In this article I’m covering films 50-41. Another 10 movies that deliver a little bit of everything from the wilderness to a guy’s night gone wrong, with martial-arts action and tons of gunplay. So, let’s dive into it.

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50. Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

In at #50 is an entry in one of the great action franchises. The tagline was simple, “the magic is back again” and it certainly was in 1992’s Lethal Weapon 3 directed by Richard Donner. Starring the usual suspects Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci, with Rene Russo making her franchise debut.

While not as good as the first two, Lethal Weapon 3 is still a damn good action flick with loads of visually stunning practical effects. Gibson and Glover are top-notch as they always were in this franchise and the addition of Rene Russo, and the amplification of Pesci’s Leo Getz were able to open the door to more comedy outside of the Riggs/Murtaugh banter. The story is nicely structured, it keeps a smooth pace and brings a charming variety to the action. From the explosive intro to the chase sequences, fight scenes, and shootouts there is a buffet of action all with the lovable characters we know from this series. Admittedly the villain here, the ex-cop stealing weaponry is a bit limited. I would’ve preferred a larger screen presence for the heavy in this film but as it stands Lethal Weapon 3 is still an engaging watch.

49. Patriot Games (1992)

Moving along to #49 is an espionage thriller about a man on a mission not for honor, or for his country. But for his wife and child, Harrison Ford would star as Jack Ryan in 1992’s Patriot Games directed by Phillip Noyce also starring Anne Archer, Sean Bean and Patrick Bergin.

Admittedly this is much more of an espionage, government agency crime drama than a traditional action movie but when the action does kick in Patriot Games is a suspenseful ride with a charming international atmosphere. Harrison Ford is exceptional in the lead. He’s the viable action hero when the story needs him to be, but he has a softer humanity to him as well and that duality in his role makes this movie so much more intriguing. Because you truly can immerse yourself in the mission thrown at Jack Ryan’s feet. Sean Bean and Patrick Bergin are both very strong in their roles, as is Anne Archer, and the game of cat-and-mouse Patriot Games explores is well-structured, evenly paced, and capped off with an unnerving finale that will leave you plenty satisfied.

48. Surviving the Game (1994)

Ernest R. Dickerson delivered a winner with my #48 pick set in the wilderness where humans hunt humans in the often forgotten Surviving the Game from 1994 starring Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Charles S. Dutton, Gary Busey, F. Murray Abraham, and John C. McGinley.

I think this is a tragically overlooked action flick from the middle of the decade that takes the human-hunting-human formula and does it extremely well. Ice-T is great in this movie but Surviving the Game shows how delightfully intense of a film you can get when the villains carry a larger screen presence than the hero. Hauer, Dutton, and Busey are all menacing in their own way. Ice-T carries his own and with the film never taking him out of his lane, meaning he isn’t suddenly taking guys out easily, it makes the carried suspense so much more effective as he has to use his ingenuity to survive. This is also a slickly directed film. The on location shoots out in the wilderness, much like Cliffhanger is able to pull you out and into the mountains with these characters and it’s a great ride, with a world class ensemble cast, and just enough twists and turns.

47. Rapid Fire (1992)

Now movie #47 is a forgotten action gem with a strong 80s vibe from director Dwight H. Little, about a man who is unarmed and extremely dangerous in 1992’s Rapid Fire starring Brandon Lee and Powers Boothe.

Brandon Lee’s life was tragically cut short but Rapid Fire will always be a sample of what he could have provided the action genre. To me Rapid Fire is Brandon Lee’s Lionheart. A chance for him to lead his own film for western audiences and he is great as a student who sees something he shouldn’t have. There’s no denying this is a by-the-numbers assembly-line action movie but the charisma in Lee’s performance is undeniable. He’s charming, sexy, and effortless in delivering smooth, fluid fight choreography. I do wish this movie had a bit more action as it goes through the motions but what is here works more than well. It’s subtle but the choreography in this movie was fantastic, the action scenes are great, and Powers Boothe is (as always) fantastic and gives the film a viable villain. You may not have seen this one, or maybe forgot it existed, but when the action is in gear it’s a great time.

46. The Fifth Element (1997)

We’re heading hundreds of years into the future for my #46 film from director Luc Besson. It stars Bruce Willis, Mila Jovovich, and Gary Oldman. Time is not important, only life is important, and all will be lost unless they find The Fifth Element from 1997.

I always enjoy sitting back and watching this sci-fi extravaganza from time-to-time. The story is admittedly a bit…messy. But it’s enough to connect all the elaborate action sequences and with the performances from Willis, Jovovich, Oldman and others there’s no shortage of screen presence for the focal characters. The Fifth Element is longer than needed but I can appreciate the conceptual design, the production design, the wardrobes, and the worldbuilding more than enough to have a great time with the mental escape this one provides. The Fifth Elements is highly engaging and it’s enough to overlook its flaws because overall it is well acted, the creativity in the action is edge-of-your-seat fun, and the blend of practical and digital effects results in a film that visually, still looks polished despite the passing of time.

