Let's talk action movies!
By
alyssa_jones,
Posted on: 2011-01-10 14:40 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
I think we all agree "Die Hard" is the ultimate in action movies. I remember seeing the trailer for it and people in the theater laughing at the thought of Bruce Willis in an action film. Back then he was only known for "Moonlighting" and "Blind Date."
Several others I love have been said, I'd like to add:
"The Replacement Killers"
"The Matrix"
"Ghost Dog"
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
"Aliens"
"The Losers"
"Army of Darkness"
Edit:
And is anyone else as excited for "Cowboys and Aliens" as I am?
Hmmmm, try to figure out my favorite of all the Jackie Chan movies I've seen. Think I'll go for Rumble in the Bronx. That was my first Chan movie, and I think the action, story, and goofiness are the best in that one.
There's more to The Matrix than action, of course, but that's a great part of it. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero probably go in this category as well. Hero is gorgeous as well as having good action.
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My Top Ten would have to be:-
Die Hard
Commando
Blind Fury
300
Best of the Best
Kickboxer
Any of the Any which way but ............ Clint Eastwood movies
Mad Max
Rambo:- First Blood
The Transporter
Too many 50's to list here's a few you may know.
Slazenger, Area51, Area53, Area54, Erruption, Mind Plague, Thresher, Sheath, Broadside, Debt
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Oh my, classic movie I haven't thought of in years, but I loved it!
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Originally Posted by Slazenger
Blind Fury
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How about a genre-inventor?
A Better Tomorrow, Hong Kong, 1985. Starring Chow Yun Fat.
This is considered the original John Woo directed Hong Kong blood opera. The action isn't as refined as it would be later, but I do feel that it contains Chow's finest acting performance, and it certainly launched an industry.
There were a pair of sequels. I haven't seen the third film, but the second is an interesting mishmash between John Woo and Tsui Hark's direction.
The final reel is the first time Woo had the budget for a big climatic gun battle, and is quite spectacular.
I'll also submit a Japanese film, The Returner. You can see the budget constraints, but it's an interesting take on Terminator-style time travel.
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Originally Posted by Smersh
I'll recommend Brotherhood of the Wolf for Mark Dascascos fans, then.
It's hard to categorize... it's like a horror/conspiracy/mystery/costume drama/kung fu movie. And it's awesome. |
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Originally Posted by galadiman
District B13.
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Originally Posted by Gunstar_Grey
Die Hard in my mind, to this day remains the standard to which all other action movies should be judged.
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Some of mine I particularly enjoy:
Four Brothers
True Lies
The Rundown
Tango & Cash
Doomsday
Taken
Starship Troopers
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@Starflier
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Best of the Best was a fun series, though I was disappointed with #3 (1 was the best of them though).|
Originally Posted by Slazenger
My Top Ten would have to be:-
Die Hard Commando Blind Fury 300 Best of the Best Kickboxer Any of the Any which way but ............ Clint Eastwood movies Mad Max Rambo:- First Blood The Transporter |
Rambo: First Blood is a great movie, but not so sure I consider it action per se.
Blind Fury, a classic and one I love to watch when I find it on.
Lots of action movies I've seen mentioned, that I havent seen in awhile!
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YES! *high five* Everyone knows Die Hard, and rightfully so, but it's good to hear the Lethal Weapon flicks getting the credit they deserve. So much fun, definitive '80s action.|
Originally Posted by Gunstar_Grey
Die Hard in my mind, to this day remains the standard to which all other action movies should be judged. I've watched it a number of times bordering on the obscene, and I swear it never even shows signs of getting old.
Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 are in this category also..I liked 3 and 4 as well but they dont have the classic status of the first two |
Rather than repeat suggestions others have already made, I'll suggest some Hong Kong stuff. Check out Once Upon A Time In China 1 and 3; classic Jet Li at the top of his game, with great comedic moments and stories that won't insult your intelligence. The first film is probably the better of the two, but the third is more accessible IMO. Also have a look at the first Drunken Master, with Jackie Chan; the second one got a bit of hype in the States, but the first was far superior. Basically a really, really good Warner Bros cartoon gone live action with insane athletic performances. And Bolo Young. Bolo is never a bad thing for a film.
