When I was fifteen years old, the world was my enemy. And why shouldn’t it have been? It was 1996. Up until that point, the world had done its best to drag me, sometimes screaming, through metaphorical gutters of the worst kinds of waste. At that young age I had already been half-starved, covered in lice and fleas, abused in the worst kinds of ways. I was a victim, but also a survivor. The constant battling only made me harder, scooped out the soft spots in large chunks so what I was left with was a veritable chitinous exoskeleton, impervious to the outside world.
As a result, when I moved to the middle-class neighborhood in New Hampshire, filled with anxious folks living in high-end mobile homes and manicured lawns – I found myself hanging for a while with the wrong crowd. Both as a response to their reactions toward me, and also as a defense mechanism. I mean, hey – if they teased me about being poor and dirty, why not throw in some good-for-nothing friends, too? I didn’t want to give in to them, to let them have the satisfaction of pushing me toward what they thought was right and “normal”. I only wanted to make them hate me more. I’m stubborn that way.
And so I became a drug runner. It was sort of an accident, at first, but in the end it was something I chose to do on my own terms. Dana was the only black guy in our neighborhood, and probably the nicest guy I knew. But he found himself in the drug-running trade, and somehow even though I listened to White Zombie and he listened to 2Pac, we connected over music. He heard me singing the lyrics to “Real Solution #9” one afternoon on the train tracks when we were walking through a patch of woods we called “Hobo Jungle” and in his laid-back way he told me that it sounded like rap, or that it could be rapped in the right hands, like Tupak Shakur’s. He made me listen to “California Love” on his walkman. At the time, I hated anything that wasn’t alternative music or heavy metal. So I politely listened, but it didn’t gel with me until years later.
Dana invited me to run with him one day while we were walking to the school. He made jokes about being a black guy in a white neighborhood. He spoke in an exaggerated “white guy” voice as if he were on the other end of a Police CB radio.
“Please be on the lookout for a black man walking with a skinny white male. Fire on sight.”
I laughed, and took swigs from my cold can of Surge.
When he asked me if I wanted to run with him, he didn’t outright ask. He just said “Hey, man. Let’s go.” He started running. I tightened my backpack straps and started running with him. We went to the other end of the trailer park, to one of the run down homes where the undesirables hung out and hurt each other with kitchen implements when they were drunk or high. When we got there, he introduced me as “Joe Cool”. I had never had anyone call me “cool” before in my entire life, so I just sort of stood there while Dana exchanged a bag of drugs for a wad of cash. And then we were on to the next house, and the next. Running drugs, and running…literally.
Finally, when we were finished that day, Dana explained to me that he was going to bring the money to a guy named Beaker. I gawked at the name.
“Beaker?” I asked, laughing. “Like Beaker and Bunsen? The Muppets?”
“I don’t know who that is,” Dana said. “They call him beaker because he’s got a big nose.” He mimed a big nose on his face and laughed.
From that day on, Dana and I went on many other runs. I never fully committed,though, and as time passed, I saw him less and less. I never really knew where he ended up, but running with him (in all senses of the word) helped me shed the side of me that was a victim. Dana provided me a framework in which to explore the idea of camaraderie, and to experience friendship. Of course, it took a few more years of getting into more trouble; riding around and doing drugs, breaking and entering, and other bad things for me to figure out who I really was under that chitinous armor I had made for myself. But I finally did it. I finally broke free.
Dana, I believe, was the catalyst for that transformation. Dana, with his racial jokes and befriending of me without caring about who I was, what I looked like, or what I had ever done allowed me to open up to my eventual friends I made before I graduated. I like to think of my time running with Dana for Beaker not as something negative, but something positive – as weird as that sounds. The people who bought the drugs, they were busy escaping into themselves, and paying money to do it. I looked to do the opposite, and I largely succeeded in most respects. I can only hope that Dana eventually outran his chosen profession in much the same way I did, and in all senses of that word.
Well, we’re right in the middle of summer and at the theaters right now, people are lining up to see their favorite summer blockbuster action films. I love action films – and you can see my Top Ten Favorite Action Films right HERE – but I think one of my favorite genres is Comedy. Whenever my wife and I sit down to watch a movie during dinner, or whenever I want to wind down for the night if I’m by myself, I pop in one of my favorite comedy films. Just like the rest of the other Top Ten lists on my blog (you can see the entire list under the Categories tab on my main page, under Top Ten), this list is numbered for the purposes of this post, but in reality the films sort of fluctuate up and down on the list from time to time. Yet, overall, this list stays pretty much the same over time, consistently, which is how I know that they’re actually my top ten. Does that make sense? I hope so.
