Dowdsy McDowds
Sally was here
Tell me your favourite 10 action films of the 90s.
Yep. As simple as that.
After creating a few threads about seemingly seldom seen films, I want to hear some opinions on films that people have definitely seen!
The 90s were an interesting time for action movies coming out of the 'one-man-army' type films from the 80s like Rambo, Commando and Die Hard. There were some films that carried on this tradition however, like Seagal's Under Siege films.
The stars of the 80s still flexed their muscles into a new decade; Schwarzenegger had Terminator 2 and True Lies, JCVD and Lundgren faced off in Universal Soldier, Willis continued the Die Hard franchise as well as buddying up with a Wayans brother in Last Boy Scout, while Stallone had a dismal decade in truth. He did however star in Assassins, which was penned by arguably the game-changers of the decade - The Wachowski Brothers.
Outside Hollywood, Hong Kong cinema set the bar with stylized orchestrated violence that would influence later 90s films. Hard Boiled's director John Woo would bring his style to Hollywood to mixed success.
So, allow me to share my top ten, though not in order.
Speed
Keanu Reeves had a tremendous decade, starting with Point Break in 1991 and finishing with Matrix in 1999. Sandwiched in between was this high concept piece of brilliance that pitted a resilient and tough LA cop against a vengefully sadistic ex-cop (Dennis Hopper) with a penchant for the explosively dramatic. Sandra Bullock was a great pick as an ever-toughening damsel in distress, though her inclusion and Reeves' exclusion from the sequel was bewildering.
Face/Off
John Woo struck a perfect balance here with his Hong Kong influence of over-the-fucking-top orchestrated gun fights with 2 of Hollywood's biggest stars who were able to take the mick out of themselves and each other in a film that still holds up over a decade on. Some of the stunts were insane and despite the films length, it has a good rhythm and energy throughout.
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day
Not one of Arnies best films, not one of the 90s best films, not one of Cameron's best films, quite simply it is one of THE best action films ever made. Avoiding the sequel curse and easily equal to Empire and Godfather 2 in terms of surpassing the original, T2 developed the storyline and characters, introduced some dialogue and phrases that are still quoted today, and perhaps above all is one of the few films that men will admit to shedding a tear to at the end.
Hard Boiled
Don't question how the handguns can somehow hold 40 rounds without reloading. Don't question the over-the-top violence. Don't question the things that don't make sense or aren't realistic in this film. Just disconnect logic, connect enjoyment and prepare to be blown away by a shell-spitting, bullet fueled ballet of choreographed craziness that John Woo found tough to surpass.
Last Boy Scout
Shane Black was one of the 90s hottest properties and this film is the answer to the question, "why?" Snappy sharp dialogue delivered by a mis-matched pair whose chemistry is undeniable. The jokes fly as much as the bullets and are more accurate. My favourite performance from Willis and still highly enjoyable.
Starship Troopers
Paul Verhoeven is one of those directors that, perhaps due to his delay between films, doesn't get as much recognition in the action genre as he perhaps should. His social ideas and views filter into his films that often make them feel very fresh. Starship Troopers cutting to adverts for the Corps throughout the film isn't something you see everyday but fit the tone of the film exceedingly well.
Heat
Michael Mann's best film and a massive influence on The Dark Knight, as well as arguably being both De Niro and Pacino's last great film. Mann had done Heat before as a TV movie called LA Takedown with a TV movie type cast. Many of the same ideas are carried over into Heat but expanded upon with a true heavyweight cast that helped boost the tone of professionalism in the film. There are several moments and scenes where the characters' faces are saying more than the silence or dialogue, like Tom Sizemore staring a civilian down in a café, or De Niro and Pacino mirroring each other in THAT café scene.
The Matrix
Leaving the sequels aside, the original is still a fantastic film not only for introducing bullet-time and PVC clad women, but having a great set of ideas behind it with the main one having mass appeal; what if this world is an illusion and the bedraggled lonesome everyman can become something great? It's the classic hero story for the internet age. Reeves was the perfect choice for Neo, though it was rumoured that both Ewan McGregor and Will Smith were both close to getting the role. Reeves' blank and confused demeanor was used to such great effect that young Theodore Logan would be proud.
Under Siege
I have a soft spot for the man with fast hands and 2 expressions. Add Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones hamming it way the fuck up and this is an enjoyable film. The sequel deserves a mention too for the brilliant line of, "What am I doing? Oh yeh... I'm making a bomb!"
Blade
I could have put Point Break here, but Keanu's had 2 mentions and this definitely deserves a mention. Stephen Dorff never really recaptured his form from Blade where test audiences wanted more of him onscreen and so the ending was re-shot. As Frost, he was a decent foil to Blade and Kris Kristofferson deserves a mention for his great grizzled performance as Whistler.
Stephen Norrington has been MIA since League of Extraordinary Gentleman, but Blade is proof that at one time he had some directorial panache.
