The last action hero
Is anyone else sick of these random semi-warm days that keep popping up? Neither am I!
I understand the argument that it’s “unnatural” or that it makes it harder to adapt to the cold weather when it finally stays, but I’m a warm weather type of guy and I’m always disappointed to see the nice weather on its way out.
However, I’m going to take a break from complaining about the temperature and instead mention something I’ve wondered for a while: where are all of the good action movies?
Just to specify, I’m thinking about a particular kind of action movie. The R-rated, bad to the bone, normal guy turned hero (not superhero) action movie with plenty of special effects and great one-liners.
By the way, the movie has to fit one other criteria: it has to be good. I don’t mean watchable, I mean it has to be a well-made movie with a coherent plot and acceptable acting.
Does anyone remember Predator? Alien? Terminator? All great action movies that didn’t shirk on rough language or gore, but with enough substance to keep the average watcher interested and a greater focus on acting chops than eye candy.
All I’ve been seeing lately are superhero flicks, period adventure movies on an enormous scale, and thrillers. I love superhero movies but they’re usually toned down for a wider viewing audience. The adventure movies usually star big-name actors but lack in any sort of definable plot. Thrillers can be great, but I want a few explosions and gun fights.
So what’s the deal, Hollywood? Am I the only one who misses this seemingly forgotten genre? Is it because there has not been anyone lately to fill the shoes of such giants as Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Van Damme? Or even Willis and Johnson?
I have found only one recently, and that wasn’t even in a movie. I had to move to Starz to see Andy Whitfield wreak some havoc in Spartacus.
That’s it for this week. Check out next week’s column for my Occupy Wall Street column, which has been in the works since the movement began.
“Hasta la vista, baby.”
Follow me on Twitter ... @evesunjulian.
I understand the argument that it’s “unnatural” or that it makes it harder to adapt to the cold weather when it finally stays, but I’m a warm weather type of guy and I’m always disappointed to see the nice weather on its way out.
However, I’m going to take a break from complaining about the temperature and instead mention something I’ve wondered for a while: where are all of the good action movies?
Just to specify, I’m thinking about a particular kind of action movie. The R-rated, bad to the bone, normal guy turned hero (not superhero) action movie with plenty of special effects and great one-liners.
By the way, the movie has to fit one other criteria: it has to be good. I don’t mean watchable, I mean it has to be a well-made movie with a coherent plot and acceptable acting.
Does anyone remember Predator? Alien? Terminator? All great action movies that didn’t shirk on rough language or gore, but with enough substance to keep the average watcher interested and a greater focus on acting chops than eye candy.
All I’ve been seeing lately are superhero flicks, period adventure movies on an enormous scale, and thrillers. I love superhero movies but they’re usually toned down for a wider viewing audience. The adventure movies usually star big-name actors but lack in any sort of definable plot. Thrillers can be great, but I want a few explosions and gun fights.
So what’s the deal, Hollywood? Am I the only one who misses this seemingly forgotten genre? Is it because there has not been anyone lately to fill the shoes of such giants as Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Van Damme? Or even Willis and Johnson?
I have found only one recently, and that wasn’t even in a movie. I had to move to Starz to see Andy Whitfield wreak some havoc in Spartacus.
That’s it for this week. Check out next week’s column for my Occupy Wall Street column, which has been in the works since the movement began.
“Hasta la vista, baby.”
Follow me on Twitter ... @evesunjulian.
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