Let’s get to it!
10: HIGH FIDELITY (2000)
PLOT: Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is just an average Chicago record store owner (and compulsive list maker) who happens to be going through a break up with his girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle). As his two employees, Dick (Todd Louiso) and Barry (Jack Black) attempt to cheer him up on their shifts at Championship Vinyl, Rob sifts through all of his past relationships to examine his all-time top breakups in order to make sense of his current situation and hopefully make things right.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â High Fidelity is really, truly, one of the all-time top underrated comedy films. The reason why it’s so low on my list is that, technically, it’s a romantic comedy. While I think rom-coms are fine, in general they don’t really have the same amount of laughs for me. However, I guess being a guy and having failed my own share of relationships made me identify with Cusack’s character, Rob, in a way that made all the laughs really hit home. On top of that, Jack Black gives one of his usual manic performances as Barry, and even Tim Robbins shows up as a foil to Rob as he tries to get into the pants of Laura. Honestly, if you have not seen this movie, please do yourself a favor and watch it. You won’t regret it, especially if you love Cusack. Also, I can’t help but note that Rob would love being on a list of top comedy films.
09: TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (2004)
PLOT:Â When the anti-terrorist organization known as Team America discovers that Kim Jong Il (Trey Parker) has a secret plan involving weapons of mass destruction, they enlist the help of actor and rising Broadway star Gary Johnston (Trey Parker) to infiltrate the terrorist’s ranks and discover what’s going on. With the help of the team’s financier, Spottswoode (Daran Norris) and his newfound teammates Chris (Matt Stone), Sarah (Masasa Moyo), Lisa (Kristen Miller), and Joe (Trey Parker) – Gary must use all of his training to save the world from Kim Jong Il’s dastardly plans.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Though the entire film consists of puppets and props, the clever use of practical effects combined with an insanely funny script deliver this film up into the higher reaches of the comedy pantheon. Matt Stone and Trey Parker bring their South Park talents to this hilarious jab at American politics and military oversteps in the civilized world. All the music bits (I used to own the soundtrack on CD) and especially the hilarious vomiting scene are what keep this quirky film in my top ten. It rises slightly above High Fidelity almost solely because it’s not a rom-com, but lags behind others on this list because it’s almost more of an animated film than an actual feature film. Still, there’s not a time I’ve watched this that the jokes have become old.
08: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004)
PLOT:Â In the small Idaho town of Preston, oddball teen Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) tries to get through his day-to-day school life despite his even odder family and wacky schoolmates. When Napoleon befriends the new kid, Pedro (Efrem Ramirez), he finds himself helping Pedro run for class president. In the meantime, what to do about his meddlesome Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) and his internet-hogging brother Kip (Aaron Ruell)?
WHY I LOVE IT:Â We can all identify with Napoleon in some way and that’s certainly part of the draw for this 2004 film. What Napoleon Dynamite does really well, though, is produce comedy in lots of subtle and unexpected ways. What brings this film above the others for me is just that. It’s a comedy, but without being too over-the-top. The characters are really where the film shines, producing endless one-liners people still spout today – especially with Rico, Kip, and Napoleon himself. However, it falls behind some of the other films on my list because it’s a little too low-key, and many people miss its humor, meaning people generally either love or hate this movie. Still, it’s one of my favorites and I rewatch it at least once a year, in general.
07: AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (1999)
PLOT:Â In a dastardly scheme to render Austin Powers (Mike Myers) powerless, Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) sends some of his agents to the 1960’s to request the aid of the portly Fat Bastard (Mike Myers) in stealing Austin Powers’ mojo. In order to get his mojo back, Powers must travel back in time to the swingin’ 60’s, and is helped in his quest by the sexy and fiery Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham).
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Though it’s a sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me is one of the rare cases in which the sequel is better than its predecessor. The jokes land more often and with better results, the characters are more interesting, and the cinematography and special effects are much sharper and flashy. Though I still like the other two films in the trilogy, this one will always be my absolute favorite. Mike Myers is at top-notch here, playing three different characters with the same comic energy and succeeding. Heather Graham is delightful, and even Will Ferrel shows up in a cameo as the hilarious Mustafa. This is all the hilarity and more of the original Austin Powers jammed into one slick package. Let’s hope that the rumors about a new Austin Powers movie are true!
