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80: Midnight Run
The Conflict: A bounty hunter has to drag his bounty across the country.
The Film: There are some pretty cool chases and shootout scenes, but it's the film's heart that makes it endearing. The characters are pretty well-developed and likable, and their struggle together drives the conflict moreso than the actual action. It's simultaneously funny, thrilling, and endearing.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: There are some pretty cool chases and shootout scenes, but it's the film's heart that makes it endearing. The characters are pretty well-developed and likable, and their struggle together drives the conflict moreso than the actual action. It's simultaneously funny, thrilling, and endearing.
My current score: 4/5
79: The Fugitive
The Conflict: Richard Kimble is wrongfully accused of murder, and has to go on the run to prove his innocence.
The Film: While there aren't as many big or explosive setpieces involved with this film, it is a pretty decent action experience thanks to its brisk pacing and suspense. It is a good, well-made thriller with characters we can root for.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: While there aren't as many big or explosive setpieces involved with this film, it is a pretty decent action experience thanks to its brisk pacing and suspense. It is a good, well-made thriller with characters we can root for.
My current score: 4/5
78: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
The Conflict: Zombies take over Raccoon City. It's up to Alice to help a bunch of survivors fight their way out.
The Film: When this movie came out, somebody from work described it to me as something awesome and crazy. RE fans may not appreciate the lack of horror, but as an action movie, RE: Apocalypse delivers a plethora of over-the-top and explosive action. It is a brisk zombie flick with loads of fun gunplay and stunts, and I think it remains the funnest movie of the series.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: When this movie came out, somebody from work described it to me as something awesome and crazy. RE fans may not appreciate the lack of horror, but as an action movie, RE: Apocalypse delivers a plethora of over-the-top and explosive action. It is a brisk zombie flick with loads of fun gunplay and stunts, and I think it remains the funnest movie of the series.
My current score: 4/5
77: Ong Bak
The Conflict: Some dude fights a whole bunch of people so he can get his Buddha statue back.
The Film: The movie's a little cheap at times, but the fight and parkour moves are as impressive as they come. Tony Jaa exerts some serious skill as he runs, flips, and dives through narrow obstacles, before beating everybody up with his Muay Thai moves. The story's pretty thin, but it's a good excuse to have a bunch of fighting, and a bunch of Tuk-Tuks chasing each other.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: The movie's a little cheap at times, but the fight and parkour moves are as impressive as they come. Tony Jaa exerts some serious skill as he runs, flips, and dives through narrow obstacles, before beating everybody up with his Muay Thai moves. The story's pretty thin, but it's a good excuse to have a bunch of fighting, and a bunch of Tuk-Tuks chasing each other.
My current score: 4/5
76: The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Conflict:
John Hammond sends some people to "Site B" to check out how the
free-range dinos are doing. At the same time, Ingen sends in hunters to
kick-start a new Jurassic Park in San Diego. Something's bound to go
wrong...
The Film: While not a perfect sequel by any means (with a few unlikable characters and a few silly scenes), it does have some thrilling action scenes. It is always cool to see the dinosaurs in action, as they toss jeeps around and eat people relentlessly. The finale has a lot of crazy mass destruction; it does go a little over-the-top, but it's all in good fun.
My current score: 3.5/5
--------------------The Film: While not a perfect sequel by any means (with a few unlikable characters and a few silly scenes), it does have some thrilling action scenes. It is always cool to see the dinosaurs in action, as they toss jeeps around and eat people relentlessly. The finale has a lot of crazy mass destruction; it does go a little over-the-top, but it's all in good fun.
My current score: 3.5/5
75: The Crow
The Conflict: Eric Draven and his family was murdered. From the power of the Crow, Eric returns to life to take revenge!
The Film: This may be the progenitor of most modern horror/action hybrids we know and love today (such as Underworld and Resident Evil). It's a dark and stylish film, with a kick-ass soundtrack, a unique mythology, and a story we can care about. The whole film oozes gothic style, but the action scenes are thrilling too; the big shootout towards the end is way cool, and to me, it feels like the precursor to the Matrix lobby scene.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: This may be the progenitor of most modern horror/action hybrids we know and love today (such as Underworld and Resident Evil). It's a dark and stylish film, with a kick-ass soundtrack, a unique mythology, and a story we can care about. The whole film oozes gothic style, but the action scenes are thrilling too; the big shootout towards the end is way cool, and to me, it feels like the precursor to the Matrix lobby scene.
My current score: 4/5
74: Equilibrium
The Conflict: In the future, all human emotion is repressed. One man starts to feel for the first time, and fights for freedom.
The Film: This is a pretty cool sci-fi story that invokes the themes of classics like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. As an action movie, the fight scenes are spectacular, following in the same trends and style as The Matrix. The film suffers little drag, but the focus on character and the tension of the plot gives it significant weight, all the way to its explosive climax.
