Good Action Movies I've Seen (So Far)
I'm young and unlike most my age, I've got a decent taste in movies, new or old (and "old" is relative to my age). I'm partial to action movies but I've seen many good movies in varying genres and I'm not afraid to watch the greats, no matter the genre. Anyway, my mission's to absorb as much good flicks as I can so these are some great action gems I've come across so far. Ladies and gentlemen, in no particular order and ignoring all the crapfests I've endured...a list of great action movies I've seen.
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- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.It didn't contain as much fighting scenes as I expected but it's definitely very, very action-packed and thrilling. The movie has a decent story but more than its fair share of twists and challenges for the hero and it's more of the story's content, rather than the plot, that solidifies this movie's place as one of my favorites. Many action movie buffs are quick to declare 'Die Hard' as the greatest action movie of all time and I can definitely see why.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.'The Terminator' may have been iconic but this brilliant sequel improves upon the original in many ways. It's hard to judge which is better but I'd say Judgment Day takes the cake for me. Another fine example of wonderful storytelling mixed in with great action scenes, as well as one of the best chase scenes ever. Surprisingly, even to this day, the visual effects, while not as groundbreaking in today's standards, aren't as laughable as most older films and they're a nice break from all that CGI in today's films.
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsHarrison FordTommy Lee JonesSela WardDr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.This is the movie that sparked my desire in old action movies after my dad brought it for us to watch. Movies with good plots are the ones that catch my eye and 'The Fugitive' is among that bunch. The movie, while not action-packed, is fresh, exciting, thrilling and well-done, with twists at every turn. It's one of those movies that really makes you think and I love that about it. Harrison Ford does a good job but it's Tommy Lee Jones that steals the show, playing a cold US Marshal. Highly recommended!
- DirectorRenny HarlinStarsSylvester StalloneJohn LithgowMichael RookerA botched mid-air heist results in suitcases full of cash being searched for by various groups throughout the Rocky Mountains.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsSam NeillLaura DernJeff GoldblumA pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.
- DirectorJan de BontStarsKeanu ReevesDennis HopperSandra BullockA young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsPierce BrosnanSean BeanIzabella ScorupcoYears after a friend and fellow 00 agent is killed on a joint mission, a secret space based weapons program known as "GoldenEye" is stolen. James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using the weapon.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsTom CruiseJon VoightEmmanuelle BéartAn American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsHarrison FordGary OldmanGlenn CloseCommunist radicals hijack Air Force One with the U.S. President and his family on board. The Vice President negotiates from Washington D.C., while the President, a veteran, fights to rescue the hostages on board.
- DirectorJohn WooStarsJohn TravoltaNicolas CageJoan AllenTo foil a terrorist plot, FBI agent Sean Archer assumes the identity of the criminal Castor Troy who murdered his son through facial transplant surgery, but the crook wakes up prematurely and vows revenge.'Face/Off' has some of the best action scenes I've ever laid eyes on in a movie but who ever doubted that? This is a John Woo flick we're talking about. Even the first action scene in the beginning of the movie is superior to most movies' climactic showdown! It's not only about the action though. 'Face/Off' has a wacky concept but also a well-weaved plot with a nice balance of action and awesome performances by Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, who both do a great impression of each other. A spectacular movie well worth your time!
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.Admittedly, I only caught this movie on TV, since I've never been interested in its concept nor had I any reason to watch it, other than for the action, even if I didn't find slow-motion and slightly outdated visual effects impressive. After watching it, I came to appreciate the action sequences and their innovative and unique style. Ironically enough, it's not the highly impressive action that I liked but the plot. I didn't get the philosophical undertones and the like but I did appreciate its great story and the ingenious universe it built. After watching it, I realized I was DEAD wrong about it and I'm glad I was.
- DirectorJohn WooStarsTom CruiseDougray ScottThandiwe NewtonIMF agent Ethan Hunt is sent to Sydney to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called "Chimera".I honestly don't understand all the hate for 'Mission: Impossible II'. It's been regarded as the worst in the series, and while I know it's a paper-thin plot with action as its main focus, it's a decent addition the Mission: Impossible franchise. The story is fairly simple but it's suspenseful and has many twists within the plot. It's an exciting adventure all the way. The film's action is the highlight, however, though that shouldn't be a bad thing. It still adds heavily to the decent plot and overall, they work pretty well together and make a bad-ass action flick.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsFranka PotenteMatt DamonChris CooperA man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonFranka PotenteJoan AllenWhen Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsTom CruiseMichelle MonaghanVing RhamesIMF agent Ethan Hunt comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer who threatens his life and his fiancée in response.'Mission: Impossible II' was a slight deviation in the franchise's formula, as it was less of a spy thriller and focused more on action. Mission: Impossible III brings back a bit more of the thought-provoking scenes but also balances it with firearm-based, explosive action. Sadly, the thought-provokers and the action aren't as good as MI and MI-II, respectively. On the plus side, it still makes for a damn great movie! Also, the main bad guy really shines out. You totally a menacing vibe from Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonEdgar RamírezJoan AllenJason Bourne dodges a ruthless C.I.A. official and his Agents from a new assassination program while searching for the origins of his life as a trained killer.
- DirectorLen WisemanStarsBruce WillisJustin LongTimothy OlyphantJohn McClane and a young hacker join forces to take down master cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel in Washington D.C.Unlike what many say, the PG-13 rating really doesn't hurt the movie. It's not bloody or violent but it's heavy on action jammed in between a great story and that's good enough for me. Willis once again gives a great performance as McClane and the chemistry between him and Matt Farrell is comedy gold. An awesome installment in the Die Hard franchise!
- DirectorPierre MorelStarsLiam NeesonMaggie GraceFamke JanssenA retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsDaniel CraigOlga KurylenkoMathieu AmalricJames Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.
- DirectorSylvester StalloneStarsSylvester StalloneJason StathamJet LiA CIA operative hires a team of mercenaries to eliminate a Latin dictator and a renegade CIA agent.I wouldn't call 'Expendables' a great movie but I would say it's a fun ride all throughout. If even the cast doesn't sell you, then I don't know what will. It's every action fan's wet dream come true. 'Expendables' has a basic plot with decent action. It's nothing special, in technical terms and quality. It's an ok movie with many flaws that could have been better. But it has the greatest cast ever to grace cinema (second only to the 'Expendables 2' cast!).
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsTom CruiseJeremy RennerSimon PeggThe IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.It's odd how different each Mission: Impossible is. Once again, we're introduced to a different but very familiar formula. Similar to MI-III, 'Ghost Protocol' has a good plot and great action scenes and there's a very delicate balance between each but in a different manner than before. The movie also manages to bring back the "spy" feel of it all that was last seen in MI, with many gadgets and stealthy sequences. And unlike the previous installments, Ethan Hunt's team are actually likeable and each share the spotlight and stand out among each other. Unfortunately, the villain is the one extremely underdeveloped here.