Best Action Movies in the World ...ever! that you should watch

[scrowe]

Hi scrowe,

Sorry for the late reply. If you are intent on buying these films, my recommendation would be to go for the Eureka 1&2 set. They are pretty comprehensive in terms of the PQ and extras:

Police Story Blu-ray Review

Want to see Jackie Chan's career defining Police Story finally done justice? Read our review of Eureka's Police Story Blu-ray

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Police Story 2 Blu-ray Review

Want to see Jackie Chan's career defining Police Story 2 finally done justice? Read our review of Eureka's Police Story 2 Blu-ray

www.avforums.com

Although stranger things have happened, I believe its a rights issue which is stopping Eureka/other current UK boutique label releasing PS3 onto UK blu-ray for the forseeable, so the HK Rescue disc might be the best option for Part 3 (along with Eureka for 1 and 2).

Part 4 is difficult to get on Blu-ray as far as I’m aware (although not actually checked). I have an international cut on DVD and a longer Japanese cut on dvd (might even be VCD!). I’ve never sought to get it on blu ray for some reason.

As for the film itself - whilst the first 3 has a lot of trademark Chan humour (And this takes getting used if you‘re not used to a certain style in Hong Kong movies, often veering from humour to serious melodrama from scene to scene) - Part 4, or First Strike, is much more of a knockabout action comedy in the vein of his US outings like Rush Hour. It is still a lot of fun, with the usual great set pieces and stunts, but its more of a Bond homage, and feels more of a departure from the orginal three films.

And how is the Supercop 2 movie spinoff, with just Michelle Yeoh?

 

[bruce-leroy]

And how is the Supercop 2 movie spinoff, with just Michelle Yeoh?

Another one that’s hard to get hold of in a decent version of the film (as far as I’m aware, as not been actively looking). I think I watched the movie many years ago on the old Hong Kong VCD format.

The film is ok. It’s just a cash in on the popularity of Michelle Yeoh’s character from PS3, some good set pieces but nothing to write home about. Jackie Chan turns up for a cameo in drag.

 

[scrowe]

Another one that’s hard to get hold of in a decent version of the film (as far as I’m aware, as not been actively looking). I think I watched the movie many years ago on the old Hong Kong VCD format.

The film is ok. It’s just a cash in on the popularity of Michelle Yeoh’s character from PS3, some good set pieces but nothing to write home about. Jackie Chan turns up for a cameo in drag.

Ok settled for Police Story 1&2 Eureka from Amazon, and Supercop and Hard Boiled from HK Rescue.

 

[bruce-leroy]

Ok settled for Police Story 1&2 Eureka from Amazon, and Supercop and Hard Boiled from HK Rescue.

Nice one. If you need any extra validation on the HK Rescue discs, we’ve also been talking about them on my HK movies on Blu-ray thread:

The HK/Asian martial arts/action films on BD thread

Next JC title on the way from 88 Films... Snake in the Eagle's Shadow Links: Amazon.co.uk - HMV - Zavvi Release date: 29th March 2021 Artwork:

www.avforums.com

 

[scrowe]

After the “Without Remorse” trailer, I checked and it’s true. None of the Tom Clancy movies made the list, so I’ll correct that now,

The Hunt for Red October
A reasonably faithful adaptation of Jack Ryan’s debut, a tense submarine thriller, with political backdrop and Sean Connery stealing the show as the Russian Boat captain, whose motives are unclear, and Jack Ryan is tasked to find out.

Clear and Present Danger
The best of the rest, and a perfect vehicle for Harrison Ford as an older Jack Ryan, finding himself caught up in a clandestine anti-drug military operation, and cover up that goes right to the top of the power league. Very diluted from the book, but the story still shines as a taut, engaging action thrille.

 

[scrowe]

And I want to give some love to Wesley Snipes, with a couple of films that he excels in, and shows as much natural on-screen premise as his more famous peers of the same time.

Passenger 57
Die Hard on an aeroplane, featuring Snipes as a security export on a plane escorting a prisoner, and a hijack attempt in-flight to free him. An early role for Elizabeth Hurley and Snipes lives up to the tag line ‘Always bet on Black!’.

Murder at 1600
Snipes is a police detective sent to investigate the murder of a US Secretary, and is assigned a partner US Secret Service Agent plated by Diane Lane. A well made action-murder-mystery-conspiracy-thriller, aided by a a good cast.

Edit: was going to also add Drop Zone but as it would have been 100 on the list, I’m holding it back.

 

[scrowe]

You need to check out Police Story for starters. As I said, many action scenes from Hollywood blockbusters were lifted wholesale from Police Story.

Watched Police Story from the Eureka set last night. I was thrown for a bit, the shanty town car sequence was great, and has been seen in other movies since. Then the bit where the assassin is trying to kill the secretary I really was wondering what I was watching. It was only then I twigged that Chan does slapstick/comedy. Thereafter, I tried to embrace the humour and style a bit more, leading into the party/girlfriend sequence that was pure comedy, especially forgiving the age of the movie.The final sequence in the Mall was pretty amazing considering everything was no doubt done for real. Overall worth the watch, considering I’d never seen any of these films before, but certainly an acquired taste.

