Top Ten: Action Films

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01, June 2011Top Ten

Sometimes we forget just how many things have to go right in order to make a memorable action film. Usually they contain a series of sequences that include physical feats, extended fights and frenetic car chases, but a great action film is typically more than just the action itself. It’s about taking that fight scene or car chase, and situating it in a story where we care about its outcome. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday looks at Top Ten Action Films.

>> My Selections

1. The Rock (Bay, 1996)

2. Inception (Nolan, 2010)

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Cameron, 1991)

4. The Killer (Woo, 1989)

5. True Lies (Cameron, 1994)

6. Face/Off (Woo, 1997)

7. The Matrix (Wachowski Brothers, 1999)

8. Hero (Zhang, 2002)

9. The French Connection (Friedkin, 1971)

10. The Bourne Ultimatum (Greengrass, 2007)



>>Your Selections

1. The Matrix (Wachowski Brothers, 1999) 67%

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Cameron, 1991) 56%

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Spielberg, 1981) 56%

4. Die Hard (McTiernan, 1988) 45%

5. Speed (De Bont, 1994) 45%

6. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Tarantino, 2003) 34%

7. The Bourne Ultimatum (Greengrass, 2007) 34%

8. Inception (Nolan, 2010) 23%

9. Face/Off (Woo, 1997) 23%

10. Dirty Harry (Siegel, 1971) 23%

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  • Harv

    Yay The Rock! 

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    I actually have lots of fond memories about ‘The Rock’. It was a childhood favourite of mine.

  • http://twitter.com/FilmSamurai C. Salinas

    Aw, I can’t believe The Warriors didn’t make either list.

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    Sorry, you sound so disappointed!

  • http://www.cinelation.com/ Christopher Beaubien

    While looking over the tally, I’m glad to see that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1982), “Speed” (1994), and “Die Hard” (1988) made the list. The reception that “Face/Off” (1997) got isn’t surprising either – I haven’t seen it for several years and I’ve been meaning to catch up with Castor Troy again.

    I’m definitely going to be pelted with digitized tomatoes and eggs for this, but if a “Matrix” movie had to be included on the list, then why not “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003)? I thought the action sequences were much more audacious in the second one.

    “Hero” (2002) is a great choice for an action picture by Yimou Zhang, however, “House of Flying Daggers” (2004) would be my number one pick out of the two. Anyone with a good sense of humor, would elect the awesome insanity that is “Curse of the Golden Flower” (2006).

  • http://action.ifilmnews.com/2011/06/top-ten-action-films-%c2%ab-next-projection/ Top Ten: Action Films « Next Projection | Action Films / Action Films News

    [...] here: Top Ten: Action Films « Next Projection Tags: action-film, car-chases, extended-fights, include-physical « [...]

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    I don’t know, for some reasoning I didn’t classify ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ as an action movie.

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    Trust me it was a tough choice having to select between ‘Hero’ and “House of Flying Daggers’. What did you think of ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’ anyways?

  • Anonymous

    Some great selections: I love SPEED, THE MATRIX, KILL BILL, DIE HARD, INCEPTION & T2 especially. I also really need to catch up with some Hong Kong action films, as I’m quite a big fan of John Woo’s American stuff. Although personally I’d take CON AIR over FACE/OFF (or THE ROCK for that matter) any day of the week. And where’s ALIENS?!

  • Anonymous

    I suspect the reason MATRIX RELOADED isn’t here is because all these selections not only have fantastic action scenes, but are also considered good movies apart from their action. Personally I think RELOADED is great (and I agree, the action is phenomenal), but I’m definitely in the minority there.

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    Another though choice was selecting both Face/Off and The Killer over Hard Boiled.

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    Don’t move or the bunny gets it!

  • http://www.cinelation.com/ Christopher Beaubien

    I’m little shocked, Chris! Spielberg’s “Raiders” (1982) is one of the definitive Action Pictures. What else is it? An Adventure film? Why not both? For example, where does “The Terminator” (1984) stop at being Science Fiction and start belonging to Action? You can’t watch fifteen minutes of “Raiders” without experiencing another incredible action set piece. The Boulder! The Bar Fight! The Basket Chase! The Sword Fig– *Gunshot!* It’s interesting how some films not only defy their genres, but transcend them.

    I’m glad you brought this up, Chris.

