1. Die Hard
Director: John McTiernan
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov
It's Christmas Eve, and John McClane (Bruce Willis) has to go rescue his wife's douchebaggy new employers. So what if McClane peppers his destruction with self-pity? You would too if you were gunning for the world's only terrorist with feet smaller than your sister's.
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Robo-Schwarzenegger returns, this time to save John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance against machines. With a freaky sci-fi premise, amazing action, and visual effects that still hold up, T2 gets our vote. The Governator, not so much.
3. The Matrix
Director: Larry and Andy Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
The inspiration for countless camera tricks and slow-the-action-waaaaay-down shootouts, The Matrix managed to do what Speed and Point Breakcouldn't-make Keanu Reeves seem human (albeit only compared to a horde of intelligent computer programs).
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
The inspiration for countless camera tricks and slow-the-action-waaaaay-down shootouts, The Matrix managed to do what Speed and Point Breakcouldn't-make Keanu Reeves seem human (albeit only compared to a horde of intelligent computer programs).
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliot
Impressionable '70s babies kids learned a lot from Raiders-what "archaeology" means, how much fun whips can be, and that Nazis melt like a nice Gruyère. Above all, Indiana Jones taught us that balls-out swagger goes a long way.
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliot
Impressionable '70s babies kids learned a lot from Raiders-what "archaeology" means, how much fun whips can be, and that Nazis melt like a nice Gruyère. Above all, Indiana Jones taught us that balls-out swagger goes a long way.
5. The Bourne Ultimatum
Director: Paul Greengrass
Stars: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Straithairn, Edgar Ramirez, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen, Albert Finney, Colin Stinton, Joey Ansah
The last of a trilogy that improved with each sequel, Ultimatum's relentless cat-and-mouse chase turns a train-station stroll into a pulse-quickening pursuit, a coffee-table book into a brutal weapon, and Matt Damon into the ultimate ass-kicking machine. That was a lot of hyphens, but you get the drift.
Stars: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Straithairn, Edgar Ramirez, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen, Albert Finney, Colin Stinton, Joey Ansah
The last of a trilogy that improved with each sequel, Ultimatum's relentless cat-and-mouse chase turns a train-station stroll into a pulse-quickening pursuit, a coffee-table book into a brutal weapon, and Matt Damon into the ultimate ass-kicking machine. That was a lot of hyphens, but you get the drift.
6. Predator
Director: John McTiernan
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo
OK, let's get this straight. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura (that's two governors right there), and Apollo fucking Creed (Carl Weathers) get stalked by a dreadlocked alien who's armed with a nuclear device? Two words: Fuck and yes.
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo
OK, let's get this straight. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura (that's two governors right there), and Apollo fucking Creed (Carl Weathers) get stalked by a dreadlocked alien who's armed with a nuclear device? Two words: Fuck and yes.
7. The Killer
Director: John Woo
Stars: Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kenneth Tsang, Chu Kong
The ultimate Hong Kong collabo—John Woo and Chow-Yun Fat—strikes again, this time with Fat double-fisting firepower in as an assassin who has to fend off a double-cross on his way to redemption. The original Mandarin title is Die xue shuang xiong, which translates to "holy SHIT, that's a lot of bullets."
Stars: Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kenneth Tsang, Chu Kong
The ultimate Hong Kong collabo—John Woo and Chow-Yun Fat—strikes again, this time with Fat double-fisting firepower in as an assassin who has to fend off a double-cross on his way to redemption. The original Mandarin title is Die xue shuang xiong, which translates to "holy SHIT, that's a lot of bullets."
8. The Dark Knight
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts
Heath Ledger's final opus, directed by the dude who made Memento, all with Christian Bale's hilarious gravel voice and some of the greatest psychosis/blowing things up in the greatest city of all time. The final result: A superhero epic that;s well worth the two-and-a-half-hour sit-down.
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts
Heath Ledger's final opus, directed by the dude who made Memento, all with Christian Bale's hilarious gravel voice and some of the greatest psychosis/blowing things up in the greatest city of all time. The final result: A superhero epic that;s well worth the two-and-a-half-hour sit-down.
9. Aliens
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, William Hope
James Cameron's sequel to Ridley Scott's brilliant sci-fi/horror flick Alien teaches us to never underestimate the stupidity of man-who else would insist on colonizing an alien-infested planet? Once communication with the colony is lost, the guns come out, and they don't stop blasting 'til the credits roll.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, William Hope
James Cameron's sequel to Ridley Scott's brilliant sci-fi/horror flick Alien teaches us to never underestimate the stupidity of man-who else would insist on colonizing an alien-infested planet? Once communication with the colony is lost, the guns come out, and they don't stop blasting 'til the credits roll.
10. Braveheart
Director: Mel Gibson
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfayden, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine McCormack
Mel Gibson's medieval period piece took home five Oscars, but it's no cinephile schlockfest—unless flaming arrows and mass hangings are your idea of high-brow fare. Ignore it at your peril, sugartits.
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfayden, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine McCormack
Mel Gibson's medieval period piece took home five Oscars, but it's no cinephile schlockfest—unless flaming arrows and mass hangings are your idea of high-brow fare. Ignore it at your peril, sugartits.
To see more movies: http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/03/the-50-best-action-movies-of-all-time/braveheart
