Action/Adventure
A lot of titles that could go in this list are split into other subcategories (namely Superhero, as those are often filled with action). Nonetheless, this is filled with movies that don't fit into a different category
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38 titles
- DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushOrlando BloomBlacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.Also Fantasy according to Wikipedia. I plan to rewatch this and Dead Man's Chest at least
Rewatched November 18th, 2017. It held up very well, the special effects were solid even by today's standard, and the acting was good as well. It blended comedy and drama pretty well, and I think the plot as a whole was strong (with character development feeling mostly natural, etc.) Definitely glad I finally got around to it, it was enjoyable - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostMartin FreemanAn overachieving London police sergeant is transferred to a village where the easygoing officers object to his fervor for regulations, all while a string of grisly murders strikes the town.Technically also Comedy
This was a very entertaining watch, and it felt concise, looping back to several things mentioned in the beginning of the film by the end. Definitely a good time
Watched February 18th, 2017 - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsSam NeillJulian DennisonRima Te WiataA national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.Really solid movie that almost serves as a coming-of-age as well. I liked both of the lead characters and thought the comedy was witty and well-timed. This shows both the dangers of living in the bush and the untouched beauty of nature, so it was a fun watch for that as well.
Watched May 9, 2021 - DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.This was action-packed and an entertaining watch, though the taciturn nature of most of the characters left me feeling a bit unattached. Fantastic contrast of lighting in the night scenes and generally solid world-building (despite a lack of true explanation). The strong host of female characters was also a highlight, given the action genre's traditional preference for males.
Watched July 4th, 2018 with friends at the apartment - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonFranka PotenteJoan AllenWhen Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.Probably my favorite of the original trilogy. I was irked at the generic plot device by killing off his lover to spark revenge, but the movie was otherwise entertaining and had small moments of humor dashed throughout
Watched July 28th, with parents - DirectorDoug LimanStarsFranka PotenteMatt DamonChris CooperA man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.I rewatched this and was satisfied. Despite usually being underwhelmed with action movies, this had a relatively believable romance and a nice dash of mystery. A fine watch.
Rewatched July 29th, 2018 with parents
Also Thriller, barely remember this - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesMichael NyqvistAlfie AllenAn ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.This was a lot more fun than I expected given the immense hype Reddit gives this and the taciturn performance from Keanu. I'm a sucker for a good revenge film and the long takes for the fight scenes were enjoyable. My favorite part of this were hints of the organizational structure of the underworld at the Continental, so I'm sure that will be explained more later in the series. Note, 8/19/23: Retrospectively, this told the only complete story other than 4, so I appreciate it in that regard and think it would probably hold up the best for repeat viewing
Watched July 1, 2023 with family - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesRiccardo ScamarcioIan McShaneAfter returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.I felt like this expanded on the lore of the first film substantially, while still providing well-choreographed action sequences and dazzling set pieces. The characters were good and the story was arguably my favorite in the franchise.
Watched July 2023 with family - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonEdgar RamírezJoan AllenJason Bourne dodges a ruthless C.I.A. official and his Agents from a new assassination program while searching for the origins of his life as a trained killer.This was good but I don't think it was substantially better than the first two, like it's often purported to be. A satisfying conclusion nonetheless.
Watched July 28th, 2018 with parents - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneGeorge GeorgiouJohn Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.This was good, culminating in a satisfying conclusion to John's story and featuring a variety of good action sequences and characters. I felt some of the Osaka plotline was spectacle over substance, but it was still enjoyable. The lore continued to expand in this but felt less complicated than the third movie. Probably my favorite soundtrack in the series
Watched August 19, 2023 with family - DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppOrlando BloomKeira KnightleyJack Sparrow races to recover the heart of Davy Jones to avoid enslaving his soul to Jones' service, as other friends and foes seek the heart for their own agenda as well.Want to rewatch this. I liked the cast a lot, but don't remember much else about it other than the devastating death of "Halfro", some random crewmember with half an afro.
Update after rewatch: The cast was more diverse than the previous movie, but the nonwhite characters were relegated to supporting or gimmicky roles, which didn't really sit well with me. The plot was a bit weaker than I remembered in general, but the special effects (namely the Kraken) were still great.
Watched in theaters; rewatched 4/9/18 and bumped down from an 8 to a 6 - DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.A solid action movie with some cheesy acting but undeniable heart and a novel premise for the time. I really liked the snarky back-and-forth between Willis and VelJohnson.
Watched December 2022 - DirectorDavid LeitchStarsBrad PittJoey KingAaron Taylor-JohnsonFive assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.I liked this for giving each of its named characters a backstory intro scene and several extremely high-budget flashbacks that hinted at greater lore in previous jobs. The action scenes were generally good and I liked the cast (especially Ladybug, Lemon, Tangerine, and Channing Tatum's hilarious cameo). Some of the story notes were quite cliche (a wise Asian sage busting out the sickest katana moves, a sibling rivalry with an Electra complex, etc.), but others subverted my expectations or offered comedic merit. The CGI near the end wasn't particularly compelling but this film had a certain charm that leaves me with more positive thoughts than negative.
