My Own Private Top 11 Action Movies Nov 07 '04    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Movies Under the Tuscan Sun From $9 Casablanca From $3 The Bottom Line The 11 best action movies ever. Act now and we'll throw in 9 honorable mentions, for a total of 20! Action Movies are so abundant that there is never a shortage of bad ones... Or good ones. Action flicks come in all shapes and sizes. Some use bullets, some use karate, some use swords, some use sports, some use war, some use comedy, and some just so happen to be dramatic on the side. After all is said and done, though, the best action flicks are the ones where heads don't bob and bladders throb. The Most Prominent Elements of My Own Criteria 1.) I want to care what happens. 2.) There's got to be some sense of humor. 3.) Nature is not a bad guy. 4.) There have to be bigger decisions than whether or not to go around a certain corner, fire at a certain time, etc. 5.) The bad guys have to have a motive. Whether it's money, revenge, or the release of General Kutchakokoff from Uzbekistan, just as long as they're smart. 6.) In fight scenes, I like to be able to see what's happening without 3-4 cuts a second. 7.) If you want to do a love story on the side, fine, but for the love of shinola, leave the sex scenes out of it. Those don't equate to automatic disqualification (as you might notice), but they bring you down. 8.) Call me Avril, but I gotta have a happy ending. 11.) Air Force One (1997) Directed by Wolfgang Petersen Starring Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman Baddest Quote: "It's your turn to be afraid." Hostage situation is not the most original baddie tactic in action flicks, but the airplane setting adds a fear and distancy to it. Harrison Ford plays a mean President. And he has to make the unenviable choice of letting his staff and family die or letting a terrorist run free. For at least one hour, he finds every way in the world to stall it, even going so far as to drain the fuel tanks. 10.) Spider-Man I & II (2002, 2004) Directed by Sam Raimi Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco Baddest Quote: "I missed the part where that was my problem." Figured I'd list these as one, because they are very much the same. Peter Parker fights the good fight, jumping in between cars, shooting stars and collapsing clock tower hands. And all in the name of justice and love. There is more than enough storyline to ensure the audience's caring about why he does (or even doesn't) take on the tasks. The powerful "train scene" in Pt. 2 demonstrates that even with the superpowers, Peter still has a limit, and for that we can sympathize with him even more. 9.) The Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003) Directed by Andy & Larry Wachowski Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne-Moss Baddest Quote: "I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries." La la la, we know what this one's about and why it's here. The first installment is a modern classic, and while the follow-ups were whimsically illogical, they still had some damn good action scenes. 8.) Speed (1994) Directed by Jan de Bont Starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper Baddest Quote: "Oh! In two hundred years we've gone from 'I regret but I have one life to give for my country' to 'F*ck you!'? " This comes from back in the day when Keanu Reeves was cool, and instead of saying "Whoa" he was saying "F*ck me." It was a great idea for a movie, and turned out wonderful, even if it's another hostage situation. Hopper sets up a bomb on a bus, and as soon as the bus goes over 50 miles an hour, it's armed. If they drop back under 50, it explodes. Needless to say, you get to see quite a few cars get crapped up. 7.) North By Northwest (1959) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason Baddest Quote: "Now you listen to me, I'm an advertising man, not a red herring. I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself "slightly" killed." Hitchcock may be all about suspense, but North By Northwest proves the man can do action too. You get everything from a man vs. airplane duel to a fight down the side of Mt. Rushmore. It's a regular road trip all across the nation. 6.) Die Hard (1988) Directed by John McTiernan Starring Bruce Willis, Reginald VelJohnson, Alan Rickman Baddest Quote: "Now I have a machine gun. HO HO HO" Of course, of course. Either you've seen it or you should. The whole deal with tall buildings exploding might hit a nerve with some people, but bear in mind that with a dozen terrorists, we get to see them drop like flies, one by one. Bruce and Reginald have great chemistry for two guys whose only connection is a CB line, and the atmosphere inside the building is exquisite. 5.) Star Wars Trilogy (1977-1983) Directed by George Lucas Starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Alec Guiness, James Earl Jones, Anthony Daniels Baddest Quote: "You're all clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!" Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, there was a world of spaceships, funky planets, supernovas, light speed, lightsabers, scary guys in black capes, farmboys who possess unfathomable powers, and a Force that binds and penetrates us. This Trilogy has taken us to all kinds of places, but somehow there was always room to squeeze in a shootout or one of the fabled lightsaber battles. 4.) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Directed by James Cameron Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong Baddest Quote: "I swear I will not kill anyone." This movie is so damn cool. The atrocities that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick commit against each other are devastating. And yet they do it with such a style. I love how Arnold "twirls" the shotgun one-handed while riding the motorcycle. His chemistry with John "the conner" Connor is touching in a bizarre manly way. 3.) Willow (1988) Directed by Ron Howard Starring Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley Baddest Quote: "Give me a sword, I'll win this war for you." Just imagine Lord Of The Rings with a baby instead of a ring. Willow the three foot Nelwyn develops an unlikely bond with two 8-inch Brownies, Franjean and Rool, and a six-foot Daikini, Madmartigan. (Hey, you go around talking about Hobbits, you probably get funny looks too, dontcha!) A lot of wondrous scenery and a great musical score add up to true adventure. But when Madmartigan gets his hand on a sword, you better just keep your distance. 2.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Directed by Steve Barron Starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, James Saito Baddest Quote: "Ohh, so that's the plan from our great leader, huh, just sit here on our butts." You wouldn't think, with those bulky outfits, that the Turtles would be able to execute roundhouse kicks, punches and nunchuck moves... but then you'd be surprised. All across New York, the Foot Clan are trying to loot the outside world, who "doesn't appreciate them". It's up to the Turtles to stop their head honcho, Shredder, who just so happens to have a personal history with their Rat Master, Splinter. 1.) Face/Off (1997) Directed by John Woo Starring Nicolas Cage, John Travolta, Joan Allen Baddest Quote: "If I were to send you flowers, where would I... no, let me rephrase that. If I were to let you suck my tongue, would you be grateful?" After six years, Sean Archer has finally apprehended his son's killer, Castor Troy, only to discover the guy's got a bomb set up somewhere in "Hell A". Now Castor's in a coma, and his brother won't talk. So Sean decides to "become" Castor Troy via a series of elaborate surgeries. The idea is so ridiculous, you can't help but believe it, and the result is both hilarious and nerve-racking. Granted, most of the action is guns guns guns, but what a story! Honorable Mentions, Cos I Got To Saving Private Ryan Some of the goriest, most graphic war scenes ever. This even rivals Passion of The Christ for the "most disturbing" award. The battle with the tanks at the end is captured brilliantly. The Mask Obviously, I couldn't include this one since it's a comedy. But it just so happens to have some great action sequences, especially in the club at the end when Jim Carrey punches that guy in the face 27 times in a row. True Lies Check out that machine gun tumbling down the stairs, firing automatically and wiping out bad guys. Obviously meant to be more funny than realistic. Lots of explosions, a battle aboard a helicopter, and a great bridge chase at the end. The Fugitive More mystery than action, but there are some unforgettable scenes here, and you know what they are. Demolition Man Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stallone burn up 2036, a world in which cursing gets you a fine, and things as innocuous as salt are illegal. See they come from the past, and they kick it old-school. Independence Day Let the world live as one! Great message here; about the only thing that keeps this one out of the top ten is dumb villains who have no motive besides consuming every natural resource. Black Dog Patrick Swayze takes an offer for $10,000 to drive a semi cross country. What he doesn't know is that the semi is full of guns and one of the three guys accompanying him is in touch with Meat Loaf, who plays a priest. This is some of the best road rage battle you'll ever see. Pirates Of The Caribbean Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom take to the seas in a real swashbuckling adventure. Accompanying an already fantasmical duel is a sweeping and relentless musical score. In the end, though, I think this is more adventure than action. Raiders Of The Lost Ark Giant boulders and tarantula-infested caves, if the action doesn't leave you breathless enough, the atmosphere will. And of course Harrison Ford, the "good boy" of action films, makes his fourth appearance on this list. What vigor. That's all, folks!

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