06: NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE (2001)
PLOT:Â “Plain” Janey Briggs (Chyler Leigh) is the object of ridicule at John Hughes High School, with her paint-covered overalls and her dorky glasses. When popular football star Jake Wyler (Chris Evans) seems to take an interest in her, she is suspicious. She should be, however, because little does she know that Jake has taken a bet to transform Janey into prom-queen material by the time prom rolls around.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Not Another Teen Movie is a hilarious send up of several different films including the following: American Pie, American Beauty, Bring It On, Clueless, She’s All That, Road Trip, Can’t Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, Never Been Kissed, and even the 1980’s classic The Breakfast Club. As far as a spoof film goes, it’s really top-notch, and the laughs don’t stop all the way through. There are lots of cameos from actors like Molly Ringwald and Paul Gleason (both from The Breakfast Club) and the main cast, including Chris Evans, Chyler Leigh, Jaime Pressly, Eric Christian Olsen, and Mia Kirshner all do a great job in their respective character archetypes. I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you’ve seen most of the movies it’s spoofing. Even without seeing the original films, the main story is stitched together well and provides a great sendup of teen movies in general, so really anyone can enjoy it.
05: THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998)
PLOT:Â Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) met the love of his life, Mary Jenson (Cameron Diaz) way back in high school. When he accidentally mucked things up, they both moved on. Now, living in Providence, Rhode Island as an adult man – Ted can’t stop thinking about Mary. When he hires a private detective named Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to find her, Pat falls for her too, prompting Ted to take matters into his own hands.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Ben Stiller is hands-down one of my favorite comedic actors of all time. In There’s Something About Mary, we get to see Stiller do some of his best work. This movie has some great charm, some very great jokes (the truck stop, anyone?), and even a musical number. While the story somewhat gets lost in the tangle of characters, the characters themselves more than make up for that. The Farrelly Brothers really struck gold with this film, and it’s definitely one you must own on Blu-Ray.
04: ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004)
PLOT:Â In the wild world of newscasting in the 1970’s, there is one man who tells it like it is (at least as long as it’s on a teleprompter); San Diego’s Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrel). When an enterprising woman journalist named Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) begins to rise to Burgundy’s level, Ron starts to worry about his job and so do the other guys from the news office. With a lot on the line, the news team must try to up their game if they want to stay relevant.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Will Ferrell is really what holds this movie together. Though it’s chock-full of great scenes, great characters, and great actors – the story is sort of disjointed and inconsistent, which is why it’s not in my top three. However, the reason it’s above the others on this list is because it’s not an animated film, it’s not a spoof, and it’s not subtle. Anchorman is really just comedy at its best, and it can hold it’s own.
03: THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN (2005)
PLOT:Â Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is a nerd who is passionate about almost everything; Video Games, Karaoke, Painting Miniatures, Comic Books, and Action Figures. With all those hobbies, he’s just never had the time to have an actual girlfriend. When some work friends hear of Andy’s plight, they take turns trying to get him laid in a series of zany misadventures. However, through all the insanity, Andy sets his sights on a businesswoman next door named Trish (Catherine Keener).
WHY I LOVE IT:Â The 40 Year-Old Virgin is almost the perfect film. Steve Carell is perfect as everyone’s favorite virgin, Andy – and lots of comedic all-stars round out the rest of the cast, including Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, and Jane Lynch. The film delivers lots of humor that could actually happen in everyday life, which puts it one notch above all the rest of the films listed before it. The reason it falls behind the other two entries is the slower pace. With scenes like the one in which Steve Carell is waxed (for real) – this movie deserves multiple re-watches over the years for me. If you can quote this film by heart, you are immediately someone I would like to be friends with.
Brothers
02: ZOOLANDER (2001)
PLOT:Â When male model extraordinaire Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is eclipsed by his rival, the enigmatic Hansel (Owen Wilson), he goes into modeling exile until a world-famous designer, Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrel), wants to work with him. After Zoolander is invited to a day spa, he is brainwashed by Mugatu’s right-hand woman, Katinka (Milla Jovovich), into trying to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Only a plucky young reporter named Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor) stands in Mugatu’s way.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Originally meant to be just a sketch for the 1996 VH1 Music Awards, Ben Stiller has gotten a lot of mileage out of his character Derek Zoolander. With a silly premise, Zoolander is one of those films that is intentionally “dumb” but which matches that knowing tone with lots and lots of jokes and gags that work. From the rivalry between Zoolander and Hansel, to the brilliant portrayal of Mugatu by Will Ferrel, there is so much going for this film, at least in my book. And the cameo by David Bowie is the icing on the cake. I guess the reason this isn’t in my number one spot is because it’s so “dumb”.
