the best action movies of all time - the great "bruised forearm" movies
the best scenes to hold on to the forearm of your date. (contains spoilers)
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- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.My favorite movie with the greatest action scenes ever! Why? Let's see: the opening with spiders, the boulder, the snake on the plane, the first meeting with Toht, the fight scene and burning of Marion's bar, Toht on the plane, the chase through Cairo streets with the best Indy violent gag, the monkey death, the discovery the ark location, the opening of the Well of Souls, Marion's confrontation with Belloq and Toht, Marion and Indy in the Well of Souls with the Snakes, the Mummies, the airplane fight, Indy on horseback to the rescue, the truck chase with Indy climbing onto the truck after being pushed out, the Bantu boat scene with the Nazis coming on board, the final march to the cave with Indy and the bazooka, the suspense and eeriness of opening the ark, the resulting melting faces, and the final storage of the ark. Good enough?
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.walking through the glass and blowing up the building. Also anytime Alan Rickman makes an appearance.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSigourney WeaverMichael BiehnCarrie HennDecades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring."Attention you have 15 minutes to reach minimum safe distance" - from here on in, I don't breathe.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDennis WeaverJacqueline ScottEddie FirestoneA business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.Speilberg was put on the map by this movie. The opening chase and the snake scene.
- DirectorJan de BontStarsKeanu ReevesDennis HopperSandra BullockA young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.A Die Hard inspired movie done right. Sandra Bullock driving through Los Angeles street making the turns and the highway jump.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantEva Marie SaintJames MasonA New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and falls for a woman whose loyalties he begins to doubt.Cary Grant drunk driving, the crop dusting scene, and the finale on Mt. Rushmore.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryGert FröbeHonor BlackmanWhile investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.The Aston Martin chase, the laser scene, and the Oddjob fight at Fort Knox.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.the construction site chase (amazing) and the airport scene on the runway.
- DirectorJohn FrankenheimerStarsRobert De NiroJean RenoNatascha McElhoneA freelancing former U.S. Intelligence Agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by the Irish and the Russians.the chase through the Roman theater and the Nice car chase driving in the wrong direction.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.the motorcycle chase and the liquid nitrogen truck scene.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonBruce SpenceMichael PrestonIn the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community get rid of a horde of bandits.the final chase scene, one of the best ever done.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsSam NeillLaura DernJeff GoldblumA pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.The t-rex chase in the jeeps with the water reflection and the scene with the velociraptors in the kitchen.
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsHarrison FordTommy Lee JonesSela WardDr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.A combination opening of the bus, train, and escape scene, the audience actually cheered this scene when I first saw the movie.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonFranka PotenteJoan AllenWhen Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.All the Bourne movies are good but I liked this one the best. The scene in India, the confrontation with Nicky in Berlin, and the final chase in Moscow were superb.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJamie Lee CurtisTom ArnoldA fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used-car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.Cameron directs a Bond like movie with awesome hilarious scene of Arnold on horseback, a great climax on the jet, and a super sexy Jamie Lee Curtis.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsSean ConneryNicolas CageEd HarrisA mild-mannered chemist and an ex-con must lead the counterstrike when a rogue group of military men, led by a renegade general, threaten a nerve gas attack from Alcatraz against San Francisco.Michael Bay's best movie with great work by Sean Connery and good work from Nicholas Cage. I loved the entry into Alcatraz.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroVal KilmerA group of high-end professional thieves start to feel the heat from the LAPD when they unknowingly leave a verbal clue at their latest heist.Man this movie is great. The robbery is incredible with the sounds of the guns penetrating your ears as if you were there.
- DirectorDon SiegelClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodAndrew RobinsonHarry GuardinoWhen a man calling himself "the Scorpio Killer" menaces San Francisco, tough-as-nails Police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is assigned to track down the crazed psychopath.The chase through the football stadium and Scorpio on the schoolbus.
- DirectorPeter YatesStarsSteve McQueenJacqueline BissetRobert VaughnA nonconformist San Francisco cop is determined to find the underworld kingpin who killed the witness under his protection.The best San Francisco car chase ever done! I love McQueen.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsClint EastwoodJohn MalkovichRene RussoSecret Service agent Frank Horrigan couldn't save Kennedy, but he's determined not to let a clever assassin take out this president.Clint and John Malkovich's first meeting and phone conversations sent a chill down my back.
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsSteven SeagalGary BuseyTommy Lee JonesAn ex-Navy Seal turned cook is the only person who can stop a group of terrorists when they seize control of a U.S. battleship.Steven Segal actually made a good movie? It is a good Die Hard like movie with a terrific Tommy Lee Jones as the villain.
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsCary GrantJoan FontaineVictor McLaglenIn 19th century India, three British soldiers and a native waterbearer must stop a secret mass revival of the murderous Thuggee cult before it can rampage across the land.This movie obviously inspired Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but it is less violent and more action packed.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsGene HackmanDenzel WashingtonMatt CravenOn a U.S. nuclear missile sub, a young First Officer stages a mutiny to prevent his trigger happy Captain from launching his missiles before confirming his orders to do so.The dynamics between Hackman and Washington are riveting and it leaves you asking what would you do in this situation.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael DouglasKathleen TurnerDanny DeVitoA mousy romance novelist sets off for Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a dangerous adventure hunting for treasure with a mercenary rogue.One of my favorite movies with the best jungle sliding scene ever.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsGregory PeckRobert MitchumPolly BergenA lawyer's family is stalked by a man he once helped put in jail.Forget Robert De Niro, Robert Mitchum is terrifying and more real. The opening scenes when Cady starts his harassment are scary.
- DirectorAndrey KonchalovskiyStarsJon VoightEric RobertsRebecca De MornayTwo escaped convicts and a female railway worker find themselves trapped on a speeding train with no brakes and nobody driving.Akira Kurosawa wrote this script and it's the last great Eric Roberts performance in a movie. It is non-stop action that logically builds tension.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreCarole BouquetTopolSecret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.Roger Moore in one of the most thrilling Bonds ever. The ski chase scenes are great but there is also a tense climax climbing the mountain.
- DirectorStuart BairdStarsKurt RussellHalle BerrySteven SeagalWhen terrorists seize control of an airliner, an intelligence analyst accompanies a commando unit for a midair boarding operation.A forgotten but very good Kurt Russell movie about a plane highjacking. There are some great stunts.
- DirectorRonald NeameStarsGene HackmanErnest BorgnineShelley WintersA group of passengers must embark on a harrowing struggle for survival after a rogue wave capsizes their cruise ship at sea.It may be cheesy but the story gripped me and I felt the tension as they ascended the ship.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.The opening at Jabba's palace with the rancor, the Scarlac pit scene, the speeder bike chase is fantastic and the final duel with Luke and Vader are amazing. - I also love the final battle with the Ewoks. This may be the most maligned but to me it is the most thrilling of all the Star Wars movies. with non-stop action throughout.