Sex and violence still can't salvage 'The Specialist'

People who decide they want to see "The Specialist," a movie clone of several other action thrillers, should wait for the video release before wasting their time and money on this picture - it won't be a long wait.

The plot plods along a very familiar path. Sylvester Stallone plays Ray Quick, a bomb expert who protects May Munro, played by Sharon Stone, from a notorious crime family. Munro witnessed Tomas Leon, a role dutily filled by Eric Roberts, kill her parents when she was young. She decides to now seeks revenge on the Leon family with the assistance of Quick.

What actually happens are numerous explosions and schemes on everybody's part throughout Miami. No one is to be trusted. Every extra that sticks her or his face on-screen seems to die a quick death, (remember the original Star Trek series?).

"The Specialist" just delivers too much of the obvious and unprobable throughout.

The overly under-appreciated talent of James Woods is the only element in this movie that is worthwhile. Woods plays the over-zealous and explosive Ned Trent, an ex-CIA friend of Quick, who is now his mortal enemy. Trent has joined with the ranks of the Leon family to get Quick out of hiding and kill him.

The film is relying on the star-power of Stallone and Stone to make up for the lack of suspense and thrills that one would expect from this type of plot, but their talents as actors in this picture are, at best, mediocre.

The much talked about sex scene that was shot on a closed set was nothing to moan about. The sex scene between Stallone and Stone is nothing we haven't seen before, much like this movie.

Stone has yet to better her "Basic Instinct" performance. She is much better when she plays the woman in control, rather than the timid type, as she does here.

The talent of Eric Roberts was used at a disappointing "anemic level."More focus on his role, and his movie "family," might have made this film more interesting.

If a flat plot line and little imagination is what you crave then go ahead and see it. Just don't expect marquee names like Stone and Stallone to carry this movie and you won't come out feeling as disappointed as I did.