Greatest action film ever? at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · September 6th, 2004, 09:52 PM

WHat are your opinions of the greatest action film of all time? Not simply your favorite, but the absolute greatest?
Discuss!

Jonathan Stanley · September 6th, 2004, 09:59 PM

Its hard to name one that is not your favorite. Two that come to mind are:

The Matrix (of course): As we all know, it was sheer genius for the Wachowski's and Yen Wo Ping to train the actors to actually do the fighting. Bullet time will go down into filmmaking history, and the lobby shootout scene broke new ground for a gunfighting sequence.

Face Off: I have always loved the action in this movie. Particularly the scene where there is a large gun battle set to "Somewhere over the Rainbow". Amazing. Something about it sets it apart in my mind. Of course these are "American" movies. I am sure there are plenty in eastern cinema too.

Keith Loh · September 7th, 2004, 12:06 AM

Die Hard. It has a really tight script. Anyone who wants to write an action script has to look at Die Hard for pacing, for complications and payoffs.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 7th, 2004, 01:00 AM

If action-adventures count, throw in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

John Hudson · September 7th, 2004, 01:07 AM

Raiders of the Lost Ark as mentioned as well as Die Hard; two of the greatest (and favorites!).

Hard to decide what is an ACTION flick. IMDB has films I never would have thought would be considered ACTION per se. Here are some I love and consider the greatest:

Aliens
Saving Private Ryan
Braveheart
The Terminator (1 and 2)

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 7th, 2004, 01:24 AM

Oh, heck yeah, T2. How could that one have slipped our minds. Action par excellance.

Christopher C. Murphy · September 7th, 2004, 05:53 AM

60's:
The Wild Bunch
Comment: It just came to mind for the 60's...a great film ahead of its time. I recently read an interview with the writer, and it has a very interesting history.

70's
Star Wars
Comment: Yes, I consider it action as well as every other type of genre! This film is amazingly perfect for any kid that was 5 years old in 1977.

80's
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Comment: Probably one of the best films ever made, and makes an incredible follow up to Star Wars for a 9 year old in 1981!

90's
JFK
Comment: It's not known as an action film, but it does have lots of action. It's an amazingly overlooked film in all aspects of filmmaking. Do yourself a favor and get the Special Edition, and watch it again.

00's
Gladiator
Comment: It set the tone for action films, not my favorite though. It just has all the elements needed to set a course for others to follow.

Murph

Brack Craver · September 7th, 2004, 06:58 AM

Hard Boiled- starring Chow Yun Fat, directed by John Woo. Tons of unbelievable gunplay, very little reloading. Simply put, this is the most kick ass action movie I've ever seen. Also love A Bridge Too Far, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Zulu, and Zulu Dawn and about a million other flicks I can't think of right now!

Imran Zaidi · September 7th, 2004, 07:50 AM

Have to agree wholeheartedly with Keith regarding Die Hard, the first. It really is one of the most well-rounded action stories.

Also, Matrix, the first, took everyone on a wild ride that cannot be ignored. It's not often that you watch a film for the first time and wonder "where are they taking me?" I still remember the excitement I felt when Keanu took the pill and we fly into his mouth and he wakes up in the sludge. A complete mystery as to what will happen next. THAT is action filmmaking at its finest.

Jaime Valles · September 7th, 2004, 08:41 AM

One word:

ALIENS

Joe Collins · September 7th, 2004, 08:55 AM

Mad Max

Dylan Couper · September 7th, 2004, 09:15 AM

I decided to wait to post my choices:
They are

Terminator 2

Star Wars

I thought for a while about Indiana Jones. IMHO it's the greatest adventure movie of all time, but as a pure action film, it doesn't measure up, which is OK since it isn't.

Keith Loh · September 7th, 2004, 10:51 AM

Hmmm Star Wars has action elements but it is mostly adventure fantasy.

John Hudson · September 7th, 2004, 10:58 AM

Oh god!

THE ROAD WARRIOR. How can we forget that one? Brilliant. And C. Murph I was about 13 when this came out and I was trippin!

Joshua Starnes · September 7th, 2004, 12:32 PM

I haven't seen Predator listed here anywhere.

Also, in the action-adventure vein - The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Future directors, pay close attention to the way Curtis moves his camera.

