The Ten Best Action Movies
Everyone has their favorite action movies. Based on the scientific polling method of asking around, here’s our list of the ten best action movies of all time:
10. Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee, awesome martial arts, bare bones plot focusing on lots and lots of fights. Need we say more?
9. The Matrix
Not the whole trilogy, just the first movie. It borrowed from nearly everything to create one of the most all-inclusive action movies of all time. We do have to give props to the epic car chase in the third movie, though. We’re sure it paved the way for the semi-truck/fighter jet chase in Die Hard 4.
8. RoboCop
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times – robot cops are a bad idea. This movie proves it, even if the good guy also happens to be a robot.
7. Rambo 2
Take out the heartbreaking portrait of a Vietnam Vet distanced from society in Rambo 1, and instead transform him into a man destined to battle evil Communism and free POWs, and you’ve got all the makings of a very bloody action movie.
6. Escape from New York
This probably isn’t the picture of New York that Mayor Giuliani imagined. Rather than chasing all of the crime out of New York, this move makes into a giant prison where it’s every man for himself. Definitely not a place the President should be visiting. It’s a good thing Kurt Russell was available to save him.
5. Goldfinger
For those who believe that Sean Connery is the ultimate Bond, this is the ultimate Bond film. In addition to thrilling action involving Bond nearly getting sawed in half by a laser, it also brings us the best bombshell name of all time – Pussy Galore.
4. Lethal Weapon
Mel Gibson’s risk-taking cop is well-balanced by Danny Glover’s family man cop in the first of this excellent series. The first features them fighting an evil organization of Vietnam vets importing. In addition to the regular action movie staples, it includes a very impressive hand-to-hand fight scene.
3. Terminator 2
The evil robot turned hero shows up to save the day in Terminator 2. We’d have to count, but we’d wager that this movie could be a top contender for “most rounds fired” (although fewer people actually died.) The fire truck chase is one of the best you’ll find in film, but the rest of the movie is great, too. We only wish the ending had been a little lighter on the cheeseball sentiment. Fortunately, the “I’ll be back” catchphrase makes up for it.
2. Aliens
Finally, a female hero makes it to our list! Not only does she battle disgusting aliens, but she fights an evil corporation complicit in the deaths of many. On top of it all, she saves a little girl! What’s not to love?
1. Die Hard
The first, the best. John McClane had bigger fights, stopped greater evil, and saved more lives in later movies, but this is the movie with the tightest plot and biggest heartstrings. It’s also one the one that brought us the ultimate in all-purpose catchphrases that don’t actually mean anything. And with that, we’re out.
Yippee-ki-yay mo…!
