The specialist is no citizen Kane, in fact it isn't even in the same ballpark as the great action movies of the 90s, but it is a serviceable movie with a dashing lead and a gorgeous femme fatale of a leading lady in Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone respectively. Shot deftly by Peruvian director Luis Llosa the film falters if you try to think too much- which is what the critics at the time did. Stallone is beefy enough and still in his prime to run around Miami and the likes with Stone in tow. You should watch the Specialist if you happen to belong in the following two categories: a.) Fans of Sylvester Stallone; b.) Nostalgic need for older action films.

The Specialist is an diverting 90's action flick. It's set in beautiful Miami, with lots of explosions, comprehensible twists and a pinch of erotic.Sly Stallone did his job just as well as clean-limbed actress Sharon Stone - not outstanding performances, but solid. James Woods however nailed this movie with his acting. Especially the scenes between him and Quick (Stallone).If you're looking for an unchallenging late night action thriller, this movie fits just perfect.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sly Stallone movie in order, I come to 1994's The Specialist.Plot In A Paragraph: Sylvester Stallone is Ray Quick, a freelance bomb expert who lives off the grid. (Don't worry he is a good guy underneath, it is Stallone after all, he won't kill innocent people, takes in stray cats and gives up his seat to pregnant women on buses) May Munro (Sharon Stone) contacts him and wants him to kill the three men who killed her family years ago, who work for the Leon crime family, headed by Joe (Rod Steiger) and his son Tomas (a fun Eric Roberts) Their head of security Ned (A brilliant scene stealing turn by James Woods) Just happens to be Ray's former partner.Ray Quick has to be the blandest and dullest character had played at this point. I'm not sure if he was bored in the role, but he sleep walks his way through the movie. Like with 'Cobra' we get shots of Sly looking mean and moody behind his shades, or intense and moody as he works on a bomb. Lots of posing as he listens to Stones voice over and over as he stalks her. Lots of posing not much actual acting. Sharon Stone does, what Sharon Stone did at that point of her career, look good and take her clothes off. Eric Roberts (how did this man not have a bigger career?? I'd much rather watch him on screen than his sister) is a lot of fun, and actually under used. Steiger is surprisingly under whelming, which is a shame. But it's James Woods who this movie belongs too!! He is simply fantastic, and the movie is s lot poorer when he is not on screen. So once again, for the second movie in a row, Stallone is completely overshadowed by his costar. Like Wesley Snipes in 'Demolition Man', James Woods not only steals every scene he is in, he walks away with the full movie!! You could argue three with John Lithgow in CliffhangerAs with Nighthawks and Demolition Man, Stallone had scenes cut featuring the villain (This time Woods) and more shot with himself (the scene with the thugs on the bus, and the one where Roberts threatens Sly with a knife) at the last minute. It made no difference, Woods still stole the movie. Despite a relatively short running time, it actually feels a lot longer than it is. An interesting note on this is David Fincher was set to direct this at one stage. Stallone liked Fincher, and wanted him, but he was overruled by the producers, because of the failure of Alien 3. Instead they went with Luis Llosa, who had directed the straight to video 'Fire On The Amazon' with a Sandra Bullock and Sniper with Tom Berenger in 1993. Whilst Llosa's career went nowhere (he only directed 2 more movies after this) whilst Fincher made the mega hit Se7en a year later.

I love this film. It's actually one of my favourites. Sharon Stone is stunning, brilliant and brings convincing anger to the role of May Munro - the young girl who's grown up and out to avenge her parents. Stallone, whilst the big monosyllabic hero, he's got depth and personality and for my money, it's one of his best roles. Eric Roberts and James Woods make up the main cast and are both vicious and determinedly broken and dastardly. The soundtrack is amazing, I bought the CD, and it's a glamorous attractively shot film. Again Stone shines in a wardrobe to die for.The only problem with the film, is that it's a little on the improbably/cheesy and overacted side - especially Roberts and Woods... they're a bit hammy. However, I've watched it many times, and it still stands up as a good film and hasn't aged that much (except scrunchie-spotting, lots of cigarette smoking and some male fashion faux pas) and certainly is still very entertaining. It's quite dark, and with very adult themes, but there's some real heart in this film and I think the chemistry between Stone and Stallone is very sexy. Love this film, and love the passion of revenge that is portrays.