I would've sworn we had a topic for this, but I went back a year and couldn't find it.
With the release of Live Free or Die Hard, there's been a lot of talk about the Original Die Hard being the Greatest Action Film Ever Made. I, of course, was skeptical about this, so I went out and bought the original Die Hard on DVD after seeing LFoDH in the theater (and it's great).
I saw Die Hard in the theater during the summer of '88 and loved it. During the summer of '89, my roommate and I would get blown up and watch it on VHS or cable every night. Conservatively speaking, I've seen Die Hard 120-150 times, though I haven't watched it since the summer of 1990.
So I slipped the DVD into the player last night expecting to be blown through the back wall of my apartment.
I was. Again.
I am stunned at how well this film held up. It's definitely an '80s film, but it's not hopelessly stuck there with goofy camera work or music. The story is simple but well-realized. The lighting is spectacular. The cinematography is beautiful. The action is nearly non-stop.
And the action sequences are real. Miniatures. Stuntmen. Explosions. Optical tricks. Die Hard is the last of the non-CGI action movies, arguably the pinnacle of good old-fashioned practical and optical effects. When something blows up, something really blows up. They don't make action films like this anymore, and that's a damn shame. I'd rather watch Die Hard another 150 times than watch the BS computer-generated crap in The Matrix.
But is it The Best?
I've wracked my brain since last night, and I can't come up with anything better.
Lethal Weapon? Great movie, but there's nothing in there that comes close to the action in Die Hard.
Hard Boiled? The hospital shootout is probably the best ever, but other than the action sequences, the rest of the film is weak.
Leon? Again, great film, but there are too many lulls in it.
The Terminator? Too much exposition (typical for Cameron).
So I can't think of any movie that delivers the action as well as Die Hard. The only movie that possibly could dethrone it is (oddly enough) Die Hard With a Vengeance.
Best action films
Moderators: sgt.null, dANdeLION
Best action films
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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A Gunslinger
- The Gap Into Spam
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- Location: Southern WI (Madison area)
Raiders isn't an action film. Good movie, but it doesn't compare to any of the films I listed.
Likewise, I wouldn't include Star Wars in the running. It's a fantasy film with action, not an action film.
Likewise, I wouldn't include Star Wars in the running. It's a fantasy film with action, not an action film.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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A Gunslinger
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 8890
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Southern WI (Madison area)
**scratches head, whistles...**Nah, I don't think Raiders is. It's a tribute to the old serials that has some action, but it doesn't hold a candle (action-wise) to the Rambos, Missing in Actions, Commandos, or Die Hards.
Let me give an example. Ronin is a great movie and has the two best car chases ever filmed. But it is emphatically not an action film.
Let me give an example. Ronin is a great movie and has the two best car chases ever filmed. But it is emphatically not an action film.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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Worm of Despite
- Lord
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- Contact:
MI, like The Matrix, is the new action idiom (which I think blows). Black Rain (to me) is a great cop movie with some good action sequences. I suppose it could be called an action movie (and that's probably where Blockbuster files it), but I don't look at it that way. Cobra, Raw Deal, Commando...Those are action movies. But films like Black Rain or Aliens, while both excellent movies, have so much down time between action sequences that I don't consider them action films.
And yeah, I know I'm being picky, but if I have to sit through 30 minutes of anything (love, drama, plot) before someone gets shot, stabbed, or blown up, then it's not a good action movie.
And yeah, I know I'm being picky, but if I have to sit through 30 minutes of anything (love, drama, plot) before someone gets shot, stabbed, or blown up, then it's not a good action movie.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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Lord Mhoram
- Lord
- Posts: 9512
- Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 1:07 am
Predator.
Gladiator.
First 20 minutes or so of Saving Private Ryan.
Gladiator.
First 20 minutes or so of Saving Private Ryan.
Last edited by Lord Mhoram on Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Predator unquestionably kicks ass.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
Die Hard is the best. Agree with Cail that Die Hard with a Vengence is the only other action movie that comes close.
Some other's that I've liked;
Speed
Point Break (who knew Keanu could be in so many good movies!!?)
The Bourne Identity
Beverly Hills Cop 1
I was also thinking that there are probably some Bond movies that deserve a mention, but I'm not really a Bond buff. I'm not sure there are many better than Casino Royale tbh.
Some other's that I've liked;
Speed
Point Break (who knew Keanu could be in so many good movies!!?)
The Bourne Identity
Beverly Hills Cop 1
I was also thinking that there are probably some Bond movies that deserve a mention, but I'm not really a Bond buff. I'm not sure there are many better than Casino Royale tbh.
It'd take you a long time to blow up or shoot all the sheep in this country, but one diseased banana...could kill 'em all.
I didn't even know sheep ate bananas.
I didn't even know sheep ate bananas.
The Die Hard Song...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyw6cq86kY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyw6cq86kY
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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bloodguard bob
- Bloodguard
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- Location: A chair by the river.
yes, yes, i agree with Cail. Die Hard, like The Police's first album, will surly stand the test of time unlike say Robocop. Die hard stood tall against the other action films of the time for "action" and originality, beating out other films like Action Jackson, wich wins for most quotable, and They Live wich everyone agrees best fight scene. although RoboCop ,comming out the year before, can stand on it's own for best "cheesy dated action".
and yeah, #2...Predator.
and yeah, #2...Predator.
"...and if you do not listen, then to hell with you."
Oh gawd, I'd forgotten Action Jackson.
And yeah, Robocop is hopelessly dated now.
And yeah, Robocop is hopelessly dated now.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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A Gunslinger
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 8890
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Southern WI (Madison area)
Steve McQueen's not an action movie.
Action movies really didn't exist prior to the '70s, and really came into their own in the '80s. War movies (early ones like TDD or Kelly's Heroes) generally don't have sustained action, though they are clearly (along with westerns) the forerunners of the great action films.
It's hard to look back at the old action films now, but stuff like Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Vanishing Point, The Getaway, and White Lightning, while the genesis of the genre, simply can't hold a candle to the great action flicks of the '80s.
Action movies really didn't exist prior to the '70s, and really came into their own in the '80s. War movies (early ones like TDD or Kelly's Heroes) generally don't have sustained action, though they are clearly (along with westerns) the forerunners of the great action films.
It's hard to look back at the old action films now, but stuff like Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Vanishing Point, The Getaway, and White Lightning, while the genesis of the genre, simply can't hold a candle to the great action flicks of the '80s.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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A Gunslinger
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 8890
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Southern WI (Madison area)