Yep. As simple as that.
After creating a few threads about seemingly seldom seen films, I want to hear some opinions on films that people have definitely seen!
The 90s were an interesting time for action movies coming out of the 'one-man-army' type films from the 80s like Rambo, Commando and Die Hard. There were some films that carried on this tradition however, like Seagal's Under Siege films.
The stars of the 80s still flexed their muscles into a new decade; Schwarzenegger had Terminator 2 and True Lies, JCVD and Lundgren faced off in Universal Soldier, Willis continued the Die Hard franchise as well as buddying up with a Wayans brother in Last Boy Scout, while Stallone had a dismal decade in truth. He did however star in Assassins, which was penned by arguably the game-changers of the decade - The Wachowski Brothers.
Outside Hollywood, Hong Kong cinema set the bar with stylized orchestrated violence that would influence later 90s films. Hard Boiled's director John Woo would bring his style to Hollywood to mixed success.
So, allow me to share my top ten, though not in order.
Speed
Keanu Reeves had a tremendous decade, starting with Point Break in 1991 and finishing with Matrix in 1999. Sandwiched in between was this high concept piece of brilliance that pitted a resilient and tough LA cop against a vengefully sadistic ex-cop (Dennis Hopper) with a penchant for the explosively dramatic. Sandra Bullock was a great pick as an ever-toughening damsel in distress, though her inclusion and Reeves' exclusion from the sequel was bewildering.
Face/Off
John Woo struck a perfect balance here with his Hong Kong influence of over-the-fucking-top orchestrated gun fights with 2 of Hollywood's biggest stars who were able to take the mick out of themselves and each other in a film that still holds up over a decade on. Some of the stunts were insane and despite the films length, it has a good rhythm and energy throughout.
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day
Not one of Arnies best films, not one of the 90s best films, not one of Cameron's best films, quite simply it is one of THE best action films ever made. Avoiding the sequel curse and easily equal to Empire and Godfather 2 in terms of surpassing the original, T2 developed the storyline and characters, introduced some dialogue and phrases that are still quoted today, and perhaps above all is one of the few films that men will admit to shedding a tear to at the end.
Hard Boiled
Don't question how the handguns can somehow hold 40 rounds without reloading. Don't question the over-the-top violence. Don't question the things that don't make sense or aren't realistic in this film. Just disconnect logic, connect enjoyment and prepare to be blown away by a shell-spitting, bullet fueled ballet of choreographed craziness that John Woo found tough to surpass.
Last Boy Scout
Shane Black was one of the 90s hottest properties and this film is the answer to the question, "why?" Snappy sharp dialogue delivered by a mis-matched pair whose chemistry is undeniable. The jokes fly as much as the bullets and are more accurate. My favourite performance from Willis and still highly enjoyable.
Starship Troopers
Paul Verhoeven is one of those directors that, perhaps due to his delay between films, doesn't get as much recognition in the action genre as he perhaps should. His social ideas and views filter into his films that often make them feel very fresh. Starship Troopers cutting to adverts for the Corps throughout the film isn't something you see everyday but fit the tone of the film exceedingly well.
Heat
Michael Mann's best film and a massive influence on The Dark Knight, as well as arguably being both De Niro and Pacino's last great film. Mann had done Heat before as a TV movie called LA Takedown with a TV movie type cast. Many of the same ideas are carried over into Heat but expanded upon with a true heavyweight cast that helped boost the tone of professionalism in the film. There are several moments and scenes where the characters' faces are saying more than the silence or dialogue, like Tom Sizemore staring a civilian down in a café, or De Niro and Pacino mirroring each other in THAT café scene.
The Matrix
Leaving the sequels aside, the original is still a fantastic film not only for introducing bullet-time and PVC clad women, but having a great set of ideas behind it with the main one having mass appeal; what if this world is an illusion and the bedraggled lonesome everyman can become something great? It's the classic hero story for the internet age. Reeves was the perfect choice for Neo, though it was rumoured that both Ewan McGregor and Will Smith were both close to getting the role. Reeves' blank and confused demeanor was used to such great effect that young Theodore Logan would be proud.
Under Siege
I have a soft spot for the man with fast hands and 2 expressions. Add Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones hamming it way the fuck up and this is an enjoyable film. The sequel deserves a mention too for the brilliant line of, "What am I doing? Oh yeh... I'm making a bomb!"
Blade
I could have put Point Break here, but Keanu's had 2 mentions and this definitely deserves a mention. Stephen Dorff never really recaptured his form from Blade where test audiences wanted more of him onscreen and so the ending was re-shot. As Frost, he was a decent foil to Blade and Kris Kristofferson deserves a mention for his great grizzled performance as Whistler.
Stephen Norrington has been MIA since League of Extraordinary Gentleman, but Blade is proof that at one time he had some directorial panache.
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