Part 2
Part 3
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40: Fast Five
The Conflict: Everybody from the series bands together to steal money from a corrupt businessman.
The Film: The Fast and the Furious series got pretty nutty as it went on, changing gears so much, but this is where the payoff becomes evident. Every character from the last movies makes their appearance (including the random ones from the second and third films) and contribute to the heist plot, which is loaded up with plenty of cool fights and car chases. The final car chase is a ridiculous and explosive affair that caps an otherwise exciting experience.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: The Fast and the Furious series got pretty nutty as it went on, changing gears so much, but this is where the payoff becomes evident. Every character from the last movies makes their appearance (including the random ones from the second and third films) and contribute to the heist plot, which is loaded up with plenty of cool fights and car chases. The final car chase is a ridiculous and explosive affair that caps an otherwise exciting experience.
My current score: 4/5
39: Underworld
The Conflict: Selene is a vampire fighting lycans, but one day she has to protect a human caught up in the secret underground war.
The Film: When you pit werewolves and vampires against each other, things will get bloody pretty fast. This film has its share of bloodshed, but it's also stylish and has some really cool fights and shootout scenes. The film explores a pretty nifty mythology, and sets up its own universe of fantastic creature action. Throw in some cool weapons and a few appealing characters, and the movie is pure gothic fun.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: When you pit werewolves and vampires against each other, things will get bloody pretty fast. This film has its share of bloodshed, but it's also stylish and has some really cool fights and shootout scenes. The film explores a pretty nifty mythology, and sets up its own universe of fantastic creature action. Throw in some cool weapons and a few appealing characters, and the movie is pure gothic fun.
My current score: 4/5
38: Skyfall
The Conflict: MI6 is bombed and somebody's trying to kill M. It's up to James Bond to find the culprit and stop the terrorist threat.
The Film: While the Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace duology reestablished James Bond as a classy and relevant hero again, Skyfall lays down a smooth and classy mix of style, action, and substance. Its story takes after the frenetic cat-and-mouse chase of The Dark Knight, but still incorporates all the Bond trademarks we know and love: ladies, exotic locales, fancy technology, and class. The film's style is exquisite, the characters receive top-notch treatment, and once the action gets going, it is great. This is the film that completes Bond's development in the new generation, and the pattern it lays down will likely persist in future films.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: While the Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace duology reestablished James Bond as a classy and relevant hero again, Skyfall lays down a smooth and classy mix of style, action, and substance. Its story takes after the frenetic cat-and-mouse chase of The Dark Knight, but still incorporates all the Bond trademarks we know and love: ladies, exotic locales, fancy technology, and class. The film's style is exquisite, the characters receive top-notch treatment, and once the action gets going, it is great. This is the film that completes Bond's development in the new generation, and the pattern it lays down will likely persist in future films.
My current score: 4.5/5
37: Ronin
The Conflict: A bunch of rogues take on a job to grab a briefcase.
The Film: This film is most famous for its car chases, which are pretty cool. It's also loaded with some very thrilling foot chases and explosive shootouts. Once the film gets going, it becomes quite thrilling, but it still has a moody tone and style, and decent focus on the characters. Above all, the film takes the archetypes of master-less samurai from Feudal Japan and transplants them effectively into a European setting; it's a winning combination.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: This film is most famous for its car chases, which are pretty cool. It's also loaded with some very thrilling foot chases and explosive shootouts. Once the film gets going, it becomes quite thrilling, but it still has a moody tone and style, and decent focus on the characters. Above all, the film takes the archetypes of master-less samurai from Feudal Japan and transplants them effectively into a European setting; it's a winning combination.
My current score: 4/5
36: Live Free Or Die Hard
The Conflict: John McClane is caught in the middle of an attack on the entire nation, and he has to stop it.
The Film: Despite the long gap between this film and its predecessor, it is still refreshing and thrilling to watch Bruce Willis get back into his familiar character and continue thwarting evil terrorists. With the stakes and scope broadened, John McClane endures a number of huge and awesome action setpieces, and it's hardly ever a dull moment.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Despite the long gap between this film and its predecessor, it is still refreshing and thrilling to watch Bruce Willis get back into his familiar character and continue thwarting evil terrorists. With the stakes and scope broadened, John McClane endures a number of huge and awesome action setpieces, and it's hardly ever a dull moment.
My current score: 4/5
35: Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol
The Conflict: Ethan Hunt and the team go off the grid to stop an evil plot to start a nuclear war.
