Arnold Schwarzenegger

CHICAGO – Arnold Schwarzenegger promised moviegoers, “I’ll be back.” He makes his on-screen leading man return in filmmaker David Ayer’s action thriller “Ten”. Ayer’s writing credits include 2001 hit film “Training Day”, which earned an Academy Award for Denzel Washington. He will also appear in this Summer’s “The Expendables 2.”

CHICAGO – Like most instances in Hollywood these days, one gun-filled, explosive, action-packed film is never enough; not when a sequel can be made that promises the same exciting sequences and macho heroes. That is why it is no surprise that Lionsgate has given the green light to a sequel for the 2010 film “The Expendables,” titled “The Expendables 2,” and two of the biggest action stars of all time will join the fun.

CHICAGO – Sword and sandal epics are almost expected to have wooden acting and absurd dialogue. The new film “Conan the Barbarian” meets those expectations, and doesn’t offer any action or originality to counteract the anticipated flaws.

CHICAGO – I’m going to withhold judgment until I see it but, on paper, it makes no sense to remake John Milius’ 1982 fantasy/action classic “Conan the Barbarian” for one simple reason — there’s only one Ah-nuld. The movie weighed heavily on the charisma of its unique star, someone who was essentially catapulted to the A-list by this film and lightning only strikes once. Does anyone think that Jason Momoa, star of the August 19th remake from Marcus Nispel (remake “King” after desecrating “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Friday the 13th”) will find the same magic? Check out the originals, now on Blu-ray, and see the standard he has to live up to.

CHICAGO – Seeing them all together was fun. Enduring some macho joshing, even in the form of stiff dialogue, was tolerable. But doing a bad, boring action movie with Sylvester Stallone trying to prop up his “legacy” was sadly too much to bear.

CHICAGO – Good films deliver on their promise. Great films up the ante even more. In this version of the long “Predators” franchise from director Nimrod Antal (“Control,” “Armored,” “Vacancy”) and more-known producer Robert Rodriguez (“Grindhouse,” “Sin City”), we merely see more of the same: just enough to get us by but not nearly enough to make us care.

CHICAGO – Watching John McTiernan’s “Predator” again to prepare for the upcoming Adrien Brody vehicle “Predators,” I was struck with surprise that this relatively generic action B-movie has spawned such an enormous franchise that includes one sequel, two “Alien vs. Predator” movies, the new reboot, comic books, action figures, and video games. It’s an inarguably decent action flick but who would have guessed what it would lead to?

CHICAGO – I’m far from alone in my generation when I say that “T2: Judgment Day” rocked my world. I vividly remember seeing it as a teenager and absolutely loving every minute of it. That’s why I reacted so harshly to the disappointing “Terminator: Salvation,” a film that produces none of the jaw-dropping awe of the James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger classics. With a perfect Blu-Ray release for a beloved ’90s action masterpiece, go back to the best with “T2: Judgment Day - Skynet Edition”.

On Friday, I received a tip from a new source stating that McG (born Joseph McGinty Nichol) will direct the fourth “Terminator” film, which is currently titled “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins”.