WHat are your opinions of the greatest action film of all time? Not simply your favorite, but the absolute greatest?
Discuss!

Its hard to name one that is not your favorite. Two that come to mind are:

The Matrix (of course): As we all know, it was sheer genius for the Wachowski's and Yen Wo Ping to train the actors to actually do the fighting. Bullet time will go down into filmmaking history, and the lobby shootout scene broke new ground for a gunfighting sequence.

Face Off: I have always loved the action in this movie. Particularly the scene where there is a large gun battle set to "Somewhere over the Rainbow". Amazing. Something about it sets it apart in my mind. Of course these are "American" movies. I am sure there are plenty in eastern cinema too.

Die Hard. It has a really tight script. Anyone who wants to write an action script has to look at Die Hard for pacing, for complications and payoffs.

If action-adventures count, throw in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Raiders of the Lost Ark as mentioned as well as Die Hard; two of the greatest (and favorites!).

Hard to decide what is an ACTION flick. IMDB has films I never would have thought would be considered ACTION per se. Here are some I love and consider the greatest:

Aliens
Saving Private Ryan
Braveheart
The Terminator (1 and 2)

Oh, heck yeah, T2. How could that one have slipped our minds. Action par excellance.

60's:
The Wild Bunch
Comment: It just came to mind for the 60's...a great film ahead of its time. I recently read an interview with the writer, and it has a very interesting history.

70's
Star Wars
Comment: Yes, I consider it action as well as every other type of genre! This film is amazingly perfect for any kid that was 5 years old in 1977.

80's
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Comment: Probably one of the best films ever made, and makes an incredible follow up to Star Wars for a 9 year old in 1981!

90's
JFK
Comment: It's not known as an action film, but it does have lots of action. It's an amazingly overlooked film in all aspects of filmmaking. Do yourself a favor and get the Special Edition, and watch it again.

00's
Gladiator
Comment: It set the tone for action films, not my favorite though. It just has all the elements needed to set a course for others to follow.

Murph

Hard Boiled- starring Chow Yun Fat, directed by John Woo. Tons of unbelievable gunplay, very little reloading. Simply put, this is the most kick ass action movie I've ever seen. Also love A Bridge Too Far, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Zulu, and Zulu Dawn and about a million other flicks I can't think of right now!

Have to agree wholeheartedly with Keith regarding Die Hard, the first. It really is one of the most well-rounded action stories.

Also, Matrix, the first, took everyone on a wild ride that cannot be ignored. It's not often that you watch a film for the first time and wonder "where are they taking me?" I still remember the excitement I felt when Keanu took the pill and we fly into his mouth and he wakes up in the sludge. A complete mystery as to what will happen next. THAT is action filmmaking at its finest.

One word:

ALIENS

Mad Max

I decided to wait to post my choices:
They are


Terminator 2

Star Wars



I thought for a while about Indiana Jones. IMHO it's the greatest adventure movie of all time, but as a pure action film, it doesn't measure up, which is OK since it isn't.

Hmmm Star Wars has action elements but it is mostly adventure fantasy.

Oh god!

THE ROAD WARRIOR. How can we forget that one? Brilliant. And C. Murph I was about 13 when this came out and I was trippin!

I haven't seen Predator listed here anywhere.

Also, in the action-adventure vein - The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Future directors, pay close attention to the way Curtis moves his camera.

I will give you a 50's, The Seven Samurai.

I also would suggest Gran Prix.

Grand Prix is certainly one of the best driving movies ever.

Seven Samurai was somthing I considered, but while it is a fantastic film, the action isn't in the same league as others.

Re: Star Wars, agreed, sci-fi not action, but the action elements are near non-stop and certainly top most "pure" action films.

Re: Predator
One of my favorite action films, but on it's best day is no T2.

Re: Die Hard
On Keith's nomination, I watched it today. It would easily win as best realistic action film, realistic in the sense that it has no alients, Death Stars, or robotic assasins.
To quote the FBI quoting Homer Simpson:
"Dear Die Hard
You Rock!"

Anybody ever see "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia". While not the greatest action movie ever, it had some of the most brutal, gruesome violence of the 70's(?). Also it had an atypical structure/payoff that really worked.

sorry...maybe i shouldn't have posted that, but the violence was so "coldblooded" and real. Ahead of its time.

My first thought for "greatest action film ever" was 'The Sound of Music'. Um... but anyway, I liked 'Ronin' though I'm not sure if that's considered an "action movie". I've never really understood how movies are categorized (obviously).

