Great style, but too gratuitous violence and nudity.
Content warning: female nudity, language
Closest comparison: It’s like Free Fire by way of 6 Underground.
Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Action
Starship Troopers - 2/5
This is one of those rare movies that is great, but not good. Much of the visuals hold up surprisingly well due to competent direction from Paul Verhoeven. The sets, costuming, and casting are all B-Grade, almost TV Soap level clean low-budget, but the action setpieces largely make up for it. The director is on record stating the film is a satire, but apart from the newsreel inserts this movie simply makes a good case for the war against the bugs and forgets to rebut it.
Content warning: Gore, nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Dune by way of Blade: House of Chthon.
Setting: Sci-Fi
Plot: War
Tone: Action
Skull Island (Season 1, 2023) - 2/5
This show has some great ideas in it, but the characters are too bland and irritating, getting in the way of the impact of the natural mood of the setting. The action and horror are undercut by aloof, wisecracking teenagers the story centers around.
Closest comparison: It’s like Kong: Skull Island by way of a cross between Venture Bros. and Velma (2023).
Setting: Adventure
Plot: Horror
Tone: Comedy
Escape from L.A. - 3/5
This movie is more of a comedy that its predecessor, though it still has plenty of fun action as well. It’s a bit of a cash grab, trying to recreate the success of the first one with no better ideas than “what if it were in a different city?” But Kurt Russell and John Carpenter are so good at their jobs that the end result is engaging and enjoyable right to the end.
Closest comparison: It’s like Escape from New York by way of Die Another Day.
Setting: Action
Plot: Suicide Mission
Tone: Action
Fate of the Furious - 3/5
This movie revels in its status as a dumb action flick, and doesn’t disappoint in delivering fun, vehicle-based, over-the-top action. And when it does deliver even moderate emotional payoff it hits much harder because it’s unexpected.
Closest comparison: It’s the next ratchet up in The Fast And The Furious series.
Setting: Super Hero
Plot: Espionage
Tone: Action
Showdown in Little Tokyo - 1/5
This movie tries to be so cool and edgy, but just comes off as cheesy and sleazy. It’s unfortunately par for the course for Dolph Lundgren movies of this era, and this one stoops lower in the sleaze category than some of his comparable fare. The action isn’t even good, which for Bruce Lee’s son is downright shameful.
Content warning: female nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Lethal Weapon by way of The Punisher (1989).
Setting: Buddy Cop
Plot: Buddy Cop
Tone: Buddy Cop
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) - 3/5
This movie is a by-the-numbers spy film that is reminiscent of both Mission: Impossible and James Bond. It unfortunately doesn’t utilize any of the dark antics or snappy editing that the director Guy Richie is known for. The premise has a lot of promise, but the constant bickering among the central three characters drags the film down considerably. Still, it has excellent production values and a capable enough plot to carry it through. Also, Henry Cavill’s accent goes in and out, for what it’s worth.
Content warning: brief female nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Where Eagles Dare by way of Skyfall.
Setting: Adventure
Plot: Espionage
Tone: Action
RRR - 5/5
This movie is stunning; visually, obviously, but also narratively. The production values are excellent, with outstanding action sequences that feel right at home among the best that Marvel has to offer. Some of the animal performances are evident as CGI, but not to the extent that it detracts from the scenes in particular or the film as a whole. The most surprisingly exceptional aspect, however, is the narrative; it’s moving and meaningful without sacrificing fun or excitement.
Closest comparison: It’s like a Bollywood take on a blend of The Patriot and The Departed.
Setting: Adventure
Plot: Thriller
Tone: Adventure
Executive Decision - 4/5
This movie is a delectable ‘90s action thriller that is criminally overlooked compared to its peers. It has solid action and great tension, everything an action movie needs. The ensemble cast has great chemistry and some of the surprises are downright outstanding.
Closest comparison: It’s like The Rock by way of Air Force One.
Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Thriller
Act of Valor - 4/5
This movie is remarkable in that its ‘larger than life’ parts are the accurate ones and it’s the interpersonal drama, if anything, that feels less believable. The main stain on this film is the acting, since so many of the main cast is playing themselves and aren’t professional actors, but since that’s the main draw of the film the criticism only goes so far. The production values are up to the task of portraying modern military maneuvers, which helps make up for the acting and cookie-cutter plot.
Content warning: torture
Closest comparison: It’s like Kampen om tungtvannet (1948) by way of American Sniper.
Setting: Military
Plot: Military
Tone: Military
Cobra (1986) - 3/5
This movie promises to be a fun ‘buddy cop’ style action flick, but is in fact a tense, slow-burn serial killer thriller. Of course there are a few action scenes, including the final showdown, and plenty of Stallone being Stallone but its mainstay is gritty crime thriller.
