If you liked the first part of The Expandables franchise, you will also appreciate this follow-up but if you didn't like the first part, the chances are elevated that you won't adore the second strike, too. The story of the new movie is pretty much comparable to the first one, the action scenes are also quite similar and most of the characters of the first feature are back for good in this sequel.

Let's kick off with the negative aspects about this film first. Honestly said, the movie doesn't come as explosive as the first part as this one is even more predictable than the first feature film because of a quite parallel story line. Second, there are still some humorous moments in the movie but some one liners already start to be quite repetitive and feel a little bit too forced, old fashioned and used and that's why this movie has a lot less laughs than the first film. As a third point I must admit that I miss the aesthetic fights that Jet Li brought to the franchise as he has only a minor role in this movie and the combats are therefor rather limited, repetitive and only focused on brutality, effects and explosions. I might also add that I miss a truly good secondary role as Mickey Rourke was in the first movie.

On the positive side, I think that the story in here is still slightly more interesting as in the first movie. The locations in this film really exist and are much more intriguing as in the first part in my humble opinion and the makers of the franchise should even expand this concept in the future. Concerning the acting, I was positively surprised by the good work of Jean-Claude van Damme as main villain in this film. Usually, his acting is only focused on action and appears quite mediocre to me but he definitely does one of his best jobs ever in this flick. The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis play a bigger role in this film is not only a positive thing for the gross, promotion and reputation of the movie but they bring back some good memories of the first part and their characters are as cool, funny and old school as in the first feature. The addition of Chuck Norris to this film also happened to be a good idea. His role is a little bit too short and honestly said filled with stereotypes but that's what people seem to want to see and his appearances turn out to be quite amusing, entertaining and memorable. The new characters in this movie played by the quite charismatic Liam Hemsworth and the tough but charming Yu Nan are interesting but first of all they are introduced in quite a hurry and lack of depth and then, they don't have a lot of screen time to fully convince.

After all, this movie is pretty much comparable to the first feature film and you simply get more of the same. The biggest plus points in here are the exotic locations and some new actors that appear and do a quite promising job. On the negative side, you have a very predictable story, less diversified fighting scenes and a lot less humour than in the first flick. Fans of the first part should not miss this flick but those who were sceptical about it surely won't get a better approach to this second flick and should simply stay away from it. This movie is maybe a little step down for the franchise but still on a quite comparable level in comparison to what Stallone and his men had put out two years ago.

The Expandables is a action super movie that puts together some of the most famous genre actors of the last decades. The movie exactly delivers what fans might expect. That's why you should not expect profound dialogues, too many romantic moments or a truly original story line. This movie is about cool quotes, many explosive action scenes and a quite fast paced and simple story line. Anybody who doesn't accept this kind of nostalgic and relatively simple genre should just not watch it and stop bashing this movie as you clearly know what you will get.

There are many cool one liners and funny hints, homages and references to classic vintage movies or characters of the genre. A good example is the scene when Sylverster Stallone meets Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as Bruce Willis in a church. When I went to the cinema, the whole crowd was laughing out loud during this scene and almost anybody understood the quite famous inside jokes in this movie. It was not the only funny moment in this fast paced movie and it was definitely better than many immature and though overambitious comedy flicks from Hollywood. I was even positively surprised by the many amusing moments that created a solid balance to the brutal action scenes without making the whole thing childish or ridiculous. The movie just managed to be humorous and cool at the same time.

The acting is of course not very deep or challenging but the characters fit very well to the different actors and you really feel that some of them go as far as to personalize their roles. Especially Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham shine in this movie and even have some sort of depth. The minor roles involving actors like Mickey Rourke or Bruce Willis are more superficial but fit very well and are clearly orientated on similar characters they have played before. These roles are made to appear as cool, experienced and male as possible and that's what you get.