September 6th, 2004, 09:52 PM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Greatest action film ever? WHat are your opinions of the greatest action film of all time? Not simply your favorite, but the absolute greatest? Discuss! __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

September 7th, 2004, 12:06 AM	#3
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Die Hard. It has a really tight script. Anyone who wants to write an action script has to look at Die Hard for pacing, for complications and payoffs. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

September 7th, 2004, 01:00 AM	#4
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	If action-adventures count, throw in Raiders of the Lost Ark. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 7th, 2004, 01:24 AM	#6
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Oh, heck yeah, T2. How could that one have slipped our minds. Action par excellance. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 7th, 2004, 05:53 AM	#7
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	60's: The Wild Bunch Comment: It just came to mind for the 60's...a great film ahead of its time. I recently read an interview with the writer, and it has a very interesting history. 70's Star Wars Comment: Yes, I consider it action as well as every other type of genre! This film is amazingly perfect for any kid that was 5 years old in 1977. 80's Raiders of the Lost Ark Comment: Probably one of the best films ever made, and makes an incredible follow up to Star Wars for a 9 year old in 1981! 90's JFK Comment: It's not known as an action film, but it does have lots of action. It's an amazingly overlooked film in all aspects of filmmaking. Do yourself a favor and get the Special Edition, and watch it again. 00's Gladiator Comment: It set the tone for action films, not my favorite though. It just has all the elements needed to set a course for others to follow. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

September 6th, 2004, 09:59 PM	#2
Jonathan Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Boone, NC Posts: 115	Its hard to name one that is not your favorite. Two that come to mind are: The Matrix (of course): As we all know, it was sheer genius for the Wachowski's and Yen Wo Ping to train the actors to actually do the fighting. Bullet time will go down into filmmaking history, and the lobby shootout scene broke new ground for a gunfighting sequence. Face Off: I have always loved the action in this movie. Particularly the scene where there is a large gun battle set to "Somewhere over the Rainbow". Amazing. Something about it sets it apart in my mind. Of course these are "American" movies. I am sure there are plenty in eastern cinema too.

September 7th, 2004, 01:07 AM	#5
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Raiders of the Lost Ark as mentioned as well as Die Hard; two of the greatest (and favorites!). Hard to decide what is an ACTION flick. IMDB has films I never would have thought would be considered ACTION per se. Here are some I love and consider the greatest: Aliens Saving Private Ryan Braveheart The Terminator (1 and 2)

September 7th, 2004, 06:58 AM	#8
Brack Craver Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Blacksburg Virginia Posts: 50	Hard Boiled- starring Chow Yun Fat, directed by John Woo. Tons of unbelievable gunplay, very little reloading. Simply put, this is the most kick ass action movie I've ever seen. Also love A Bridge Too Far, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Zulu, and Zulu Dawn and about a million other flicks I can't think of right now!

September 7th, 2004, 07:50 AM	#9
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	Have to agree wholeheartedly with Keith regarding Die Hard, the first. It really is one of the most well-rounded action stories. Also, Matrix, the first, took everyone on a wild ride that cannot be ignored. It's not often that you watch a film for the first time and wonder "where are they taking me?" I still remember the excitement I felt when Keanu took the pill and we fly into his mouth and he wakes up in the sludge. A complete mystery as to what will happen next. THAT is action filmmaking at its finest.

September 7th, 2004, 08:41 AM	#10
Jaime Valles Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 316	One word: ALIENS

September 7th, 2004, 08:55 AM	#11
Joe Collins Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Athens, Ga USA Posts: 33	Mad Max

September 7th, 2004, 09:15 AM	#12
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I decided to wait to post my choices: They are Terminator 2 Star Wars I thought for a while about Indiana Jones. IMHO it's the greatest adventure movie of all time, but as a pure action film, it doesn't measure up, which is OK since it isn't. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

September 7th, 2004, 10:51 AM	#13
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Hmmm Star Wars has action elements but it is mostly adventure fantasy. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

September 7th, 2004, 10:58 AM	#14
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Oh god! THE ROAD WARRIOR. How can we forget that one? Brilliant. And C. Murph I was about 13 when this came out and I was trippin!

September 7th, 2004, 12:32 PM	#15
Joshua Starnes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 356	I haven't seen Predator listed here anywhere. Also, in the action-adventure vein - The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Future directors, pay close attention to the way Curtis moves his camera.