45. From Dusk till Dawn (1996)

Next up at #45 is another of those films that simply has its own wild and unique tone. A terrifying evil has been unleashed and five strangers are the only hope to stop it in 1996’s From Dusk till Dawn starring George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, and others from Richard Rodriguez.

Now From Dusk till Dawn is another of those movies that could take a run at being the most wild and over-the-top on this list, and decades later this one still holds up as a delightfully ultra-violent ride of grindhouse mayhem and action. Where this movie shines is in its unique but simple story. Don’t ask too many questions, just enjoy the sadistic ride led by this fantastic ensemble. Clooney is as cool as a killer can be, Tarantino is eerie and demented, Keitel shines as the righteous, and they are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of bold and vibrant personalities found in the ‘Tittie Twister’. From Dusk till Dawn never takes its foot off the gas. It’s filled with gory spectacle, twisted humor, and carnage. I will admit that most of the digital-effects don’t hold up so well but this movie’s still a nostalgic timestamp of movies from the mid-90s.

44. Last Man Standing (1996)

Moving along to my #44 pick. I have a western themed action thriller set in a town with no justice, which means there is only one law. Every man for himself in 1996’s Last Man Standing starring Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, and Christopher Walken, directed by Walter Hill.

Now The Last Man Standing is another of those films that I think was a bit overlooked when it was released. I think this movie was a direct-to-video release if I remember correctly yet it delivers plenty of big screen worthy, western-themed action. Bruce Willis simmers in this role as a loner who’s a complete badass. Then you get the vibrant personalities of Dern and Walken, and the result is a delightful methodical modern western that explodes with action when the story calls. The gunplay and tension are effective and The Last Man Standing is a movie that feels lived in, it’s an escape into the old west and filled with all the masculine bravado you’d expect. This one delivers a slow build-up. It closes in rewarding fashion, and with the direction from Walter Hill there’s a visual polish to this one that still looks great today.

43. Navy SEALs (1990)

In at #43 is a forgotten gem. A military action thriller about America’s designated hitters on terrorism. They are Navy SEALs from 1990 starring Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Dennis Haysbert from director Lewis Teague.

I won’t argue this is more a military themed action romp than a movie relying on realism. But it doesn’t keep this film from taking the viewer on a thrilling ride of bravado, gritty action, and superficial emotions. Navy SEALs is a film you watch with a certain suspension of disbelief, this isn’t a biopic it’s a full-throttle action movie oozing with masculinity and melodrama and it’s fantastic. The cast overall is perfect Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn carry the pace more than effectively and the supporting members with guys like Bill Paxton and Dennis Haysbert get their individual moments to shine as well. But what really makes this film stand out is that it’s well acted. The performances elevate the writing, and it’s able to easily engage interest between the barrage of missions, shootouts, and visually appealing stunt work. Navy SEALs is a bit forgotten, but it holds up as one of the decade’s best.

42. Judgment Night (1993)

Coming up at #42 is an often-forgotten real-time action thriller about a group of guys out for a night of boxing but when they make a wrong turn, they get caught in a fight for survival in 1993’s Judgment Night starring Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr, Stephen Dorff, Jeremy Piven, and Dennis Leary.

This is one of those real-time, situational action thrillers that can naturally lure you into the many suspenseful situations delivered throughout the run-time. Estevez and Gooding Jr. are certainly driving the good guys, but the ensemble overall is strong. Then on the villain side this one delivers a truly menacing performance from Dennis Leary who despite his scene chewing is a viable villain. But he also has the great villain actor Peter Greene in his corner to help stack the deck against our innocent friends who just wanted to go to a boxing match. But where Judgment Night shines is in its pacing, its gritty direction and how the story navigates this rundown part of town. It’s a thrilling playground for our heroes to get tossed into and it’s a string of harrowing moments and bursts of action that rarely overplay their hand. This movie keeps it grounded, it injects a phenomenal musical soundtrack, and the result is still awesome decades later.

41. Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)

My #41 movie is a bonafide cult classic. Dolph Lundgren’s a warrior. Brandon Lee’s a wise guy. They’re two LA cops going after Japan’s most ruthless gangster in 1991’s Showdown in Little Tokyo directed by Mark L. Lester.

Now the flaws in Showdown in Little Tokyo are front and center. It’s a bit shallow, it’s predictable, and the overall buddy formula is routine. Yet none of this gets in the way of this being a wildly fun and fast-paced action romp with both Lundgren and Lee knowing exactly what this film wanted to be and playing up to their roles so well. The late Brandon Lee certainly steals the show from Lundgren. He’s hilarious here with a strong comedic timing and together Lee and Lundgren are more than effective for the needs of this B-action flick. It’s filled with action from shootouts, to fight scenes. Lundgren is jumping over cars and flipping them over with his bare hands and it’s a riot of action genre cliches. Plus, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa comes in to deliver a fantastic over-the-top villain and Tia Carrere serves as effective window-dressing, so this movie provides more than enough to make it one of the decade’s best in the genre.

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Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 

SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die!

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