The fighting and action scenes are varied enough to keep you addicted to this movie until the end. While Jet Li or Jason Statham really show that they are quite flexible and know their martial arts skills, Randy Couture or Dolph Lundgren represent a less aesthetic and more brutal and pitiless fighting style involving different explosives and guns. From time to time, there are even some experimental and original sequences where the characters don't only use their male force but also their brains to find a way out of a difficult situation. Some scenes are on the other side completely overloaded, especially towards the end as every few seconds, one switches from one character to the other and observes a pitiless massacre. Of course, this is neither profound, nor original but in contrast with the humorous parts, the whole thing turns out to work surprisingly well.

Concerning the story line, it's probably useless to say that the whole movie is pure fiction and quite predictable from the beginning to the end by dealing with the usual stereotypes. Of course, the leader of the wolf pack falls in love with a local beauty. It's quite clear that a traitor appears quite soon in the rows of the heroes that confronts his old friends. It's not surprising that there is some sort of a conspiracy and manipulation story around the main villain. You may quickly realize that the main villain is probably not as bad as it seems and has to face the demons of his past as one of his most important family members tries to fight him. The ending of the story is probably what you've expected from the beginning on. This is clearly the weakest part of the movie but the solid acting, the great actions scenes and especially the cool and humorous moments pardon for these obvious flaws.

In the end, this movie is recommended to all those that are into the action genre and like at least a couple or even all of the involved main actors. The humorous scenes could please to a larger public, though, for example when the guys bring their girlfriends to the cinema that only expect one hour and a half of raw male brutality. Apart of this humorous factor, you really get what you should expect. Take it if you like the actors and their kind of movies or just leave it and don't watch it because this movie won't make you fall in love with the genre. It's a truly entertaining flick but clearly far from being a modern milestone as it copies way too much the elements we already know but on the other side it's this rude simplicity that gives the film a rather classic, honest and sympathetic image.

Hello again,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm right now writing for two new music sites on the internet: Progarchives as well as the sister project MetalMusicArchives. I've transferred a couple of relevant reviews to both sites that I had written for other sites before but I'm going to write some brand new stuff quite soon. I'm especially looking forward to discover the world of all the different kinds of progressive music such as Crossover, Eclectic, Heavy and Symphonic Prog but also Psychedelic and Space Rock, Krautrock or Zeuhl to only name a few genres. I'm starting to cover some of my favourite acts including classic bands such as King Crimson, Genesis or Yes but also bands from the last few decades like Ataxia, Muse or Spock's Beard to only name a few. I will open a new section on my blog for these new reviews in the next couple of weeks but you can already follow my activities and watch some interesting statistics by clicking on the following link:

 http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=32669

Concerning the sister project of MetalMusicArchives, you can also take a brief look on my profile but I will probably still add some stuff in the near future. Click on the following link to get a better idea:

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/kluseba%28member%29.aspx

Right now, I'm also writing a follow-up of the first "Aljenikow" novel that I had written back in 2008 and 2009 when I was still in Germany. The novel is written in German and introduces a brand new story and a couple of intriguing locations while the most important characters of the first novel come back and meet quite diversified new ones. This time, the two Russian journalists Aljenikow and Stepanow are heading for an eventful journey from Saint Petersburg to Karelia and Murmansk to report on some activities on an archaeological site that has a quite dramatic past involving an isolated tribe that tries anything to keep people from discovering their insane secret.

I had started to write a couple of pages for a second part back in summer 2009 but I went to Canada and had a lot of things to do to get all my study permits, find an appartment and associated assurances, open a bank account, get in touch with the universitarian community and meet loads of new people so that I had to take a break. This year, I've stumbled over the beginning of this new novel again, read the whole thing a couple of times, changed and corrected some stuff and decided to give the whole thing a try and finish what I had started three years ago. I've already written more than half of the story and put it on my blog. I'm still writing and hope to bring the story to an end by the next months. I don't know what will happen afterwards. Maybe I'll write a third novel around the same characters and locations that I like a lot but I might try as well to write a new novel in French and try to finally publish something physically here in Québec. Perhaps, I'm also going to write some stuff in English but I would need to get better and practice more than I already do. I'll keep you informed about my projects.

I hope you continue following my activities and don't forget to leave some comments and spread the name of my blog.

