Subgenre Sampler

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Civil War (2024): Dir. Alex Garland
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson…; The most expensive film made by upstart studio A24, this urgent and chillingly relevant dystopian thriller represents a solid return to form for…
Convert, The (2024): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Guy Pearce, Jacqueline McKenzie, Te Kohe Tuhaka…; A British lay preacher finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between Maori tribes in this vivid colonialist epic from dir. Lee Tamahori.
Dune: Part Two (Dune 2) (2024): Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Feat. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya , Austin Butler…; The mythic journey of Paul Atreides continues as he unites with the indigenous Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who…
Fall Guy, The (2024): Dir. David Leitch
Feat. Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson…; A Hollywood stuntman (Gosling) must find a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy, clear his name, and win back the love of his life. This popcorn…
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024): Dir. George Miller
Feat. Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke…; As civilization collapses and tyrannical brutes battle over dwindling natural resources; a young girl is snatched from her paradise, the mythical…
Ka Whawhai Tonu (Struggle Without End) (2024): Dir. Mike Jonathan
Feat. Paku Fernandez, Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas, Temuera Morrison…; A deeply felt and impressively rendered action–drama centred on two rangitahi caught in a crucial conflict between Maori and colonial soldiers…
Monkey Man (2024): Dir. Dev Patel
Feat. Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley; Dev Patel stars in his own Directorial debut as a bum who makes his living getting beaten to a pulp night after night in an underground fight…
Boy and the Heron, The (Kimitachi wa Do Ikiru ka) (2023): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Dave Bautista, Mark Hamill…; A 12–year–old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a sinister talking heron informs him that…
Cocaine Bear (2023): Dir. Elizabeth Banks
Feat. Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Christian Convery…; An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after…
Godzilla Minus One (2023): Dir. Takashi Yamazaki
Feat. Ryunosuke Kamiki, Sakura Ando; Hailed by some as the greatest Godzilla film since the monster's sombre genesis in 1954. As with the original, a wartime subtext and some genuinely…
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023): Dir. Chad Stahelski
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård…; Keanu's stonefaced man–alone takes his fight to the High Table as he seeks to dispatch the most powerful players in the underworld, from New…
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Mission Impossible 7) (2023): Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson…; The Impossible franchise jumps into the somewhat possible scenario of an A.I. singularity event. The heavy apocalyptic subject is balanced by…
Sisu (2023): Dir. Jalmari Helander
Feat. Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan…; A stylized, tongue–in–cheek actioner set in a Northern Finnish wasteland where a lone prospector has his gold stolen by a group of…
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): Feat. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson…; The alternative Spider–man returns for the second part of this fresh 'multi–verse' saga. A rift between the spider–...'people'…
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan (2023): Dir. Martin Bourboulon
Feat. Romain Duris, Eva Green, Vincent Cassel…; The first of the two–part French blockbuster treatment of Alexandre Dumas’ oft–filmed and beloved novel of 1844, set in early 17th…
The Three Musketeers: Milady (2023): Dir. Martin Bourboulon
Feat. Eva Green, Romain Duris, Vincent Cassel…; A ravishing Eva Green takes centre stage in this follow–on from the events in THE THREE MUSKETEERS: D’ARTAGNAN, the second chapter of Martin…
355, The (2022): Dir. Simon Kinberg
Feat. Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger…; When a top–secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent (Jessica Chastain) joins forces with a rival German agent, a…
Ambulance (2022): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza Gonzalez; Propulsive action thriller directed by Michael Bay about a desperate veteran (Yahya Abdul–Mateen II) who turns to his adoptive brother and…
Batman, The (2022): Dir. Matt Reeves
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell…; Robert Pattinson is Bruce Wayne in this impressively dark and epic reboot of DC comics' iconic knight in shining latex.