Jesse, "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" was directed by Sam Peckinpah who is still extremely influential for his introduction of that kind of violence into American film. The archtypical Peckinpah movie was "The Wild Bunch" which really stood put a close on the John Ford western genre. It remains one of my favourite films not just because of its violence but because of its themes of morality and amorality. Even though it is certainly action-packed, I wouldn't consider "The Wild Bunch" or "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" as strictly action pictures.

Peckinpah is fabulous. I've read two bios about him and his life is fascinating.

How come nobody mentioned Peckinpah's "The Getaway" starring Steve McQueen? I mean, come on, that movie has the best and most graphic gunplay in the history of cinema.

What about the James Bond series? Hello?

The Getaway, yes, I will mention it with all sincerity, because it's terrific.
I'm not an action flick sort of person, but I have over the years (of my youth) gone through bouts of admiration: John Woo's Hong Kong films, Peckinpah...I go for the (flawed) character films no matter what, I suspect. "Strictly action"? I'm not sure I know about that, but:

The Getaway
Lawrence of Arabia
John Woo's The Killer
Marathon Man
Straw Dogs
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Italian Job (original)

I do like The Matrix, or at least certain trends that it has introduced or popularized into action filmmaking. Action is motion, and this film has sparked interesting perspective on motion, action, dynamic, that sort of thing. That whole speeding up to the subject, then suddenly slowing down to pass it by, then speeding away...I still think that that kind of cinematic treatment of subject is very inspiring and welcome as an addition to the cinematography vernacular (whatever the genre).

Some may find this to be a stretch in an Action thread, but I really like what the Godard/Coutard team did with "action" in their films. No one would ever classify their films as action films, probably, but their treatment of violence within the stories can be quite astonishing. Camera work and editing. Sometimes detached, sometimes psycho, sometimes enlivening, often disorienting. Their sense of "action" didn't always have a gun directly involved in the situation, though it kind of felt like it did, sometimes. And remember, no Godard/Coutard, no Tarantino.

Heres my perspective as an Englishman:

Die Hard
T2
Aliens
Matrix
Predator
Indiana Jones 1+3
James Bond films

Not that different from you guys ;)

Unfortunately, us British folk can't really make a good Action film (apart from JB of course) so it is usually left to Hollywood.

Just my 2 pence.

What about British Director Peter Yates' movie "The Chase"? wasn't that action?

How about the original "Get Carter", that was from you Brits, wasn't it?

I think I will open another avenue. I think Jackie's Shanghai Noon is a great one.

I'll pretend you didn't just try to add "Shanghai Noon" to the list of greatest action movies ever!...

j/k...I love most of Jackie's movies (could have lived with out "The Tuxedo", and "Shanghai Nights"). "Shanghai Noon" really did kicked a**

I don't know .. "Get Carter" is an awesome film but .. 'action'? The most action it had was Carter being driven down from the parking lot by that girl in the convertible.

You know, I didn't see the film ("Get Carter"), just a couple of clips, and it made it look like a bad a** shoot 'em up. I guess I should have known better after what they do with "previews" nowadays.

It's not a shoot em up. It's an excellent film, though. Ever see "The Limey"? That was based upon those kinds of films. Michael Caine is awesome in "Get Carter".

I thought "The Limey" was boring BUT the technique of juxtaposing earlier films of the actor was kinda cool.

Hmm, personally one of my fav actions films, besides the star wars/indiana jones/jurassic park/t2/aliens/predator series..

Lethal Weapon!

Nothing like a good buddy cop movie which blends in great action sequences with endless comedic quips. Definitely a fav, if only i can convince the Gf to get me the dvd sets :D

cheers
Vish

Kill Bill vol 1.. Action for actions sake.. no compromise.. From dusk till dawn.. Another movie you don't really know what's happening the first time you see it..

I'll throw another one in there:

The Abyss

Some of the most thrilling sequences I've ever seen. All I can say is: The wedding ring!!!!!

Intensity all the way through.

Make sure you see the Special Extended Edition. Changes the whole ending of the movie and fleshes out the characters some more.

Sorry Jamie, but IMHO the alternative ending was a huge disappoinment... When those things surface the movie go bad, bad bad.. They are beautiful under water but they should have stayed there.
I love the short version though..(the end)

Yes! The Abyss is full of great action sequences; the ring, the woman drowning (dramatic action) and then bringing her back to life and the underwater chase where M. Biehn implodes! Great film.

There is a film called EXTREME PREDJUDICE that has an end sequence gunfight that is great.

Extreme Prejudice is heavily influenced by The Wild Bunch.

Terminator 2, The Matrix, Blade & Aliens are my all time favorites.