Perhaps most people were expecting a different movie and therefore also were disappointed by it but personally, I really liked it!
It also was different from what I was expecting but then again, I didn't even really know what to expect from this movie in the first place. I mean, there is only so much you can do with a movie that's set inside of a prison anyway. And indeed, this movie feels quite formulaic as well, with its story and some of its characters and developments. It isn't the most surprising or original movie but it's a well made one, which was the main reason why I liked this movie.
The directing by Mikael Håfström is tight and he manages to turn this into an action movie, without really featuring all that much action in it. That's right, this is an action movie without any action in it, except for its finale, that also felt out of tone from the rest of the movie. But I guess it's in Sylvester Stallone's and Arnold Schwarzenegger's contract that they have to handle a gun at some point in the movie, preferably a very large one. It's not even a spoiler, you know it's going to happen at some point!
Guess you can even say this is a stupid movie, that isn't half as smart as it seems to think it is with its story but none of it matters too much because of the simple fact that the movie, despite everything, entertains.
One of the things that makes it obvious that this movie is made to entertain, rather than to impress or surprise, are its characters. They are all some big stereotypes, especially its villains. And guess what, I really liked Jim Caviezel as the tough and evil warden. I don't think I have ever seen him play a villain before but he was really good and enjoyable as one.
Of course people are making a big deal out of this movie because it stars both Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in it but does it really matter? It's not like it provides the movie with any fireworks or feels like it's the best thing ever. Just two guys, that are known for their action roles, starring in an action movie together. Neither of them impressed much with their roles but it's still good to see that, despite their age, they are still perfectly capable of carrying a big movie.
It isn't a great movie by any means but it's simply a perfectly watchable and enjoyable one!
7/10
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