A C T I O N!

[Just Gus]

Insightful suggested action films....so here's a discussion of them!

I don't necessarily concur that the increased tech ability makes for better action films.

For instance, I still think that Die Hard and Die Harder are probably the best of the series of Die Hard films and better than many other action films.  The original story of the cop and his estranged wife is at the core--his desire to be with his family and save his family at all-costs and his unrelenting desire to do whatever it takes to thwart the bad guys.  The cop who has no shoes in Die Hard as opposed to the over-the-top special effects of the last Die Hard, Live Free or Die Hard.  It The whole series is miles better than action films with bigger budgets and more special effects (although Die Hard ahas loads)....why???  Because of the character of John McClane!

[Just Gus]

So what are your favorite action films?  Who are your favorite action stars?  Action directors?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film

[Sevorin]

I prefer the old dogs.

 

But for a while I was pleased with the shit I got from John McTiernan -- Die Hard, Predator, the flawed but still underrated The Last Action Hero.

[Just Gus]

McTiernan is now in some serious legal difficulties!

[insightful39]

Your right technology is only as good as story line, to make a great movie these two must mesh together in order to bring you to the core of the movie's theme and carry you thoughout the entire movie.

[Cheryl Bailey]

I am not a big fan of action movies unless they have a good story. My husband is a big action film fan and totakky agrees with you. He loves the Die Hard films and has convinced me they are Christmas films so we watch them all every year!!LOL

[insightful39]

Hi Cheryl, well there nothing like a great storyline meshed together with action and intrigue that keeps me at the edge of my seat. Bruce Willis was one of the first to bring high technology to the forefront of movie making. It seems to me right after those movies came out a gamit of other high tech movies followed. As far as The Die Hard movies ,making them holiday movies to watch during the holiday season isn't a bad thing. I have to say that it was christmas time during the die hard movies. The movie plot makes you think what is most important to you, it is only enhanced more during the holiday season. Everyone thinks of being together with family during this time. My advice, keep watching them and snuggle up with your hubby and enjoy your holiday season. Until Next Time, Have A Good One. Mary

[Cheryl Bailey]

Mary,

Thanks for the encouraging words. I do see lots of Action films due to my hubby and 2 adult sons who drag me along to the movies. We saw Contraban last weekend. It is not a great film but entertaining especially with Mark Wahlberg. I also like the new Mission Impossible flick. Those both have a story to go along with the action. However, the other night I was watching Bullit with Steve McQueen and it was made in the 60's before a lot of special effects and the car chase in that is Classic. I really love that film!! I really enjoy watching Bruce Willis because he not only brings the tough action star but has a sense of humor as well. By the way, if it seems I am rambling I just had an emergency root canal today and am on some strong drugs. That is my excuse anyway!!!LOL

[insightful39]

Hi Cheryl, No I didn't think you were rambling, I thought you were passionate about what you were talking about. Thanks for the info on the movies I'll keep them in mind the next time I rent from nextflix. I haven't been to the movies in years. I have found that I enjoy watching movies in the privacy of my own home. I find it more cost effective to watch at home, not just that but I buy discount candies,peanut mixes, and chex mix for my movies. I used to go to the movies at least once a week until I started watchig DVD movies online and renting. Take care of the tooth, having a root canal is no fun. Yeah, they have to give ya something for the pain. Take a pain pill, relax a have a great movie night experience. My kids all love watching movies there are all grown up now and on their own but I used watch movie with them. They are just as much movies buff as me. Until Next Time, Take Care, Mary

[Just Gus]

Rewatching the Die Hard series.....

I feel it's the best of the 1st three (maybe the best of the whole franchise).  John McClane is introduced....the scene where he picks glass out of his feet is powerful and cool.  It has more suspense for me than Die Harder....I worry more about Holly's fate in Die Hard.  Die Hard with a Vengeance is a reboot of the franchise and is more modern less campy.

[Just Gus]

A little too campy at times....I like how the airport security chief and his brother are really bureaucratic and unsympathetic to John....it  seemed pretty true to life.  The snowmobile scene was cool, but reminiscent of a Bond film.

[Just Gus]

from wikipedia--Action sub-genres

• Action Comedy - A sub-genre involving action and humor.^[11] The sub-genre became a popular trend in the 1980s when actors who were known for their background in comedy such as Eddie Murphy, began to take roles in action films. The action scenes within the genre are generally lighthearted and rarely involve death or serious injury.^[12] Comedy films such as Dumb & Dumber and Big Momma's House that contain action-laden sub-plots are not considered part of the genre as the action scenes have a more integral role in action comedies.^[11] Examples of action comedies include The Blues Brothers (1980), 48 Hrs. (1982), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Midnight Run (1988), Bad Boys (1995), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Rush Hour (1998) and Charlie's Angels (2000).^[11][12]

• Die-Hard scenario - Which the story takes place in limited location; a single building, plane, or vessel - which is seized or under threat by enemy agents, but are opposed by a single hero who fights an extended battle within the location using stealth and cunning to attempt to defeat them.^[13] This sub-genre began with the film Die Hard and has become popular in Hollywood because of its crowd appeal and the relative simplicity of building sets for such a constrained piece. These films are sometimes described as "Die Hard on a...". Among the many films that have copied this formula are Under Siege (terrorists take over a ship), Snakes on a Plane (poisonous snakes take over a passenger plane), Speed (Die Hard on a bus), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory and Derailed (hostages are trapped on a train), Sudden Death (terrorists take over an Ice Hockey stadium), Passenger 57, Executive Decision and Air Force One (hostages are trapped on a plane), Con Air (criminals take over a transport plane), and Half Past Dead and The Rock (criminals or terrorists take over a prison). Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a recent spoof of this trend (as Die Hard in a mall).

• Disaster Film - Having elements of thriller and sometimes science fiction films, the main conflict of this genre is some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters that are shown with heavy action scenes, special effects, over the top destruction and, in modern day, use of CGI. Examples include Independence Day, Daylight, Earthquake, 2012,^[14] The Day After Tomorrow,^[15] Poseidon, The Towering Inferno, Dante's Peak, Deep Impact, Volcano, The Core, Armageddon and Twister.

• Martial Arts - A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts films contain many characters who are martial artists, and these roles are often played by actors who are real martial artists. If not, actors frequently train in preparation for their roles, or the action director may rely more on stylized action or filmmaking tricks. Martial films include The Karate Kid, Kung Fu Hustle, Fearless, Ninja Assassin, Ong-Bak, Shanghai Noon, Kill Bill, Fist of Legend, Iron Monkey, Drunken Master, Enter the Dragon, Champion of Death, Karate Bearfighter, Doberman Cop, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon and The Street Fighter series.

• Sci-fi Action - Sharing many of the conventions of a science fiction film, sci-fi action films emphasizes gunplay, space battles, invented weaponry, and other sci-fi elements weaved into action film premises. Examples include G.I. Samurai, Terminator 2, The Matrix, Total Recall, Minority Report, The Island, Star Trek, Aliens, I, Robot, Transformers, Equilibrium, District 9, Serenity, Akira, Paycheck, Predator, Robocop, Avatar, Mad Max 2 and The Fifth Element.

[Just Gus]

Die-Hard scenario is an interesting sub-genre.  I wonder if Die Hard really created the sub-genre's basic plot elements or not?