The Top 50 Action Gems of the Decade – 30-21
The Cinema Drunkie, if that is in fact his real name, pitched an interesting idea a few months back. The idea… gather the opinions of “action experts” and staff members from five different action movie sites and compile a list of 50 action movies gems that were released between 2010 and 2019 that may have slipped under the radar, then share the list across all five sites…
Before Bulletproof Action joins The Action Elite, Action-Flix, Film Combat Syndicate and The Ultimate Action Movie Club by presenting our portion of the list (30-21), a word from the curator of the list himself, The Cinema Drunkie…
So the decade has come to an end, and it was more or less a solid one for action films. With it came many lists of the best action movies of the decade, which featured the usual suspects of titles, such as the John Wicks, The Raids, the Mission: Impossibles, and so on. But what about the under the radar action films? Action films that go greatly unseen by the masses, but are vigorously lauded by dedicated action fans like myself? The gems, if you will. Well, ladies and gentlemen, do I have a list for you! And to help me bring it to you, I have brought together an esteemed assortment of some of the most intelligent and influential action movie analysts from all over. So, without further ado, here are The Top 50 Action Gems of the Decade! – The Cinema Drunkie https://thecinemadrunkie.wordpress.com/
30. DIE FIGHTING (2015)
We don’t often hear from the good folks over at Z-Team Films, and if only due to the usual struggles of independent filmmaking that life brings. The one’s who’ve been following along, however, won’t likely forget the elevated levels of speed and sheer brutality in the balletic action design in their award-winning 2015 martial arts thriller. Centered on four aspiring action stars, their struggles soon multiply when a seeming psychopathic filmmaker kidnaps their loved ones, entrapping them to play a twisted game in which they each must fight for their very lives. The film is unquestionably one of the best martial arts action thrillers of the decade, and a more-than-fair qualifier for Fabien Garcia and Lohan Buson to get the funding and production muscle they deserve to keep on creating. – Lee B. Golden III, Film Combat Syndicate – founder and editor Film Combat Syndicate – Home
29. THE GUEST (2014)
The unpredictability of Adam Wingard’s The Guest is insane. There’s no way you will see all the twists and turns coming. Dan Stevens is a straight up killing machine. Part Terminator. Part Michael Myers. Part Nice Guy Next Door. The mashup of the action and horror genres is done in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The synth score is funky and very John Carpenter-esque, and the ending will leave you speechless and gasping for air. The Guest is Action Horror done just right, and one of the most entertaining movies of the decade. – The Real Todd Gaines
28. BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99
Brawl in Cell Block 99 might be one of the toughest, grittiest and hard hitting-ist action movies to come out not just in this last decade… but ever. From the acclaimed writer, director (and composer) S. Craig Zahler, the film stars Vince Vaughn in an against-type role for the ages. Basically channeling every hamfisted hammer strike Stone Steve Austin cold cinematically deliver, Vaugn’s journey through the dredges of the United States pennial system is every bit the ultimate action movie version of Dante’s Inferno. And while overall it’s a devastating film, the fight sequences do stand out for their simplicity in their grimy and graphic detail. – Jourdan Aldredge, Ultimate Action Movie Club editor and co-founder https://ultimateactionmovies.com/
27. RE:BORN (2016)
Ever since international martial arts action heavyweight Tak Sakaguchi came into the spotlight with his cult classic Versus, he has been steadily turning out some of the most over the top action entertainment since. Ironically, his latest feature to hit recently called Re:Born was supposed to be his retirement film. It looks like that news was premature because Tak is developing some more projects but in the meantime, Re:Born is his crowning achievement as it is locked and loaded with sensational jaw dropping martial arts and CQB action set pieces. The film utilizes a new system called the Zero Range Combat System which was developed by the fight choreographer and villain of the film Yoshitaka Inagawa and let me tell you this is one film that is filled with the most brutal and badass action ever. The system focuses on using bladed weapons to dispatch foes as quickly as possible and the non-stop thrills are a thing of brutal and bloody beauty. Tak is in fine form and delivers his best action to date and the scene in the forest where he takes on an army with only his hands, feet and knives is definitely worth the price of admission alone. A satisfying piece of Asian action cinema! – John M. Jerva, Action-flix editor & founder https://action-flix.com
26. KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE (2016)
