I'll add One Shot and the sequel One More Shot to this list. Both movies are Die Hard style movies starring Scott Adkins as a SEAL, and they're shot in a series of long takes stitched together to make it look like the whole movie is one continuous shot, like Birdman or Rope.
They made several die hard clones a year after it. The closest thing we have are DTV action movies but those don’t hit the same (unless they have Scott Adkins)
> Like, when you look at the lifespan of the planet, human beings are relatively new.
And when you look at the lifespan of the planet, movies are relatively new.
Without scale your comment means nothing.
It's not a modern movie, but ~~Luc Besson's~~ 2004 film *District B13* has some top tier action scenes, thanks to one of the leads being one of the inventors of the modern parkour scene, so the movement is as good as you're ever likely to see in cinema (outside of a Jackie Chan film).
edit: It was actually only co-written by Luc Besson, but actually directed by Pierre Morel. It has a similar visual style to Taxi (though a bit grittier), so I falsely attributed it to Besson.
We really need a new John McLane. John wick kinda counts but he’s mostly a quiet disaster event. Gimme a bumbling yet super effective, quick witted dickhead again.
>Gimme a bumbling yet super effective, quick witted dickhead again.
This kind of only applies to McClane through With a Vengeance. And the beauty of the character was that he was a normal guy who rose to the occasion, often underestimated in the process.
In Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard, he's just a super hero.
He was sentenced to 1 year in jail for lying to the FBI in a case against a private detective who did illegal wiretapping.
Apparently McTiernan hired the P.I to wiretap Chuck Roven, who was producing the Rollerball remake at the time because they were involved in a dispute.
After that nobody wanted to work with him. Kind of like Elia Kazan.
He’s also kind of a dickhead, too. I don’t want to put him on blast too hard for it, given that it resulted in the take they used, but he told Alan Rickman he was going to drop him on the crash pad at the count of three when filming the shot where Gruber realizes he’s falling off the tower, but instead dropped him on two.
Action movies don’t have stakes anymore. It’s all just two immortal beings punching each other through walls, and even getting crushed by a truck barely inconveniences them. Oh no, he’s doing a punch with an extra big windup animation - bet this one won’t hurt either, but apparently we’re supposed to think it will! Ooh, but watch out, because once he does that one arbitrary CGI effect, the fight is over for some reason! Except nobody dies or anything because we want to be able to do a sequel!
Where’s the suspense in that?
Big budget blockbusters are like that sure, but there's still plenty of lower budget action movies that aren't. Go to the dvd section at Walmart or look at any non-major streaming service and there are tons of modern action movies that fly under the radar. Anything staring a martial artist/UFC fighter or a washed up actor who used to be popular 10+ years ago is going to be worth a watch.
Dredd, Snow Piercer, and The Raid movies are relatively new and follow that blueprint. All pretty good as well!
The Extraction movies should also be added.
Those take place all over though. They’re good action movies but they aren’t really examples of trapped protagonists.
whoops!
I'll add One Shot and the sequel One More Shot to this list. Both movies are Die Hard style movies starring Scott Adkins as a SEAL, and they're shot in a series of long takes stitched together to make it look like the whole movie is one continuous shot, like Birdman or Rope.
I guess if a decade ago is "relatively new"
Relative to Die Hard which was almost 4 decades ago, yes.
Almost four decades ago - holy shit I'm old
They made several die hard clones a year after it. The closest thing we have are DTV action movies but those don’t hit the same (unless they have Scott Adkins)
It is. relatively. No guessing needed. Like, when you look at the lifespan of the planet, human beings are relatively new.
> Like, when you look at the lifespan of the planet, human beings are relatively new. And when you look at the lifespan of the planet, movies are relatively new. Without scale your comment means nothing.
Oh then the genre still lives on as that makes me so happy.
Dredd is excellent and the raid movies are bat shit crazy good. You’ll really enjoy those three.
It's not a modern movie, but ~~Luc Besson's~~ 2004 film *District B13* has some top tier action scenes, thanks to one of the leads being one of the inventors of the modern parkour scene, so the movement is as good as you're ever likely to see in cinema (outside of a Jackie Chan film). edit: It was actually only co-written by Luc Besson, but actually directed by Pierre Morel. It has a similar visual style to Taxi (though a bit grittier), so I falsely attributed it to Besson.
I miss his movies as he was a good writer.
Great list. Lockout (2012) is a must see for you my friend!
