Tag: action

Daybreakers (2009)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a sci-fi vampire movie that manages to straddle being very smart and pretty damned cheesy. However the action is solid, it features three excellent actors, and the gore is plentiful. I am also a sucker for movies with a Blade Runner influence. Daybreakers is a bit of a rollercoaster ride however. One moment you will notice the very insightful social commentary, the next you will be rolling your eyes at something ridiculous. The good news is that there’s a good chance you will remain entertained throughout.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

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The Outpost (2019)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a very good military action film based on true events from the US occupation of Afghanistan. I actually rewatched the full movie before writing this and it remained an intense experience. The first half is mostly plot and character setup, but thankfully none of it drags. The action gets very heavy around the one-hour mark. After watching The Outpost it’s a wonder anyone survived. On a lighter note, Clint Eastwood’s son Scott and Caleb Landry Jones (from Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral) are both excellent in this.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Screen Media.

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The Outlaws (2017)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer 

Here’s a solid action / crime flick based on a true story. Moments felt like blockbuster cheese, but then the South Korean crazy action kicked in. Stick with it. Good stuff. Lead actor Ma Dong-seok (The Roundup, Train to Busan, The Good the Bad and the Weird) is particularly awesome in this. Legal services provided by Tasey Taser Esq.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

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Blood & Gold (2023)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

I rarely recommend brand new Netflix titles, but this one was a blast. You’ll see other jerks reduce it to a rip off of Inglourious Basterds. I think Blood & Gold has got more going on than that. While I quite enjoyed Tarantino’s film (and the OG), this has no recognizable stars, has far less of Q.T.’s “witty banter,” and benefits from more era-correct music. The score jumps around a bit, but that’s ok. The important thing is that there were no pop music needle drops. I’m more invested in what is happening when I don’t hear David Bowie in 1940s Europe (and I love Bowie). I will admit that I watched this with many drinks under my belt, so my arty farty meter was broken, but I was throughly entertained from start to finish. Yeah there are some technical errors, but just ignore that part of your brain and watch this, IN GERMAN with subtitles, and enjoy. 

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

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We Own the Night (2007)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Mark Wahlberg is a cop, his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) is a nightclub owner. The mighty Robert Duvall is their deputy police chief dad. The Russian mob complicates matters. Blood is shed. Cars are chased. This is not the greatest action / crime film ever made, but it is damn good entertainment. The car chase is probably the best of the mid-2000s. We Own the Night is worth a watch for that alone.

Available on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures.

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Crippled Avengers (1978)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer (in SHAWSCOPE!!!)

The Venom Mob is back again for a much weirder adventure. This is not a sequel to The Five Deadly Venoms, but one of many Shaw Brothers films featuring those core actors. Four men are disabled by an evil martial arts master, so naturally they are taught to use their handicaps to get revenge. This movie is almost non-stop crazy action from the start, and a fan-favorite Shaw flick. This would make an excellent double bill with Accione Mutante (the new disc is HIGHLY recommended).

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow (part of the Shawscope Vol 1 Box).

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Commando (1985)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I was a big Arnie fan as a kid. This is mostly because of Conan (1982) and The Terminator (1984). Unfortunately he was in as many crappy movies as good ones back in the 80s. Conan the Destroyer, Red Sonja, Raw Deal and Red Heat are not good uses of Schwarzenegger. This film, while not even close to his best, is firmly in the middle of his 1980s work. It’s dumb. Really dumb. Eve-rollingly dumb. However, it is also fast-paced, big, fun, and ridiculously violent. If you’ve never experienced this film, and are capable of turning your higher brain functions off, you’re in for a good time. Speaking of the ‘80s… if you look around in the torrentverse you can probably find the TV movie The Jayne Mansfield Story. Arnold plays her husband Mickey Hargitay (Mariska’s dad) and Loni Anderson (from WKRP – a childhood favorite TV series) is Jayne. It’s surprisingly good. Also a bit dumb, but honestly worth seeing.

Available on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox.

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RoboCop 2 (1990)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

The original RoboCop is one of my all time favorite films. RoboCop 3 and the TV series are total crap. RoboCop 2 however is a pretty damn entertaining movie actually. It has all the important cast that survived the first film, the OG Red Dragon from Manhunter (Tom Noonan), and was directed by… Irvin Kershner. Who? Well he was the director of a little film called The Empire Strikes Back. Yep, he was obviously somewhat co-directed by George Lucas, but still, facts are facts. He also did the flawed but entertaining final Sean Connery James Bond flick Never Say Never Again (which was weirdly released the same year as Roger Moore’s Bond in Octopussy). One major bonus here is that FX master Phil Tippett was allowed almost total creative freedom, even to the extent where he directed the visual effects heavy scenes himself. So if you’ve never seen this, or it’s been a while, you’re in for a treat.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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The Raid 2 (2014)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

The Raid: Redemption (2011) is a very good film. If you’re a hardcore action / martial arts fan you know that already. However, for the rest of you, I say skip it and watch this superior sequel. The Raid 2 has got a convoluted plot, but you’ll too be too distracted by the non-stop ass kicking to care. This is probably the pinnacle of crazy post-Ong-Bak action films. If you enjoy this, make sure to check out creator Gareth Evans’ excellent TV series Gangs of London.

Available on Blu-ray from Sony.

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Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

The headline read “Hobo Stops Begging, Demands Change.” That, and the fact that all exploitation elements are cranked to 11, sums up this movie. I’ve been a Rutger Hauer fan since seeing Blade Runner is a kid. I think I’ve seen the majority of his films, and I have even read his autobiography. For many years I complained about the injustice of Hauer not getting a good lead role. Well in 2011 the stars aligned – Hobo with a Shotgun was announced. I was avidly following the pre-release promotion of the movie, and was not disappointed when I finally got to see the finished product. I think the low rating on imdb is because of the overall purposeful cheese factor, and the fact everything offensive is thrown in to the mix. Yeah it ain’t Ingmar Bergman, but I give it a perfect score. RIP Mr. Hauer.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnet.

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