Noj Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 I like the original Terminator better than T2. Although I watch it as a comedy, Commando is a favorite action movie. The first Predator is just plain great, all the way around. The first Lethal Weapon for good cheesey action. Gary Busey! The first Die Hard, of course. The first and third Indiana Jones movies. The second one, wtf? The Fugitive wasn't bad. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is one of my favorite movies, period. With subtitles, of course. I hate the dubbed-in English version. Hero and House Of Flying Daggers weren't too shabby either. Dirty Harry and tons of Eastwood westerns. Heat, except I hate the end. Tombstone I love how Bill Paxton is still Chet from Weird Science in Aliens. Full Metal Jacket=action movie, Catesta? I'm with you on 48 Hours, Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte are both great in that. Aliens is an action movie, Alien is more of a horror/drama, imo. Quote
Big Deal Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 I just have to get this in, as I cannot believe it is not already there: Blade Runner! Quote
catesta Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 I like the original Terminator better than T2. Although I watch it as a comedy, Commando is a favorite action movie. The first Predator is just plain great, all the way around. The first Lethal Weapon for good cheesey action. Gary Busey! The first Die Hard, of course. The first and third Indiana Jones movies. The second one, wtf? The Fugitive wasn't bad. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is one of my favorite movies, period. With subtitles, of course. I hate the dubbed-in English version. Hero and House Of Flying Daggers weren't too shabby either. Dirty Harry and tons of Eastwood westerns. Heat, except I hate the end. Tombstone I love how Bill Paxton is still Chet from Weird Science in Aliens. Full Metal Jacket=action movie, Catesta? I'm with you on 48 Hours, Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte are both great in that. Aliens is an action movie, Alien is more of a horror/drama, imo. Yeah, I suppose you're right on FMJ, that might be stretch. If westerns are included I could make a really long list. All those Eastwood films are killer. Tombstone is great, Silverado, Big Jake...... Quote
jazzbo Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 Okay, if you consider it an action movie, then Blade Runner has to be in the listing, agreed! Quote
mgraham333 Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 I like the original Terminator better than T2. Although I watch it as a comedy, Commando is a favorite action movie. The first Predator is just plain great, all the way around. ... I love how Bill Paxton is still Chet from Weird Science in Aliens. Aliens is an action movie, Alien is more of a horror/drama, imo. Okay - because you have listed both Commando and Bill Paxton - try to find Bill Paxton in Commando (and do it without www.imdb.com). He's there. And he's in Stripes too if you can work the pause button on your DVD player. Quote
Noj Posted February 4, 2008 Report Posted February 4, 2008 I remember Paxton in Commando! He's also in Terminator, at the very beginning, along with that goony-looking dude with the crazy jawbone who had a role on the X-Files. Quote
Guy Berger Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Posted February 4, 2008 The Wages of Fear The best! I thought this was overrated though there were some classic sequences. Guy Quote
GA Russell Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 The Wages of Fear The best! I thought this was overrated though there were some classic sequences. I'm glad you mentioned this, Bruce. I taped it off the TV many years ago and never got around to watching it. I still have a VCR hooked to my TV, and I'll have to dig it out and watch it. Although this doesn't really qualify as an action movie in the normal sense, those of you who like the Bullitt and French Connection chase scenes will probably also enjoy the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 Charley Varrick Indeed. I've loved this every time I've seen it. Quote
Noj Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 Forgot to mention two favorites: The Usual Suspects Snatch Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 Never really thought of those as "action," tho I guess my choice of Rififi is similar to yours... Quote
Free For All Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 I guess we should not exclude Sam Peckinpah and his slo-mo violence..... The Wild Bunch Straw Dogs The Getaway The Osterman Weekend ....and the classic "Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia"! Quote
Nate Dorward Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 The Wages of Fear The best! I thought this was overrated though there were some classic sequences. Guy It's a great film if you forget about the first half hour or so, which is VERY slow in setting up the basic premise. What is an action film exactly? I'm seeing lots of things listed in this thread which I'd classify as "thriller", "suspense", "adventure", "heist film", "western" &c, rather than action film per se (which, to my way of thinking, needs to make a specific point of stressing kinetic, highly visual forms of violence & thrills). Rififi is a great film, but it's not an action film at all--it's about tension, not release. Quote
