy machine gun fire. When in doubt they could always just say the Russians were behind everything, even P.O.W.'s in Vietnam (I still don't understand that one Rambo 2). Those simple times may be long gone, but Sly Stallone aims to keep the spirit of balls-deep 80's action alive with 'The Expendables 2.'

The first film was like a love letter to the genre, combining action vets like Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke with young(er) blood like Jason Statham and Terry Crews. Also along for the ride were martial-arts star Jet Li, former UFC champion Randy Couture, former WWE superstar "Stone Cold' Steve Austin, and former...uh, star Eric Roberts. The sequel has most of the characters that survived the first film returning and some surprisingly big additions.

Legendary bad-ass Chuck Norris joins the team for the sequel, as does Jean-Claude Van Damme -- who will appear as a villain and reportedly has a giant showdown with Sly's character Barney Ross at some point in the film. If that's not enough to get your blood pumping, the fact that Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger return in larger roles this time out should do it.

The mercenaries find themselves in trouble after taking on another job from Mr. Church (Willis) that ends with rival mercenary leader Jean Vilain (Van Damme) murdering one of their own. The crew obviously seeks revenge in what's sure to be the greatest action movie of the year (if not all time) -- 'The Expendables 2' hits theaters August 17th, 2012.