Kickboxer: Vengeance’s updated tale of Kurt Sloane and Tong Po benefited greatly by the presence of the man who started it all the way back in 1989… Jean-Claude Van Damme. Kickboxer: Vengeance, with the blessing of Van Damme himself, laid the groundwork not only for a renewed Kickboxer franchise, but for the action movie career of the star of the film, Alain Moussi. The story follows the basic template from the original with Moussi’s Kurt Sloane traveling to Thailand looking to avenge his brother after his brother’s encounter with the ultimate kickboxing machine, Tong Po. Dave Bautista added some star power with his portrayal of Tong Po, although it was much different in tone than the Tong Po made famous by Michel Qissi (who has a cameo in Kickboxer: Vengeance). The supporting cast is strong with Sara Malakul Lane playing a cop investigating the underground fights, who eventually becomes Kurt’s love interest, Darren Shahlavi plays Kurt’s brother Eric (this would end up being Darren’s last feature film before his untimely death), Gina Carrano plays the greedy and cold fight promoter and last but not least, the aforementioned Jean-Claude Van Damme, who becomes Kurt’s trainer/mentor. – Chris The Brain https://www.bulletproofaction.com/
25. 24 HOURS TO LIVE (2017)
No one was more excited for Ethan Hawke’s evolution as a genre hero than me, through such films as Getaway, Predestination, Daybreakers & The Purge. But it 2017’s 24 Hours to Live that I feel truly showed his maximum potential as a lead hero. Directed by career stuntman and stunt coordinator Brian Smrz, 24 Hours to Live is truly a gem of an action picture, showing us that with the right people involved, you can tell an oft-told story and make it great again with fantastic acting and awesome action. And here’s hoping we get more of Ethan as the badass action hero, as I will be watching it like a… you get my drift. – The Cinema Drunkie https://thecinemadrunkie.wordpress.com/
24. KICKBOXER: RETALIATION (2018)
With the “origin story” out of the way, 2018’s Kickboxer: Retaliation got to be its own movie and tell its own story. Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) finds out his ultimate defeat of Tong Po in Kickboxer: Vengeance doesn’t come without a price as he is targeted by eccentric rich guy Thomas Moore (played by action legend Christopher Lambert). Moore goes to great lengths to get Kurt to square off with his monstrous fighter Mongkut (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) including kidnapping Kurt’s wife Liu (played by the sultry Sara Malakul Lane), throwing Kurt in prison and blinding Kurt’s sensei, Master Durand (Jean-Claude Van-Damme). The epic final fight between Kurt Sloane and Mongkut is worth the price of admission, but I believe the prison “oner” in the first act of the film is THE action highlight in a movie filled with action highlights. The addition of boxing legend Mike Tyson was a nice touch. – Chris The Brain https://www.bulletproofaction.com/
23. HEADSHOT
Martial arts superstar Iko Uwais gets to stretch his dramatic chops a bit as Ishmael, a man suffering from amnesia. His young doctor nurses him back to health and they develop a relationship. Don’t let this slow start fool you though. Ishmael’s violent past catches up to him and we are treated to some of the most hard hitting and brutal fight scenes of Uwais’ career, and the kinetic camerawork from directors Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us) ratchets up the intensity. A fantastic fight between Uwais and rising martial arts star Julie Estelle is only one highlight in this unforgettable movie. – Shane Cronican, Writer https://theactionelite.com/author/shane-cronican
22. STREET FIGHTER: ASSASSIN’S FIST (2014)
More than thirty two years and two failed live-action adaptations later, it was in 2014 when stunt professional, actor and filmmaker Joey Ansah went maverick and did what no other director had accomplished before. A premiere translation from video game lore into serial web/feature treatment, his independently-produced feature debut brilliantly and passionately chronicled the story of Ryu and Ken, and their boyhood adventures from nascent students of a legendary martial art, to the burgeoning warriors they need to become in order to defeat a greater evil. Their story is captured on screen for the first time with poise and grace, carried by actors Mike Moh and co-creator Christian Howard for a saga that never lived up to its potential if only for studio recalcitrance despite a promising acquisition by eOne not too recently. It’s a shame, but it’s also a deserving reminder in lieu of future studio adaptations of beloved game properties that there are absolutely no excuses for getting it wrong. None. – Lee B. Golden III, Film Combat Syndicate – founder and editor. Film Combat Syndicate – Home
21. CLOSE RANGE (2015)
In 2015’s Close Range, director Isaac Florentine (who has proven himself to be DTV version of Martin Scorsese to Adkins’ Leonardo DiCaprio) once again comes through with a winner. Adkins portrays Colton (many of the character names in Close Range have a Western motif), a former soldier with deadly martial arts skills. Those skills match his determination in taking out Sherriff Jasper Calloway, his deputies, and any other person foolish enough to kidnap Colton’s sister Angela and her daughter Hailey. When they’re forced at gunpoint into their living room, Angela coolly tells them, “He’s going to kill all of you.” Truer words were never spoken. – John Acquavita, Writer https://ultimateactionmovies.com/author/john-acquavita/
Check out The Action Elite for 50-41, Action-Flix for 40-31, Film Combat Syndicate for 20-11 and Ultimate Action Movie Club for 10-1!
