5.) The Bourne Identity (2002): Contains one of the best (if not the best) car chases ever filmed and single-handedly raised the bar for what audiences expect out of a fight scene.
4.) Speed (1994):
Bus + Bomb + Ted = Fun.
3.) Predator (1987): Two future governors, an invisible alien and lots of big guns and exploding trees. Add a jumbo bag of Skittles, and I'm in Heaven.
2.) The Matrix (1999): Even with several dozen viewings under my belt, I always get chills when he stops the bullets at the end. Such a cool flick.
1.) Die Hard (1988): Needs no introduction or explanation. The father of the modern-day action movie. Twenty years later and everyone's still trying to live up to the standard set by John McClain. (Note: Don't feel like you have to leave this off your list just because it's on mine. In fact, you might have some explaining to do if it's not at least in your top three.)
1.) Die Hard (1988): Needs no introduction or explanation. The father of the modern-day action movie. Twenty years later and everyone's still trying to live up to the standard set by John McClain. (Note: Don't feel like you have to leave this off your list just because it's on mine. In fact, you might have some explaining to do if it's not at least in your top three.)
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RGibbs, To each his own, my friend. You will see that it didn't take me anytime to respond to this, as I have been anxiously awaiting the new category. :)
BRAVEHEART - the battle scenes in this almost made me lose my lunch, they were so realistic. I'm not sure if this truly belongs in the 'action' category, because it contains elements of drama, comedy, and epic adventure, I believe that the 3+ epic battle scenes do enough to warrant a 5th place in this category.
Hot Fuzz - Admittedly, this movie should be banned from this list because of all the back-handed references it makes towards other action movies. However, the lighthearted and quick witted Brits
pulled off another badass movie that unlike many others in this category actually have SOME depth.
I'm not saying this is the next Apocalypse Now or anything, but perhaps it leaves Micheal Bay playing in the shallow end.
Top Gun - Does this need an explanation? Flying around in multi-million dollar jets, blowing things up. Oh yeah, and there is shirtless beach volleyball to boot!
KUNG FU HUSTLE - This action comedy brought me to tears during its pinnacle. It is that good. Not that I'm a Never-Cry person, I have a sensitive side. Stephen Chow's first big release in the US showcases the humility and hilarity that other action flicks seem to ignore. I mean, it is a MOVIE for crying out loud, it should entertain on multiple fronts. This movie keeps you guessing until the very end when your head finally explodes with awesomeness.
300 - Walking from the theater my father-in-law was so pumped up he growled at a random popcorn-carrying kid: "Give me that Popcorn!" It was hilarious. Few movies got me as pumped up as that movie did. And it is based on a true story, which appeals to the history lover in me.
man, been thinking about this, and don't think I can outdo your list there. but an alternate list anyway, yeah -- using DIE HARD of course, because what else can you do:
1) DIE HARD
2) THE ART OF WAR
3) BLADE
4) ROMEO MUST DIE
5) SPEED
but yeah, PREDATOR. and I really wanted to shoehorn ROADHOUSE in here, and THE LAST BOY SCOUT, but they're slightly different, I think. I mean, the money shot in an action movie's the stunt, the fight, all that, whereas in ROADHOUSE or LAST BOY SCOUT, the action's used more to enable the other stuff going on.
And yeah, as you can tell, I likely could have found a way to wedge PASSENGER 57 and MONEY TRAIN in that top five as well. had I wanted to be so transparent.
You are a tricky one, Gibbs. On the surface this appears an easy list. Action flicks are a dime a dozen, after all. Hell, you could have asked for the top 5 Steven Seagal action movies. Or the top 5 Tarrantino action movies. And therein lies the problem. There are all sorts of action movies, but mainly two: mindless and smart. So which do I go with here? Based on the lists so far, it would appear we’re sticking more to the mindless end of the spectrum. Not that Speed and Top Gun aren’t brilliant in their ways, but we’re definitely not talking Reservoir Dogs or Goldfinger or Apocalypse Now. So mindless, ass-kicking fun. Here goes:
5. Robocop – Of course has to be on the list. Most kick-ass robot of all time. Would definitely kick Wall-E’s annoying little ass.
