Chewers' 100 Best Action Films of the 1980's - Page 2

That would go on a list for the 1990s, Duke.  Don't worry.  I definitely thought about that one too.

 

EDIT: Whoops.  Ken already pointed that out.

Same.  I like it more than 'The Killer', actually.

mcnooj82, Ken Savage, Oops!  there I go again, mixing up dates.  I got the wrong decade for not one but...2 of my favorite Chuck Norris films in the podcast.  As for 80's films...#34 The Beastmaster!

35. 48 Hrs. (1982) d. Walter Hill

 

Streets of fire is great and all, but it shouldn't be above this one.

 

"I've been in prison for three years. My dick gets hard if the wind blows."

36.

1987          dir. John Glen

 

Kara Milovy: What happened?

 

Bond: He got the boot.

 

For some reason, the Broccolis always come out swingin' hard with the first entry of a new Bond. 2 years after the dreadfully mawkish A View To Kill, Timothy Dalton's Bond debuts with a darker, more serious tone & a touch of Gorky Park realism. The fights are brutal, the stunts are jaw-dropping, & John Barry's final, sweepingly gorgeous Bond score drapes the whole affair in classic 007 majesty.

37.  'Southern Comfort' 1981, Walter Hill.  National Guardsmen decide to fuck around with Cajuns while off on training...bad idea.

 

Powers Boothe, Keith Carradine, Fred Ward, Brion James, and SONNY LANDHAM.

38. First Blood Part II (1985) dir. George P. Cosmatos

 

Is to First Blood as Aliens is to Alien. Bloody, over-the-top and pure awesomeness.

39. Eliminators (1986)

 

"What is this? Some kinda comic book? We got robots, we got cave men, we got kung fu!"

 

Somewhat obscure, but I wanted to throw this into the mix. Written by Paul De Meo & Danny Bilson (The Rocketeer and The Flash tv series), Eliminators feels like a couple of kids from the 80's eating way too much soda and candy, writing down everything that their adolescent minds could think of as cool, and somehow getting the money to make a movie featuring everything from said list. Considering Charles Band's track record as a producer, this one is surprisingly good. I don't think this is available on dvd, but you might be able to find it on YouTube.

REDACTED COMMENT

You're right, Spike, realised this just after I wrote it.

Can we call this thread the 'Walter Hill Appreciation Thread' yet?

40. Black Rain (1989) d. Ridley Scott

 

I'm disgusted it took us this long to remember this one. Disgusted, I say!

41. The Untouchables (1987) d. Brian DePalma

 

A great men-on-a-mission film which manages to take DePalma's unique directorial eye and meld it with a script that allows his directorial flourishes to seem common-place. The Untouchables is a big and broad film, almost feeling like modern-mythology than a convential action thriller, and that suits DePalma's sensibilities perfectly. Whilst it doesn't have a great deal of action it's three major setpieces are all spectacularly arranged and one in particular has become something of an iconic movie-moment.

 

Already on the list at #10.

 

Art Decade already got that one on #10, Spike.

 

EDIT: Yippie-kai-yay, Mister FALCON!

Whoops Spike, Untouchables is already #10!!

 

So is "a" list or a list in "order?"

 

I must find myself a copy of Extreme Prejudice; so Nolte's the bad guy or the 6 marines???

 

If this was a 70's list The Yakuza would be in place of Black Rain; I kept waiting thinking we'd learn Douglas was Mitchum's son.

hahaha that was weird.

 

Right quality summation, though.

Edited by Art Decade - 8/13/11 at 10:30am

That's what I get for not reading shit.

 

Powers Boothe is the main antagonist. Excellent flick BTW. The shootout out in the boonies at the store (gas station?) is awesome. Some real Peckinpah type shit.