Brownian Motion Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 I guess we should not exclude Sam Peckinpah and his slo-mo violence..... The Wild Bunch Straw Dogs The Getaway The Osterman Weekend ....and the classic "Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia"! And "Ride the High Country", the best western I've ever seen. Quote
Guy Berger Posted February 5, 2008 Author Report Posted February 5, 2008 What is an action film exactly? I'm seeing lots of things listed in this thread which I'd classify as "thriller", "suspense", "adventure", "heist film", "western" &c, rather than action film per se (which, to my way of thinking, needs to make a specific point of stressing kinetic, highly visual forms of violence & thrills). Rififi is a great film, but it's not an action film at all--it's about tension, not release. I was thinking the same thing. Lots of great movies (and some not so great) mentioned in this thread that I wouldn't call "action films" -- though hey, vox populi vox dei. Guy Quote
mikelz777 Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 (edited) Among those already mentioned, definitely the Bourne trilogy and the latest Bond flick, Casino Royale. I don't know if these fit the definition of action movie that you're looking for but I would submit a couple thrillers: Robocop (the first one with Peter Weller) Collateral (Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx) Edited February 5, 2008 by mikelz777 Quote
Jazzmoose Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 ...and the latest Bond flick, Casino Royale. Oh, that one...I thought Clifford had been smoking crack when he mentioned Casino Royale; I forgot there were two. Quote
Quincy Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 (edited) Lotsa favorites already mentioned. As long as subtitles don't make it artsy fartsy, I went on a big Japanese (mostly) Criterion bender from Nov-Dec, and I think at least the following qualify as action greats. Sword of Doom's IMBD plot summary says "Ryunosuke is a sociopathic samurai without compassion or scruples." I saw about 15 samurai movies in 6 weeks and of all of them this had the most direct slicing style of any of the sword handlers. Very intense, and I'd think Tarantino must have seen this one a bunch. Another (coincidentally with the same lead actor Tatsuya Nakadai) would be Harakiri, also a Criterion release. I would compare it one of Clint Eastwood earlier westerns as far as the tension that builds up before the action. This is one case where even if you don't speak the language, you should have the volume up as Tatsuya's delivery is such that you'll understand his building anger quite clearly. Sword Of The Beast (another Criterion) is also pretty ripping (ouch) stuff. Edited February 6, 2008 by Quincy Quote
MoGrubb Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 What is an action film exactly? I'm seeing lots of things listed in this thread which I'd classify as "thriller", "suspense", "adventure", "heist film", "western" &c, rather than action film per se (which, to my way of thinking, needs to make a specific point of stressing kinetic, highly visual forms of violence & thrills). Rififi is a great film, but it's not an action film at all--it's about tension, not release. I was thinking the same thing. Lots of great movies (and some not so great) mentioned in this thread that I wouldn't call "action films" -- though hey, vox populi vox dei. Guy I'd say an Action Film is one with very little dialog(subjective I know), e.g. Clint Eastwood's THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY(not one of my favorites). There're probably not more than two hundred words dialog in the whole flick. Quote
AndrewHill Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 To Live and Die in LA (one of the greatest car chases of all time IMO) Ronin Aliens II (fun to watch Paul Reiser be a bad guy) Terminator II Raiders of the Lost Ark Return of the Jedi (Jabba the Hut was a bad ass) Brave Heart Payback Gladiator Gangs of New York (well its mostly action) Saving Private Ryan Quote
BruceH Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 I suffering from an attack of honesty, so nothing but "real" action movies on my list! The Great Escape The Dirty Dozen Kelly's Heroes Bridge Over the River Kwai (hey, I don't care if it is "deep"; it still gotta qualify!) Damn, I'm getting old... All fine movies. Dirty Dozen and Kelly's Heroes in particular are among my all time favorites. Plenty of good ones posted so far, so I'll throw in some not yet mentioned and excluding westerns. Dirty Harry Enter the Dragon Goldfinger Predator Godzilla vs. Mothra Full Metal Jacket 48 Hours Never thought of Dirty Harry as an "action" film per se, more as a cop film. But I can see that. Certainly one of my favorite Clint Eastwood films, along with most other people on the planet. Quote
BruceH Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 (edited) Seven Men From Now The Tall T Ride Lonesome (Yes, these are among my favorite Westerns, but they could be catogorized as "action" too. Sort of.) Edited February 7, 2008 by BruceH Quote
Jazzmoose Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 To Live and Die in LA (one of the greatest car chases of all time IMO) I always thought that one was underrated. Quote
BruceH Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Yojimbo Sanjuro The Seven Samurai Quote
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