Black Adam (2022): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Sarah Shahi…; Dwayne Johnson reteams with the director of “Jungle Cruise” for this action–adventure showcase for the DC Superhero. Nearly 5,000 years…
Bullet Train (2022): Dir. David Leitch
Feat. Brad Pitt, Zazie Beetz, Logan Lerman…; Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may…
Fall (2022): Dir. Scott Mann
Feat. Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding…; For best friends Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner), life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. But after they…
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022): Dir. Colin Trevorrow
Feat. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern…; This Jurassic franchise has finally gone full flintstones. Dinosaurs and Humans coexisting together all over the planet. Numerous homages to…
Lost City, The (2022): Dir. Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe…; Sandra Bullock plays a brilliant but reclusive author who has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance–adventure…
Muru (2022): Dir. Tearepa Kahi
Feat. Cliff Curtis, Jay Ryan, Manu Bennett…; A riveting local action–thriller that boldly fictionalizes events surrounding the Nga Tuhoe raids of 2007. Our finest actor Cliff Curtis…
Northman, The (2022): Dir. Robert Eggers
Feat. Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy…; An action–filled epic from Robert Eggers (THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE WITCH) that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s…
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The (2022): Dir. Tom Gormican
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Neil Patrick Harris…; A doozy of an action–comedy in which Nicolas Cage plays a version of himself as a famous actor who is forced into real–life…
Uncharted (2022): Dir. Ruben Fleischer
Feat. Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas…; Tom Holland plays a street–smart thief who is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand…
Woman King, The (2022): Dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood
Feat. Viola Davis, John Boyega; Inspired by true events, this is the remarkable, action–packed story about the all–female unit of warriors who protected the African…
Black Widow (2021): Dir. Cate Shortland
Feat. Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour…; Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow gets deserved time in the spotlight in this belated, but very much welcomed, Marvel movie. Set before the events…
Boy Called Christmas, A (2021): Dir. Gil Kenan
Feat. Sally Hawkins, Michiel Huisman, Maggie Smith…; A very nice festive–season family movie likely to appeal to all ages. Mostly consisting of a story–within–a–story, starting…
Chaos Walking (2021): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, Mads Mikkelsen…; Doug Liman directs this young adult sci–fi film, based on the first book in the literary trilogy of the same name by Patrick Ness, who also…
Escape from Mogadishu (2021): Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan
Feat. Yoon-seok Kim, In-sung Zo, Joon-ho Huh; A gritty action–thriller based on true events following a diplomatic skirmish between North and South Korea that breaks out on the African…
Eternals (2021): Dir. Chloé Zhao
Feat. Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani…; Sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster, with director Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND) bringing an enormous amount of humanity and maturity to the…
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2021): Dir. Daniel Scheinert, Dan Kwan
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis…; Likely to be THE film of 2022, this dazzling, ingenious sci–fi comedy adventure epic throws in a million ideas and makes most of them stick.…
F9 (The Fast and the Furious 9) (2021): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson…; Director Justin Lin returns to the helm with this unashamedly grandiose entry into the bloated Fast & Furious franchise. Dom and the crew come…
Finch (2021): Dir. Miguel Sapochnik
