Before we get cracking, a note for Sylvester Stallone, on the off-chance that he might be reading.

Dear Mr Stallone,

If you want to do a test screening of your film in London, we will fill it with lots of people for you who will tell you what they think. They will do it for free, or at most in exchange for some fizzy pop.

Ta.

Den Of Geek

That out of the way, over in America there have been test screenings of the film taking place, and the reaction that's coming out of them is pretty much what we wanted to hear.

Reports that are appearing at the likes of Moviehole, Collider, Slashfilm and AintItCool are all suggesting that we're getting the old-fashioned 80s action film that most of us are hoping for. The dialogue isn't supposed to be much cop, the feel of the film doesn't seem to take advantage of much that's happened over the past two decades, but there's a conveyor belt of action stars doing their stuff (with the exception of Arnie and Bruce Willis, who cameo at the start).

Jason Statham appears to be getting the most positive reaction among the ensemble cast - which also includes Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Steve ‘I broke Stallone's neck' Austin and Dolph Lundgren (who doesn't seem to fare so well) - but the general impression is this is a violent, fast action movie. And a bloody good one, even if it does seem to coast a little on its novelty factor.

The Expendables is released in August. Unless Mr Stallone wants to show it to us sooner? Please?

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