    As for Zhang’s “Curse of the Golden Flower” (2006), I really admire that film for going out on a limb to be so lurid and extravagant. From the panoramic and eye-sparkling set design inside the Imperial Palace to the outrageous decadence of the Emperor and his family, Zhang makes no apologies here. I admit that I laughed the first time I saw that long shot of the thousands of archers shooting their arrows at that mass of shields below the courtyard. There was no condescension in my laugh, however, because it out of elation for seeing such an audacious image. “Curse of the Golden Flower” feeds the imagination like a sugar rush.

    What really connects me to a movie is not only how well it is executed, but how completely the filmmakers commit to their material. Too often, a movie fails to engage with its audience because we sense reservation on the filmmaker’s part. Whether it comes from a lack of nerve or the cynicism of its producers who promise a big top show and come only with overpriced peanuts, we know when a movie isn’t striving to be more than a locked cage and flashlights.

    You can’t say that any of the films listed above were for a lack of trying!

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    I admit, not identifing with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ as an action film was probably an error on my part. I do consider it more of an adventure picture, but you’re right it should be considered as both. Though I have to admit I’m not a fan big of it as most.

    The melodramatics of ‘The Curse of the Golden Flower’ were too much for me. I’ve often considered it one of Zhang’s biggest disapointments.

  • http://www.cinelation.com/ Christopher Beaubien

    Hey M,

    While looking over the tally, I’m glad to see that “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
    (1982), “Speed” (1994), and “Die Hard” (1988) made the list. The reception that
    “Face/Off” (1997) got isn’t surprising either – I haven’t seen it for several
    years and I’ve been meaning to catch up with Castor Troy again.

    I’m definitely going to be pelted with digitized tomatoes and eggs for this,
    but if a “Matrix” movie had to be included on the list, then why not “The
    Matrix Reloaded” (2003)? I thought the action sequences were much more
    audacious in the second one.

    “Hero” (2002) is a great choice for an action picture by Yimou Zhang, however,
    “House of Flying Daggers” (2004) would be my number one pick out of the two.
    Anyone with a good sense of humor, would elect the awesome insanity that is
    “Curse of the Golden Flower” (2006).

    Trust me it was a tough choice having to select between ‘Hero’ and “House of
    Flying Daggers’. What did you think of ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’ anyways?

    I don’t know, for some reasoning I didn’t classify ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ as
    an action movie.

    I’m little shocked, Chris! Spielberg’s “Raiders” (1982) is one of the
    definitive Action Pictures. What else is it? An Adventure film? Why not both?
    For example, where does “The Terminator” (1984) stop at being Science Fiction
    and start belonging to Action? You can’t watch fifteen minutes of “Raiders”
    without experiencing another incredible action set piece. The Boulder! The Bar
    Fight! The Basket Chase! The Sword Fig– *Gunshot!* It’s interesting how some
    films not only defy their genres, but transcend them.

    I’m glad you brought this up, Chris.

    As for Zhang’s “Curse of the Golden Flower” (2006), I really admire that film
    for going out on a limb to be so lurid and extravagant. From the panoramic and
    eye-sparkling set design inside the Imperial Palace to the outrageous decadence
    of the Emperor and his family, Zhang makes no apologies here. I admit that I
    laughed the first time I saw that long shot of the thousands of archers
    shooting their arrows at that mass of shields below the courtyard. There was no
    condescension in my laugh, however, because it out of elation for seeing such
    an audacious image. “Curse of the Golden Flower” feeds the imagination like a
    sugar rush.

    What really connects me to a movie is not only how well it is executed, but how
    completely the filmmakers commit to their material. Too often, a movie fails to
    engage with its audience because we sense reservation on the filmmaker’s part.
    Whether it comes from a lack of nerve or the cynicism of its producers who
    promise a big top show and come only with overpriced peanuts, we know when a
    movie isn’t striving to be more than a locked cage and flashlights.

    You can’t say that any of the films listed above were for a lack of trying!

    I admit, not identifing with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ as an action film was
    probably an error on my part. I do consider it more of an adventure picture,
    but you’re right it should be considered as both. Though I have to admit I’m
    not a fan big of it as most.

    The melodramatics of ‘The Curse of the Golden Flower’ were too much for me.
    I’ve often considered it one of Zhang’s biggest disapointments.

    Love,
    Chris

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