Sylvester Stallone plays a former CIA bomb expert turned hit man, who gets hired by a beautiful woman to take out the crime boss responsible for the death of her parents. He plans the hit, gets pulled in by the feminine wiles of his employer, meets a nemesis from his past, things get blown up, the usual.It's a passable film by most standards. Stallone doesn't bring as much ham as he usually does, which is a shame, but the explosions themselves are pretty neat, especially the end scene in a house filled with things designed to go kaboom. But, as you've probably already guessed, the characters are utterly lifeless, the plot is paper thin, the dialogue is laughable and the story telling is something that could be topped by a kindergartener.Still, there's something about Stallone and his particular style of action films that makes this a watchable movie. Nowhere near one of his better films, but I in no way regret seeing it.

The Specialist (1994) is the most underrated bashed hated Stallone action thriller flick from it's fans and critics! I grew up with the film and it is still one of my best favorite action Stallone films! People seriously,simply don't understand what the movie is about. It's an action thriller, revenge Flick! The film is misunderstood and it is different Stallone film than in any other action films he played. The Specialist is not a masterpiece, the greatest or the best action film, but it is solid and good. It is an Entertaining action thriller from the beginning to the end.Stallone plays an trained Ex CIA agent who kills accidentally in Bogota, Colombia a wife and a kid and the bombing goes awry. I loved it how a CIA agent went trough hell, than he leaves the business and becomes a gun for hire. I love the character Ray Quick, I even memorize Stallone's Character! He is a trained henchman an Ex Special Forces The Bomb Specialist expert and Ex CiA Agent turned mercenary for hire, I love that! In this movie Stallone doesn't use a hand gun or any machine guns trough whole film, but he uses his expatriate, high explosives and hand to hand combat to kill a mobster and corrupted cop who was once a promising CIA agent but killed an innocent people and set up Ray!Stallone's character is well done written, he has a heart. He refused to kill innocent people, women and children, when he set up the bomb in Miami to kill Tomas Leon, inside was May and the bomb explodes, Ray cared and run to stop the bomb but he was too late. Stallone goes to the funeral of the woman identified as May Munro, he mourns and he is filed with quilt with killing an innocent person again. On a bus ride, Ray gets out of his seat and offers it to a pregnant woman. The people haven't see that or noticed, how a good hearted person the character is. He even took a cat under his wing. I love Ray Quick I don't care what anyone says! This movie has always been flawed with it's screenplay, a powerful score, lush cinematography and a solid cast. It has plot holes, but I still love it. I love the twists, the action sequences, the erotic's sex scenes in the hot tub, this scene really never bothered me. The special effects were great, the bomb explosions. I absolutely love this movie. It is very stylish, sexy and explosive. Stallone and Stone were perfect together. The Miami scenery was awesome. The music score was amazing. And the action was intense. Sylvester Stallone is truly an amazing actor and a truly a great talent. Also James Woods gave a powerful performance as Ned Trent a vengeful a hired assassin and a corrupt cop! Sharon Stone did a wonderful performance as a drop-dead beauty! I love the bus ride scene! Ray Quick gets out of his seat and offers it to a pregnant woman, only to have a young hoodlum take the seat instead. Quick calmly beats the crap out of the hoodlum and all his friends, throwing one of them out a window (not open), and then re-offers the seat to the woman. This scene has no bearing on the plot, but helps us get to know Quick. It is awesome powerful scene! Why I love this movie? I love it because in this movie Stallone doesn't use gun or machine guns but he uses his expatriate, high explosives and hand to hand combat. The Specialist is the most Underrated Action Thriller. I love Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct to another action thriller The Specialist and I love James Woods playing a villain in this movie. This was the only action movie that Stallone made in 1994 it was success but it turned in to one of very underrated movie and honestly I don't care.This movie is, apart from the film music, as a whole a must-see for action movie lovers with erotic scenes, built in smoothly. The double role of May makes the movie richer: there IS a plot possible in these kind of movies!. Action abound and well distributed over the time. Eric Roberts and James Woods play their roles at the same high level as Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone. I see originality, in the sense of action: the highly developed explosive devices-do hey really exist? CIA will know.. A flaw ,which I do not understand up to now, is that the getaway boat from M&M seafood seemed to be so readily available. The goofy trick with the telephone in the Fontainebleau Hotel as well, but those are not disturbing details. The movie has a steady pace and ends with the Miami Sound Machine!. Best scene is of course , the intimate scene in the hotel. Superb entertainment! Two of Hollywood's biggest stars combine fiery action with steamy sensuality in The Specialist. Sharon Stone, a drop-dead beauty with a fatal past. She's sworn death to the mobsters who murdered her parents and she's decided the method of their disposal: blast 'em- one by one- to kingdom come. She also knows the right man for the job: cool-fire ex-CIA explosives expert Ray Quick (Sylvester Stallone). That is your basic plot! I am giving this film a 8, because what the hell, this film deserves it! I love this film it is my best Stallone fifth favorite film! The Specialist is a 1994 American action film directed by Luis Llosa, starring Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone and James Woods. 8/10 Grade: B Studio: Warner Bros Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, James Woods, Rod Steiger, Eric Roberts Director: Luis Llosa Producer: Jerry Weintraub Screenplay: Alexandra Seros Based on The Specialist novels by John Shirley Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 50 Mins. Budget: $57.000.000 Box Office: $159,055,768

