Rating: 
Summary: James Woods Pratically Steals the show
Review: If it wern't for the devislh performence of the Great James Woods as an CIA agent with ties to an Miami drug cartel out to settle a score with his former partner this film would of sufferd big time. Sly Stallone plays Ray Quick, a former CIA Explosives expert who comes to aid of an mysterious woman who is seeking revenge on a mouthy gangster for the murder of her parents. Sharon Stone fails to convince me as a grieving woman it looks all she cares about is looking good in a tight outfit. Good famliar action with some cool explosions makes up for weak plot. Stallone & Woods are belivable in their roles but James Woods is the reason to see this otherwise routine action film.
Rating: 
Summary: If you want to SEE Sharon Stone--get Basic Instinct.
Review: In my opinion, Sly's worst movie! Just when Antonio Banderas was coming off high from Desperado....this movie all but destroyed him! As for Sharon Stone? The shower scene was halarious...but I don't think that was the director's intention. Oh who cares, if you want a good comedy, rent it. But if you want an action flick, you're better off watching cartoons on TV.
Rating:
Summary: The second worst film I have ever seen
Review: It was the worst until I saw Batman and Robin. I think this screenplay was submitted as some kind of sick joke. The dialogue is ridiculous, and the plot simply did not exist. Maybe it is supposed to be ironic?
Rating:
Summary: There is Trash--and Then There is The Specialist
Review: Most big budget big star films that come under heavy critical panning usually contain ludicrous acting on the parts of the big stars and a heavy reliance on special effects. I can see why THE SPECIALIST is now included in that group. Sylvester Stallone has rarely been as buff as he is in the role of Ray Quick, an ex-CIA bomb specialist who has been hired as a bomb hit man to kill some thugs headed by Rod Steiger and Eric Roberts. Stallone is as stone-faced as ever as he judiciously places small but powerful explosives to kill his victims. Stallone as Quick sleepwalks through his screen time, but as I watched this movie for the third time, I realized that the movie that I saw was exactly the one that director Luis LLosa wanted: a paen to the power and destructive force of matchbook sized bombs. Clearly, LLosa did not want anyone to take seriously the tale of a hired bomber who could kill in the hundreds and not arouse world wide attention. There are so many explosions that each one works metaphorically to eradicate any serious consideration of a plot that has as much weight as one of Quick's plastic explosives. The focus is less on Quick, but more on his supporting cast, Sharon Stone as the revenge-seeking woman who hires him and James Woods as the former CIA teacher spook who taught Quick all he knows about bombs. Miss Stone is the leggy female counterpart to a Stallone whose primary acting skill is to grimace as if he expects a hook from Apollo Creed at any moment. Stone walks around for most of her screen time in mini skirts while Stallone shows off his equally impressive pecs. Yet, despite their physical symmetry, their screen chemistry barely registers on the cinematic Richter scale. What keeps the film going is a balance between the incredible explosions (one of which allows a hotel floor to disengage itself from its structural base) and the superb acting of James Woods, who seems to be working as some kind of CIA spook with authority over the local police but is really on the pad of a crime boss, played shrilly by a balding Rod Steiger, who is guilty of badly overacting. Woods does what he can to keep the disparate elements of an off-balanced movie like this one on track. To his credit, he manages to give more than a note of authenticity even to the scenes that defy logic and analysis. The relationship between Woods and Stallone on a reverse-buddy level is far more of note that the hoped for sexual sizzle between Stallone and Stone. Essentially, THE SPECIALIST is predator prey film with Woods hunting Stallone, but the boundaries between the hunter and the hunted soon often blur. Watching a film like this is a perversely enjoyable experience. One does not expect any great statements about the Twisted Meaning of Life, but in the male bonding arena, nobody can top James Woods with his ability to make the audience feel the nervous agida as he closes in on his target. Stallone, however, has never learned how to react when he is outside of the squared circle, but in THE SPECIALIST, I did not really care about that.
