Review the greatest action film you've ever seen!

Phone Booth

This is an oldie but a goodie. Picked from the year of 2002, that would make this film about 22 years old??? Yikes right.

Phone booth is one of those films that managed to keep you hooked with minimal settings and maximum tension. It starts Colin Farrell as a New York City publicist who Finds himself trapped in a phone booth by a snipers crosshairs, the movie is a masterclass in suspense.

The plot is simple but the execution is brilliant- it’s all about the pressure of being stuck in an impossible situation. What’s really fascinating is how the film manages to keep the stakes high with just one main location. Farrells performance is incredibly intense and you can really feel his character’s desperation as the story unfolds.

I watched Phone Booth a few years ago and it’s still one of those movies that sticks with me. The tension, the moral Dilemmas and the twists kept me thinking long after the credits rolled. It’s a film that makes you question what you’d do in a similar situation- and it’s defo worth a watch if your in to your action thrillers that keep You on your toes.

If you haven’t seen it yet, find a quiet evening, grab some popcorn and get ready for a proper classic. With the film being over 20 years old - I don’t find that it’s aged that much apart from the fact that no one uses pay phones anymore but hey - don’t say that to Doctor Who ???

Raiders of the Lost Ark

(Someone beat me to The Raid)

There are few perfect films. Films that capture the spirit of those that came before, encapsulate the moment in time they were released, and also set the standard for everything that comes after them. Raiders is one of those rare films. The Summer this film was released I saw it at least nine times in the theater, as more and more of my friends wanted to go see it. It was, and remains, legendary.

When people consider legacy they tend to only consider films that directly try to copy a particular style. But the impact of Raiders doesn't come from those lesser films that tried to copy the swashbuckling '30s retro style that Raiders was based on. It's impact is much greater than that. Raiders impact is inspirational. It has inspired entire multi-generational filmmakers that have gone on to create masterpieces in all genres and it continues to inspire new generations even today. Its true impact is immeasurable. John Wick. The Raid. Pulp Fiction. Scott Pilgrim. Terminator 2. None of these films would exist if Raiders hadn't existed first.

Raiders (and other films) inspired me to change my entire life and set out on an adventure of my own. To steer away from what was expected and take on the challenge of finding my own path, of choosing my own adventure. For, while I didn't choose filmmaking, Raiders inspired my creativity and my decision to let my own inner voice guide me into a life-time of taking chances and relying on my own innate abilities.

There are times when I make bold life decisions when I can still hear the theme music in my heart.

Greatest Action Film: Terminator 2

I'm glad the bounty suggested focusing on personal experience because otherwise, this task would be quite daunting. My pick is... Terminator 2: Judgment Day! Yes, this classic action movie has inspired several generations and generated many memes and idioms. It left a heavy (in a good way) impression on me as a kid, and I still remember using a metallic screw constructor to recreate the robotic arm from the T-800. Beyond its impact on my youth, this movie contains numerous elements that make it epic.

Storyline and Characters

Despite action movies often using plots as flavor or minor decoration, Terminator 2 offers a well-developed story. Each character, even the secondary ones, is well-developed. For instance, Miles Bennett Dyson, who has less than 10 minutes of screen time, manages to unfold and evolve - a rarity in action films!

Scenes

The movie, just over two hours long, is packed with diverse scenes and verious settings. Each is filled with intense action, yet there are also moments of calm dialogues, thoughts, and reflections. These pauses allow viewers to process the information, making the movie memorable. Unlike modern movies where the non-stop intensity leaves you breathless and 15 minutes later as you leave the theater, you hardly remember the plot or characters.

Emotional Impact

There are several dramatic moments that tug at the heartstrings. Even the strongest viewers struggle to hide their emotions during the ending. The emotional depth adds another layer to the film, making it more than just an action movie.

Music and Visual Effects

The music and visual effects are great, enhancing the 'hollywood' realism and immersion. Even today, in 2024, the film stands as a solid choice for an evening watch, proving its timeless appeal.

The action film that still holds the highest throne of action films on my list is High & Low The Worst this film is very good because in this film teaches us how important friendship is. Because this film really appreciates the meaning of the word friendship. Moreover, it is wrapped in some action fights that I think are very good. And the acting of each actor's role in my opinion is very impressive, because I can feel the emotions experienced by the characters in this film, and also the conflict brought in this film in my opinion is quite realistic in the real world, and I can open a new perspective on the world from this film.

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It’s hard to pick just one action film. But for this bounty, I’d like to nominate the movie Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation (the 5th movie in the franchise) as one of the greatest action films I have seen.

There are several different elements that make this film great. From the action, with epic fight and chase scenes that will have you on the edge of your seats. To the gadgets and planning of heists. The plot twists and engaging villains. To the amazing music, the Rouge Nation’s version of the Mission Impossible theme is one of my favourites of the series, along with Mission Impossible Fallout. The film’s composer Joe Kraemer put his all into this soundtrack. But What made this one of my favourite action movies, was despite it not being a comedy, the film is capable of balancing action and comedy, as seen within the opening scene of the film, with so many hijinks for trying to get a package of a plane.

If you haven’t seen this movie, I highly recommend that you go in blind, as there are a lot of events within the film that help set up the sequels perfectly.