 

1. Die Hard (1988)

2. Aliens (1986)

3. The Terminator (1984)

4. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

5. The Road Warrior (1981)

6. Predator (1987)

7. Commando (1985)

8. The Killer (1989)

9. RoboCop (1987)

10. The Untouchables (1987)

 

11. Lethal Weapon (1987)

12. Police Story (1985)

13. Escape from New York (1981)

14. Streets of Fire (1984)

15. They Live (1988)

16. The Thing (1982)

17. Excalibur (1981)

18. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

19. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

20. First Blood (1982)

 

21. Extreme Prejudice (1987)

22. Conan The Barbarian (1982)

23. Running Scared (1986)

24. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

25. Outland (1981)

26. Tango & Cash (1989)

27. Death Wish 3 (1985)

28. Cobra (1986)

29. The Hidden (1987)

30. Project A (1983)

 

31. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

32. Akira (1988)

33. Bloodsport (1988) 

34. The Beastmaster (1982)

35. 48 HRS. (1982)

36. The Living Daylights (1987)

37. Southern Comfort (1981)

38. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

39. Eliminators (1986)

40. Black Rain (1989)

 

41. The Punisher (1989)

Does

40. The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 dir. Irwin Kershner 

count?

Pretty much non-stop action, fabulously directed with great emphasis on character as well as subverting the hero's journey of the first film. Great effects, set pieces and dialogue. Seminal for a generation, but if you want to call it sci-fi as opposed to action, may I submit:

40. Midnight Run, 1988, dir. Martin Brest

Part of the glorious seam of 1980s action-comedies, and to my mind the most finely balanced between the two genres. There are other, arguably more universally well known, stand out examples from the decade (one or two which have surprisingly not made the list) but the happy intersection of De Niro, Grodin, Kotto and Ashton spitting out such great dialogue, woven into a propulsive 'road movie' narrative, great action and a happy ending that feels completely earned. One of my favourite, kick back and smile movies.

The Battle on Hoth. The Bespin duel. Yeah, The Empire Strikes Back definitely counts. In fact, it was gonna be my next pick.

#42 Duel to the Death (1983) d. Damian Lau

 

Every ten years a duel is held between a representative of Japan and a representative of China. This film pits a Shaolin Master against a Samurai Swordsman. However a plot by the Japanese government to corrupt the event in the Samurai's favour is discovered and both men have to work together before they can have their duel. Combining Kung-Fu and Samurai choreography the film is a smorgasbord of amazing fights incorporating various styles and techniques and ending with an insane, five minute long, blood soaked Duel to the Death. The film also has perhaps the greatest team of evil Ninjas ever.

 

34. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) d. Irvin Kershner 

 

One of the greatest sequels ever; the action kicks from the snowy opening on Hoth to the epic lightsaber duel finale. And Harrison Ford lays claim to Action hero of the decade.

 

"I love you"

"I know."

 

 

Wait, have you been working on that sentence for like three hours?

45. Shogun Assassin (1980) d. Kenji Misumi (reedited by Robert Houston)

 

Technically the Lone Wolf and Cub series are a product of the 1970s, but this amalgamation of Sword of Vengeance and Babycart at River Styx is it's own, 1980s styled beast. Combining two 90 minute movies into one 90 minute narrative shouldn't work as well as this does, but Houston through his use of narration manages to make the film have it's own feel and theme despite being essentially a best of compilation. Tomisaburo Wakayama despite his overall doughiness is the baddest of badasses in this film playing the Emperor's Head Chopper, now disgraced and roaming the roads of feudal japan with his son. Combining elaborate duels, group attacks and insane Ninja attacks this film is a joy from start to finish due to Wakayama's stoic performance and the insane FX works which makes even a paper-cut bleed at high pressure.

46.

1989 dir. Richard Donner

 

"But I have diplomatic immunity!"

 

BOOM!

 

"It's just been revoked."

 

The first Lethal Weapon is iconic. It's sequel is pure manic fun.

47.  'Above the Law' 1988, Davis.

 

Seagal's debut and arguably his best film.  What a revelation he was back in 1988.  Every fight scene had an aura of authenticity to it that, quite simply, was not available in any other film being produced at that time.  It has 50% more plot than it needs but so what...is that really a complaint???

 

'If I find out you're lying, I'll come back and kill you in your own kitchen'

48: The Abyss (Cameron, 1989)

 

Little Geek is on the case.

 

At the end of the day, if I have to pick one Cameron film it's going to be the original Terminator. But this is his most original and unique work, and an unparalleled technical achievement.

 

 

49. F/X  (1986) dir. Robert Mandel

 

The start of Bryan Brown's 15 minutes of fame, this is still a fun, cleverly written little actioner, even if the sequel isn't worth very much.