01: STEP BROTHERS (2008)
PLOT:Â Two thirty-something grown men, Brennan Huff (Will Ferrel) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly), are forced to live together when their single parents fall for one another and end up moving in together. As the two “boys” mend fences with each other, they destroy everything around them with their immature hijinks.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â To me, Step Brothers is the perfect comedy film. It’s got the right amount of smart comedy and dumb comedy mixed together. There’s hardly a single moment in the film that feels off balance, and the casting is amazing. Both Reilly and Ferrel do a much better job in this film than they did in Talladega Nights, and you can tell the entire cast and crew must have had an absolute blast shooting the movie. There will be no other movie that is so quotable, at least in my opinion, for some time to come. From the “Boat” rap, to the epic front yard fight, Step Brothers is pure comedy gold. My wife and I love the movie so much, we each got it for each other on our first Christmas together. The movie is now “our” Christmas movie.
Well, there you have it. My Top Ten Favorite Comedy Films. If you have your own list, or any suggestions, please feel free to drop a line in the comments. As always, I will leave you with some honorable mentions.
It’s spring, so it’s almost time for those summer blockbusters to hit the big screen. Being that I haven’t done one of these Top Ten lists in a while, I figured I’d take aim and fire off my top ten favorite action films. These are films I’ve carefully thought about, and while they are in a numbered order for the purposes of this list – I think these movies fluctuate up and down, though they mostly all stay in the top ten.
Let’s get to it.
10. THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT (1996)
PLOT:Â Suburban mom, Samantha Caine (Geena Davis), lives in Honesdale, Pennsylvania with her daughter Caitlin (Yvonne Zima) doing the mom thing and dealing with amnesia. When Samantha receives a bump on the head, she suddenly remembers small snippets of a previous career as a deadly secret agent. Now, her old colleagues from the Chapter are out to kill her. Enlisting the help of a detective named Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), Samantha must use her returning skillset to survive, as she becomes deadlier and more resourceful with each passing minute.
WHY I LOVE IT: The Long Kiss Goodnight is one of those movies that everyone forgets about. Coming on the tail-end of Geena Davis’ great career run, this film is one of the best action films out there in my opinion. From the gun play (there’s a cool scene where Geena Davis shoots ice with a machine gun below her to break it apart before she hits), to the dialogue (Samuel L. Jackson makes a cheeky Driving Miss Daisy reference), to the unforgettable water wheel scene – this film has all the hallmarks of a great action film. Bonus points for being ahead of its time and starring a female lead with a black male partner. This is in the last spot on my list because while it is a great action film, it just doesn’t pack quite the same amount of punch as some of the others do in the higher spots.
09. GORGEOUS (1999)
PLOT: A Taiwanese woman named Bu (Qi Shu) is ruminating on a marriage proposal when she discovers a message in a bottle. Intrigued, Bu travels to Hong Kong to meet the author of the message, a man named Albert (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), who she thinks might be more compatible with her based on the message. Unfortunately, Bu is disappointed to find out that Albert is a gay cosmetologist. Albert lets Bu stay after the misunderstanding (the note was for his ex-boyfriend) and she tags along with him for a photoshoot where she is introduced to a millionaire businessman named C.N. Chan (Jackie Chan). The two have immediate chemistry, but when they start to become close – a rival of Chan’s named L.W. Lo (Emil Chau) sends an American fighter named Alan (Bradley James Allan) to kidnap Bu. Chan must defeat Alan in order to win her back.
WHY I LOVE IT: Now, hear me out. While Gorgeous is a very quirky film and not only has a very contrived plot and crazy characters, at its core Gorgeous has great action sequences and a light-hearted tone that many modern action films lack. This movie has some of the best fight scenes in Jackie Chan’s long film history, as well as some of the most inventive (there is a scene where he uses baseball bats and you just have to see it to believe it). Combining both a love story and an action story – this film beats out The Long Kiss Goodnight for me only just barely due to the beauty of the fight choreography and the intensity of the action itself. It falls flat compared to other more complex films on this list, though. This movie isn’t for everyone, but I feel it deserves this spot on my top ten list with no question, even if basically #9 and #10 could be interchanged.