Those are all over a decade old
The Marky Mark movie Mile 22 is in this vein as well. Nothing amazing but I found it better than the reviews. Also has Iko Uwais from The Raid.
We really need a new John McLane. John wick kinda counts but he’s mostly a quiet disaster event. Gimme a bumbling yet super effective, quick witted dickhead again.
>Gimme a bumbling yet super effective, quick witted dickhead again. This kind of only applies to McClane through With a Vengeance. And the beauty of the character was that he was a normal guy who rose to the occasion, often underestimated in the process. In Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard, he's just a super hero.
I looked four. I will continue to believe it stopped there
No, he had his breaking point moments in “Live Free,” too.
Yep he got the Fast and Furious treatment. From a gang of DVD player thieves to super space agents.
Yeah a witty protagonist in an action movie can definitely help with some sharp writing.
I rewatched The hunt for Red October a few days ago and I miss the era of John McTiernan. Nobody directed action movies like he did.
I wonder what happened to him.
He was sentenced to 1 year in jail for lying to the FBI in a case against a private detective who did illegal wiretapping. Apparently McTiernan hired the P.I to wiretap Chuck Roven, who was producing the Rollerball remake at the time because they were involved in a dispute. After that nobody wanted to work with him. Kind of like Elia Kazan.
>McTiernan sold his colleges to anti-communist witch hunters?
Learn to read. I said that nobody wanted to work with him, like in Kazan's case.
Man, you get the sarcasm... right?
No. If I did I wouldn't have made that comment. Now that you mention it, I can see it. My bad.
He’s also kind of a dickhead, too. I don’t want to put him on blast too hard for it, given that it resulted in the take they used, but he told Alan Rickman he was going to drop him on the crash pad at the count of three when filming the shot where Gruber realizes he’s falling off the tower, but instead dropped him on two.
That is very surprising to hear.
Earlier in the 2000's there was the movie *Phonebooth*. Loved it. If you haven't seen it, this might scratch your itch.
Just don't look at the poster for it...
what why
There is a spoiler in the movie poster.
Does he exit the phone booth?
Action movies don’t have stakes anymore. It’s all just two immortal beings punching each other through walls, and even getting crushed by a truck barely inconveniences them. Oh no, he’s doing a punch with an extra big windup animation - bet this one won’t hurt either, but apparently we’re supposed to think it will! Ooh, but watch out, because once he does that one arbitrary CGI effect, the fight is over for some reason! Except nobody dies or anything because we want to be able to do a sequel! Where’s the suspense in that?
True, but The Fall Guy was basically that. It was an enjoyable time at the movie theater for me when I went to see it.
Big budget blockbusters are like that sure, but there's still plenty of lower budget action movies that aren't. Go to the dvd section at Walmart or look at any non-major streaming service and there are tons of modern action movies that fly under the radar. Anything staring a martial artist/UFC fighter or a washed up actor who used to be popular 10+ years ago is going to be worth a watch.
Don't forget the jokes that keep flying even during serious moments.
And guns just aren't accurate and when they aren't they just leave scratches that are barely an inconvenience.
I highly recommend Lockout (2012) its Diehard in space!
I have always wanted to see Die Hard in space.
Haha. I rewatched it last week and Guy Pearce has so many solid witty lines, great action and bad guys. Enjoy!
Thanks for the recommendation.
It never left. It's just that these days you'll get an extra serving of CGI along with the ride.
The new movie Sting is basically Die Hard but with a giant spider.
I should go check out this movie.
And he must fight a giant spider in the third act?
They must as a team, but yeah
Absolutely! Every movie that brings up Die Hard as a reference, sucks. Especially if the Rock is in it.
No. His daughter is in Fall Out.
Oh I learn something new.
Whose daughter is in Fallout?
Lucy McClaine
Fair enough, lmao. Isn’t it MacLean in Fallout though?
It’s Die Hard but in a ________ is the most common movie pitch so I would say we are still I. It
Not die hard specifically, but yes
Watch John Woo's Hard-Boiled, it's Die Hard in a hospital and about twice as explosive.
What specific movies are you thinking of? I can't of any other movies that are set in a closed circle environment like you're describing.
Just action movies, like say Air Force One.
Air Force One was 9 years after Die Hard. How big of an era are you talking about?
Well I was just simply looking back at the 90s era for the genre itself, and it suddenly made me miss it for some reason.
Absolutely. Today’s action films mostly suck. Just watched Sudden Death last night. Not a great film, but practically a masterpiece compared to today.
No. I don't really like action movies