View Full Version : The Action movie genre
avignon
10-19-2005, 10:08 AM
Do you love or hate it?
I have found a new appreciation for it with movies like Collateral which has raised the standard for the entire genre. For a long time, I guess in the post-Die Hard days, the same movie was just being cloned with different mucho macho reluctant hero leading men. I really want to see Domino. I love the female leading roles that are popping up more and more in this genre.
Also, there are a lot of "B" action movies that are really good for what they are. I caught one on tv yesterday called Back To Back. It was from '96 and starred Daniel Rooker-a very underrated actor. But I liked this low budget version of The Last Boy Scout better than most big budget '90's action blockbusters.
mickill
10-19-2005, 10:13 AM
You should see The Rundown and Walking Tall. You'll thank me. I know this genre very well.
avignon
10-19-2005, 10:16 AM
You should see The Rundown and Walking Tall. You'll thank me. I know this genre very well.
I thought you agreed to get your obsession with the Rock under control?
avignon
10-19-2005, 10:54 AM
Movies like Collateral are bringing a more thought-provoking element to action films.
mickill
10-19-2005, 10:55 AM
I watch a lot of differnt types of film. I see no problem with dumbing down here and there for a good action flick.
bigblu89
10-19-2005, 10:59 AM
Yeah, for every Eternal Sunshire of the Spotless Mind, or whatever it's called, that you watch, you gotta see a movie like T2.
For every Sideways, there's a XXX
avignon
10-19-2005, 11:00 AM
Do you realize my point for this thread is that the genre is taking on a more intelligent approach? Like the wit in some of them, (the "B" one I mentioned), is very dry and satirical, not just corny one liners that you and the bad guys can miraculously make out over the sound of explosions and gunfire. And I have high hopes for Domino.
mickill
10-19-2005, 11:01 AM
I like when shit gets blowed up.
avignon
10-19-2005, 11:09 AM
OK, fine. I forgot that this board is dominated by pretenscious pansyfied hipsters who pretend to be entertained by drama flicks about grown men crying over the fact that their mothers either spanked them too much or not enough and thus turned them into crossdressing bulemic shoplifters to authenticate their sensitve modern-male personas. Boofrigginhoo. Personally, all those artsy-fartsy films bore the crap out of me and I find myself praying for an explosion or for the zombies to show up and eat the leading actors.
there was this arnold movie on TV the other day, and we couldn't figure out what the hell it was. arnold was wearing a suit for most of it, and he barely ever killed anyone. even his wife got in more fights than he did. then there was a scene at the end where he wore a leather jacket and drove around in a car shooting people at a construction site with the rolling stones' "satisfaction" playing.
it sucked noodles, but at the same time i need to know what the hell it was
jabumbo
10-19-2005, 12:09 PM
i like the action movies where you know how it will end up (its almost always too obvious) but its a wild ride to get there
even if the movie isnt all that great, i enjoy it when there are lots of unexpected twists and turns
Documad
10-19-2005, 12:09 PM
Haven't seen either yet. T2 actually has some serious issues and isn't your average action flick.
I used to be a movie freak. I love good action movies. T2 is a great movie. One of the few movies I lined up to see right when it opened. My friend and I were the only two women in the audience.
I kind of quit seeing movies, so I haven't noticed a trend. I think that in the past there were always a load of crappy action movies and an occassional surprise where the movie really worked. I define the genre fairly broadly to include The Fugitive, Three Days of the Condor, and Marathon Man. But Running Man was great, so was the one with Sly Stallone and Sandra Bullock, I liked the Fifth Element -- I love when I see a movie and it's surprisingly good.
I think Domino got a "D" from Entertainment Weekly. :(
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 12:29 PM
^Judge Dredd?? are you kidding? that was awful!
i'm not a big fan of action flicks. Collateral was really intense and i dug it, but other than that, meh. i'd prefer something that makes me think or makes me laugh until i pee.
Documad
10-19-2005, 12:37 PM
I looked it up. Demolition Man. I remembered Bullock because it was the first thing I remember seeing her in and I thought, "I like her." I should have said Wesley Snipes. Denis Leary was in in too.
It looked like a pile of shit but I thought it was highly entertaining. I think that Sly is frozen or something a la Austin Powers and the future is in trouble because Snipes is a bad ass criminal who somehow escaped and in the future they have eradicated crime so the cops (Bullock) aren't capable of catching Snipes, so they thaw out Sly who teaches the future cops a thing or two about handling bad ass criminals.
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 12:38 PM
ahh that's what i meant. i get those two films confused sometimes. seeing as how they both involve sly and the future.
i love how they both have "virtual sex" so they can't catch any std's or anything and he goes "forget this" and does her and she's like "what the hell is this oh my gosh this sure is naughty"
and they both sucked.
Does Starship Troopers fall into action as well as Sci Fi or is there no crossing the beams? Cause that shit was better than people think. At least it was when I saw it years ago.
King PSYZ
10-19-2005, 12:41 PM
mickill will like DOOM, I'd watch it but nobody would go see it with me...
