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Some of My Favorite Action/Adventure Films

By: Jazzalo​ha

Here is my list of criteria for a great action/adventure film and the films that best meet these criteria:

Protagonists the audience likes and cares about. I also like to see some interesting twists to the hero is also welcomed, but I can live with formulaic characters, if it’s done well. For example, I really liked Bruce Willis’ John McClain, the rebel, wise-cracking cop. Another favorite is the anti-hero a la Bogart in Casablanca. I can see those type of characters over and over again, as long as they’re done well.
A really great villian. To me, this means some one that provides a formidable challenge to the protagonists. A good villian has to generate a certain level of fear and disdain from the audience, too.
A good story. The characters and action have to take place within a story that is interesting and compelling. Resolutions in the story must be believable and satisfying. Part of a satifying resolution involves freshness versus cliches. For example, I’m totally uninterested in a chase scene at the end of an action film that takes place in a dark building, where the hero and villian shoot at each other and often the final climax occurs over a precipice of some sort. However in terms of the overall story, I don’t mind if a film stays close to a tried-and-true formula as long as they execute. Raiders of the Lost Ark is a good example.
Great action sequences. This includes everything from the way the sequences are shot (One important part of this is shooting a scene so that the audience can clearly see and follow the action.) to the set-up of the sequence and the way the scene fits in with the characters and the overall story. The other part of a great action sequence involves the first three criteria. They’re often more important than good effects or spectacular stunts. Meeting the first three criteria can make or break the scene.
Challenging predicaments for the hero and satisfying solutions to those predicaments. The scenes don’t always have to contain physical action. For example, in Die Hard the scene where John McClain meets Hans on the roof is exciting with much physical action. In general Die Hard has many good examples of interesting predicaments. (This is related to the criterion above, but I thought I would list it separately.)

The following is a list of some of my favorite action films—not necessarily in order of preference.

 

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