The Specialist

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source: The Specialist

It certainly isn't as bad as the critics said. "The Specialist" offers nothing special, but it's solid action entertainment. The stunts are really cool, especially the hotel scene involving the room collapsing into the water. James Woods seems to be having the time of his life as the villain, and let's face it--you can never get enough of watching him play the hot-tempered villain. The late Rod Steiger gave a fine performance, donning a convincing Cuban accent. I like the seductive score, and I can't get enough of Gloria Estefan's rendition of "Turn the Beat Around." The film doesn't have any surprising plot twists or turns, but I still enjoyed it and will give it a recommendation. Come on, there's much much much worse films out there! My score: 7 (out of 10)

I'm a big fan of action films, love the explosions, gunfire and fights! By no means is this a bad movie that you should avoid, its got a good, solid story thats easily understood, Sylvester Stallone puts in a solid performance, however this is surpassed by Wood's evil, cowardly character, pent up on revenge. Stone's performance was however the best in the movie, showing true disgust in the presence of woods, and amazing admiration when in the presence of Stallone. A few good twists, great explosions, albeit with a couple of random, unneeded fights. Introducing a cat to show the characters sensitive side was pretty bad to be honest. However this was in no means a bad film, it takes a lot to impress me and in a way, this film did. Not the best action movie ever, but definitely worth the watch.

Rod Steiger should have been on holidays when they made this film. A high calibre actor making a fool of himself makes for good humour in this ridiculous no purpose of a film. Sharon Stone is terrible as a trampy bimbette set on revenge. James Woods can hardly contain himself in the scenes with Rod Steiger who is vainly trying to act as a sophisticated Hispanic drug dealing crime lord. This film could have been in Elvira's world's worst film festival. Sylvester Stallone, however, is quite good as the serious, sombre and lugubrious hero who is trying to defend a girl's honour and enact her revenge on criminals who killed her parents when she was a child. The story is so weak, the acting so bad, the direction non-existent. It makes this one difficult to watch. The music is good and so is Stallone. But his efforts are wasted in this one. Pass it up!

This film has a very typical 90s Hollywood action movie vibe but it just runs with it unapologetically. There is a lot of machismo, shallow backstory and explosions but it doesn't pretend to be much more than that. The action is well executed for what it is.

I like most of the main cast of The Specialist but for me the actor who really makes the film work was James Woods. He adds that sinister, slimy smartarse value that a good movie villain should have in this kind of movie. This film is a little darker or more serious than many of Sly's films leading into this one, so for me it was a nice change of pace. Still doesn't take a leap into a legitimate drama/thriller that it maybe could have. When Sly wanted to make a bit of a change and step out of the 80's he made movies like Stop of my Mom Will Shoot (before quickly returning to what he did best). A change he could have made should have happened here by going for a Clear and Present Danger or The Patriot style of movie, instead of a bit of action a bit of sex appeal and a bit of drama. Still, its an ok movie :)

Sylvester Stallone is the same hurt, private, taciturn, powerful character he plays in Rambo and Cliffhanger. Sharon Stone is the same gutsy, flashing-eyed grown-up woman bent on revenge that she will play in The Quick and the Dead. The plot is simple. She wants revenge but is compromised. She wins through because she has Stallone and his skills. He achieves a kind of redemption through it. it's full of implausible action. And to dismiss it as a second-rate action film is to miss a cinematic experience. It is not brash - it is mystical. The music is wistful and ever-present. The scenes are welded like a dream sequence. James Woods' over the top cop breaks it up until even he is caught in the dream. Great direction -

Stupid movie about "specialist" hitman (Stallone) who teams up with a beautiful, busty woman (Stone) and goes on the run from criminal James Woods. Loads of big explosions and fight scenes. Not much interest. I prefer Stallone as Rocky. Arnold's still the best action star out there.

Apart from the wooden acting, the heavy-handed direction, the vapid dialogue, farcical 'action' scenes and the incredulous plot, this movie was the worst film I've seen in a long, long time. Given a choice between stabbing myself repeatedly with a pen and watching this movie again, I'll take the pen.