The Film: Even though this film doesn't have quite as much emotional weight as #3, but I enjoyed this one the most. The plot is pretty thrilling, especially with a daring climb on the world's tallest building, plenty of cool chases and fights, and lots of really cool spying scenes throughout. It's fun, stylish, and just a good spy movie overall.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Even though this film doesn't have quite as much emotional weight as #3, but I enjoyed this one the most. The plot is pretty thrilling, especially with a daring climb on the world's tallest building, plenty of cool chases and fights, and lots of really cool spying scenes throughout. It's fun, stylish, and just a good spy movie overall.
My current score: 4/5
34: Invisible Target (Naam Yi Boon Sik)
The Conflict: Three cops join forces to take out gangsters.
The Film: From beginning to end, this film is loaded with explosive action and pretty cool fighting. The story's nothing new, but each new twist and turn is engaging and exciting, and the characters are pretty likable. Easily one of the most entertaining flicks I've seen from the Far East.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: From beginning to end, this film is loaded with explosive action and pretty cool fighting. The story's nothing new, but each new twist and turn is engaging and exciting, and the characters are pretty likable. Easily one of the most entertaining flicks I've seen from the Far East.
My current score: 4.5/5
33: Face/Off
The Conflict:
A federal agent trades his face with a terrorist to work undercover.
The terrorist does the same, disguising himself as the agent. The chase
continues...
The Film: The story's pretty interesting, and it is phenomenal how both lead actors are able to play two different personalities with the same face, bringing this bizarre scenario to life really well. The action is big, explosive, with all the elements that makes John Woo's movies so stylish and fun.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: The story's pretty interesting, and it is phenomenal how both lead actors are able to play two different personalities with the same face, bringing this bizarre scenario to life really well. The action is big, explosive, with all the elements that makes John Woo's movies so stylish and fun.
My current score: 4.5/5
32: The Living Daylights
The Conflict:
James Bond helps a Russian dude defect. Is shot at by a sniper. Russian
guy is kidnapped, Bond teams up with sniper to unravel a huge twisty
plot involving drugs, diamonds, and guns being traded in Afghanistan.
The Film: This plot is so dense, it can be hard to keep track of, but thankfully the characters are a whole lot of fun, the action is phenomenal, and Timothy Dalton plays it fairly tough as Bond. I think this is one of the most adventurous films of the series, and it remains a personal favorite of mine.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: This plot is so dense, it can be hard to keep track of, but thankfully the characters are a whole lot of fun, the action is phenomenal, and Timothy Dalton plays it fairly tough as Bond. I think this is one of the most adventurous films of the series, and it remains a personal favorite of mine.
My current score: 4.5/5
31: Sucker Punch
The Conflict:
A girl is wrongfully committed to an insane asylum. Meanwhile, in her
head, she imagines that it's all really a cabaret club. Meanwhile, in
each cabaret act she does, she's really doing battle with samurai,
zombies, robots, dragons, and more!
The Film: This is a film that has confounded many, even action-junkies who are undoubtedly drawn in by the promise of seeing a bunch of nice-looking ladies kicking butt in various fantasy environments. Therein lies the "sucker punch," because this is really a prison drama in disguise. The film very interestingly uses the image, tropes, and cliches of fantasy-action setpieces to tantalize the audience, both within the story and the audience watching the film. The triple-layered fantasy offers visually fantastic action sequences, naturally. But it's also a challenge to interpret what's real and what isn't. Through it all, fighting remains the film's biggest message, not only through characters battling monsters in their fantasies, but also in fighting against adversity and bondage. I think it's as interesting of a story as it is entertaining.
On home video, the extended cut is available, and the few new scenes it introduces make a substantial difference in the plot and how well its layers congeal. It is the version to see.
My current score: 5/5
--------------------The Film: This is a film that has confounded many, even action-junkies who are undoubtedly drawn in by the promise of seeing a bunch of nice-looking ladies kicking butt in various fantasy environments. Therein lies the "sucker punch," because this is really a prison drama in disguise. The film very interestingly uses the image, tropes, and cliches of fantasy-action setpieces to tantalize the audience, both within the story and the audience watching the film. The triple-layered fantasy offers visually fantastic action sequences, naturally. But it's also a challenge to interpret what's real and what isn't. Through it all, fighting remains the film's biggest message, not only through characters battling monsters in their fantasies, but also in fighting against adversity and bondage. I think it's as interesting of a story as it is entertaining.
