Escape Plan

Damn, I know that this film has its flaws, like characters that are essentially unnecessary and a plot that doesn't significantly impact anything. Or how it plays on the cliché that action heroes played by action stars simply don't die. But still, this is a fantastic idea that was well executed. There isn't as much humor as you would expect, but the ending is quite light-hearted. Additionally, you don't often see or hear Arnold speaking in his native German. Entertaining, although quite lengthy, great main roles. It's evident that Sly and Arnold really enjoy playing together, and they are doing it immensely well. I look forward to their future collaboration. (27/10/2013)

Futuretro and Sly who makes a lightbulb out of a bungee cord and even uses it to escape prison. Those were the first two feelings I had when I watched this movie. Truth be told, it wasn’t what I’d imagined. Especially the realism was completely off and I’d compare it to Demolition Man, only with one big difference; the lack of one-liners. Sly and Arnold are just acting tough rather than creating some sort of a laid-back atmosphere and emotions. And that’s basically the whole movie. The topic is really interesting when it comes to two action legends, but the director’s take was far too systematic. I didn’t really feel any heart in that. It doesn’t have one-liners, nothing that could elevate such a great idea to a level that could be called legendary. A shame. (10/03/2015)

I wouldn't overstate it with the return. Stallone is far from the intensity of the new Rambo. This is neither a comedy, nor action-packed enough, nor a clever heist film. There are too many coincidences and it is too straightforward with various plot inserts that are too obvious and for effect. There is little action and you have to wait for it for a long time. There are a few solid scenes, but they don't raise the adrenaline as much as you would expect from an old action school flick, and that has nothing to do with the age of the protagonists, they are completely fine. Only the screenplay should have been much better – even in honor of the 80s B-movies. Jim Caviezel is brilliant. (26/10/2013)

A surprisingly out-of-breath Prison Break that even the usually reliable Mikael Håfström had no chance of saving. Apart from an original introduction, well-aimed jokes, and a few minutes of Arnold Schwarzenegger's five minutes of glory in the finale, the plot, twists, and actual escape only work with the viewer's well wishes and goodwill for the nostalgic mood. It is completely saved from an average rating by the fact that I was genuinely looking forward to the main duo – the unlimited Expendables limit – and Sylvester Stallone's bass voice, capable of pleasantly looking down on everything with the slightest hint of irony. From my initial smile, however, only a small cramp remains. (12/08/2014)

"Say cheese!" I wanted to see these two gentlemen in a movie. But in a good movie, which Escape Plan unfortunately is not. Someone else playing the central duo would have been even worse, and by a lot. Stallone and Schwarzenegger get all the plus points - their friendship and the fun they had acting here is so obvious that one can't help but be pleased. Moreover, when they poke each other irresistibly now and then (with words and fists). But the rest of it... I know that it was not supposed to be a profound experience, but still, in the place where common sense resides, one's head is full of questions like "Damn, such a super-modern prison, with such old-fashioned solitary confinement cells, with a shaft and a ladder underneath?!?!?!" and "Were all those guards really that stupid that they allowed... and that they didn't notice that... and that they didn't care how..." etc. All of this brought the film down terribly and hurt it especially in the sense that when the finale (finally) broke out, I didn't have any concern whatsoever about any of the characters. I just stared blankly, chuckling now and then, waiting for some big moment (yes, Arnold and the machine gun). And then it was over and I went home from the movie theatre. At the same time, I was thinking that I probably should have watched Stallone's Lock Up, which Escape Plan is not nearly as good as. That’s too bad. Escape Plan shouldn't have pretended to try to be anything - that way it would have worked out better. (22/10/2013)