4. Enter the Dragon – I love it when Bruce Lee, in that slightly unstable, high-pitched, edge of wrath voice, says, “You have offended my family and you have offended the Shaolin Temple.” You just know he’s about to start kicking some serious ass.
3. The Great Escape – What a cast! McQueen, Garner, Bronson, Coburn. McQueen is the ultimate badass.
2. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome – Really I could have gone with any of several Mel Gibson movies: Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Lethal Weapon 1-4, Braveheart, The Patriot, maybe not Payback, but certainly The Passion of the Christ (although Gibson wasn’t actually in that; unless you count that brief subliminal cameo shot in the movie’s trailer). Ultimately, it was the presence of Tina Turner that tipped the scales in favor of Thunderdome.
1. (A three-way tie): Terminator 2, Total Recall, and The Running Man - Schwarzeneggar = Governor Badass
Any more takers? Planning to drop another topic before I head to Spain. Sometime this weekend, likely.
5. Ronin – The purists love Bullit and The French Connection. Good movies, great car chases. But for my money, there are no better car chases than the ones in Ronin. And that's not counting the shoot-outs and great dialog, ghostwritten by a man manlier than you, David Mamet.
4. The Legend of Drunken Master (or Drunken Master 2) – Jackie Chan used to be a total badass. And no movie shows it off more than this fantastic kung-fu flick. THIS is Chan at the the top of his career.
3. The Matrix – Yes, Asian film whores, we know. We know The Matrix wasn't the first movie to have slo-mo, martial arts and a gun in each fist. But you know what...? It combined it better than anyone else before (and since) and made an actual great movie, too.
2. Die Hard – The movie that started a hundred cliches and did it better than every imitator. Not only is this one of the finest action flicks ever, it's also my favorite Christmas movie.
1. Hard-Boiled – John Woo, before he came to American and sucked (except for Face/Off which is better than meat), made the best action movie ever and turned Chow Yun-Fat into a god. A god with a gun in each hand. If the opening slaughter in the tea house doesn't convince you then the 45 minute long destruction in a hospital will. It doesn't get better than this.
And now a few honorable mentions: Heat: one of the best shoot-outs ever.
Crank: Statham finally catches up to his reputation and makes 80 minutes of glorious, gleeful violence.
The Professional (Leon edition): Jean Reno and Natlie Portman rock out and Gary Oldman is a madcrazy bastard.
Blade: I like the 2nd better, but this has the better blood-spillage.
Wild Bunch:western violence at it's bloodiest.
Children of Men: watch the final action sequence and marvel – it's all one take.
I can only possibly respond to this post with five Bruce Willis flicks, since he is the Midas of action movies.
The A-Team - I know it's only been rumored that Bruno will be playing Hannibal, but come on!
Last Man Standing - my brother once tried counting the number of people Bruce kills in this movie. He lost count at 97.
The Fifth Element - The only reason this movie is on my list (and THIRD!) is because Bruce is the only person in the history of the motion picture who could have made this movie worth the 5 dollar admission and the $3.50 matinée price that it cost when it came out. And the scene when he "negotiates" with the aliens? Amazing.
(random trivia: the explosion after the opera scene is the biggest indoor explosion ever undertaken, and it took 3 days to put the fire out. Inside!)
The Last Boy Scout - honestly, this one is number two because it has arguably the best lineup of one liners of any Willis movie ever. Don't believe me? Try this - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102266/quotes
Any and all Die Hard Movies, past present, and future - Die Hard 5: Die Hardest? I'm all over it. And I'll be there at midnight on Thursday night drinking whiskey just so I can know what it's like to be detective John McLane, without a doubt the greatest action hero of all time. And the best Christmas movie? I couldn't agree more whole-heartedly.
I'm going to go watch Mercury Rising now. Got it DVRed!
Nice lists, all.
Winner posted. New category coming in the next few days.
I'd add Casino Royale. Definitely Braveheart. Is it too corny that I also enjoyed Mr. and Mrs. Smith?
Not at all. Loved Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
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