08. PREDATORS (2010)
PLOT:Â Seven humans awaken to find themselves free falling from the sky into what seems to be a jungle or large forest, and successfully pull their parachutes, landing relatively safely. Royce (Adrien Brody), an American soldier; Isabelle (Alice Braga), an Israeli soldier; Edwin (Topher Grace), a doctor; Stans (Walter Goggins), a knife-wielding death-row convict; Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien), a Yakuza gangster; and Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), the Chechnyan soldier, all must find a way to survive their new circumstances as they begin to be hunted down by the deadly alien species known as Predators.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â If there’s one thing I love in a good action film, it’s lots of cool characters. Action films are essentially the cinematic equivalent to fighting games, if you want to use a video game analogy. And one thing that Predators has going for it above the previous two entries on this list is the variety of cool and different characters. This movie really got me back into writing, and most of that is due to the characterization – which is pretty rare for characters in action films aside from the protagonist and antagonist. Since the antagonists of this film are basically aliens, it leaves room for character development instead. Adrien Brody is almost laughable in his role as a toughened military leader, but as the effects of his acting kick in, he’s a lot more believable. One of the most memorable action sequences is when Hanzo faces off against one of the Predators in hand-to-hand combat. Still, most of the other characters have appropriate battles based on their abilities, and it’s very cool to watch.
07. DIE HARD (1988)
PLOT:Â John McClane (Bruce Willis) is an officer with the NYPD and goes on a vacation to visit his wife Holly (Bonny Bedelia) in Los Angeles for a Christmas party where she works at the Nakatomi Corporation. When the party is interrupted by a gang of thieves led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), and the partygoers are all taken hostage, somehow – John McClane is missed by the thugs and then must find a way to get his wife and all of the other innocent bystanders to safety.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â When you’re talking about action films, you can’t get much more pure than Die Hard. On a lot of people’s lists, Die Hard would be in the top spot, for sure. And I honestly don’t disagree with them, but my own top ten list is filled to the brim with movies I think basically all stand on the same leg. It definitely beats out the films in spots #8, #9, and #10 for that reason – but because it IS just a straightforward action film, I think that maybe takes away some of the adventure and excitement found in other hybrid genres of later titles on this list. But who can forget the scene where John McClane walks across broken glass? Who can forget McClane also uttering “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker“? Pretty much nobody, that’s who.
06. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
PLOT:Â A cyborg called the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her son, John (Edward Furlong) from a more-advanced Terminator called the T-1000 (Robert Patrick). If the Terminator fails in his mission and T-1000 kills young John, he won’t be able to lead the human resistance against the machines when he gets older, and humanity will be doomed.
WHY I LOVE IT: The first Terminator was great, but Terminator 2 took everything in the first film and made it even better. Its bleak tone, great action scenes, and character development push this movie into the top tier of my top ten list. Arnold Schwarzenegger is wholly believable as the badass cyborg, while Linda Hamilton kicks ass as Sarah Connor – the ultimate soccer mom. Some of the CGI doesn’t hold up too well today, which is why it falls behind some of the other films on this list – but the solid action and characters push it above the other spots on this list for sure. Memorable scenes: When Schwarzenegger beats up a bunch of bikers and takes a bike and some clothes. Also, when the T-1000 faces off against the original Terminator in the mall before the big car chase.
05. THE WARRIORS (1979)
PLOT:Â Cyrus (Roger Hill) is the leader of the biggest and most notorious gang in New York City – the Gramercy Riffs. In a bid to take control back from the cops, he organizes a meeting and then calls on the other gangs to unite. When he is killed on the spot, a gang calling themselves The Warriors are framed and must fight their way back to their turf on Coney Island. Swan (Michael Beck), Ajax (James Remar), Cleon (Dorsey Wright), Snow (Brian Tyler), Cochise (David Harris), Cowboy (Tom McKitterick), Rembrandt (Marcelino Sanchez), and Vermin (Terry Michos) must dodge cops and rival gangs as they battle for survival.
WHY I LOVE IT:The Warriors is a classic, and one of the more modern approaches to action films during the 1970’s and 1980’s. From the vast array of different characters and gangs, to the innovative action scenes, this movie definitely tops out the earlier entries on this list. However, due to its relative lack of character development and perhaps outdated mechanics, it seems to lack a little something when compared to later entries in this list. Still, it’s a good choice for #5…can you dig it? And who can forget the Warriors running from the Baseball Furies? What about the battle in the bathroom with the Punks? Two great scenes in a movie full of foot chases and fist fights.
04. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)
PLOT: Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is a cocky truck driver, filling the CB radio chatter with boasting and tales of the road. When he makes his way to Chinatown in San Francisco on one of his runs, he meets up with his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun). After the two engage in some gambling, Jack tags along with Wang to pick up Wang’s Chinese fiance, Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) from the airport. However, when Miao Yin is kidnapped by a Chinese street gang, the All-American trucker finds himself dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown with a sorcerer named Lo Pan (James Hong).
WHY I LOVE IT:Big Trouble in Little China is a gem of a film. On the one hand, Jack Burton is supposed to be the typical male action hero. On the other, he’s pretty incompetent and must often be bailed out by his friend and martial artist, Wang Chi. This ingenuity in storytelling conventions being flipped is part of what made this fim jump to #4 above all the previous entries. On top of that, and despite technically having some horror elements, there is a lightheartedness to this movie that action movies typically need to avoid feeling stale or boring. Who can forget when Jack, in the middle of a fight, shoots his machine gun into the ceiling only to have a chunk of the roof fall on his head and cause him to miss the entire fight? And who can forget the Three Storms? And what about the horrifying moment that Lo Pan appears in front of Jack’s truck? The perfect blend of parody and horror/action, and a great choice for the #4 spot.
03. INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
PLOT:Â An adventurer and archaeologist named Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is hired by the United States government to find and retrieve the fabled Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can get ahold of it. In his way are booby traps, Nazi troops, and a determined enemy named Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman).
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Indiana Jones is a classic franchise, and the first film is still the best of them all. What makes Indy rise above all the others for the #3 spot are the humor, the action, the danger, and that certain something that most action films are lacking – the adventure. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the epitome of action adventure, and while I believe it has no problem besting other films on this list, its relative lack of character development and its simple “good VS bad” mentality makes it fall just short of spots #1 and #2 on this list for me. Remember when Indy ran from the giant boulder? How about when Indy had to fight all those men in Cairo, Egypt? Classic scenes that have dominated pop culture ever since.
02. KILL BILL: VOL. 1 (2003)
PLOT:Â An unnamed protagonist, only known as “The Bride” (Uma Thurman) has survived an assassination by the notorious Deadly Viper Assassination Squad – led by Bill (David Carradine). Now, she seeks revenge, vowing to track down and kill the five members of the Squad herself.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Who can resist a revenge tale, especially one involving a female protagonist? Add to that Quentin Tarantino’s flair for poetic violence, as well as Uma Thurman’s hard-as-nails portrayal of The Bride – and you have what is one of my top three favorite action films of all time. Because of the iconic characters, the stylized action, the great dialogue, and the inventive storytelling – this film soars above others on this list. It falls just short of the first film, however, because Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is only one half of a complete tale. Still, who can forget the animated O-Ren Ishii origin tale? Who can forget Uma strapping on the yellow jumper with black stripes like Bruce Lee did in Game of Death and cutting through hordes of sword-wielding henchmen? This is one of the most innovative revenge tales to come out in a few decades, and will likely remain on my top ten unti someone else comes along and does it better.
01. THE MATRIX (1999)
PLOT: Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) goes by the hacker alias of “Neo” at night, and works his normal job as a computer programmer during the day. When his activities attract the attention of police, Thomas is contacted by the enigmatic Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) who tells him that all is not what it may seem. With the help of Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss), Neo is awakened into the real world by Morpheus and his crew aboard the Nebuchadnezzar, only to find out he’s been living inside of a computer simulation and that machines have taken over the world.
WHY I LOVE IT:Â Guns. Martial Arts. Leather outfits. Slow-motion sequences and “Bullet Time”. Killer soundtrack. Really, the question should be – what’s NOT to like about The Matrix? The reason it beat all other films on this list for me is that (even though there are sequels) it can stand on its own as a film. Very strong characters, story, and especially the action sequences make this my definite number one action film. The addition of the science fiction elements really help, I think, to propel this above straightforward action fare like Die Hard. The Matrix is a time-tested product that still holds up to scrutiny today, twenty years later. From the scene where Neo battles Morpheus in the simulation program, to the moment where Neo battles Agent Smith in the subway – there is not a single scene that hasn’t been emulated by at least one other contemporary film to come after it.
Well, there you have my Top Ten Favorite Action Films. If you have any favorites yourself, or even if you agree with my list – don’t be shy about leaving a comment. And please check out my other Top Ten lists, which can be found under the Top Ten tag in the Categories section.
Away With Words 