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Action

This tag is associated with 184 posts

To Defend or Not to Defend ‘The Matrix’ Sequels (2003)?

One of the more divisive, underwhelming followups to a landmark Hollywood trendsetter was the 2003 two-part sequel to the original Matrix (1999). The first Matrix remains one of the defining science-fiction action films of new millennium cinema, holding up to this day as a thinking-man’s high-concept, big-budget genre film, and arguably the most original mainstream … Continue reading

A Korean Genre Sampling: ‘The Wailing’ (2016), ‘Train to Busan’ (2016), & ‘The Villainess’ (2017)

Directed by: Na Hong-jin [W], Yeon Sang-ho [TB], Jung Byung-gil [V] || Produced by: Suh Dong-hyun, Kim Ho-sung [W], Lee Dong-ha [TB], Moon Young-hwa [V] Screenplay by: Na Hong-jin [W], Park Joo-suk [TB], Jung Byung-gil, Jung Byeong-sik [V] || Starring: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee [W], Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Su-an, … Continue reading

‘Looper’ (2012): Sci-Fi Noir Meets Time Travel

Directed by: Rian Johnson || Produced by: Ram Bergman, James D. Stern Screenplay by: Rian Johnson || Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels, Pierce Gagnon, Summer Qing, Tracie Thomas, Garret Dillahunt, Nick Gomez Music by: Nathan Johnson || Cinematography: Steve Yedlin || Edited by: Bob Ducsay … Continue reading

‘Hellboy’ (2004): From the Dark Side… to Our Side

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro || Produced by: Lawrence Gordon, Mike Richardson, Lloyd Levin Screenplay by: Guillermo del Toro || Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Karel Roden, Rupert Evans, John Hurt, Doug Jones, David Hyde Pierce, Brian Steel, Ladislav Beran, Bridget Hodson, Corey Johnson, Kevin Trainor Music by: Marco Beltrami || Cinematography: Guillermo … Continue reading

‘Beyond Thunderdome’ (1985): The Family-Friendly Mad Max

Directed by: George Miller, George Ogilvie || Produced by: George Miller Screenplay by: Terry Hayes, George Miller || Starring: Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence, Adam Cockburn, Frank Thring, Angelo Rossitto, Paul Larsson, Angry Anderson, Robert Grubb, Helen Buday, Edwin Hodgeman Music by: Maurice Jarre || Cinematography: Dean Semler || Edited by: Richard Francis-Bruce || … Continue reading

‘The Mummy’ (1999) & ‘The Mummy Returns’ (2001): The Last Great Adventure Films of Hollywood?

Directed by: Stephen Sommers || Produced by: Sean Daniel, James Jacks Screenplay by: Stephen Sommers || Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Arnold Vosloo, John Hannah, Kevin J. O’Connor, Jonathan Hyde, Oded Fehr, Erick Avari, Patricia Velasquez, Bernard Fox, Omid Djalili, Stephen Dunham, Corey Johnson, Tuc Watkins, Freddie Boath, Alun Armstrong, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Shaun Parkes, Bruce … Continue reading

‘Headshot’ (2016): The Expansion of Indonesian Action Cinema

Directed by: Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto Produced by: Shinjiro Nishimura, Wicky V. Olindo, John Radel, Mike Wiluan || Screenplay by: Timo Tjahjanto || Starring: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Chelsea Islan, David Hendrawan, Zack Lee, Sunny Pang, Very Tri Yulisman, Bront Palarae, Yayu Unru, Ario Bayu Music by: Aria Prayogi, Fajar Yuskemal || Cinematography: Yunus Pasolang … Continue reading

‘Wonder Woman’ (2017): A Contemporary Warrior Princess

Directed by: Patty Jenkins || Produced by: Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Richard Suckle Screenplay by: Allan Heinberg || Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock Music by: Rupert Gregson-Williams || Cinematography: Matthew Jensen || Edited by: … Continue reading

‘Skull Island’ (2017): Contemporary Monster Movie-Making Done Right

Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts || Produced by: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia Screenplay by: Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly || Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkens, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, John C. Reilly Music by: … Continue reading

‘John Wick 2’ (2017): Gun-Fu Goes Mainstream

Directed by: Chad Stahelski || Produced by: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee Screenplay by: Derek Kolstad || Starring: Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Franco Nero, Claudia Gerini Music by: Tyler Bates, Joel J. Richard || Cinematography: Dan Laustsen || Edited by: Evan Schiff || Country: United … Continue reading

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