Documad
10-19-2005, 12:43 PM
Granted, it's not a great movie, but it's a good movie by Sly's standards--the only one other than Rocky that I've ever liked. I didn't much like Copland (not an action movie).
It also had a great social message -- it's dangerous to eradicate criminals because then you might not be able to handle a super criminal. Kind of like what they tell us about antibiotic soap.
Documad
10-19-2005, 12:44 PM
i love how they both have "virtual sex" so they can't catch any std's or anything and he goes "forget this" and does her and she's like "what the hell is this oh my gosh this sure is naughty"
Yeah, and it was better in Woody Allen's Sleeper.
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 12:45 PM
I like when shit gets blowed up.
VIN DIESEL IN...
Granted, it's not a great movie, but it's a good movie by Sly's standards--the only one other than Rocky that I've ever liked. I didn't much like Copland (not an action movie).
You need some First Blood. and maybe part II.
Documad
10-19-2005, 12:48 PM
You need some First Blood. and maybe part II.
No way. I've seen enough clips, plus I'm not big on pro-Vietnam War movies.
plus I'm not big on pro-Vietnam War movies.
I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not.
synch
10-19-2005, 01:11 PM
The Last Kiss Goodnight
Die Hard
The Last Boyscout
That's the best three that came to mind just now.
I'd consider Demolition Man more of a comedy to be honest...
Another one came to mind but I forgot what it was :(
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 01:16 PM
True Lies was pretty rad though.
mickill
10-19-2005, 01:24 PM
Yeah, The Long Kiss Goodnight was good. I agree that Demolition Man was more of a comedy, and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be checking for Doom...as a rental. First Blood was an awesome movie. I've probably seen it about 40 times now. Not in about 10 years, though.
synch
10-19-2005, 02:07 PM
The Long Kiss Goodnight, yeah, my bad :)
Edit: Just remembered the movie I wanted to mention earlier. Drop Zone. Had a thing for Yancy Butler because of that movie :o
I remember really liking Passenger 57 too, haven't seen it in a decade though.
Qdrop
10-19-2005, 02:20 PM
i'm pretty confident that there is not one single major release action film that i have not seen....save maybe 2 or 3...
i'm an absolute sucker for them....
dude, i watched The Last Action Hero last week on HBO....TWICE!!
that's how bad i am...
last action hero is so under-rated. it's arnold making fun of himself, basically, or at least the writers making fun of him. there's so many little things in it, it's hilarious/awesome. like the t-1000 walking out of the police station somewhere towards the middle, or stallone as the terminator.
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 03:04 PM
dork
i'm not a dork you're a dork
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 03:12 PM
this is bob, "duhh, duhh i'm bob last action hero x-men duhh" (http://photos.gayfriendfinder.com/photo-ffgay-r20-s1-8002767_12902.1.gallery.gif)
hahah gayfriendfinder.com, nice
i am not in the market for any more gay friends thank you though
synch
10-19-2005, 03:20 PM
I agree with the dork what last action hero is concerned. Ehm. Bob. Yes, I agree with Bob.
synch, cosmo called me a dork, i blame you
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 03:26 PM
my name's Bob duhhh, duhhh (http://www.dayoopers.com/SCHOOL/bob.jpg)
synch
10-19-2005, 03:30 PM
Sorry man. Peer pressure. If it makes you feel better I'll call Cosmo a dork now.
In fact... Hey! Cosmo! Dork!
Bob made me do it.
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 03:33 PM
HI YALL IM SYNCH AND I'M HERE TO SAY...WAIT COME BACK (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/cosmo105/AMYDORK.jpg)
synch
10-19-2005, 03:36 PM
I am so not an image hosted by angelfire :mad:
cosmo105
10-19-2005, 03:37 PM
try it now sweet cheeks ;)
synch
10-19-2005, 03:37 PM
My boobs are so bigger than that :mad:
synch
10-19-2005, 03:50 PM
I have. A plane crashes in it.
And that's. It.
The longest seventy-two hours of my life.
that's how long that movie felt anyway
yeahwho
10-19-2005, 03:51 PM
I like when shit gets blowed up.
Blowed up real good. (y)
Die Hard is the shit; the benchmark even, for action movies. it won't be beaten.
Speed was good for suspence. i remember the first time i watched that (i was young) and yeah... fucking so good.
i like action movies but there hasn't been a good action movie actor for a while - vin diesel (who is living shit) is getting thrown in there, same with Jason Statham who is alright but there's no Willis' or Arnies anymore.
action movies aren't meant to be perfect or logical; hence why the hero always succeeds. they're just entertainment. but saying that - they are some pieces of shit excuses for action movies and most of them are of current time.
No action movies after 1989.
shut up sandinista!
Die Hard is the shit; the benchmark even, for action movies. it won't be beaten.
agreed. i saw die hard the whole way through for the first time and i came to the same conclusion. even in retrospect, it's the best
Freebasser
10-19-2005, 08:38 PM
Action movies can be fun but when things like the following happen, I switch off.
