By: Gene Rodriguez, III
The top ten action movies engage your brain and heart as well as your gut. Great action movies not only give you chases and explosions, they also give you heroes to root for and care about.
The (Unranked) Top Ten Action Movies
- The Matrix (1999) - Andy and Larry Wachowski created an incredible mix of action, martial arts and science fiction in their Matrix trilogy. The first movie is a non-stop riot of mind-blowing and jaw-dropping concepts and action. The rescue of Morpheus from the hands of the agents is one of the most intense action sequences in movie history.
- Shichinin no samurai (1954, US title: The Seven Samurai) - Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's story of a group of unemployed samurai who come to the aid of a poor village cemented the concept of the group action movie. With gorgeous cinematography and poetic action sequences, the film is as much about art as action.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Steven Spielberg and George Lucas created the seminal action hero in Indiana Jones. Rugged and plain spoken, Jones triumphs through a string of action sequences that are strung through the movie like uncut diamonds-the action starts with the opening and doesn't let up until the final credits.
- The Wild Bunch (1969) - Director Sam Peckinpah's ultra-violent vision of the aging west is at once a tribute to loyalty and thoughtful reflection on the ravages of time. Along with Bonnie and Clyde (1967), The Wild Bunch was one of the earliest movies to accurately portray the consequences of violence in movies.
- Die Hard (1988) - The movie that created the hero-trapped-with-the-villains genre and vaulted Bruce Willis to superstardom, Die Hard very quickly moves into high gear and never downshifts. Willis' flawed cop John McClane is forced (barefoot!) to take on an army of terrorists who've captured an office building. Chaos ensues, but there's never a doubt about who is in charge.
- Where Eagles Dare (1968) - Written by adventure novelist Alistair MacLean, Where Eagles Dare stars Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood as World War II commandoes sent to rescue a captured general from a Nazi infested castle. The battle and chase scenes are only rivaled in intensity by the twisted and surprising plot.
- The Road Warrior (1981) - A post-apocalyptic thriller starring Mel Gibson, The Road Warrior was the sequel to Mad Max. Director George Miller imbues the film with a stark beauty that extends from the cinematography to the long, dialog-free action sequences.
- Goldfinger (1964) - James Bond at the top of his game. Goldfinger is the perfect combination of wit, gadgets, women and action. The movie also sports one of the best exchanges in action movie history when a captured James Bond asks, "Do you expect me to talk?" and Goldfinger replies, "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."
- Predator (1987) - Combining action, science fiction and horror, Predator slowly cranks the tension dial to the sticking point-then breaks the knob off. With great special effects and a long roster of action movie actors, director John McTiernan's film is considered a classic of several genres.
- Lat sau san taam (1992, US title: Hard Boiled) - Hong Kong director John Woo didn't invent the slow motion gunfight, he simply perfected it. Known internationally for his hyper-stylized action sequences, Woo has influencedmany directors and pictures over the last decade and a half.