I also wish you some great late summer days. Go out, have fun and take care! I'd be happy to see and meet some of you folks anytime soon.

Sincerely yours,

Sebastian

La première semaine de la rentrée universitaire à l’automne est toujours une parfaite occasion, entre autres, pour s’impliquer dans la vie sur le campus en rencontrant d’anciens et de nouveaux étudiants des quatre coins du monde et en découvrant finalement ses choix de cours.

Un incontournable durant la première semaine est de se rendre au centre social du Pavillon principal pour y voir toutes les ressources de l’Université et participer à des tirages de bourses et de prix. Sur place, on peut s’inscrire pour faire partie des communications étudiantes au sein du journal le Griffonnier ou  de la CEUC Radio. On peut découvrir une panoplie de sports divers offerts au Pavillon sportif et rencontrer des membres de différentes associations et de l’association étudiante MAGE-UQAC.

Un étage plus haut, on peut aussi s’inscrire à de nombreux ateliers offerts par la vie étudiante en dehors des cours réguliers. Pour des prix raisonnables, on peut par exemple apprendre des langues étrangères telles que l’allemand, l’anglais, l’arabe, l’espagnol, le japonais ou le mandarin. Toute le monde peut même participer à des ateliers sur l’autodéfense par anticipation, la mycologie, la danse expression et création, la danse capoeira ou la danse swing, le hatha yoga, l’apprentissage du piano, la photographie numérique, la réflexologie, le secourisme général ou le théâtre.

Au centre social, on peut se procurer gratuitement un agenda, créer ou renouveler sa carte étudiante et réserver un casier. À la COOPSCO avoisinante, les étudiants pourront acheter ou vendre des volumes usagés et se procurer tout ce dont ils auront besoin pour la première semaine de cours (livres, cahiers, stylos, etc.). Un tour à la cafétéria de l’autre côté du centre social vaut également la peine pour découvrir des plats différents à chaque jour de la semaine.

D’autres activités spéciales se dérouleront au centre social comme des dîners dans la cour intérieure, des camps d’entraînement ou même une chasse aux trésors. Surveillez l’horaire des activités précises sur place, car je ne veux pas déjà dévoiler toutes les surprises. En soirée, un détour par le bar de l’Université entre le centre social et la cantine étudiante s’impose dans le cadre d’une soirée karaoké le mardi soir ou particulièrement pour l’occasion de deux concerts des groupes «Sexe Illégal» ainsi que «Pépé et son orchestre» le jeudi soir au BARUQAC et au centre social. En parlant du bar, espérons aussi avoir des nouvelles de l’Aquarium, le projet pilote de resto-bar avec terrasse dans la cour intérieure qui était ouvert durant la période d’été.

Il y aura également de nombreux changements à observer un peu partout sur le campus. Ainsi, plusieurs endroits dans l’Université ont été agrandis, construits ou rénovés. L’emplacement de la cantine étudiante et du bar universitaire avoisinant ont été modifiés au sous-sol du Pavillon principal et offrent maintenant plus d’espace qu’avant. Un étage plus haut, de nouveaux locaux d’enseignement ont été créés près de la sécurité. Les étudiants pourront également voir le nouveau pavillon du Centre de transfert technologique et de développement des affaires qui abritera un équipage de soudage pour la transformation de l’aluminium. La nouvelle bâtisse et ses équipements valent au-delà de six millions de dollars canadiens. L’édification d’un pavillon de la culture et du design autochtones sur le campus est en planification concrète et deviendra un lieu d’enseignement, mais également une place réservée aux échanges et rencontres d’environ trois cents étudiants autochtones de l’Université qui se feront dans le respect des valeurs et des coutumes des Premières Nations.

Une des nouveautés les plus importantes au niveau du personnel est sans doute la nouvelle direction de l’Université, soit le recteur Martin Gauthier et son adjointe Guylaine Boivin. Les deux sont entrés en poste en avril et en juin dernier respectivement. Le recteur se présentera à la communauté étudiante lors d’un 4 à 7 dans la cour intérieure du Pavillon principal le mercredi 29 août. On espère qu’il sera chaleureusement accueilli par la communauté étudiante et qu’il se montrera proche de celle-ci en glissant quelques mots sur l’avenir de l’Université qu’il marquera pendant au moins les cinq prochaines années. L’événement à ne pas manquer sera accompagné par des hot-dogs, maïs, chili et crêpes ainsi qu’un tirage de plusieurs bourses et prix.