Watched May 22, 2023 - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesHalle BerryIan McShaneJohn Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins' guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.I remember feeling the lore was a bit dense in this film and quite hard to follow. I liked how the entire film dealt with consequences, and there were plenty of twists to keep it entertaining. The cast performed well, but this was probably my least favorite thus far
Watched July 2023 with family - DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.I liked the cinematography and enjoyed Carey Mulligan's performance, but I felt like there was much left unexplained about the Driver (how he was so willing to do getaway drives/kill people) and the mystery of Standard's incarceration, though I guess that did add a nice layer of intrigue to the film.
Watched December 6th, 2019 - DirectorRobert SchwentkeStarsBruce WillisHelen MirrenMorgan FreemanWhen his peaceful life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last-ditch effort to survive and uncover his assailants.Watched in theaters I believe; an all-star cast for a decent movie, definitely not to analyze or anything. More for fun I think
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsJamie BellAndy SerkisDaniel CraigIntrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor.I remember liking this all right and being very impressed with the animation, but I can't remember a thing about the plot.
Watched in class in high school - DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppOrlando BloomKeira KnightleyCaptain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, find Jack Sparrow, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle.While this ended up providing a mostly satisfying conclusion to "Dead Man's Chest", it felt overly long and relegated most of its female cast to symbolic status without much actual depth. The charm of the characters seemed a bit dull in this, compared to the previous films, as they had to cram so much plot into this one. Entertaining but overall mediocre
Watched January 25th, 2019 - DirectorJake KasdanStarsDwayne JohnsonKaren GillanKevin HartFour teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.Written 10/16/23: I don't know why this was rated but not in a list somewhere; if I'm missing it, I feel it probably belongs more at home here than elsewhere anywhere. I remember finding this surprisingly enjoyable with a decent take on modernizing the "trapped in a board game" plot of the original. The comedy was okay, but I namely liked it for the cast's chemistry
Watched some time in 2020 with family - DirectorMartin BrestStarsEddie MurphyJudge ReinholdJohn AshtonA freewheeling Detroit cop pursuing a murder investigation finds himself dealing with the very different culture of Beverly Hills.A fun action comedy with some amusing fabricated lies and a slick script where Eddie Murphy shines. The plot itself was very formulaic but I liked the camaraderie between the cops and enjoyed my time with it despite the repetitive soundtrack
Watched February 9, 2024 with family - DirectorLen WisemanStarsKate BeckinsaleScott SpeedmanShane BrollySelene, a vampire warrior, is entrenched in a conflict between vampires and werewolves, while falling in love with Michael, a human who is sought by werewolves for unknown reasons.I went into this with pretty low expectations but was pleasantly surprised for the most part. I thought the action was good aside from the overabundance of slow-mo (almost every single action sequence multiple times). The cast acted well, there were great gothic sets, a cool industrial soundtrack and some refreshingly original worldbuilding and weaponry (despite it being mostly unnecessary considering the strength of the species). The romance between Selene and Michael was really bad with a palpable lack of chemistry, but the rest of the plot was entertaining enough to forgive.
Also Action, watched July 30, 2023 - DirectorJustin LinStarsLucas BlackZachery Ty BryanShad MossA teenager becomes a major competitor in the world of drift racing after moving in with his father in Tokyo to avoid a jail sentence in America.Certainly by no means a great film, but the driving sequences were cool and the at-times atrocious acting made this an enjoyable (albeit campy) watch for my younger self
- DirectorStephen SommersStarsHugh JackmanKate BeckinsaleRichard RoxburghThe famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.I remember liking the atmosphere and special effects but the film itself just dragged on FOREVER for younger me.
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonA.C. AbadieGeorge BarnesA group of bandits stage a brazen train hold-up, only to find a determined posse hot on their heels.Written 10/30/23: Impressive cinematography and a pinnacle in early filmmaking, but I can't say I enjoyed it much beyond the educational aspect.
- DirectorStephen SommersStarsBrendan FraserRachel WeiszJohn HannahAt an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.I wanted to like this more than I actually did, but there was a certain charm in its portrayal of ancient Egypt. It tried to balance many different genres (action, adventure, horror, comedy, romance) and generally succeeded, but some of the action and quipping comedy in the latter half of the movie was a bit underwhelming. The effects were mediocre, though that may be due to the time when this movie was produced. The cast did a good job with what they were given, though I ironically thought that the villains Beni and Imhotep were the most compelling after Evelyn was relegated to a damsel role in the climax (despite basically doing all of the brain work for the majority of the movie). In any case, mixed feelings overall but glad I watched it. I may watch the sequels but I am more interested in the Bogart film to see the tonal differences.
