My love for action movies has steadily been decreasing since the age of 10, but every once in a while a new action film will come out that will rekindle my love for the genre. Action movies seldom captivate the audience with amazing plots or themes, but what they lack in this regard they try to make up for by having amazing action sequences. Below are my Top 6 Action Films (in no particular order).
The Matrix
Only the first part, because I believe it all went downhill after the first installment. The storyline faded into the background as the Wachowski (at the time) brothers focused more and more on saturating the films with special effects and action sequences. The first film is amazing though, because it manages to balance the humans-machines conflict with amazing action. The Morpheus rescue segment of the film is probably my favorite “guns blazing” scene in the history of cinema ever.
Shoot ‘Em Up
I haven’t watched this one in a very long while, but I was impressed by the sheer number of creative ways Clive Owen’s character managed to kill people. The movie is action-driven and there is basically only a shadow of a plot, but damn, that movie had me sitting on the edge of my seat in wondrous excitement.
Kingsman: Secret Service
I wouldn’t know where one could find a movie that both mocks and emulates the “spy movie” genre so skillfully. The two scenes where Colin Firth kick’s ass are in and of themselves great reasons to see this movie. Talk about subverted expectations.
The first thing this movie did right is that it didn’t give everything away in the trailer. Unlike many other movies who put their best action sequence in the trailer, Kingsman definitely saved the best for last. The movie was based on comic books from the same writer who created Kick-Ass, and brought to the screen by the director of the first (the second sucked SO BAD) Kick-Ass movie. This should give you an impression of the quality of the action sequences and pacing, except that Kingsman supersedes Kick-Ass in every single aspect.
Mad Max: Fury Road
I saw Mad Max earlier this week but I’m still high on the intensity and adrenalin in that movie. If there’s one word to describe Mad Max it would have to be “intense”, because it is stressful in so many different ways. At first you’re presented with this post-apocalyptic desert world and there’s very little exposition in that sense. You just sort of have to hang on and accept it for what it is, which is stressful. Then, you have to see all these pale, scared, fucked up people throughout the whole movie, which is stressful. After that you have to sit through 1.5 hours of crazy car chases with suspended flame-throwing guitarists, and that’s stressful too. It’s just very intense, but in the best way possible.
I also really enjoyed the subtle (or not so subtle) feminist notes in the movie. “We are not objects” is one of the first words spoken by a woman in the film; Furosia is the most bad-ass female character in a film since Xena (fixing cars, suspended upside down, while the car is moving); the group of grannies kicking ass like there’s no tomorrow. The movie as awesome on so many levels.
The Avengers
The first Avengers movie is the best, funnest, and most exciting PG-13 action movie in existence, and that’s all I can say about that.
James Bond: Skyfall
This movie easily deserves a whole blog post of it’s own (not that the other ones don’t). The sheer amount of “inside jokes” and references alone has been the subject of many blogs and videos out there. Add to that the classic character of James Bond, the spectacular acting of Daniel Craig, a catchy soundtrack tune by Adelle (I’m still convinced that the best bond song is Another Way to Die by Jack White and Alicia Keys), and awe-inspiring cinematography with jaw-dropping, and well directed action sequences and you’ve got a solid 9.5/10 action movie.
What are your favorite action flicks?