Feat. Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones, Skeet Ulrich; One of the nicer post–apocalyptic movies out there, starring Tom Hanks as a survivor of a solar flare that has left the earth a scorched…
Gold (2021): Dir. Anthony Hayes
Feat. Zac Efron, Susie Porter, Anthony Hayes; Thriller set in a dystopian near–future where ex–teen heartthrob Zac Efron struggles to survive in an inhospitable Australian…
Gunpowder Milkshake (2021): Dir. Navot Papushado
Feat. Karen Gillan , Lena Headey, Carla Gugino…; Navot Papushado (BIG BAD WOLVES) directs this neon–infused action thriller about a master assassin (Karen Gillan) who teams up with her…
Jungle Cruise (2021): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez…; Good old fashioned fantasy adventure based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, with Dwayne Johnson playing a steamboat skipper who takes…
Last Duel, The (2021): Feat. Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer…; Grand historical drama from director Ridley Scott, set in medieval France, where King Charles VI declares that a knight (Matt Damon) settle his…
No Time to Die (2021): Dir. Cary Joji Fukunaga
Feat. Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux…; Another bombastic Bond film marking Daniel Craig's fifth and last outing as the British Secret Service agent, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (TRUE…
Nobody (2021): Dir. Ilya Naishuller
Feat. Bob Odenkirk, Aleksey Serebryakov, Connie Nielsen…; Another enjoyably badass actioner from the director of HARDCORE HENRY (and Derek Kolstad, screenwriter of the JOHN WICK series) about a bystander who…
Reminiscence (2021): Dir. Lisa Joy
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton…; Hugh Jackman plays a private investigator of the mind in this sci–fi action thriller set in a near future world destroyed by climate…
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): Dir. Jon Watts
Feat. Tom Holland, Zendaya , Benedict Cumberbatch…; Spider–Man adventure which acts as a sequel to both FAR FROM HOME (2019) and HOMECOMING (2017), and slots into the bloated Marvel Cinematic…
Suicide Squad, The (2021): Dir. James Gunn
Feat. Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena…; The standalone sequel to SUICIDE SQUAD is this bold, bright and chaotic superhero movie based on the DC Comics characters. Harley Quinn (Margot…
Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021): Dir. Taylor Sheridan
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult…; Action thriller from director Taylor Sheridan, writer–director of WIND RIVER and writer of HELL OR HIGH WATER. Angelina Jolie plays a smoke…
Wrath of Man (2021): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan…; Pulpy action thriller with director Guy Ritchie (LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS) teaming up with actor Jason Statham for the fourth…
Archenemy (2020): Dir. Adam Egypt Mortimer
Feat. Joe Manganiello, Skylan Brooks, Zolee Griggs…; Kick ass superhero adventure from director Adam Egypt Mortimer (DANIEL ISN'T REAL), following a mysterious man called Max Fist who teams up with a…
Ava (2020): Dir. Tate Taylor
Feat. Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common …; Jessica Chastain delivers another full force performance in this otherwise by–the–numbers crime thriller, playing a Bostonian…
Birds of Prey (Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)) (2020): Dir. Cathy Yan
Feat. Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez…; Margot Robbie returns as the edgy anti–hero Harley Quinn in this follow–up to the DC Comics adaptation SUICIDE SQUAD. Full of wickedly…
Bloodshot (2020): Dir. David S. F. Wilson
Feat. Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan…; Superhero movie packed with old–school action, based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name. A Marine (Vin Diesel) is killed in…
Call of the Wild (2020): Dir. Chris Sanders
Feat. Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens…; Adventure film for all ages based on the Jack London novel of the same name, about a sled dog fighting for survival in the Yukon.