It's been about a decade since I saw the film, but does the Abyss even have any action sequences?

the bumper sub sequence is pretty decent, but yeah...that's about it.  I LOVE the film, but I question whether or not it's an action film.

It's got the initial sub crash, the storm sequence where the whole complex gets dragged off a cliff and this one guy gets HIT IN THE FACE by a flying airlock door, a great fist/wrench fight, and the amazing mini-sub chase. It's also become unfairly overlooked in recent years (where's that Blu release?). But I'll abide by the council's ruling.

I have no problem with it being on the list, it's my second favourite Cameron movie, I was just interested.

50. Romancing The Stone (1984) - Robert Zemeckis.

 

Romantic action comedy.  It blends all three really well but has plenty of action to make it worthy.

 

 

Edited by ZebraMajor - 8/13/11 at 1:15pm

51. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) d. Steve Carver

 

Chuck's greatest moment. It's Eastwood cool. With a finall fight with Carradine that is a total geek dream.

 

Favorite scene: Chuck is buried alive in his truck, but escapes thru the power of shotgunning a beer!

52. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

 

It was only a matter of time before this ended up on the list. Some people have a problem with the humor in this one, but I have no complaints. The casting of Sean Connery as Indy's father was a stroke of genius, and Connery and Ford have fantastic chemistry together. The tank chase/fight sequence is still my favorite of the series. So glad that everyone involved agreed to let Indy ride out into the sunset. To bring him back again would have been foolish and unnecessary.  

53. The Running Man (1987) d. Paul Michael Glaser

 

This list needs even more Arnold. The Running Man is a goofy but highly entertaining sci-fi action flick with the big A delivering his "best" one-liners this side of Commando. And Richard Dawson is unbelievably great as the eeeevil Damon Killian.

54. Silverado (1985) - Lawrence Kasdan

 

The cast is phenomenal in this one and the action is just as good.

55. Extreme Prejudice (1987)

 

"You know, Jack. I got a feeling the next time we run into each other, we gonna have a killin'. Just a feeling. "

Extreme Prejudice is on the list at #21.

55.

1986     dir. Roland Joffe

 

Leave me alone. You know what I am.

Yes. You are a mercenary. You are a slave trader. And you killed your brother. I know. And you loved him... although you chose a strange way to show it.

 

Roland Joffe's lush masterpiece of violence & redemption from the pen of legendary screenwriter Robert Bolt (Lawrence Of Arabia, Bridge On The River Kwai). Here, DeNiro is in full-on kickass mode defending Jeremy Irons' deep jungle mission from extermination by evil Spanish colonialists. While generally thought of as a drama, the final half hour is balls to the wall action.

 

Ennio Morricone's score is stunningly beautiful & was one of the most popular soundtracks of the decade.

Edited by Art Decade - 8/13/11 at 1:54pm

Wow, THE MISSION is a totally leftfield choice. I like it!

Yeah THE MISSION is a really interesting choice. Absolutely adore the score, but I've not seen it in about a decade so all I can really remember of the film is that amazing opening shot of the crucified priest on the waterfall.

56. Das Boot (1981) - Wolfgang Petersen

 

It's hard to imagine a WWII movie that can pull off a sympathetic portrayal of the German war experience but here it is.  The U-boat crew are patriotic Germans by choice and unwilling Nazis by affiliation.  The U-boat Wolf Pack, always viewed in other WWII movies as an invincible, ever-lurking predator, is portrayed here as a meager, disjointed offensive force.  We admire this crew because they endure boredom, confinement, bad hygiene and rotten food to sink one or two cargo ships while depth charges pound them relentlessly and bolts pop out of the hull and ping around the cabin.  

 

Somehow, when the sub is under attack, Petersen and cinematographer Jost Vacano are able to run the hand-held camera down the entire narrow length of the U-boat's central corridor while sailors dodge around them back and forth.  Amazing.

Edited by ZebraMajor - 8/13/11 at 2:44pm

Das Boot! Hell YEAH. Four hours of fury.

 

Great call.

Kudos on adding The Mission.  Entirely worthy and one of my all time favorites.