Best Action / Adventure Films

From the opening music chords to the dashing swashbuckling finale, this film is the ultimate of that genre as well as Errol Flynn's crowning achievement. He makes Robin Hood a fun and jolly hero with honor and ever quality imaginable that a leader should possess. He may not be British, but he is close enough and has the right accent. Michael Curtiz, the man behind the other Errol Flynn films that made my list those being The Sea Hawk, and Captain Blood, directs this with a fun, but serious air although he can't take all the credit as William Keighley directed first off, but was replaced by Curtiz early in production. Erich Wolfgang Korngold composed a masterful score for this. I could go on, but I will suffice to say that this is a dashing film that stands as one of the best of the Action/Adventure genre.

Steven Spielberg is one of my favorite directors of all-time and this beginning to the Indiana Jones trilogy is a great ride of fun. Harrison Ford was perfect for the role with his ruggedness and great presence. This film is iconic with the beginning based off the Paramount logo and the falling rock as well as the laughter in the jungle. Plus it gives a sneak preview of Doc Ock with Alfred Molina covered in tarantulas. John Williams score is brilliant with the march and love theme. A film that can be enjoyed multiple times and lose none of its grandeur and fun.

The middle film to the trilogy is the best and most entertaining to me. The love scenes aren?t mushy as the two characters seem to grind against each other, Luke digs deeper and meets the illustrious Jedi Master that taught Obi-Wan, and some much more works for this. It utilizes the fact that we can travel to many different planets as we jump from icy Hoth, to the cold of space, to the humidity of Dagoba, and even to the beautiful yet deceiving Cloud City. Each is given a unique score by John Williams and we get some of the best music from the Star Wars series including Lando?s Palace, Yoda?s Theme, and the Imperial March better known as Vader?s Theme by some. It is everything you could ask of middle film as it develops characters, moves the story along, and introduces extremely key components. And I will admit to being a chronic Star Wars fans at times.

The highly anticipated beginning to the trilogy delivered in gold. Although the film never quite lived up to my imagination as I read the novel many times over, it did the novels justice in as much as a filmmaker can hope to. Peter Jackson solidified himself as a director with this film and the subsequent parts. Everything about this film is praiseworthy from the acting in which I would include casting, editing, visual effects, and all that artistry. It was a stunning achievement and one I have enjoyed watching again and again. The extended version is even better.

he Seven Samurai is one of the best films ever made, but this remake did everything right and added a far more memorable score to boot. The cast is amazing as each was trying to make their way up the food chain by attempting to steal every scene possible from each other and even the star Yul Brynner. I think this rivalry makes the film even more enjoyable to watch as each of the seven put their own stamp on each scene and character. I have due to multiple watching come to love each character in their own right just like the Seven Samurai because each is given such human qualities. Charles Bronson is a great example as he is in the beginning shown chopping wood, but we learn that he used to be an expensive gun to hire, but now he through some means or other has fallen to chopping wood to pay his rent. We can relate and grow to love him for the love and care he shows to the three little boys that look to him as a hero. It most of all never loses sight of the greatness of the farmers just like the Seven Samurai. I feel it lost next to nothing in the transfer save the great Japanese culture which Kurosawa fleshes out in the original. A rare remake that can stand up to its foreign original.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is Dutch, the ultimate soldier, and Kevin Peter Hall is the Predator, the ultimate hunter species in the universe. This film is the result of these two fighting machines meeting up in the middle of the dense jungle of Central America. It is adrenaline pumped and full of testosterone driven action and simple characters. I mean that in a good way. There is not much doubt about the plot. It is a simple mission of extraction for the government with the usual red tape of it being something else, but what makes the film unique is the addition of the curve ball of the alien being who is invisible and slowly stalking and picking off each of the highly advanced commando unit.

It is here that the film has it?s greatest strength as Arnold, at the peak of physical prowess goes up against the biggest and among the ugliest aliens you have seen. To have to highly powerful characters go at it fantastic for the film as it gets the most action as possible out of these two large hunters. The Predator relies on stealth for the majority of the film which give it the advantage for the ¾ of the film, but when Arnold is on his own and figures out the Predators weakness the roles are reversed for a bit of the ¼ part of the film where the playing field is evened.

John McTiernan does a great job balancing the views as he creates some suspense for the first half by not showing the creature itself but his silhouette in the jungle foliage behind its cloak of invisibility. He even shows quite a few shots from the point of view of the Predator who seemingly only sees in infrared which gets even worse when he takes off his mask toward the end.

