Escape Plan: The Extractors

Novice writer and creator of Escape Plan, Miles Chapman, had a great story and concept with the 1st film, flopped on the original premise in the 2nd film, and seems like he ran out of ideas and got lazy for this 3rd film. What happened to Stallone escaping OUT of prisons? Where was the tech and gadgetry for the "extraction"? Oh wait, exploding fire bullets? Pshhh give me a break. Then add major plot and scene issues. Again, lazy writing. The directing was lousy with terrible camera work and editing. The score was annoying and out of place. Basically an all-around cheap C-grade production, that even the original great lead cast couldn't save. The martial arts fight scenes were choreographed really well, but it felt like director John Herzfeld had shaky hands recording with his iPhone4. It's a shame this one couldn't even compare to the first film. The 2nd film was even better than this one. It's a very generous 5/10 from me - mainly for Stallone, Bautista, and the 5 mins we saw 50 Cent.

Film has very tenuous links to the first one and abandons what that was actually about, you know, the whole escaping from prisons thing! Here the prison is just a location that's used but could be set anywhere as its a hostage rescue and the other prisoners were just generic extras anyway. Im not even sure what the purpose of ray breslin going was to begin with as it seemed to be making huge leaps to get a plot. Eventually he gets a reason but it was a bit of a stretch ti begin with. Really it just seems to be a vehicle to make Expendables lite without all the usual suspects. Wasn't terrible just run of the mill stuff and very forgettable.

When the first one made 25 million in the US, but a further $75 million in China, it makes sense that it got Chinese backing for sequels and the producers took the money and ran. Whilst the second one used Stallone and Batista for a poster and credit only to suck you in, it was a vehicle for Asian market with Asian stars. With a more competent direct on John Herzfeld on the third, there's a noted improvement. First Stallone gets about 40 minutes of screen time, whilst he barely got 10 minutes in the second one, there's still great fights for Max Zhang to shine, but Stallone gets more to do here, 50 cent is in it for 2 minutes (always a bonus) and Bautista is the Terry Crews of Expendables, big guy with the big gun, gets a few minutes to shine. HIghights include the career resurgence of Martial Arts Action Star Daniel Bernhardt gets a great end fight with Max Zhang and Stallone gets brutal with Devon Sawa 90s heartthrob from the Final Destination movies. Overall, a vast improvement on number 2, nowhere near as good as the original, but we get fights, we get blood and we get Stallone kicking but here and there. It's easy to see why he's established Balboa Pictures in his twilight years and doesnt want to get caught doing these sequels and Backtrace style films for a quick payday. He cares more about his career than a Cage or Travolta or Bruce Willis at this point and doesnt want to do this for the pay cheque. Overall, starts bad and gets better and ends well. Worth a watch and support with your purchase.

After watching Escape Plan 2 you have the lowest expectasions for this one. Then with the big fear of this also beeing bad i was surprised to see that it was an ok action movie.. It will never be a classic worth watching again and its nothing like the first one, but is ok. the production is at a higher level than in number 2

No Sly, what happened? Low budget chinese feeling.