Comeback Trail, The (2020): Dir. George Gallo
Feat. Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman…; Crime comedy based on an 80's film of the same name, with Robert De Niro playing a greedy grindhouse film producer who casts an aging, washed up…
Dolittle (The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle) (2020): Dir. Stephen Gaghan
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen…; Nutty remake of the 1967 musical with Robert Downey Jr. as the Welsh veterinarian who can talk to animals. Based loosely on the book The Voyages of…
Fatman (2020): Dir. Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms
Feat. Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste; Mel Gibson indulges his curmudgeonly side as a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, a neglected…
Greenland (2020): Dir. Ric Roman Waugh
Feat. Gerald Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd…; Bloated disaster movie with Gerald Butler playing a man struggling to keep his family alive as an incoming comet threatens to wipe out humanity. From…
High Ground (2020): Dir. Stephen Johnson
Feat. Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey…; Set against the stunning landscapes of 1930s Arnhem Land, this confronting Ozzie Western (also affectionately known as "Meat Pie" Westerns)…
Honest Thief (2020): Dir. Mark Williams
Feat. Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Robert Patrick…; Solid Liam Neeson thriller, with the actor putting in another committed performance playing a criminal mastermind who tries to go straight after…
Mortal (Torden) (2020): Dir. André Øvredal
Feat. Nat Wolff, Iben Akerlie; Norwegian fantasy film inspired by Norse mythology, where a seemingly ordinary young man finds himself out of his depth when he discovers he has…
Mulan (2020): Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma…; Spectacular Disney live action re–make of the classic 90's animation, based on the Chinese folktales about a maiden who disguises herself as a…
Onward (2020): Dir. Dan Scanlon; Slick animated fantasy adventure following two elf brothers who go on a quest to find a magic magic gem that will bring their deceased father. A…
Outpost, The (2020): Dir. Rod Lurie
Feat. Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom…; War movie depicting events during the War in Afghanistan in 2009, when the Taliban attacked a vulnerable US Army outpost called Combat Outpost…
Rhythm Section, The (2020): Dir. Reed Morano
Feat. Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown; A woman with nothing to lose decides to seek brutal revenge after her family are killed in a horrific plane crash, enlisting the help of a former M16…
Sonic The Hedgehog (2020): Dir. Jeff Fowler
Feat. James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter…; Action–packed video game spin off following the supersonic hedgehog as he teams up with a small–town cop to defeat an evil genius who…
Tenet (2020): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki…; Beguiling, bamboozling film from sci–fi visionary hitmaker Christopher Nolan, following a secret agent who manipulates time to prevent…
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020): Dir. Sang-ho Yeon
Feat. Dong-won Gang, Jung-hyun Lee, Re Lee; A standalone sequel to the 2016 action–horror hit TRAIN TO BUSAN, with director Yeon Sang–ho returning for a less focused but no less…
Alita: Battle Angel (2019): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly…; Cyberpunk action movie based on the 1990's manga, with director Rodriguez (SIN CITY) in his element, crafting a bleak and violent futurist world. A…
Angel Has Fallen (2019): Dir. Ric Roman Waugh
Feat. Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Jada Pinkett Smith…; Third installment in the "Fallen" franchise which follows an assassination attempt on the U.S. President (Morgan Freeman), and attempts by Secret…
Avengers: Endgame (2019): Dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo…; A love letter to fans of this humongous mythology, this 22nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ambitious, three–hour sprawl…
Bad Boys For Life (2019): Dir. Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Feat. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Anne Hudgens; The infamous pair of Miami detectives are back for one last ride in this enjoyably over the top action comedy.
Catch-22 (TV Mini-series) (2019): Dir. Grant Heslov, George Clooney
Feat. Christopher Abbott, Kyle Chandler, Daniel David Stewart…; Updated six–part adaptation of the difficult–to–adapt classic Joseph Heller novel, a WWII satire which was formerly adapted as a…
Charlie's Angels (2019): Dir. Elizabeth Banks
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska…; Third installment in the glamorous action comedy film series, with three new private detective "Angels" who work for the Townsend Agency. A more…
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019): Dir. Kriv Stenders
