Last week we gave a list of horror films (check them out HERE), so this week we thought we'd try and give some films that are (overall) a bit more fun! So buckle up and get ready for some action!
The Mask of Zorro (1998) | Netflix
Chances are some of you might remember The Mask of Zorro from that one time your Spanish teacher in high school took a sick day and the substitute teacher was tasked with rolling in the big CRT TV and pressing play on a Deluxe Edition DVD of the movie. No? Just me? The Mask of Zorro, a film adaptation of the Zorro TV show from the 1950s, is about a masked swordsman whose story is sure to get some bat ear's twitching. The movie is directed by Martin Campbell (look at #2) and stars Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. While the movie is primarily rooted in the action-adventure genre, with some well-choreographed sword fights that are clear to see, there is also a healthy helping of romance. Plus with the musical score of James Horner (Avatar) and Cinematography by Phil Meheux (Casino Royale) it's clear why this is a must-watch. Some of you may like to know that there is a 2005 sequel to The Mask of Zorro called The Legend of Zorro and while it's not nearly as good, it still has more or less the same cast and crew.
GoldenEye (1995) | Netflix
Sticking with the classics for number 2, This film is Pierce Brosnan's first appearance as James Bond. Directed by Martin Campbell, this Bond film features a former ally who is now his enemy (Sean Bean), as well as his beautiful partner, Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen). The innuendos in her name say it all. Bean's character has acquired a weapon that will destroy the earth in just one short pulse! Bond must square off against him and Onatopp to save the planet! This movie is as fun as it is cheesy, and it is truly a 90s spy film. The rest of Pierce's Bond films are also available on Netflix: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002), so if you like this one, you have plenty more to watch in your free-time stuck at home!
A Company Man (2012) | YouTube Free
This South Korean film directed by Lim Sang-yoon shows a faded pop star (Lee Mi-yeon) who gives a contract killer (So Ji-sub) a reason to want to quit their job as an assassin. This film has some truly excellent action and an unrelenting plot. It takes the life of an assassin and places it into a modern and soulless corporate world. Sang-yoon combines various movie elements, that you wouldn't always think would work together, and creates a cohesive and endearing story. The film is also a drama, so you may have to wait a little between action sequences as the story develops, but, when the action does come, it is always very well-chosen and well made. This is a bit of a slow burn, but we still think it is worth taking a look at.
Ninja Assassin (2009) | Netflix
Director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), brings a very fun and high-action film about a man who was trained to kill from a very young age named Raizo (Rain) who is a part of an elite and secret clan of ninjas called the Ozunu. After the death of his friend, he breaks free from the clan. While this is happening, an agent (Naomie Harris) is discovering a money trail linking the group to many murders. Raizo must team up with her to protect her from his former clansman and attempt to bring down the group forever. If you want an extreme and very well choreographed Martial Arts action film that features lots of blood and gore, then this is definitely the film for you.
War (2019) | Prime (also available in 4K)
This Bollywood film is about an Indian soldier (Tiger Shroff), who must eliminate his former mentor (World's Most Handsome Man Hrithik Roshan). The film features some truly great action sequences, but they focus a bit too much on "cool" concepts instead of having a cohesive story. Hrithik and Tiger really carry the movie with their skill at fight choreography, and it is definitely a very fun film to watch, just don't try and analyze the story that much. Our full spoiler-free written review of War is linked HERE.
A Telugu-language film that came out around the same time called Saaho is also available on Prime, also available in 4k, and on Netflix. We wrote a Spoiler-filled article comparing the two, and discussing what makes a good plot twist, HERE.
Drive (2011) | Netflix
A skilled Hollywood Stuntman called Driver (Ryan Gosling) spends his nights as a getaway driver. With his secret life of crime, there isn't much room for personal connections, but his neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her son (Kaden Leos), begin to make their way into his heart. When her husband (Oscar Isaac), gets out of jail, he enlists Driver's help, but things don't go to plan. This film features amazing car chases and some truly brutal violence. Gosling does a spectacular job as Driver, and director Nicolas Winding Refn brings together the feel of a throwback thriller mixed with stylistic brutal violence.
Overlord (2018) | Hulu and Prime
This action movie also crosses a bit into horror. This film takes place on the eve of D-Day as American paratroopers penetrate an enemy base that lies in a fortified church to destroy a radio transmitter. As they continue towards their goal, they discover that there is a lot more going on in this Nazi-occupied village than they thought. Produced by J.J. Abrams, directed by Julius Avery, and starring Wyatt Russel, Mathilde Oliver, Jovan Adepy, and Pilou Asbæk, this film offers a nice twist to the typical tropes seen in war films and is definitely worth a watch.
Next Week's list will be out on May 17th so stay tuned!
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