My current score: 4.5/5
--------------------The Film: This is a pretty cool sci-fi story that invokes the themes of classics like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. As an action movie, the fight scenes are spectacular, following in the same trends and style as The Matrix. The film suffers little drag, but the focus on character and the tension of the plot gives it significant weight, all the way to its explosive climax.
My current score: 4.5/5
73: Predator
The Conflict: A bunch of commandos are being hunted by an alien predator.
The Film: It's cheesy, over-the-top, macho entertainment, loaded with explosive shootouts, memorable one-liners, and some really bloody carnage. The predator is a formidable foe with all kinds of powerful gear, and he brings on a plethora of challenges that pushes the characters to unleash their inner savage. With so much peril being dished out one scene after another, the film is thrilling all the way through.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: It's cheesy, over-the-top, macho entertainment, loaded with explosive shootouts, memorable one-liners, and some really bloody carnage. The predator is a formidable foe with all kinds of powerful gear, and he brings on a plethora of challenges that pushes the characters to unleash their inner savage. With so much peril being dished out one scene after another, the film is thrilling all the way through.
My current score: 4/5
72: Jack Reacher
The Conflict: A drifter works outside of the law to bring justice to a sniper turned crazy.
The Film: Right from the start, everything about this film reminded me of other crime thrillers and action movies from the 90s (especially The Fugutive and US Marshalls for whatever reason). If nothing else, Jack Reacher is a pretty cool dude capable of kicking some serious butt. The fights are hard and fast, and the big car chase is one of the most realistic I've seen (take that Bullit!). The plot is intriguing, and it makes for a good action-packed fun.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Right from the start, everything about this film reminded me of other crime thrillers and action movies from the 90s (especially The Fugutive and US Marshalls for whatever reason). If nothing else, Jack Reacher is a pretty cool dude capable of kicking some serious butt. The fights are hard and fast, and the big car chase is one of the most realistic I've seen (take that Bullit!). The plot is intriguing, and it makes for a good action-packed fun.
My current score: 4/5
71: Broken Arrow
The Conflict: An Air Force pilot takes off with some nukes.
The Film: I always felt this was a rather standard action-movie plot, but its' the characters that keep it fun. John Travolta is so playful with his role; his lines provide some of the biggest highlights. The action is quite ambitious, including an explosive showdown with a helicopter, an underground nuclear explosion, and a huge fight on a moving train. Action movie fans ought to love it best.
My current score: 3.5/5
--------------------The Film: I always felt this was a rather standard action-movie plot, but its' the characters that keep it fun. John Travolta is so playful with his role; his lines provide some of the biggest highlights. The action is quite ambitious, including an explosive showdown with a helicopter, an underground nuclear explosion, and a huge fight on a moving train. Action movie fans ought to love it best.
My current score: 3.5/5
70: Total Recall (1990)
The Conflict: Douglas Quaid goes in for a virtual vacation, winds up getting the adventure of a lifetime.
The Film: Although this gets pretty heavy into the realms of far-out sci-fi, the film is loaded with loud, over-the-top gunfights and brawls. It is a fast-moving picture that's brimming with adventurous spirit, and as an action movie, it does kick a lot of butt.
My current score: 5/5
--------------------The Film: Although this gets pretty heavy into the realms of far-out sci-fi, the film is loaded with loud, over-the-top gunfights and brawls. It is a fast-moving picture that's brimming with adventurous spirit, and as an action movie, it does kick a lot of butt.
My current score: 5/5
69: Romancing the Stone
The Conflict:
A writer's sister is kidnapped, so she goes to Colombia, meets the
hero, and they set out to find a hidden treasure that a bunch of bad
guys are looking for.
The Film: Maybe not quite as explosive or enthralling as an Indiana Jones picture, but there's still plenty of fun to be had. The characters' struggle through the Colombian jungles are often exciting, and their chemistry makes them an endearing bunch we can root for.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Maybe not quite as explosive or enthralling as an Indiana Jones picture, but there's still plenty of fun to be had. The characters' struggle through the Colombian jungles are often exciting, and their chemistry makes them an endearing bunch we can root for.
My current score: 4/5
68: Rambo: First Blood Part II
The Conflict: John Rambo is hired to seek out POWs still captured in Vietnam.
The Film: Even though First Blood was thrilling in its own way, this follow-up presents Rambo as I prefer to see him: the all-American war hero who's not afraid to venture into foreign soil to kick butt! Through the then-relevant issue of rescuing POWs still stuck in Vietnam, Rambo takes out bad guys with lethal skill and tons of firepower, before challenging the establishment itself. It's easily one of the funnest and most heroic of the series.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Even though First Blood was thrilling in its own way, this follow-up presents Rambo as I prefer to see him: the all-American war hero who's not afraid to venture into foreign soil to kick butt! Through the then-relevant issue of rescuing POWs still stuck in Vietnam, Rambo takes out bad guys with lethal skill and tons of firepower, before challenging the establishment itself. It's easily one of the funnest and most heroic of the series.