Feat. Travis Fimmel, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh…; Australian war film set in a Vietnamese rubber plantation in 1966, where 108 inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting against…
Deadwood: The Movie (2019): Dir. Daniel Minahan
Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker…; Made a remarkable 15 years after the cancellation of the HBO TV show of the same name, this swansong of writer David Milch revisits the South Dakota…
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019): Dir. James Bobin
Feat. Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena…; Live action adaptation of the Nickelodeon animated series about the adventures of Dora, the daughter of Peruvian explorers. Now 16, Dora takes her…
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Hobbs and Shaw) (2019): Dir. David Leitch
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba…; Ever more over–the–top (ergo, ludicrous) spinoff of THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS (aka FF8), focusing on Dwayne Johnson's US Diplomatic…
First Love (Hatsukoi) (2019): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Masataka Kubota, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani…; Crime thriller from prolific Japanese auteur director Takashi Miike set over a single night in Tokyo, where a down–on–his luck boxer and…
Ford v Ferrari (Le Mans '66) (2019): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal…; Handsomely–mounted standard issue Hollywood biopic of how the Ford motor company entered the motor–racing game to try to topple Ferrari's…
Game of Thrones - Season 8 (TV Series) (2019): The struggle for the iron throne continues in the eight and final season of the rightly acclaimed HBO series derived from George R.R. Martin's…
Gemini Man (2019): Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen…; Will Smith plays both an aged hitman and the younger clone of himself who targets him, in this serviceable action thriller from acclaimed director…
Gentlemen, The (2019): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell…; A star–studded "mockney" action–comedy from Guy Ritchie led by Matthew McConaughey as an American marijuana magnate in London whose…
Hellboy (Hellboy: Call of Darkness) (2019): Dir. Neil Marshall
Feat. David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane…; Reboot of the film franchise featuring Mike Mignola's beloved comic book character Hellboy, the half–demon who works for the USA in paranormal…
Hillary: Ocean to Sky (2019): Dir. Michael Dillon; Director Mike Dillon revisits his original footage of Sir Edmund Hillary's extraordinary 1977 adventure boating up the entire Ganges river, which…
Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan; Grand finale to ground breaking and beloved martial arts series, with Donnie Yen reprising his role as the legendary Wing Chun master, who travels to…
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (John Wick 3) (2019): Dir. Chad Stahelski
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne…; Third film in the neo–noir action thriller series with Keanu Reeves returning as the stoic super–assassin, who is now on the run with a…
Kill Team, The (2019): Dir. Dan Krauss
Feat. Nat Wolff, Adam Long, Osy Ikhile…; War drama which fictionalises events from the documentary of the same name from 2013, following a morally conflicted US Specialist whose platoon are…
Kitchen, The (2019): Dir. Andrea Berloff
Feat. Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss…; After their mobster husbands get locked up in prison, three housewives decide to take over the family business. Set in Hell's Kitchen in 1978, and…
Kursk (2019): Dir. Thomas Vinterberg
Feat. Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Colin Firth…; Naval drama follows the 2000 K–141 Kursk submarine disaster and the governmental negligence that followed. As the sailors fight for survival,…
Lion King, The (2019): Dir. Jon Favreau; Lavish big–budget remake of the 90's favourite, a coming–of–age tale of a young lion prince following the murder of his father.…
Men in Black: International (Men in Black 4) (2019): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Rebecca Ferguson…; Reboot of the sci–fi comedy about the top–secret organization which protects the earth from alien activity. Tessa Thompson and Chris…
Midway (2019): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Woody Harrelson…; Thrilling war film set during the Battle of Midway, fought during WWII between the American and Japanese armies in the Pacific. Features a strong…
Miss Bala (2019): Dir. Catherine Hardwicke
Feat. Gina Rodriguez, Ismael Cruz Córdova; Mexican crime thriller which marks a gritty turn for director Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT), with Gina Rodriguez (JANE THE VIRGIN) playing a woman…
Monos (2019): Dir. Alejandro Landes
Feat. Julianne Nicholson, Moises Arias, Sofía Buenaventura…; A dark contemporary fable inspired by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, set in a remote and mountainous region of Columbia, where a group of teenage…