The film is an action packed thrill ride, which has plenty of action and plenty of one liners from the ever marble mouthed Arnold who can say the line, ?Get to the chopper!? like no other. None of the sequels can match this film for its action or even storyline as Predator 2 has a weaker hero and seemingly weaker Predator.

The Marvel in me came out when I saw this excellent sequel to the great adaptation that Bryan Singer and company did with X-Men. The opening sequence was almost exctasy as they brought one of my favorite characters to the screen with such magic. It was like they took it from the comic page and morphed it onto the screen. Bryan Singer continued to elaborate on his characters without letting the story become too big and losing sight of characterization. Wolverine played as ever brilliantly by Hugh Jackman got more in touch with his feral side here, a classic villain became an ally as he often did in the comics, and Brian Cox brought an incredible presence to his character as the string moving William Stryker. Action and story to spare I wish after each viewing that Singer had stuck around or the studio had waited.

The first Terminator was thrilling and a great original idea. This sequel packs a punch as it delves deeper into this time paradox ridden story which has sets its own precedent. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, but not as inhumane as he was in the first film and Linda Hamilton returns as the mother of the future hard bitten leader of the resistance. Each of these two returning characters gets to delve deeper in the psyche of their characters while Edward Furlong debuts as the rebellious son of Sarah Connor (Hamilton). The film is a visual spectacle as the newest prototype terminator from the future, played to a very cool tinge by Robert Patrick, shows off its ability to shape shift as well as perform other incredible and gruesome acts. Perhaps a bit much for some, my first viewing was skeptical as well, but I never saw it from start to finish and watching as such it is a thrilling ride.

Pixar managed to lead the pack of 3D animated films early and each of their films I found to be quite original and fun, but this infusion of superheroes with their incredible talent for tweaking stories ever so well has remained my far and away favorite. This is how in my mind the great Fantastic Four comic franchise should have been transferred to the screen instead of the shallow film we got awhile back. The Incredibles deals with family issues and quarreling in a way that gets through to both adults and children it is wonderful. Being a student of animation myself I found this film to be an incredible achievement with its ability to use human like forms and animate them so well. Brad Bird who not only directed this, but provided the incredibly hilarious voice for Edna Mode created a wonderful family of supers that we can love and feel for their rather different problems. It was also wonderful to here that jazzy smooth score by Michael Giacchino.

An intense start to what has become a strong series. Arnold is perfect for the title role and Biehn strong as the soldier from the future. Linda Hamilton became a start of sorts with this film and Cameron really arrived. The effects are still quite stunning today and terrifying. The part with the eye has me flinching each time I see it. The score is also quite memorable as it is the basis for the Terminator theme through. They even utilize it for misdirection like in Jaws.

Well I am one of the biggest fans of swashbucklers behind my brother I think and this film stars one of my film favorite sword swinging heros, Errol Flynn in the film that made him a star. The supporting cast in this film is wonderful as well and of course the villain of choice is portrayed by none other than Basil Rathbone. The fight they have on the shoreline is iconic. Erich Wolfgang Korngold?s score while not entirely original is very rousing and memorable, it is my brother?s favorite score as well the film being one of his favorites.

A magnificent and thrilling sequel to Alien is just as chilling if not more so with intense action done in the same style Cameron did Terminator. Sigourney Weaver is even tougher in this film and Michael Biehn is great as the hardened marine and Bill Paxton is great as well as the jittery teammate.

This final entry in the Bourne trilogy is heart throbbing action from beginning to end. Chalk full of fast moving camera action, great action sequences, and thrills. Damon is magnificent in this third turn as super agent Jason Bourne who finally uncovers and confronts his past and David Strathairn is a great challenge to him. It even has Julia Stiles and Joan Allen returning to help close out this fantastic series. Although one lingering question partially hurts the film. (you know the one involving Nikki)

My second Errol Flynn film is another classic swashbuckler, but this time Basil Rathbone is nowhere to be found. Instead we are given two villains one the sophisticated Claude Rains who doesn?t really get his hand dirty, and Henry Daniell who ends up being the challenger with the sword. The film is highflying fun from beginning sea fight to the final duel. Erich Wolfgang also composed a beautiful, thrilling seafaring score for this voyage. Michael Curtiz, the master director of this genre, does a terrific job as usual and the man Alan Hale is Flynn?s right hand man again. The supporting cast is filled with familiar faces from Captain Blood, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. I wish the compact disc I have of this film?s score had the singing, but the instrumental only soundtrack is fantastic anyway. It is great fun for everyone.