Bref, la première semaine du nouveau trimestre d’automne à l’UQAC sera comme à l’habitude très riche en activités et en possibilités. De plus, après une semaine chargée en événements, il y aura un long congé pour tous les étudiants dans le cadre d’une fin de semaine prolongée en raison de la Fête du travail qui aura lieu le lundi 3 septembre et des élections provinciales qui se dérouleront le mardi 4 septembre. Ceci étant dit, espérons que le plus grand nombre d’ étudiants profitera de l’occasion pour aller aux urnes. Les cours reprendront donc seulement le 5 septembre.

BONNE RENTRÉE!

Grave Digger were one of the first bands of the metal genre with whom I got in touch. I regularly listened to their Medieval Age trilogy featuring the albums "Tunes Of War", "Knights Of The Cross" and "Excalibur" but I later discovered and adored the more recent stuff of the band and fell in love with their experimental works in "Rheingold" or "The Last Supper" for example. A few days ago, I stumbled over the old stuff again and gave this album a couple of spins. When I was young I liked the album but it didn't impress me all too much. As I listened to this over and over again by now, I though realized that this album has aged quite well and is better than I remembered. In fact, "Knights Of The Cross" is easily a highlight within the big back catalogue of the legendary German heavy metal band. I still wouldn't say it's the best record of the band but maybe the most complete work of the typical Grave Digger records. If there was an album to choose to introduce someone to this band, this one would probably be my first choice.

Not only the conceptual approach is particularly interesting and well worked out on here but the songs are all quickly addictive and feature numerous catchy fist pumping choruses for the crowd. After a less convincing introduction, the album kicks off with the title track "Knights Of The Cross" that takes no prisoners and features all elements one likes about this unique band. This includes simplistic and heavy riffs, unpolished crispy vocals, epic keyboards and emotional guitar solos as well as a simple but efficient chorus that immediately stays on your mind. The strong accent of the vocalist sounds mildly amusing but soon becomes a trademark and is what makes Chris Boltendahl so unique. This record features many typical Grave Digger songs with numerous catchy choruses such as the fist raising mid tempo hymn "The Keeper Of The Holy Grail".

As always, there are also some little experiments on the album that keep the whole release dynamic and gripping enough until the end. A good example is the slow and epic half ballad "Heroes Of This Time" featuring amazing clean vocals by Chris Boltendahl that he doesn't use very often anymore which is quite sad because they build a stunning contrast to his normal ranges. Another good example for his vocal talent is the outstanding "The Curse Of Jacques" which is maybe the best track on this release because of its atmospheric parts sending shivers down my spine and a very epic chorus one won't get out of mind. On the other side, there are also harder tracks on this record such as the addicting banger "Inquisition". Another experiment comes with the slight oriental influences in "Fanatic Assassins". After so many conceptual tracks about the medieval history of Europe, it would be great if the band headed for a record about Asian history. The closing "The Battle Of Bannockburn" goes back to the concept of the previous release with a gripping pipe introduction and an overall epic structure featuring a great chilling closure. This track surely is a highlight for those who praised the critically acclaimed precedessor.

In the end, almost every song has something outstanding in its structure and all twelve songs make this release one of the most complete ones the band has ever written. Any fan of early or modern Grave Digger records should like this album that unites all the trademarks that make the band what it is. The high amount of catchy chorus and potential live anthems make this release even more entertaining. Nervertheless, the record is never just orientated on catchy hooks but also presents many interesting historic stories in the lyrics that are more versatile than ever before and even among the best the band has ever written. If you care about German Heavy Metal music and are among those that actually know that the nineties were not such a bad decade for the metal genre after all, this release is a definite must have. Anybody else should get hooked by my review and try this album out now.