Unleashing the Inner Action Hero: 5 Films for Pure Adrenaline
Ever daydream about a secret benefactor offering you a life-changing sum of money to complete an impossible task? I know I do. I’d grab the cash without hesitation. Whether I succeed or not is secondary; the money comes first. I could always return it, but what if I actually pulled it off?
That’s just my imagination running wild. Life isn’t a movie, and no one’s showing up with suitcases full of cash. If they do, they probably mistook you for the delivery guy.
But those movie tough guys? They’re different. Pay them enough, and they’ll do anything. They’re fearless, resilient, and always make it to the sequel.
Today, I’m sharing five such movies. Ladies, this might be your cue to step away – it’s testosterone time.
Hitman: Agent 47
This assassin is ice-cold, almost inhuman.
And I mean that literally. He’s a genetically engineered being, devoid of emotion. He takes the job and gets it done. He is the iconic clone assassin, “Agent 47”.
Adapted from a video game, the film received mixed reviews. While it didn’t become a blockbuster, its unique blend of violence and the character’s charisma made a mark in the action genre – a stylish one at that.
Emotionless, without a past, and capable of executing missions with precision, these qualities, usually demanded of robots, are “47’s” defining traits. This allows him to take on the “dirty work” that other assassins can’t. In the film, he’s tasked with assassinating the Russian President’s double, only to be caught in a conspiracy. The organization betrays him, but “47” will use his cold, professional logic to end it all.
As a product of genetic engineering, “47’s” strength, speed, and perception are superhuman. He can leap from a ten-story building using only a pipe to break his fall, and predict bullet trajectories. After countless Marvel movies, this “superhuman” aspect doesn’t seem too far-fetched. As a synthetic being, he’s the ultimate killing machine, which I find artistic. It’s a video game adaptation, so a little fantasy is acceptable.
Despite some pacing issues and a generic villain, the film balances action and character depth better than most in its class. We all dream of becoming a ruthless killer like “47”, cold to the core.
The Expendables
Stallone: “How about I put together a team? An all-male action star team?”
Jason Statham: “Sounds good. Who else is in?”
Stallone: “Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and Arnold said he might cameo…”
Jason Statham: “I’m in. Let’s do it.”
Years later…
Stallone: “I never thought this would turn into four movies!”
Even as a viewer, I couldn’t believe I was seeing so many old-school action stars on screen. But when these veterans go all-out, the youngsters can’t compete. Stallone and his crew are a team of “action movie fossils.”
The plot of The Expendables is simple: a group of mercenaries takes on high-risk missions for money.
But when you push something to the extreme, it becomes extraordinary. The Expendables are the elite of the elite, recruiting only the top-tier action heroes. Stallone uses shotguns at close range, Statham throws knives with deadly accuracy, Li uses close-quarters combat to neutralize enemies, and Lundgren uses bone-breaking techniques to loosen up his opponents.
The romance of men isn’t a simple dinner; it’s watching these “outdated” action stars try to revive the hard-boiled era. It’s the relentless machine-gun fire and the motorcycle speeding away from an explosion.
Extraction
I love these straightforward action flicks.
The cinematography, sound effects, action, and acting are all on point. There’s an eleven or twelve-minute long take that’s a highlight. Any movie with a long take over five minutes deserves praise for the effort alone. And this one is particularly well-executed, with clean action and brutal hand-to-hand combat.
There are many similar films, and plenty of action movies are released every year. But this one stands out as one of the better ones in recent years, especially for fans of first-person shooter games. It’s packed with submachine guns, grenades, sniper rifles, and smoke bombs. It’s not a perfect action movie, but it’s a wild one.
Without Remorse
To each their own, this one’s a bit flawed.
I often get comments saying, “Why isn’t this movie on the list?” or “That movie is much better than what you mentioned!” or “Your list is terrible!”
I usually don’t reply. It’s pointless. Besides, movies are like books, music, and games: one person’s masterpiece is another’s trash, and vice versa.
But back to the movie.
Without Remorse isn’t great, with a 5.7 rating on Douban. But that doesn’t diminish the lead actor’s physique and hardcore action scenes. And some people are interested in the Tom Clancy series. This film, as a prequel to Rainbow Six, is a guilty pleasure for many, including me.
More precisely, it’s a spy movie about a former Navy SEAL, John Clark (Michael B. Jordan), who seeks revenge after his wife and daughter are murdered by drug dealers, leading him into an international conspiracy.
Michael B. Jordan’s explosive performance is a highlight. This Jordan isn’t the basketball player; it’s the Jordan who played the villain in Black Panther. His explosive power translates into visceral scenes, with the sound of knives piercing flesh and close-ups of bones breaking.
The plot and Hollywood clichés are the downsides, while the action scenes are the upside. The choice is yours.
Universal Soldier
Action movies used to be so good, so pure, with muscular men, head-to-head fights, and illogical plots…
I’m rambling again, but it’s true. As a low-budget B-movie, it relied on a sci-fi theme, two muscular men colliding, and a rough imitation of Terminator to create a successful film. With a budget of $8 million, it grossed $95 million worldwide. Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were awesome.
Looking back, the plot still holds up and is even better than many modern sci-fi movies.
During the Vietnam War, soldiers Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) kill each other. They are then resurrected as “Universal Soldiers” with no pain or memory, used for assassination missions.
I’m amazed by the dedication of Hollywood writers back then. Even though it was trying to copy Terminator, the description alone makes you imagine the action scenes. Combined with countless fights, Van Damme’s 360-degree spinning kicks and Lundgren’s Russian hooks are both visually appealing and practical.
This film is rough but raw, with the golden qualities of 90s action movies. In my opinion, those action movies are now extinct. Watch them while you can!