Rating:
Summary: There is Trash--and Then There is The Specialist
Review: Most big budget big star films that come under heavy critical panning usually contain ludicrous acting on the parts of the big stars and a heavy reliance on special effects. I can see why THE SPECIALIST is now included in that group. Sylvester Stallone has rarely been as buff as he is in the role of Ray Quick, an ex-CIA bomb specialist who has been hired as a bomb hit man to kill some thugs headed by Rod Steiger and Eric Roberts. Stallone is as stone-faced as ever as he judiciously places small but powerful explosives to kill his victims. Stallone as Quick sleepwalks through his screen time, but as I watched this movie for the third time, I realized that the movie that I saw was exactly the one that director Luis LLosa wanted: a paen to the power and destructive force of matchbook sized bombs. Clearly, LLosa did not want anyone to take seriously the tale of a hired bomber who could kill in the hundreds and not arouse world wide attention. There are so many explosions that each one works metaphorically to eradicate any serious consideration of a plot that has as much weight as one of Quick's plastic explosives. The focus is less on Quick, but more on his supporting cast, Sharon Stone as the revenge-seeking woman who hires him and James Woods as the former CIA teacher spook who taught Quick all he knows about bombs. Miss Stone is the leggy female counterpart to a Stallone whose primary acting skill is to grimace as if he expects a hook from Apollo Creed at any moment. Stone walks around for most of her screen time in mini skirts while Stallone shows off his equally impressive pecs. Yet, despite their physical symmetry, their screen chemistry barely registers on the cinematic Richter scale. What keeps the film going is a balance between the incredible explosions (one of which allows a hotel floor to disengage itself from its structural base) and the superb acting of James Woods, who seems to be working as some kind of CIA spook with authority over the local police but is really on the pad of a crime boss, played shrilly by a balding Rod Steiger, who is guilty of badly overacting. Woods does what he can to keep the disparate elements of an off-balanced movie like this one on track. To his credit, he manages to give more than a note of authenticity even to the scenes that defy logic and analysis. The relationship between Woods and Stallone on a reverse-buddy level is far more of note that the hoped for sexual sizzle between Stallone and Stone. Essentially, THE SPECIALIST is predator prey film with Woods hunting Stallone, but the boundaries between the hunter and the hunted soon often blur. Watching a film like this is a perversely enjoyable experience. One does not expect any great statements about the Twisted Meaning of Life, but in the male bonding arena, nobody can top James Woods with his ability to make the audience feel the nervous agida as he closes in on his target. Stallone, however, has never learned how to react when he is outside of the squared circle, but in THE SPECIALIST, I did not really care about that.
Rating: 
Summary: Explosive Action!
Review: Ray Quick (lordage Sylvester Stallone) is a veteran specialist who now assassinates people for money. His newest mission requires to bump off the murderers who took away May Munro's (Sharon Stone) parents. This is a taut film that will have you sweating. High fever! The chemistry that Stallone and Stone have is remarkable and will leave you thirsty. I must've drank ten sodas. Hyper! Quick gets each man one-by-one and finishes off Timayo (excellent name) played by Eric Roberts. Even when the movie doesn't involve his mission, Quick fights a couple of punks on a bus and causes tax money to be spent on a broken window. Shattering! Rod Steiger is the father of Timayo and James Woods (who is always an evil genius) plays a trigger man who used to set off Quick's bombs. This movie will leave you exhausted, but wanting more? You say 'no', but I say 'YES'! Immortal genius to the maximum.
Rating:
Summary: The Specialist Rules
Review: Sly And James Woods Played Dang Good Parts In This Movie But Sharon Stone Oh My but Anyway This Movie Was Indeed Awesome the Explosions The Action Everything You Want Is In This Movie
Rating:
Summary: Still gives me nightmares
Review: Stallone made the biggest mistake of his career by agreeing to do this movie. It just doesn't work. Its utter trash . Stallone doesn't deliver any kind of Rocky or Rambo performance here. Instead we are treated to a silly plot with lots of holes. I cringe every time this film's name is mentioned.
Rating:
Summary: Woods, shame on you
Review: Stallone's worst film ever, even worse than Stop, or my mom will shoot. Sharon Stone gives possibly the worst performance of 1990's. Stallone looks a bit out of place because even he is too good for a movie like this. As for a dynamic quality actor like James Woods, he really should be ashamed of himself for taking any part in this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Stars, action, Florida filming location, high energy Spanish beat music by Emilio/Gloria Estavan. All of the ingredients for an enjoyable movie fantasy, plus the wardrobe and style of Sharon Stone for Stone lovers.
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