I once saw a van Damme movie where he picked up some bad guy's handgun and started firing it at other bad guys. 40-odd rounds later (magic gun?) he gets out another clip from nowhere and replaces the original. He didn't even have to go "click click, shit" he just used his sixth sense to know when the magic gun was going to run out of ammo.
Pathetic.
DroppinScience
10-19-2005, 08:44 PM
Of course I like action movies, but a lot of them are pretty bad. And I'm not sure your arguments that they're getting more "intelligent" and then you use "Collateral" and "Domino" as your examples is working, though.
P.S. - Best action movie ever is "Raiders of the Lost Ark." No diggity.
P.S. - Best action movie ever is "Raiders of the Lost Ark." No diggity.
i'd consider the Indy movies in the adventure genre, but you could say the adventure genre is a branch off action so...
Indy has easily the best musical score though.
DroppinScience
10-19-2005, 08:51 PM
i'd consider the Indy movies in the adventure genre, but you could say the adventure genre is a branch off action so...
Indy has easily the best musical score though.
How about we call it "action/adventure"? Video stores like to use that term. ;)
Come to think of it, I may prefer the adventure side of things when it comes to discussing this genre. (y)
yeah action/adventure - there isn't as much adventure movies anyway to make it's own genre.
last proper adventure movie i can think of is The Mummy and Mummy Returns, which seemed cool at the time but now... brendon fraser shouldn't act as the hero actor guy.
DroppinScience
10-19-2005, 09:04 PM
yeah action/adventure - there isn't as much adventure movies anyway to make it's own genre.
last proper adventure movie i can think of is The Mummy and Mummy Returns, which seemed cool at the time but now... brendon fraser shouldn't act as the hero actor guy.
The first Mummy was awesome! Mummy Returns ruined the whole thing for me. :(
avignon
10-20-2005, 02:01 AM
I personally wouldn't put adventure in the action genre. It's more like a sub-genre. Along with the following sub-genres: westerns, heists, martial arts, mystery/suspense, and sports-related movies. And yes there are many movies that cross genres. Horror/Sci-fi, or horror/action, or Sci-fi/action, very common mixes. I would have put Fifth Element under sci-fi, but it could cross into action and even comedy. A great film has a little of everything.
Ronin is a great action film. Or would you call it a thriller? Anything with a great car chase in it is an action film to some degree.
Medellia
10-20-2005, 02:19 AM
Personally, all those artsy-fartsy films bore the crap out of me and I find myself praying for an explosion or for the zombies to show up and eat the leading actors.
Hahaha, yeah. If there were more zombies in films nowadays I'd probably go to the movies more.
Domino looks awesome. And I kinda want to see that Jake Gyllenhal one, Jarhead I think? :confused:
hitmonlee
10-20-2005, 02:45 AM
in general i hate them.
i like many, but on the whole i find them all to be predictable, macho, lacking in any character development or decent dialogue.
i've been a bit scarred from this period a few years ago when living with my bf at the time and two other guys.
"so amy what do you want us to rent"
me: anything EXCEPT for a generic action movie
they return with bad company.
one of the worst movies i have ever seen in my life. the good bit was when i fell asleep.
Ronin is a great action film. Or would you call it a thriller? Anything with a great car chase in it is an action film to some degree.
FUCK OATH! i love Ronin. De Niro hooning a Peugeot and Jean Reno shooting a beretta at another car!! FUCKING ACE!!
i'd consider it more of a thriller but definately a top class action flick.
i think hitmonlee said something about bad company? my God that was very bad. i watched that with a hangover. i was very angry by the end of the movie.
DroppinScience
10-20-2005, 10:55 PM
Ronin is a great action film. Or would you call it a thriller? Anything with a great car chase in it is an action film to some degree.
Whatever you want to call it, "Ronin" is an awesome movie! More action movies should be of this calibre. :)
My favorite action movies as of recent (or movies with a lot of action elements, at the very least) would be "Sin City" and "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."
CrankItUp!
10-20-2005, 11:05 PM
Who Made Who (1986) - the storyline lacked alot but the soundtrack itself is ACTION PACKED ! AC/DC "Maximum Overdrive" w/ the movie title song "Who Made Who" kicks ass and makes the movie kick ass. (y)
Mcmac
10-21-2005, 06:46 AM
Collateral is a thriller not action, tools
but if you go to the video store atleast once a month you can see steven segal has released another shitty movie! I sometimes hire his and van dames movies just for an action fix. van damms are actually alright
Mcmac
10-21-2005, 06:48 AM
and what abou jet li
did anyone see unleashed? i rekon that was alright
how bout transpoter 2? that was very entertaining and some bits were so unbelievable that they made you laugh
DapperDiverge
10-21-2005, 10:41 AM
I think the reason why action films are so popular, especially with kids, is because it's like watching Jerry Springer on the wide screen.... all these adults kicking each other's asses instead of handling their situations in an organized dignified manner...
USE YOUR WORDS!!
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