On home video, the extended cut is available, and the few new scenes it introduces make a substantial difference in the plot and how well its layers congeal. It is the version to see.
My current score: 5/5
30: Blade II
The Conflict: Blade, the daywalker, teams up with some dudes to hunt down and slaughter a race of advanced vampires.
The Film: It's fast, it's bloody, and it's by far the awesomest Blade movie made. The action starts off fast and hardly lets up; there are a ton of great fight scenes all over the place, and they never wear out their welcome. The plot and characters aren't the greatest standouts, but Wesley Snipes suits his character perfectly, and the world of Blade is brought to vivid life memorably.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: It's fast, it's bloody, and it's by far the awesomest Blade movie made. The action starts off fast and hardly lets up; there are a ton of great fight scenes all over the place, and they never wear out their welcome. The plot and characters aren't the greatest standouts, but Wesley Snipes suits his character perfectly, and the world of Blade is brought to vivid life memorably.
My current score: 4.5/5
29: The Mummy (1999)
The Conflict: The mummy imhotep is resurrected, and he starts gathering strength to bring back his dead wife, at the expense of others.
The Film: Even though the special effects haven't aged that well, they were incredible at the time, and very imaginative. What matters the most is the adventurous spirit, which is very much the same as an Indiana Jones film, but with its own cast of lovable characters, thrilling action scenes, and a wonderful world of Egyptian mythology to draw upon.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: Even though the special effects haven't aged that well, they were incredible at the time, and very imaginative. What matters the most is the adventurous spirit, which is very much the same as an Indiana Jones film, but with its own cast of lovable characters, thrilling action scenes, and a wonderful world of Egyptian mythology to draw upon.
My current score: 4.5/5
28: Under Siege
The Conflict: A battleship is taken over by terrorists. It's up to the cook to stop them.
The Film: Despite being all 90s action movie cheese, this film still holds up as just a whole lot of fun. Steven Seagal plays his most lovable character, who kicks as much butt as he does chew the scenery. Tommy Lee Jones is a crazy villain. The story's pretty simple, but elegant, just like Die Hard. All together, the film features plenty of great shootouts and over-the-top action, and it is a lot of fun.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Despite being all 90s action movie cheese, this film still holds up as just a whole lot of fun. Steven Seagal plays his most lovable character, who kicks as much butt as he does chew the scenery. Tommy Lee Jones is a crazy villain. The story's pretty simple, but elegant, just like Die Hard. All together, the film features plenty of great shootouts and over-the-top action, and it is a lot of fun.
My current score: 4/5
27: Rambo
The Conflict: John Rambo helps rescue some missionaries stuck in Burma.
The Film: Holy crap. John Rambo's struggles finally bring him to the very heart of darkness, where the film exposes the horrible atrocities of violent regimes that murder the innocent and exploit the weak. Rambo plows through a whole army of bad guys with equal viciousness, in a number of intense and hard-hitting scenes that stand as some of the bloodiest ever filmed. It's rough, brutal, and messy, but this film proves definitively that Rambo is a hero who is always relevant and always needed.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Holy crap. John Rambo's struggles finally bring him to the very heart of darkness, where the film exposes the horrible atrocities of violent regimes that murder the innocent and exploit the weak. Rambo plows through a whole army of bad guys with equal viciousness, in a number of intense and hard-hitting scenes that stand as some of the bloodiest ever filmed. It's rough, brutal, and messy, but this film proves definitively that Rambo is a hero who is always relevant and always needed.
My current score: 4/5
26: Big Trouble In Little China
The Conflict: A woman is abducted by Lo Pan. Son of a b*tch must pay...
The Film: This film can be rather silly and over-the-top, but it's nonetheless a great adventure that unites Chinese folklore with the urban underground. In the middle of it all, Jack Burton is a perfectly-lovable action hero, who kicks plenty of butt and delivers plenty of fun lines. The film has action, laughs, and a great sense of fun.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: This film can be rather silly and over-the-top, but it's nonetheless a great adventure that unites Chinese folklore with the urban underground. In the middle of it all, Jack Burton is a perfectly-lovable action hero, who kicks plenty of butt and delivers plenty of fun lines. The film has action, laughs, and a great sense of fun.
My current score: 4.5/5
25: Jurassic Park
The Conflict In a theme park full of cloned dinosaurs, some dork screws everything up and the dinosaurs run wild and eat people.