Closest comparison: It’s like Tango & Cash by way of Blue Steel.
Setting: Buddy Cop
Plot: Serial Killer
Tone: Horror/Thriller
Bullet Train (2022) - 5/5
This movie is another out-of-the-park non-stop action extravaganza from David Leitch. There are as many surprises and turnarounds as there are plot elements, and everything is used and reintroduced in surprising and inventive ways. The violence is rampant and often funny, but always well choreographed and flawlessly filmed.
Content warning: bloody action
Closest comparison: It’s like Snatch by way of Deadpool 2.
Setting: Thriller
Plot: Action
Tone: Action
One Night in Bangkok - 3/5
This movie is a solid indie revenge flick that pays off the suspense more than the action. Mark Dacascos is great, delivering outstanding martial arts and turning in a memorable performance, but everyone else has trouble acting in basic dialogue scenes. The visual style is slick and on point, although the strip club scene plays at odds with the heart of the narrative.
Content warning: female nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Collateral by way of John Wick.
Setting: Thriller
Plot: Revenge
Tone: Action
Only the Strong - 2/5
This movie gets its reputation as being one of the only Capoeira movies, and as such it’s one of the best. But the cheesy ‘90s plot and awkward teen acting make it a painful watch at times. The action is mostly lacking, with a few exceptions, cutting too much and feeling more like stage acting than the gritty realism the tone of the movie is trying to accomplish.
Closest comparison: It’s like Kickboxer by way of Rad (1986).
Setting: Teen Drama
Plot: Bad Batch
Tone: Coming of Age
Iron Eagle - 3/5
This movie is a teen knockoff of the Top Gun formula, using high school prank antics in place of training montages and young pluck in place of expertise. It’s a fun ‘80s teen movie that takes itself about as seriously as any adventure movie of the era. The suspension of disbelief will likely be too much for some viewers, but the film obeys its own rules for the most part and delivers neither more nor less than it promises.
Closest comparison: It’s like Top Gun if it were directed by John Hughes.
Setting: Military
Plot: Rescue
Tone: High School
Soldier (1998) - 3/5
This movie has more military setpieces than action scenes, preferring the fighter-turned-lover narrative over stock spectacle, and it works pretty well. Kurt Russell brings the perfect combination of badass and pathos to the role, and the story doesn’t get in its own way or overcomplicate things.
Closest comparison: It’s like Unchained by way of Enemy Mine.
Setting: Sci-fi
Plot: Redemption
Tone: Action
Nobody (2021) - 4/5
This movie is superficially a retread of the John Wick formula, but has enough going for it that it stands on its own. There’s a strong establishment of character and motive distinct from other films like John Wick and A History of Violence that it’s fun to watch both for different reasons. This film is more grounded and less stylized than John Wick, and plays the patient man’s violent breakout with more of a knowing wink to the audience. It’s a fun movie that knows it’s fun and doesn’t unnecessarily overcomplicate things.
Closest comparison: It’s like John Wick meets Home Alone.
Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Action
The Fast and the Furious (1954) - 3/5
This movie is fine; quite dated in its style and effects, but mostly fine. The acting is stilted and the dialogue is a bit dry, but there’s a decent underlying story that’s mildly entertaining. It’s likely to be derided when compared to the 2001 film of the same name and because of its dated filmmaking sensibilities, but it’s not a terrible movie when considered on its own merits.
Closest comparison: It’s like The Petrified Forest by way of Detour (1945).
Setting: Action
Plot: Chase
Tone: Thriller
Top Gun: Maverick - 4/5
This movie outshines its predecessor in every way. The plot is solid with outstanding pacing and storytelling. Even the gratuitous shots of jets being jets, which was the main draw of the original, are cleaner shots with smoother tracking in more dynamic locations. It offers a compelling story behind the action façade by doing away with the notion that a sequel needs to be bigger and more bombastic, a lesson the industry sorely needs to learn. If you don’t remember much of the original don’t worry: this film reminds the audience of the important plot points as they become relevant.
Closest comparison: It’s like Top Gun by way of Stealth (2005).
Setting: War
Plot: Spec Ops
Tone: Action
Black Moon Rising - 2/5
This movie is a misguided attempt at a cool action thriller. It relies moderately on its sense of style, which is distinctly outdated, and some of the brief, darker elements of the plot don’t do the lighthearted tone any favors. Both Tommy Lee Jones and Linda Hamilton are unfortunately miscast here. While both are great in their own respective rights, neither has the raw charisma to carry the plodding narrative despite their best efforts.
Content warning: brief female nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Enemy of the State by way of Blind Fury.
Setting: Espionage
Plot: Heist
Tone: Action