Get To The Video Store Now!! Go! Go!
Aug 22 '02
The Bottom Line This category should be the top 50!! Limiting it to 10 is like picking your favorite kid!
I love watching movies! And even though this review will probably only get read by a few people, I'm gonna write it anyway, dang it. We write all these carefully worded reviews for other people to read, but how often to we do an epinion just for the heck of it?! Well here's my "Just For The Heck Of It Epinion." Maybe I'll even start a write off with that title.
Without further ado or ranting, please allow me to list for you, the 10 Greatest Action/Adventure Films Of All Time!
10. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Who can't recall sitting in the theatre riding the emotional roller coaster with all the "out of the frying pan into the fire" experiences of Indiana Jones! And the music!! Bum pa bum pa, bum pa pa! Harrison Ford is just scrambling for his life for two hours. The scene with the parked plane and Indy fist-fighting the Nazi guy. You're sitting there fretting 'cuz Indy is getting his behind thrashed (again) then CHOP CHOP CHOP come the propellers!! It's the only time I heard a girl shout "Gross" and clap at the same time. Classic Line: "Asps. Very Dangerous. You go first." *Whew* What a great flick!
9. Die Hard
Like I even need to comment further. This movie makes the list because you just don't see the basic plot coming. And then WHAM it just runs you over. I remember being physically tired when I walked out of the theatre. Classic Line: "I'm Agent Johnson--no relation." Two thumbs up!
8. Gladiator
The best action is man vs man with primitive weapons, up close and personal. If you haven't seen this film, you wanna guess what it's about? You'll root for The Spaniard with the Roman masses and afterward rename your dog Maximus. A classic to own on DVD so you can skip the boring dialogue between the chick and her incest-minded brother and go straight from fight scene to fight scene. Classic Line: "Ugh" (said by about 20 different victims!!)
7. U-571
Another take-you-by-surprise-and-keep-you-frantic type film. You get about 10 minutes of character introduction and then this film just goes off! Who woulda thunk it that 10 guys stranded on a broken down enemy sub could get into so much trouble and kick a lotta Nazi butt in the process?? Classic Line: "You have to know. The Captain always knows!" (Not a direct quote, but close enough).
6. A Bridge Too Far
A Guy Film of a different breed. The action is intense and tragic. An absolute masterpiece filled with great performances. Gene Hackman is a Polish General, Ryan O'Neal is an American General (brigade commander in the 82nd Airborne). Sean Connery leads a British airborne unit. Along the way you'll see Robert Redford, James Caan, Elliot Gould, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, and more of your favorite stars. These men portray the hero's who tried to make Operation Market-Garden a success, yet failed. I almost cry every time I watch it. War is indeed a great tragedy. Classic Line: A group of nearly defeated British paratroopers are holed up in a house at one end of the Arnhem Bridge, a German carrying a white flag crosses the bridge to negotiate with the Brits. The German says, "My General would like to discuss an honorable surrender." The British spokesman replies, "I’m sorry but we haven't the facilities to take you all prisoner. We cannot accept your surrender." I cheer every time.
5. Saving Private Ryan
This film is an absolute triumph. How do I know that? Because every guy that was there says so. End of debate. When I saw this in the theatre, an old man seated directly in front of me was wincing visibly as the guns and shells were going off in the opening scene where the U.S. forces were pinned down on the beach. He finally got up and walked out, sobbing. It really changed how I watched the rest of that movie--and war films generally. He came back 10 minutes later and watched the rest of the movie with his wife who had her arm around him the whole time.
Great war films effectively communicate the camaraderie of the men without getting cheesy. Saving Private Ryan makes you want to grab a rifle and a ruck sack and join Tom Hanks and his squad. Classic Line: "I'd say Sir, this is a most excellent mission, sir. And I'd gladly lay down my life and the lives of my men--especially yours Riven--to carry out this most excellent mission. Sir." (Again, not exact, but close).
4. Gettysburg
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "Killer Angels" this movie is magnificent on a grand scale. Thousands and thousands and thousands of Union and Confederate troops square off in the historic, almost accidental, battle near Gettysburg, PA. Union Colonel Richard Chamberlain, portrayed by Jeff Daniels won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts on a hill called Little Round Top. Daniels gives one of my favorite acting performances of all time. The bayonet charge down the hill when the Union troops are out of ammunition is perhaps the most stirring 40 seconds of film in existence! Sheer valor!
Another all-star cast, but Tom Berenger does not pull off the role of Confederate General Longstreet exceedingly well. I don't know who to suggest instead, but when compared to the performances of Daniels, Martin Sheen, and Sam Elliot, Berenger pales a bit. However, given the historical accuracy of the film and the number of troops used in making it, the movie is visually a treat. We see the bloody cost of using troops in Napoleonic fronts (groups walking en masse up to the enemy line). Such tactics have not been used in any war since.
This movie is a treasure and no home should be without a copy. What better way to teach your kids about a vital segment of American history? Classic Line: "General Lee, sir, I have no division."
3. Blackhawk Down
A new movie and already a classic because, again, the guys that were actually there served as advisors to keep the film historically accurate. No stupid Hollywood cliché type script, like lieutenants getting shot by their own men. This movie is about a mission. American soldiers gave their lives--not just for their country, but for each other. The war sequences are stunning. The film also takes advantage of the latest sound technology, making it a joy to watch on a surround sound home theatre. You hear the helicopters behind you before they appear on the screen, and then they fly overhead and the sound moves to the front of the room! Much cool! As previously mentioned, the camaraderie amongst the men is important. It is portrayed effectively in Blackhawk Down. I rank this movie so high because of the way it honors our American soldiers, without portraying them as war-mongers. Two men won the Congressional Medal of Honor when they died trying to protect an injured pilot. Greater love has no man than he who lays down his life for a friend. Classic Line: "Skinnies." (Said throughout the movie by many).
2. We Were Soldiers
Wow. Again, filmed under the watchful eye of the man who was there. This movie is wondrous on DVD in surround sound and does the best job of any movie in paying honor to the American soldier. Plain and simple. It is continuous action yet has almost a documentary film feel. I cannot explain in specifics why this movie is so good, but it is pure action and marvelously done. Kudos to Mel Gibson and Sam Elliot. Incredibly strong performances by each. Classic Line: "But I'm a non-combatant." "There's no such thing today."
1. Braveheart
Number one because it features that up-close primitive weapon type violence and lots of it! Plus it has a love sub-plot so your wife will agree to watch it with you (meaning you can see it more often). Lots of old-time English talk with secret deals, betrayals, evil kings, catapults, torture, and flaming arrows. All the ingredients in a killer cake!! And because it isn't based on American history, you can relax and enjoy it more! Classic Line: "I expect that was less cordial than he is used to."
And there you are. Thanks for coming. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Lots of war movies in the list, and yeah, I'm on the verge of corny when it comes to being patriotic, but I think it's a good fault. I love my country and am proud of our armed forces down through history. I will close with a few Honorable Mentions:
11. The Rock--Why isn't Ed Harris in every action movie?
12. Jurassic Park--Admit it: Before raptors became vogue, they scared the pee out of you!!
13. Terminator--Number 1 or 2, Yikes!
14. Predator--Alien and invisible. A deadly combination.
15. Aliens--And speaking of aliens…
16. The Longest Day--Can't have too many war movies in your list.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
wadesam
|
|
Member: Wade Samuelson
Location: Centralia, Washington
Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
Where do you stand in the Valley of Decision?
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.