 

[bruce-leroy]

Watched Police Story from the Eureka set last night. I was thrown for a bit, the shanty town car sequence was great, and has been seen in other movies since. Then the bit where the assassin is trying to kill the secretary I really was wondering what I was watching. It was only then I twigged that Chan does slapstick/comedy. Thereafter, I tried to embrace the humour and style a bit more, leading into the party/girlfriend sequence that was pure comedy, especially forgiving the age of the movie.The final sequence in the Mall was pretty amazing considering everything was no doubt done for real. Overall worth the watch, considering I’d never seen any of these films before, but certainly an acquired taste.

Yes, it’s all over the place tonally - veering from serious police thriller to slapstick. I grew up watching these so used to it from HK movies but definitely can be off putting for some. For Police Story 3, the tone is much better balanced as a lighter entry in the series, and remains consistent for the duration of the film.

 

[scrowe]

So I saw a movie YouTube pundit mention a film I’d never heard of - ‘Spartan’ saying it was Val Kilmer’s best role and a film that deserved much more recognition. It’s written and directed by David Mamet, and is about a Marine Special Forces retiree/consultant who helps out the Secret Service when the President‘s daughter goes missing and is kidnapped, but there is more going on than meets the eye, and a conspiracy action thriller develops.

As I didn’t really see Kilmer in such a role, I would have passed, but David Mamet is a higher class writer/producer, and there are some amazing character actors in the cast. So as it was available for £7 on Amazon (Dutch import version) I gave it a go.

Its not amazing, but highly watchable, and anyone here who enjoys the genre, should check it out.

Also picked up ‘November Man’ a Pierce Brosnan thriller on the same basis, I’d never gotten to, though haven’t watched it yet. Not adding either to the list, but worth mentioning.

 

[Casimir Harlow]

So I saw a movie YouTube pundit mention a film I’d never heard of - ‘Spartan’ saying it was Val Kilmer’s best role and a film that deserved much more recognition. It’s written and directed by David Mamet, and is about a Marine Special Forces retiree/consultant who helps out the Secret Service when the President‘s daughter goes missing and is kidnapped, but there is more going on than meets the eye, and a conspiracy action thriller develops.

As I didn’t really see Kilmer in such a role, I would have passed, but David Mamet is a higher class writer/producer, and there are some amazing character actors in the cast. So as it was available for £7 on Amazon (Dutch import version) I gave it a go.

Its not amazing, but highly watchable, and anyone here who enjoys the genre, should check it out.

Also picked up ‘November Man’ a Pierce Brosnan thriller on the same basis, I’d never gotten to, though haven’t watched it yet. Not adding either to the list, but worth mentioning.

Absolutely love Spartan. It's a great, atypical, role for Kilmer and a killer pre-The Unit script for Mamet who goes full military-mumbo for his dialogue. It's taut, unpredictable and compelling.

"What are you teaching, soldier?"
"Knife-fighting, sir."
"Don't teach them knife-fighting, teach them how to kill. That way when they meet somebody who learnt knife-fighting, they send their sorry soul to hell."

 

[evangelion]

Runaway Train (1985)

"Manny" (Jon Voight) and Buck (Eric Roberts) are two maximum security convicts that escape prison, high-tail it across the Alaskan countryside, find a switchyard, and board a four locomotive train.

As the title suggests, the train is soon out of control, and the Governor of the prison is hot on their tail to bring them back.

Rebecca De Mornay plays a locomotive employee stowed away on the train.

Great performances all round, and you'll never forget Voights "Manny"

One of my all time favourites, worth a mention even if it fails the top 100 (for me it's in the top ten!)

Oh, and Akira Kurosawa wrote the original screenplay back in 1966!

 

[Belzok]

So I saw a movie YouTube pundit mention a film I’d never heard of - ‘Spartan’ saying it was Val Kilmer’s best role and a film that deserved much more recognition. It’s written and directed by David Mamet, and is about a Marine Special Forces retiree/consultant who helps out the Secret Service when the President‘s daughter goes missing and is kidnapped, but there is more going on than meets the eye, and a conspiracy action thriller develops.

As I didn’t really see Kilmer in such a role, I would have passed, but David Mamet is a higher class writer/producer, and there are some amazing character actors in the cast. So as it was available for £7 on Amazon (Dutch import version) I gave it a go.

Its not amazing, but highly watchable, and anyone here who enjoys the genre, should check it out.

Also picked up ‘November Man’ a Pierce Brosnan thriller on the same basis, I’d never gotten to, though haven’t watched it yet. Not adding either to the list, but worth mentioning.

Just watched Spartan and its enjoyable.

The description in Amazon Prime is very odd indeed, it's like the end of a Chinese whispers game.

 

[scrowe]

Runaway Train (1985)

"Manny" (Jon Voight) and Buck (Eric Roberts) are two maximum security convicts that escape prison, high-tail it across the Alaskan countryside, find a switchyard, and board a four locomotive train.

As the title suggests, the train is soon out of control, and the Governor of the prison is hot on their tail to bring them back.

Rebecca De Mornay plays a locomotive employee stowed away on the train.

Great performances all round, and you'll never forget Voights "Manny"

One of my all time favourites, worth a mention even if it fails the top 100 (for me it's in the top ten!)

Oh, and Akira Kurosawa wrote the original screenplay back in 1966!

Thanks, that’s number 100 on the list.

 

[scrowe]

Also picked up ‘November Man’ a Pierce Brosnan thriller on the same basis, I’d never gotten to, though haven’t watched it yet. Not adding either to the list, but worth mentioning.

And really enjoyed it. Nothing terribly new, but competently made, especially for the budget these films have. Great to see Brosnan in a post-Bond role, still looking fit, and I think the best acting I’ve seen from Olga Kurylenko.