Action/Adventure and War Films
Many of these films are also available in DVD format.
The Bourne Identity (2002) .
Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente.
Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity. While his CIA superior (Chris Cooper) dispatches assassins to kill Bourne and thus cover up his failed mission, Bourne exercises his lethal training to leave a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris.
DVD Version
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Braveheart
(1995) Starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau.
A stupendous historical saga, Braveheart won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for star Mel Gibson. He plays William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish commoner who unites the various clans against a cruel English King, Edward the Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan). DVD Version
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Clear and Present Danger (1994)
CIA thriller dabbles in drugs, violence, and presidential politics. Fans
of action movies and spine-tinglers will be glued to their seats. Based on a Tom Clancey novel. A big hit with Harrison Ford fans. Stars: Harrison Ford, Willem Dafoe.
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Crimson Tide Captain and his first officer struggle for control of submarine's nuclear arsenal in this taut Hollywood post-Cold War thriller. Relentless pacing creates an
engrossing, entertaining movie experience. Stars: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman.
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Day of the Jackal
(1973) Complex assassination tale set in early 60s France about a killer hired to murder Charles DeGaulle. Critics praised its gritty, methodical style. Still a treat for fans of dramatic, suspenseful thrillers. Stars:Edward Fox, Alan Badel .
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Die Hard
The original, and the best of the series. While the plot is outlandish, this is fun action-packed adventure.
Bruce Willis is a New York City cop on vacation in California, and meets and beats a gang of terrorists. Also starring Alan Rickman as the icy-cold terrorist boss.
DVD Version
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Enemy of the State (1998) A Labor lawyer finds himself target of government conspiracy in
action-packed thriller. Amply entertains action buffs with superb pyrotechnics,
heart-stopping chases, dazzling visuals/editing . Stars:Will Smith, Gene Hackman. |
First Knight
(1995)
Starring Sean Connery, Richard Gere.
Handsome, sweeping, romantic adventure saga that focuses on a love triangle involving King Arthur (Connery), Lady Guinevere (Ormond), and a restless, roving spirit, who lives by his wits, named Lancelot (Gere). DVD Version
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F/X
(1986) High-voltage chase movie about a special effects master who's targeted by a manhunt. A big hit with action/thriller fans who seek an accelerated pace, tricky plot turns, innovative thriller twists. Stars: Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy. DVD Version
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Gladiator
(2000)
Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix.
A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects.
DVD Version
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Lethal Weapon
(1987) Mel Gibson and Danny Glover started a new trend with this series. As two LA cops, they set the pace in action/adventure combined with sardonic comedy. DVD Version
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Lethal Weapon II
(1989) Rarely does a sequel compare to the original, but many folks think this sequel is better than the first.
Gibson, Glover, and Joe Pesci create an unbeatable team.
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Mission Impossible
(1996) Starring Tom Cruise, John Voight. Based on the 1970's TV series, this hi-tech thriller updates the original story-line into the 90's. DVD Version
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No Way Out
(1987) Tension-filled Hollywood spy thriller about wrongly accused naval
officer trying to clear his name of murder. Jigsaw puzzle-complex plot and charismatic
performances makes this a big hit with suspense addicts.
Stars: Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman.
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Patriot Games
(1992) Harrison Ford, Anne Archer. Based on Tom Clancey's best selling novel. Harrison Ford is the government agent in pursuit (and pursued by) terrorists. This time it's the IRA after him.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen.Director: Steven Spielberg.
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas's 1981 resurrection of the Saturday-matinee adventure genre was deservedly popular, and kicked off a successful trilogy. Set in 1936, this first feature introduces Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, an archaeologist and adventurer whose quests for rare antiquities frequently find him running from one menace or another.
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Sneakers
(1992) Slick Hollywood caper film about group of computer nerds forced to
steal security secrets. Though critics were mixed, this should still satisfy fans of
mainstream, fun-filled heist films.
Stars: Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd. DVD Version
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Speed
(1994) Starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper. Reeves is a LA cop pursuing mad-bomber Dennis Hopper relentlessly through the streets of LA. Another of those almost non-stop good guy/bad guy flicks.
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The Fugitive
(1993) Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones. Another based-on-TV-series movie. This is the story of a well-known surgeon (Ford) wrongly accused of murdering his wife. He escapes jail, and is relentlessly pursued by the U.S. Marshall (Jones) as he seeks to find the real murderer. DVD Version
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The Terminator
(1984) "I'll be back...." Aliens from the future come to earth. One of the classic Arnie Roles. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Beihn. DVD Version
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True Lies
(1994) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold. What can we say? Arnie is the cream of action/adventure heros. This one typically packs in special effects action everywhere with Arnie as a secret agent on the trail of the bad guys. A note on this one: Tom Arnold turns in one of the best performances of his career.
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A Midnight Clear
(1992) Deliberately paced anti-war drama about isolated American and
German soldiers negotiating Christmas truce. Critics raved over the thoughtful script,
breathtaking photography, nuanced performances. Will please fans of
thought-provoking, character-driven drama.
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Breaker Morant
(1980) This Australian film offers a compelling view of the Boer War, skillfully acted and directed. Starring Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson.
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Gallipoli
(1981) Another superb Australian film, Gallipoli focuses on one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. Gripping action and outstanding direction make this a classic war film. Starring Mel Gibson.
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Glory
(1989) Based on a true story, Glory focuses on the creation of a Union Army all-black regiment during the Civil War. Beautifully filmed and magnificently acted, this film may be one of the best Civil War movies ever made. Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington.
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Memphis Belle
(1990) Based on a true story, the last flight of a bomber crew over Germany during World War II. Good solid characters and plot. Starring Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz. DVD Version
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Patton
(1970) Very few actors ever "own" a character as much as George C. Scott owns this role. A brilliant portrayal of one of America's most complex and famous military leaders. Starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden.
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PT 109
(1963) Based on John F. Kennedy's memoirs, the story of Kennedy's wartime experience as the commander of a PT boat in the Pacific during World War II. Starring Cliff Robertson, Robert Culp.
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Saving Private Ryan
(1998) One of the most gripping war stories of all time, the opening scenes of the D-Day invasion at Normandy are incredible. There may be some merit to critics' claims that the plot of the story does not hold up to the opening, but this is nonetheless a highly worthwhile film. Starring Tom Hanks.
DVD Version
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| More Action/Adventure Films | |
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Con Air(1997) Gone In 60 Seconds(2000) Minority Report (2002) Shaft (2000) The Perfect Storm(2000) | |