0019: The Action Film Hall of Fame (1950-1995)
Submitted by lbangs on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:18
Tags:
- Akira (89)
- Alien (79)
- Aliens (86)
- All the Rivers Run (84)
- The Battle of Algiers (66)
- A Better Tomorrow (86)
- Blade Runner (82)
- Das Boot (81)
- Bullet in the Head (90)
- Bullitt (68)
- The Caine Mutiny (54)
- Cal (84)
- The Counterfeit Traitor (62)
- Death Race 2000 (75)
- Diamonds of the Night (64)
- Die Hard (88)
- Die Hard 2 (90)
- The Dirty Dozen (67)
- Dr. No (62)
- Drunken Master (78)
- Duel (71)
- Dune (84)
- The Empire Strikes Back (80)
- Enter the Dragon (73)
- Escape from New York (81)
- Le Femme Nikita (90)
- Fong Sai-Yuk (93)
- The French Connection (71)
- From Russia with Love (63)
- The Fugitive (93)
- F/X (86)
- The Getaway (72)
- Goldfinger (64)
- Harakiri (63)
- Hard-Boiled (92)
- The Hunt for Red October (90)
- Ice Station Zebra (68)
- In the Line of Fire (93)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (84)
- The Killer (89)
- Lethal Weapon (87)
- Mad Max (79)
- Marathon Man (76)
- El Mariachi (92)
- Midnight Run (88)
- North by Northwest (59)
- The Omega Man (71)
- Once upon a Time in China (91)
- Operation Condor 2: The Armour of Gods (86)
- Our Man in Havana (60)
- Planet of the Apes (68)
- Police Story (85)
- The Poseidon Adventure (72)
- The Professional (94)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (81)
- Return of the Jedi (83)
- The Road Warrior (81)
- Robocop (87)
- Runaway Train (85)
- The Seven Samurai (54)
- Shaft (71)
- Shaft in Africa (73)
- Skyjacked (72)
- Speed (94)
- Star Wars (77)
- The Terminator (84)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (91)
- Total Recall (90)
- A Touch of Zen (69)
- Yojimbo (61)
- You Only Live Twice (67)
Author Comments:
I hope to extend this list to 1900 soon. Obviously, there is a fine line between an action film and an adventure film, and that line is often crossed. I made some calls, and I'm pretty happy with them.
Interesting note: For all of America's big budget flicks, most of the 90s and late 80s entries are foreign films. Hmmmm....
Yes, thank you for appreciating both Planet of the Apes, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Thanks. I admit to being a bit mystified as to why Temple of Doom continues to have such a weak reputation. At the times, following on the heels of the superior Raiders of the Lost Ark, it may have been seen as something of a letdown, but I believe it people could now view it without false expectations of it bettering its predecessor, folks would see a pretty good action film in its own right. Had there been no Raiders, Temple might now be seen as a mini-classic in its field. Ah, well.
Planet of the Apes is great fun, of course, but I know many people who just can't seem to get over the monkey suits.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
It's an interesting question how 'action film' is to be defined (and how rigidly). It's also interesting that you didn't find it easy to begin this list from 1900 as with your other HOF lists (correct me if I presume too much). Of course, the 1940's was unfortunately crowded with action films - I refer of course to war films. Perhaps 'action film' is a genre that contains other genres (e.g. war, crime). Or, more likely, an action film is simply a film (of whatever genre) that happens to include a lot of action. After all, there are crime and even war films that don't have much action. On the other hand, there are genres, e.g. martial arts, that by their very nature must have a significant amount of action.
There's a martial arts film, CIRCLE OF IRON (1979, a.k.a.THE SILENT FLUTE), that combines action and philosophy. Some of the philosophy is merely pseudo-profound, imo, but some hits the spot. The action is good to excellent of its kind. I caught this a few nights ago on late night television. Ever seen it?
I have yet to see Circle of Iron, but it certainly sounds intriguing; I'll keep my eye open for it.
I went for the easy definition here - Any film that incorporated large sections of action for the sake of thrilling was eligible. Many war films don't aim to thrill, although I probably need to add a few that do.
I *do* need to update this, however, as I do know so worthy older films that deserve to appear alongside their newer companions.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs