Beyond Outrage

This bloody Japanese crime thriller sequel is far better than the original - I can't wait to see how it ends. 4/5

Beyond Outrage on Netflix

Five Favorites: "Five Favorite Action Films Since 2000"

Donna: Welcome to the newest addition of "Five Favorites" with Michael Siegel! This month we decided to take on our "Five Favorite Action Films released since 2000". For this list we wanted to focus as much as possible on pure action films. For that reason we decided to exclude the vast majority of superhero, sci-fi, or martial arts films, as we were really trying to focus on pure action. However, if we felt that the action in a excluded movie was just too good we agreed that we would allow its inclusion. We capped the release date for this at 2000 - anything released before that year was also excluded. We wanted to focus on what the genre looks like today and not be tempted to fill our lists with old favorites.

We pooled our thoughts and came up with a short list of 30 films. Narrowing that down to just five was tough for me and I found myself unable to not pick one sci-fi film for my final list. Honorable mentions for me go out to "Valhalla Rising", "Machete", "Unstoppable", and "Kick Ass".

Mike: This was tough for me, as most of the action movies I watch slide into science fiction or superhero categories. Maybe it’s my perception, but we don’t seem to be getting the kind of pure action movies we did twenty years ago when Schwarzeneggar and Stallone ruled the box office. Almost everything these days is part of genre franchise.

Nevertheless, here is my list, with only a little bit of rule-bending. I do want to make an honorable mention of “Kill Bill”.  Kill Bill is a great action movie.  Unfortunately, that great movie is wrapped up a bloated 2-volume package.  If you edited them down to one movie and cut the total run time by about 40 minutes, it would probably be near the top of this list. Its action scenes are excellent, the acting is great and the dialogue solid. But it is a prime example of what I’ve disparaged as action movie bloat.  I also decided, at the last moment, to drop “Master and Commander” from my list because it is as much drama as action and I’ll hold it back for a post on criminally-underrated films.

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Donna's #5: "Death Race" - Yes, this is a totally cheesy film with a flimsy plot and some questionable acting. But the action? It's non-stop and totally adrenaline filled. Jason Statham is quite good but it's Ian McShane that sells the film with his swarmy humor. The racing scenes are just incredible and the film is filled with wonderfully gruesome violence. If you're looking for a solid plot and well-drawn characters along with your action this isn't for you. But if you're just looking for a good hundred minutes of speed and death and slickly filmed action scenes then go no further - this is the film for you.

Mike’s #5: “300”  - My first pick is also cheesy and ridiculous but still an adrenaline-fueled ride. None of the actors tries to pretend he’s in anything other than a ridiculous action movie and that makes it work. The visual style is stunning, the dialogue suitably overblown, the action clear and the stakes high. I initially did not like this film a lot because I wanted something more serious about the Battle of Thermopylae.  But over time, I’ve come to like it for what it is.

Donna's #4 - "Act of Valor" - Filmed by actual Navy SEALS and based on actual events, this action thriller broke new ground in cinema. It was quite well received and with good reason - the action is wonderful and terribly realistic because it's performed by real, highly trained soldiers. However, the reason for its success is also the reason for its downfall. Because these are soldiers and not actors the acting is truly weak, enough so as to be distracting. When the action stops the movie falls apart quickly, but the quality of the action sequences is so damn good and well filmed that, in the end, it really doesn't matter. This is a must see for action fans as it will give you a new appreciation of what real combat looks like.

Mike’s #4 – “V for Vendetta” – Another comic book adaptation, one disparaged by some of the fans. But this is another movie that succeeds because of excellent visuals and great action sequences as well as Hugo Weaving’s excellent voice work. The sense of momentum in the final act is palpable.

Donna's #3 - "Battle: Los Angeles" - As "Battle: Los Angeles" is a sci-fi/action flick this is my one real conceit from the rules of this list. However, I was so taken with it that I couldn't imagine my list not including this really amazing film. Both the sci-fi elements and the action in this film are tremendously strong. The film is perfectly paced, not too long, and has a plot that is really quite believable and solid. The direction is just outstanding, particularly in the long, elaborate battle sequences that make this film truly outstanding. There really wasn't a weak spot in this film, and it is so adrenaline filled that I felt it had to take the #3 spot on my list.

Mike’s #3: “Hot Fuzz” – Really, you could put all three of the “Cornetto Trilogy” movies on this list. All three are good, but Hot Fuzz is my favorite. It is wickedly satirical, darkly hilarious and absolutely mind-bogglingly over-the-top bloody in its action. What elevates this movie to greatness and garnered a spot on this list is that while it’s mocking action movies, it’s also a fun action movie in its own right. The fight scenes are delivered with skill and energy, it never loses its sense of fun, it never loses track of what’s going on and it has a really slimy villain. Ironically, it’s a better action movie than the hordes of overlong joyless movies it is satirizing.

Donna's #2 - "White House Down" - The first thing I thought when I saw this film was that we finally had a true successor to the "Die Hard" legacy. That's tall praise but I stand by it as this is a truly solid film from top to bottom. Channing Tatum is the perfect action star, possessing the needed charisma to truly command a screen. The plot, while far-fetched at times, was actually believable and sold so well by the stars that I bought it hook, line and sinker. The direction was also very strong with well edited and perfectly paced action sequences throughout. I can easily see this becoming a franchise like "Die Hard" did - that's how strong I felt it was. A true standout.

Mike’s #2 – “Pacific Rim” – This would not make a list of my best science-fiction movies. But it does make a list of my best action movies because it is more of an action movie than a science fiction one.  As I said in my initial review, imagine Transformers, but, you know, good. Pacific Rim is silly and over-the-top and wonderful. It has a tremendous sense of fun. We see absolutely every beat of the script coming, but enjoy them because it does such a bang-up job with them. And the action scenes -- especially the long middle sequence through the streets of Hong Kong --deliver more adrenaline, more drama and more thrills than all three Transformer movies combined.

Donna's #1 - "Chronicle" - Maybe it's because I really love these through-the-eye-of-the-camera films when they're done right. Maybe it's because telekinesis is my own power of choice. Maybe it's because I understood, related to, and totally got every character's motivation throughout the film. Maybe it's because the action is so incredible I got totally sucked in. In the end, it's all these things and more. "Chronicle" captured me from the very beginning and never let me go. I spent the entire end of the film on the edge of my seat with my hands over my mouth is awe. This is a tremendous film with some of the coolest action I've ever seen, and it's one of my favorite films in recent history. For me, there was only one choice for the top of this list, and "Chronicle" owns it.

Mike’s #1 – “Kick-Ass” - While we excluded most superhero films, this really isn’t a super-hero film.  It’s a send-up of superheroes, action movies and original stories (and yes, that makes three comic book adaptations and two parodies in my list). As I said in my initial review, if I took the movie seriously, I would be horrified by the sight of a pre-teen girl hurling profanities and brutally slaughtering rooms full of bad guys. But the movie is so ridiculously over-the-top, so obviously satirical that I found myself grinning through the cursing and bloodshed. It helps that the script sands off the more cynical and darker corners of the graphic novel. Like “Hot Fuzz” this a better action movie than the movies it is mocking.

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Thanks for joining us for another addition of "Five "Favorites" and we'll see you again next month!

Straight A's

Weak acting, lack of development & a plot that only got interesting at the end made this very meh to me. 2.5/5

Straight A's on Netflix

Let the Fire Burn

I knew nothing about this incident so I found this incredibly provoking, fascinating & well balanced. 4/5

Let the Fire Burn on Netflix

Nebraska

Bruce Dern was marvelous in this black and white slow-cooked drama about family with a soft side. Well done. 3.5/5

Nebraska on Netflix

Gravity

WOW. I don't know what else to say - this is just mind-blowing in every way, visually & emotionally stunning. Amazing. 5/5

Gravity on Netflix

American Hustle

My 3rd 2014 Best Picture nominee & it was BY FAR the best with note-perfect acting all around. Fantastic! 5/5

American Hustle on Netflix

Upside Down

A strong attempt to make a film based on a terribly flawed idea - a noble failure but still noble and worthy. 3/5

Upside Down on Netflix

Captain Phillips

Compared to "A Hijacking" this was average slick Hollywood action. Only Hanks made this film special for me. Compared to "A Hijacking" this was average slick Hollywood action. Only Hanks made this film special for me. 3.5/5 3.5/5

Captain Phillips on Netflix

The Armstrong Lie

This is a documentary all cycling fans must see - a fascinating look inside what really happened. Well done! 5/5

The Armstrong Lie on Netflix

Outrage

This Japanese action thriller had a complex chess-like plot but so many characters it got confusing to follow. Still, I was interested enough to want to rent the newly released sequel. Brutally violent and yet cerebral - interesting. 3/5

Outrage on Netflix

Kill Your Darlings

The entire cast is brilliant in this marvelously decadent drama about Ginsberg's early life. Wonderful. 4.5/5

Kill Your Darlings on Netflix

Parkland

A smartly written & well acted drama detailing the assassination of JFK that adds a great deal to the discussion. 4/5

Parkland on Netflix

The Time Being

This lushly directed drama is moodily beautiful but too cold & emotionally distant for my tastes. Still, lovely. 3/5

The Time Being on Netflix

Prometheus

I didn't think this as bad as the rest of the world, merely average. But I did like the very end - interesting. 3/5

Prometheus on Netflix

What Masie Knew

This drama about families is just perfectly acted & scripted - I loved the direction they took. Lovely. 4/5

What Masie Knew on Netflix

Romeo & Juliet (2013)

It's not often that a movie makes me angry, but this lousy adaptation of Shakespeare's masterpiece did just that. What's more the pity - it didn't have to be this way. The acting is largely solid and set design is quite beautiful, and when the actors were given the chance to actually speak the language of the play they did it quite well. However, the script dropped in and out of Shakespeare's verse liberally, making up chunks of story, character development and speeches that simply don't exist in the play. It would be one thing if they ditched the verse altogether, but they don't, which makes the liberties done with it so much more vile and obviously wrong. I only made it as far as the death of Tybalt before I turned it off in anger. There is simply no need to rewrite Shakespeare like this and I cannot condone it, not for a minute. 1.5/5

Romeo & Juliet (2013) on Netflix

The Iceman

Shannon is dreadfully evil in this violent thriller with an amazing cast, particularly Chris Evans. Well done! 4/5

The Iceman on Netflix

The Last Days on Mars

This is more zombie horror than sci-fi & cheesy at that - it gets a bump up for acting & a great end. 3/5

The Last Days on Mars on Netflix

About Time

This movie is the very definition of heartfelt - lovely & charming & wonderfully acted throughout. A real gem. 4.5/5

About Time on Netflix

Cold Comes the Night

This noir thriller has bad reviews on Netflix - I don't know why. Stylish, dark, violent & well acted. 4/5

Cold Comes the Night on Netflix

The Angels' Share

This Scottish heist comedy is both charming and witty but I admit I had a lot of trouble with the accents. 3/5

The Angels' Share on Netflix

Dallas Buyers Club

I've been waiting to see this film for a very long time. To be on-the-table from the start - I'm a HUGE fan of anything Jared Leto does and I'm very much a fan of Matthew McConaughey as well. I walked into this hoping both would be as amazing as all the awards would suggest. However, I also walked into this expecting things I wouldn't like, or things I thought could have been better, or anything that would justify the trans communities backlash against Leto. I found none of those things. I always knew Leto had this performance in him - anyone who has followed his career closely would have known it. I think that most people think of Leto as Jordan Catalano and not much more, so the sweetness and subtlety of this truly transformative performance simply shocked many. On the other hand, Matthew McConaughey has been knocking it out of the park in every film he's been in for the last three years, so how utterly outstanding he was should have been no surprise. This film is borne by it's two stars - without them it would have fallen apart. The plot is not rich, the direction nothing special, but the acting? Well, that's worth everything, and it is truly outstanding from beginning to end. I loved this. 4/5

Dallas Buyers Club on Netflix

Blue Is the Warmest Color

A beautiful & very real depiction of love & lust with top notch acting but it badly needed editing. 3.5/5

Blue Is the Warmest Color on Netflix

Twice Born

This beautifully constructed romantic drama had me in near tears with the tragedy of it - darkly wonderful. 4/5

Twice Born on Netflix

Ender's Game

This. Is. Phenomenal. A truly epic story told in heartbreakingly tragic fashion. I can't wait for the sequels. 5/5

Ender's Game on Netflix