Watched May 23, 2023 - DirectorTony ScottStarsTom CruiseTim RobbinsKelly McGillisAs students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.I watched this since it was a cultural phenomenon and on the 1001 list, but I thought it was a fairly standard action film with a military veneer. I've heard the sequel is leagues better so I may still watch that at some point. In any case, characters in this often felt one-note and the soundtrack repeated itself much too often. The romance subplot was also unnecessary, but I enjoyed the friendship aspect between Maverick and Goose (and later Ice).
Watched March 25, 2023 - DirectorEthan ManiquisRobert RodriguezStarsDanny TrejoMichelle RodriguezRobert De NiroAfter being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.Just cheesy enough to be somewhat enjoyable; definitely entertaining, but by no means a "good film"
- DirectorPete TravisStarsDennis QuaidForest WhitakerMatthew FoxThe attempted assassination of the American President is told and re-told from several different perspectives.I barely remember this, but in retrospect it might have been why I liked "Rashomon" so much. That film did the various perspectives of its characters much better than this, but this was still a decent watch
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartKatharine HepburnRobert MorleyIn WWI East Africa, a gin-swilling Canadian riverboat captain is persuaded by a strait-laced English missionary to undertake a trip up a treacherous river and use his boat to attack a German gunship.A slower-paced movie that nonetheless offers a deep exploration of its two lead characters. While I wasn't wholly entertained throughout, the acting was solid and the scenery shots were nice
Watched July 22nd, 2018 - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris PineKevin CostnerKeira KnightleyJack Ryan, as a young covert C.I.A. analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.Watched in theaters
I've apparently seen more Keira Knightley movies than I realized haha. She was good in this, and Pine did a decent job, but the movie itself was rather bland - DirectorGary RossStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.It was all right, but it didn't really entice me to watch the other movies, or even finish the books for that matter
Pretty influential on pop culture when it came out though - DirectorAaron NeeAdam NeeStarsSandra BullockChanning TatumDaniel RadcliffeA reclusive romance novelist on a book tour with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure.I watched this primarily for its star-studded cast and found some serviceable and amusing comedy throughout. This was mostly to wind down from some harrowing documentaries the past few days. While I haven't seen Romancing the Stone, this is apparently a very similar premise. I enjoyed it for the most part but didn't feel like any of it was particularly noteworthy (aside from maybe the Pitt appearance)
Watched May 29, 2023 - DirectorGary ShoreStarsLuke EvansDominic CooperSarah GadonAs his kingdom is being threatened by the Turks, young prince Vlad Tepes must become a monster feared by his own people in order to obtain the power needed to protect his own family, and the families of his kingdom.I was curious was the first failed start of the Dark Universe would be so I checked this out. Though I felt the acting of the main family (Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon and Art Parkinson) was quite good, the plot overall didn't delve into the "Dracula" part of its namesake until the very end. This was basically a drama disguised as a gothic horror superhero film. None of the characters had time to develop beyond the family, and the ending was noticeably out of place and seemed like a random message of hope for an otherwise bleak (but otherwise impactful ending). I liked the soundtrack but felt the action scenes had too many cuts, and the scenery shots had too much CGI. Overall pretty underwhelming unfortunately.
Watched October 16, 2023 - DirectorJames MangoldStarsTom CruiseCameron DiazPeter SarsgaardA young woman gets mixed up with a disgraced spy who is trying to clear his name.Watched in theaters
This was an inoffensive watch from what I remember, but I wasn't particularly thrilled throughout - DirectorDavid SandbergStarsDavid SandbergJorma TacconeSteven ChewIn 1985, Kung Fury, the toughest martial artist cop in Miami, goes back in time to kill the worst criminal of all time - Kung Führer, a.k.a. Adolf Hitler.Captured the essence of 80s fighting games/sappy action films pretty well from (my admittedly extremely limited) knowledge of the era. Short and to the point, it was a fun watch
- DirectorDavid AyerStarsJason StathamEmmy Raver-LampmanBobby NaderiOne man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as "Beekeepers."I wanted to like this more than I did. The script was overall pretty poor and even though I liked basically everything about its premise (revenge on cyberscams, government corruption, etc.), it ultimately fell flat for me. Jeremy Irons was basically the only standout in the cast
Watched April 1, 2024 - DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsDanny TrejoAlexa PenaVegaMel GibsonThe U.S. government recruits Machete to battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer who looks to launch a weapon into space.Watched in theaters
This didn't really have the charm of the first one, but it was still entertaining - DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonJoanne SamuelHugh Keays-ByrneIn a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.I was wholly underwhelmed with this and thought Fury Road improved on literally every aspect. A great amount of material was left unexplained and seemed just a way to glorify the savagery of the post-apocalypse.