Sylvester Stallone is an explosives expert who contracts out his work after leaving the CIA when his superior James Woods callously killed some innocents on a South American job. Stallone before he left the agency got the demented Woods canned. Both are at large now, Stallone is an independent Woods just a loose cannon.Sharon Stone hires Stallone because of his precision hits with explosives, not an easy thing to do. She wants three Cuban gangsters killed as they killed her parents while she as a child watched. One of the three is Eric Roberts the son of Cuban Mafia capo Rod Steiger.Wouldn't you know it Woods is now working for Steiger and he's got his own agenda. He recognizes Stallone's signature and Steiger who has the Miami PD bought and paid for go to work assisting Woods track down Stallone. As for Stone she has her own agenda as well. But is gets nice and personal with Sly and Sharon.Stallone fans should be pleased with The Specialist. It has enough explosive charm for anyone who likes to see things go boom. As for acting honors they go to James Woods who has a knack for playing deranged and callous characters. A villain you love to hate.One might become a Stallone fan after seeing The Specialist.

In 1984, a couple of bomb specialists, Ray Quick & Ned Trent kill some children on a school bus when Ned Trent refuses to activate the fail- safe on the bombs. Ray refuses to be associated with Trent any longer, and turns him in. Ray is presently an outsider, living in Miami Florida, doing odd jobs here and there. May Munro has secretive phone calls with Ray about bombing the Leons, Tomas & Joe. May witnessed the Leons kill her parents as a child from the closet of her room. Ray initially declines the offer, but his outlook changes when Ned Trent is working with the Leons. Ostensibly, the script for The Specalist was passed around a bit. Steven Seagal was offered the lead role, but turned it down when they wouldn't pay him 9 million. Stallone refused the lead part as well at first, but was goaded into it after a while. I'm glad Seagal turned the part down. He didn't fit the description for Ray Quick. In all honesty? Stallone should have gone with his first instinct, and said no to this movie. I'm a die-hard fan of Sylvester Stallone, but i'd be lying if I said he hasn't made some forgettable stinkers in his career. After a suspenseful opening with Stallone & James Woods at their absolute best, this goes down the toilet rather quickly. For starters, it's WAY too talky. Instead of infusing it with action like they should have, they fill it with plenty of uninteresting dialog. The only action we get are some dull explosions, and an amusing action sequence that involves Sly, kicking some ass on a bus to defend an old woman's honor. There is also plenty of steamy flirting with Stallone & Stone on the phone if that interests you, as well as some awkward love-making. Sylvester Stallone can peel a potato for three hours, and I would still be entertained. He sleepwalks through a lot of this film, and looks rather indifferent. There are a few scenes where we get the patented Stallone charisma, but he just looked bored. It is hard to take his character seriously when he has a cat named Timer (!) It wasn't a bad performance by any means, just rather ordinary for him. Sharon Stone gives the best performance in the film (Not by much) with her sexy showcase. I thought she elevated this film with her presence alone. James Woods gives it 100%, and I have to commend him for it. Not many people go nuts like Woods does. I love the guy. Eric Roberts is decent for the most part. He had some good intensity, but his part felt phony. Rod Steiger embarrasses himself with his hammy performance. He annoyed the crap out of me with that accent as well.Final Thoughts: Despite some twists and turns, the competent acting, and the potential it has, this movie isn't very good. I admit to owning this movie, simply because I love Sylvester Stallone. It's a below average film that lacks action, script coherency, and thrills. I'd say pass4.8/10