OK, I'll repeat one suggestion: what Smersh said about Brotherhood of the Wolf. Just see it. It's too weird and perfect to really describe adequately. Just trust us on this one and see it.
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Great film series. My favorite part of the three was when the one mafiaoso threatened CYFs restaurant if he didn't pay protection money.
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Originally Posted by Smersh
A Better Tomorrow, Hong Kong, 1985. Starring Chow Yun Fat. |
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To me, this rice is my family. This rice is my mudda and fadda!
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Originally Posted by GibsonMcCoy
Great film series. My favorite part of the three was when the one mafiaoso threatened CYFs restaurant if he didn't pay protection money.
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I'm not sure sure if this falls into action or not, but it's called Ip Man and is awesome.
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Eat the ******* rice!
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Originally Posted by Gorndt
To me, this rice is my family. This rice is my mudda and fadda!
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Other 50s: Plant/Thorn, Bots/Traps, DB/SR, MA/Regen, Rad/Dark - All on Virtue.
-Don't just rebel, build a better world, comrade!
Any Christy Canyon flick....OH WAIT the other "action" movies my bad... 
Holy crap, no one has mentioned Hot Fuzz?
It's a sort of parody/homage to just about every cop/action movie ever made. Just about every cliché of the genre is played up to humorous effect. It has a fantastic cast (Timothy Dalton, Jim Broadbent), great dialog, and perhaps the shortest car chase in movie history. Also, cameos by Cate Blanchett and Peter Jackson.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
The 13th Warrior
Troy
Kingdom of Heaven
Azumi
Bride with White Hair 1 & 2
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Have you ever fired your gun up into the air and screamed arrrrgh?
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Originally Posted by Demobot
Holy crap, no one has mentioned Hot Fuzz?
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No I have not fired my gun into the air and gone arrrgh!
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Originally Posted by GibsonMcCoy
Have you ever fired your gun up into the air and screamed arrrrgh?
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@Demobot
Also on Steam
Not quite an action film, not quite a romance and not quite a comedy, but it has the greatest sword fight ever filmed, and anyone who says different is selling something.
"The Princess Bride"
I am somewhat hesitant to put such a substantial film into the "action" genre, because it doesn't give due credit to the non-action elements of the film, but Children of Men has two of the best long-camera-shot action sequences I've ever seen.
Other gems to me include (in no order):
Chocolate (the Thai martial arts bone-breaker with the autistic heroine).
Pirates of the Caribbean (1st one)
The Road Warrior
Spiderman II
Predator
Fist of Legend
Aliens
Big Trouble in Little China
The Warriors
Silverado
Ong Bak
Conan the Barbarian
Blade and Blade 2
The Terminator and T2
Underworld and Underworld 2
Desperado
El Mariachi
All of the Bourne movies
Raiders of the Lost Ark
aaaand adding my strong endorsement for Brotherhood of the Wolf. There's really not another movie like it.
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This is a good list.
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Originally Posted by Chazzmatazz
I am somewhat hesitant to put such a substantial film into the "action" genre, because it doesn't give due credit to the non-action elements of the film, but Children of Men has two of the best long-camera-shot action sequences I've ever seen.
Other gems to me include (in no order): Chocolate (the Thai martial arts bone-breaker with the autistic heroine). Pirates of the Caribbean (1st one) The Road Warrior Spiderman II Predator Fist of Legend Aliens Big Trouble in Little China The Warriors Silverado Ong Bak Conan the Barbarian Blade and Blade 2 The Terminator and T2 Underworld and Underworld 2 Desperado El Mariachi All of the Bourne movies Raiders of the Lost Ark aaaand adding my strong endorsement for Brotherhood of the Wolf. There's really not another movie like it. |
Comrade Smersh, KGB Special Section 8 50 Inv/Fire, Fire/Rad, BS/WP, SD/SS, AR/EM
Other 50s: Plant/Thorn, Bots/Traps, DB/SR, MA/Regen, Rad/Dark - All on Virtue.
-Don't just rebel, build a better world, comrade!
I must say, Die Hard is one of the best 'watching' flicks there is.
Can't believe I haven't seen it...
Kill Bill 1&2?
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