My current score: 4/5
67: The Man With the Golden Gun
The Film: Seems to be considered one of the weaker Bond movies - I can't deny that it's campy and silly. However, I believe it's the funnest of the Roger Moore era; it features plenty of neat fights and chases. I believe that Scaramanga is a great villain, and the showdown between him and Bond is pretty cool. The film doesn't follow the original novel at all, but I like the movie better for pitting these two characters together against some very exotic backdrops, and still maintaining a sense of fun and escapism.
My current score: 4/5
66: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
The Conflict: A bunch of gangbangers assault a run-down police precinct.
The Film: Like all great things, this is a simple story told in an exciting way. It starts off with quite the brutal and shocking murder scene, before the action moves into the police precinct and the characters spend the rest of the time defending it against huge odds. In a way, the film resembles a western that's relocated to the urban LA setting, but with a cast of hip characters and plenty of shootouts, the film is pretty thrilling all the way through.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Like all great things, this is a simple story told in an exciting way. It starts off with quite the brutal and shocking murder scene, before the action moves into the police precinct and the characters spend the rest of the time defending it against huge odds. In a way, the film resembles a western that's relocated to the urban LA setting, but with a cast of hip characters and plenty of shootouts, the film is pretty thrilling all the way through.
My current score: 4/5
65: Shoot 'Em Up
The Conflict: Some guy saves a pregnant woman, delivers the baby, has to protect the baby from bad guys, and lots of shooting ensues...
The Film: I honestly didn't even like this movie much when I first saw it. It's crazy, cartoony, over-the-top, and kinda weird. And yet, there's plenty to admire in the visual style, the crudeness, the innuendos, and the action setpieces; it all somehow works together to create a memorable and enjoyable action movie parody. Besides, how can I knock a film that features a gunfight and sex with Monica Bellucci all in the same scene?
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: I honestly didn't even like this movie much when I first saw it. It's crazy, cartoony, over-the-top, and kinda weird. And yet, there's plenty to admire in the visual style, the crudeness, the innuendos, and the action setpieces; it all somehow works together to create a memorable and enjoyable action movie parody. Besides, how can I knock a film that features a gunfight and sex with Monica Bellucci all in the same scene?
My current score: 4/5
64: The Mummy Returns
The Conflict: Imhotep's back, and now he wants to resurrect the Scorpion King and conquer the world!
The Film: When this came out, I liked it better than the first movie at the time, if for no other reason than the action is substantially bigger, and the effects are more ambitious, What could be more epic than watching a movie so jam-packed with fights, zeppelin chases, weird monsters, and an army of Anubis warriors? I will admit that the story's not the best, but the characters are as lovable as ever, and it's still quite the fun adventure.
My current score: 4/5
63: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
The Conflict: Sherlock Holmes and the gang travel to Europe to solve the mystery behind a brewing war.
The Film: A grade wilder than the previous film, this sequel elevates the action to pretty intense action-movie territory, with some surprisingly explosive gun battles and fight scenes. The story's not quite as gripping as the first movie, but the characters stand out well, and the film is great fun.
My current score: 4/5
62: RoboCop (1987)
Conflict: Alex Murphy becomes a cyborg and kicks some criminal butt!
The Film: This is one brisk movie full of everything: loud shoot-outs, epic heroics, extreme bloodshed, and a plot thick with conspiracy and themes. It is a fast-moving movie with plenty of over-the-top action, and it's always a blast.
My current score: 5/5
--------------------The Film: This is one brisk movie full of everything: loud shoot-outs, epic heroics, extreme bloodshed, and a plot thick with conspiracy and themes. It is a fast-moving movie with plenty of over-the-top action, and it's always a blast.
My current score: 5/5
61: Bad Boys II
The Conflict Cops busting drug dealers.
The Film: Michael Bay may not be known for crafting logical storylines -- the plot of Bad Boys II is especially messy -- but the man created one of the most jaw-dropping highway chases in this film. The whole feature oozes with style, and it becomes a satisfying onslaught of wicked gunfights, slow-motion destruction, and fast-paced chases. Some of the jokes are stupid, but if it's action and style you want, it doesn't get much more glamorous than this.
My current score: 4/5
--------------------The Film: Michael Bay may not be known for crafting logical storylines -- the plot of Bad Boys II is especially messy -- but the man created one of the most jaw-dropping highway chases in this film. The whole feature oozes with style, and it becomes a satisfying onslaught of wicked gunfights, slow-motion destruction, and fast-paced chases. Some of the jokes are stupid, but if it's action and style you want, it doesn't get much more glamorous than this.
My current score: 4/5
To be continued...
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