The Film: The setpieces are thrilling and the special effects are grand, but the film is pure adventure. The characters exchange loads of fun banter, before they're plunged in relentless peril that takes them across jungles and bunkers, while confronting some of the most vicious animals to have walked the Earth.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: The setpieces are thrilling and the special effects are grand, but the film is pure adventure. The characters exchange loads of fun banter, before they're plunged in relentless peril that takes them across jungles and bunkers, while confronting some of the most vicious animals to have walked the Earth.
My current score: 4.5/5
24: John Wick
The Conflict: John Wick goes up against the Russian mafia and takes revenge over his dead puppy.
The Film: Sounds silly, I know, but the film is far more heartfelt and earnest than its premise makes it out to be. The film establishes a strong emotional hook on the main character -- a man who's lost everything and has nothing to lose. It gives his rampage weight and feeling, as he expertly shoots and fights his way to the top and leaves a body trail of gangsters behind him. The action is phenomenal, and John Wick is an action hero we love to root for.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: Sounds silly, I know, but the film is far more heartfelt and earnest than its premise makes it out to be. The film establishes a strong emotional hook on the main character -- a man who's lost everything and has nothing to lose. It gives his rampage weight and feeling, as he expertly shoots and fights his way to the top and leaves a body trail of gangsters behind him. The action is phenomenal, and John Wick is an action hero we love to root for.
My current score: 4.5/5
23: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Conflict:
Indiana Jones is stuck in India, and has to save enslaved children from
a Thugee cult, who are trying to find the Sankara stones.
The Film: This was made as, in a sense, indiana Jones going to hell. And the film sure is hellish, with bloody sacrifice scenes, evil magic, and child slavery. It's also pretty goofy, with some slapstick antics and jokes. It's still a blast though, watching Indy and the gang escape peril, traverse through deadly traps, and fight through loads of bad guys. It's still quite the well-made adventure.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: This was made as, in a sense, indiana Jones going to hell. And the film sure is hellish, with bloody sacrifice scenes, evil magic, and child slavery. It's also pretty goofy, with some slapstick antics and jokes. It's still a blast though, watching Indy and the gang escape peril, traverse through deadly traps, and fight through loads of bad guys. It's still quite the well-made adventure.
My current score: 4.5/5
22: Kingsman: The Secret Service
The Conflict: British spies trying to stop an evil plot -- it'll be up to one new recruit to save the world.
The Film: It's rather rude and it pushes the envelope of taste and morality often. It is to spy movies what Kick-Ass is to superheroes; it takes all the tropes and cliches we all know and love and twist it all around in a silly, sardonic, and super-violent thrill ride. It's pretty hard-hitting, especially with the big church fight scene and the exploding head scene, but the combination of rude comedy and cruel violence is consistently smashing.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: It's rather rude and it pushes the envelope of taste and morality often. It is to spy movies what Kick-Ass is to superheroes; it takes all the tropes and cliches we all know and love and twist it all around in a silly, sardonic, and super-violent thrill ride. It's pretty hard-hitting, especially with the big church fight scene and the exploding head scene, but the combination of rude comedy and cruel violence is consistently smashing.
My current score: 4.5/5
21: Wanted
The Conflict:
Wesley Gibson is a loser who discovers he's really the son of a really
great assassin. He trains up and becomes a skilled assassin himself.
The Film: It's crazy, over-the-top, the irreverent. Nothing is sacred in this movie -- not even the laws of physics. With a simple snap of their wrists, the characters send bullets curving in impossible ways. Cars go flying off in the air in impossible ways. They strap bombs to rats and set them loose. People take orders from a freaking loom, of all things. It's pretty weird and daft, but I always loved how tight the film is, how the story plays out, the sarcastic narration, the in-your-face attitude, and the imaginative setpieces. I admire the film most for presenting an unbridled ballet of chaos and destruction. I know it's nothing like the original comic, but who cares?
My Current Score: 5/5
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To be concluded...
The Film: It's crazy, over-the-top, the irreverent. Nothing is sacred in this movie -- not even the laws of physics. With a simple snap of their wrists, the characters send bullets curving in impossible ways. Cars go flying off in the air in impossible ways. They strap bombs to rats and set them loose. People take orders from a freaking loom, of all things. It's pretty weird and daft, but I always loved how tight the film is, how the story plays out, the sarcastic narration, the in-your-face attitude, and the imaginative setpieces. I admire the film most for presenting an unbridled ballet of chaos and destruction. I know it's nothing like the original comic, but who cares?
My Current Score: 5/5
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To be concluded...
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