JungleSouljah Member since Sep 24th 2002 14987 posts
Mon Jun-04-07 04:59 PM
"Spinoff: The Janey Action Movie Post"
Recommend some action flicks for our beloved janey.
A brief guideline from bignick:
In every action movie there has to some suspension of belief, just like in wacky comedies or sci-fi. But, within that world, things have to make sense. There has to be logic behind the characters behavior. If you find yourself second guessing the actions in every scene, the fault is not in you for refusing to turn your brain off. The fault is in them for not coming up with a better story. There are tons of action movies from The Great Escape to Die Hard that manage to actually be good.
Bonus points if they're in foreign languages. And don't even think about Mads. She's already seen Casino Royale.
I'll start:
Indiana Jones triology The Matrix Batman Begins Terminator 2 : Judgement Day
(And you should absolutely see Die Hard and The Great Escape)
34. "Yeah, go spit*, you will also watch the Lethal Weapon pictures" In response to Reply # 3 Mon Jun-04-07 06:47 PM by ZooTown74
*please don't be mad at me, me saying that is not an attack on you, it's one of the unintentional "catch phrases" uttered by Danny Glover in the movies
The series tails off right around LW 3, but you HAVE to at least peep the first 2 ______________________________________________________________________ (I REPEAT) ... and all that could have been...
8. "co-sign on Aliens" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-04-07 05:39 PM by Flash80
And had actual character development to the grunts: Hicks, Hudson (Game Over Man!), Vasquez... and Paul Reiser rivaled the Xenomorphs for the top villian spot.
I hate to give Michael Bay credit, but The Rock had some great action scenes.
Heat - best robbery scene? Dead Presidents - 2nd best robbery scene? Apocalypse Now - "who's in charge here?" Die Hard Predator (did Janey say no Arnold?)
17. "Thai culture" In response to Reply # 11 Mon Jun-04-07 05:49 PM by Michi
Basically he was raised to protect and cherish those elephants as brothers. If someone kidnapped your little brother and took him to Australia, wouldn't you go and use every move of Muay Thai boxing you knew to find him?
All of Jaa's films are about protect and preserving some part of Thai culture.
28. "yeah, I saw that one as a first run movie, too" In response to Reply # 27
You know what always fascinates me about that one is men's responses to it. I mean, my best friend's little brother (who must be in his 40s now) came home from that movie and cleaned his room without being asked.
That's just one example, but it really does seem like it speaks to boys and men very, very strongly.
in '85 all I wanted was a Valtera skateboard and to hitch a ride on the gate of a truck, all the while playing the Power of Love. Then reality set in...
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Mon Jun-04-07 06:27 PM
31. "You should see it again. Seriously." In response to Reply # 28
My appreciation grows with each viewing. The structure, the suspense, the holy-shit-how-can-he-get-out-of-this that crosses your mind and builds with every passing moment. It's so awesome.
46. "speaking of Swayze.....WOLVERINES!!!" In response to Reply # 32
what about Red Dawn? yeah, a very right-wing propaganda flick, but good cheesy action and presents the "what-if" Cold War scenario. Tons of recognizable youngstas in that film too - Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Gray, Lea Thompson.
40. "The Untouchables, Commando, Ricochet (Denzel)" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-04-07 06:46 PM by ZooTown74
I'd even add Training Day to the list
If you're in the mood for something mean-spirited but funny, I'd also recommend The Last Boy Scout
If you want to see a really well-made homage to the Warner Bros. gangster pictures of the 30's and 40's, I'd highly recommend New Jack City ______________________________________________________________________ (I REPEAT) ... and all that could have been...
JungleSouljah Member since Sep 24th 2002 14987 posts
Mon Jun-04-07 07:04 PM
49. "The Rock (Cage, Connery, Harris)" In response to Reply # 0
Nick Cage's finest performance in any of his sundry action movies (which isn't saying much). Sean Connery basically playing a 65 year old, crotchety Bond who's been in prison for the last 30+ years. And Ed Harris as the guy you love to hate.
I've always felt like T2 gets far too much credit because it had better explosions and FX. But in terms of plot, performances and resonance the original Terminator is light years ahead of it to me.
I am also a huge Arnold fan. I'll watch any Arnold from 1980-1994, including Last Action Hero, which I am a huge apologist for.
74. "Last Action Hero is a pretty fun flick" In response to Reply # 60
It's a pretty good deconstruction of action flicks, and a decent paean to movies in general. I really don't understand why it got as much hate as it did.
75. "RE: Last Action Hero is a pretty fun flick" In response to Reply # 74
I think the kid really did a lot to ruin it. He had a lot of screen time and he just couldn't carry his part for shit. I still love it. The self-aware plot devices, frame work story, action references, the whole lot. The dumbest thing they ever did was open against Juraissic Park though.
67. "we need an OKP loony bin for you crazy fuckers" In response to Reply # 64
now, with that said, back in the day i would have answered the exact same way.
BUT, i revisited 1 & 2 on my way to watching 3 for the first time ... and 1 was just about perfect for a sci-fi action film. the soundtrack is dated, but shit, it was 1984. then we got to T2. i was amped because i hadnt seen it in quite a while and looking forward to the "better" movie after T1 was so damn good.
and i was completely let down.
T2 seems childish and corny compared to T1. all the stupid lines, the unfunny interaction between little john & arny. ugh. T2 was trying to crossover and, while it worked at the box office, it didnt work for me upon a more aged viewing.
82. "but where do you draw the line then" In response to Reply # 80
most films don't strictly adhere to one genre, they draw elements from many to be good. it's the exact nature of that synthesis that makes them interesting.
especially drama, every film in here has elements of drama, fuck every piece of narrative worth observing has drama.
so anyway, how do you differentiate?
pretend to be cats don't seem to know they limitations exact replication and false representation
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