This is quite fun as well as being a complicated war thriller that not only impresses with its lead stars of Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton, but its jam packed script and incredible finale. From start to finish this is fast paced as soldiers start dying from the get go as a group of special Allied agents are sent into the middle of a Nazi stronghold to rescue an America General who is being held there. But all is not what it seems as Lieutenant Schaffer (Eastwood), the only American among the special task force, soon discovers. As I said before it is a top-notch war thriller.

Fantastic and career role for Bruce Willis as the off duty cop in the wrong place at the wrong time. Action abounds and Alan Rickman is fantastic as the protagonist.

The three amigos, Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., of the British army stationed in India have one of the greatest adventures not to mention of the most entertaining and funniest set to the silver screen. These three just work together and it is a triumvirate that is not only missed by the audience at the end, but those involved. I always find it amazing that they created such a great and fun film out a poem by the great Rudyard Kipling. Sam Jaffe plays Gunga Din the main of the title and what a funny and great character he is. I only have this one VHS, but let me tell you that it is quite popular here at my house between me and my sister.

Mel Gibson’s epic tale of William Wallace and his struggle for Freedom is a bit inaccurate, but nonetheless very moving and powerful. The thing that always starts it off for me is the amazing musical score by James Horner which captures so much of the spirit of the film and the land. Then we are given amazing settings which the cinematographer exhibits with such magnificent. The opening shot is gorgeous. The fighting is extremely graphic, even more so it seems than Gladiator, because it doesn’t have the quick cuts. Ultimately the film works because we have been given great characters who we have come to care for and each one that is ripped away is brutal and yet we understand.

An epic tale of a slave once again challenging the principle ruler of Rome, but this character does not start off as a slave, but general turned into a gladiator and then hero. Russell Crowe is fantastic as the hardened Maximus who is asked not only to stop the man who killed his wife and son, but save an empire. Fantastic production with great actors abounding from Joaquin Phoenix to Richard Harris and Oliver Reed as well as a fantastic score by Hans Zimmer similar in some respects to the Pirates score which came later.

The best Zorro film is every bit as fun as a Zorro film should be. Tyrone Power is perfect in the title role, and faces off with the ultimate sword fighting villain Basil Rathbone. The score here is also very good as is the new one by James Horner, but the man behind this one is equally if not more acclaimed, Alfred Newman, recently unseated by John Williams for the most nominations at the Oscars. Of course, one of my favorite character actors portrays the robust Fray Felipe, Eugen Pallette.

While this maybe directed by legendary director Stanley Kubrick this stands as more Kirk Douglas? epic and basically stopped Kubrick from ever falling into a situation like he was stuck with dealing on this film. I don?t really care who was responsible, but I do know I love this epic slave revolt film. It is practically the precursor to Gladiator. The cast is marvelous for this film featuring such greats as Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, Jean Simmons, and Peter Ustinov among probably a cast a thousands. It is a great story furthered by a rousing score by Alex North.

This poetic fairytale, which at times ventures into the realm of being self-reflexive in the comic sense, captures the imagination with its wondrous mix of fantasy and humor. Cary Elwes, who would later spoof another dashing hero, plays the masked Man in Black to the hilt. The wonderfully fun swordfight between him and Indigo Montoya, played equally as well by Mandy Patinkin, is peppered with witty dialog and effortless looking fencing. Rob Reiner did a fantastic job with this fantasy utilizing William Goldman?s quite original script to the most it could offer. While it may be a bit much for some at times I know it is greatly beloved by many of my friends as well as my family. Inconceivable!

Great homage to the classic swashbuckling Zorro films of Tyrone Powers and Douglas Fairbanks. Antonio Banderas is ideal and Hopkins is better than expected.

A fabulous retelling of the classic novel is even better than expected with a more romantic setting and characters.

Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Donald Pleasence, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough head this amazing all-star cast in this prisoner of war film. It has wonderful score by Elmer Bernstein to start us out and wonderful set pieces for the camp. It has a great balance of fun, drama, and action. It is also quite long, but you don?t notice because it has captured you with its great cast of not only actors, but characters and their great interaction. Even the German officers are given a human face. Nothing beats McQueen on a motorcycle, well practically nothing.