Nightingale, The (2019): Dir. Jennifer Kent
Feat. Baykali Ganambarr, Sam Claflin; Brazen Australian survival drama from the director of THE BABADOOK, set in 1825 in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania), where a deeply traumatised Irish…
Rambo: Last Blood (2019): Dir. Adrian Grunberg
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Oscar Jaenada…; A 72–year–old Sylvester Stallone returns as John Rambo, who must confront his past and unleash his ruthless combat skills in graphically…
Ride Like a Girl (2019): Dir. Rachel Griffiths
Feat. Teresa Palmer, Sam Neill, Sullivan Stapleton; Gritty and passionate racing drama based on the true story of jockey Michelle Payne, who fulfilled a life–long dream of winning the Melbourne…
Sea Fever (2019): Dir. Neasa Hardiman
Feat. Hermione Corfield, Dougray Scott, Connie Nielsen; Solid maritime thriller following a marine biology student working on a ragged fishing trawler whose crew members encounter an unfathomable…
Shazam! (2019): Dir. David F. Sandberg
Feat. Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong; Playful DC comics movie about a teenage boy who can transform into an adult superhero by shouting one word: SHAZAM! Naturally he goes about…
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): Dir. Jon Watts
Feat. Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal…; Marvel–lous sequel to the hugely successful reboot 'Spider–Man: Homecoming', this follows the events of 'Avengers: Endgame', with Peter…
Spies in Disguise (2019): Dir. Nick Bruno, Troy Quane; Entertaining animated adventure with Will Smith voicing a secret agent who is accidentally turned into a pigeon, leaving his nerdy tech officer (Tom…
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019): Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver…; The conflict between the Jedi and the Sith escalates in this dazzling conclusion to the Skywalker saga from director J.J. Abrams, backed by…
Stuber (2019): Dir. Michael Dowse
Feat. Kumail Nanjiani, Dave Bautista, Iko Uwais…; The buddy–cop formula is outfitted for the Uber generation in this uber–violent action–comedy that throws together a…
Take Home Pay (2019): Dir. Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa; New Zealand–set Samoan action comedy from the director of THREE WISE COUSINS and HIBISCUS AND RUTHLESS, following a man who hires a wannabe…
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019): Dir. Tim Miller
Feat. Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis…; Tim Miller (DEADPOOL) directs this sixth installment in the TERMINATOR franchise, with Sarah Connor returning 25 years after the events of TERMINATOR…
Treadstone (TV Series) (2019): Feat. Jeremy Irvine, Han Hyo-joo, Omar Metwally; TV spin–off of the BOURNE movie franchise exploring the origins of the CIA black ops programme which turned recruits into assassins though…
True Story of the Kelly Gang, The (2019): Dir. Justin Kurzel
Feat. George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult…; Justin Kurzel (SNOWTOWN) directs this adventurous retelling of the Australian story of bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly, based on Peter Carey's 2001…
12 Strong (2018): Dir. Nicolai Fuglsig
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena…; An American special forces team is deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11 with a mission to track down the Taliban. A rousing tribute to American heroism…
Alpha (2018): Dir. Albert Hughes
Feat. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson; Set 21,000 years ago during the last ice age, a young hunter (Kodi Smit–McPhee) befriends an injured wolf. A unique setting for a timeless and…
Annihilation (2018): Dir. Alex Garland
Feat. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez…; Distinctive sci–fi set around a mysterious environmental disaster zone within which the laws of nature do not apply. A biologist (Natalie…
Aquaman (2018): Dir. James Wan
Feat. Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe…; Bombastic superhero movie based on the DC comics character Aquaman, the half–human, half–Atlantean heir to the underwater city of…
Arctic (2018): Dir. Joe Penna
Feat. Mads Mikkelsen; Tense, resourceful survival drama shot in Iceland, with Mads Mikkelsen playing a man who is stranded in the remains of a crashed plane somewhere in…
Assassination Nation (2018): Dir. Sam Levinson
Feat. Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Abra …; Stylish, witty and chaotic, this youth–centered thriller manages to blend exploitation and social commentary into something a bit derivative…
Black '47 (2018): Dir. Lance Daly
Feat. James Frecheville, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea…; A harrowing revenge thriller set in 1847 during the Irish Famine, where an ranger abandons his post in the British Army to return to his family as…
Black Panther (2018): Dir. Ryan Coogler
Feat. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o…; Another massive hit, and considered one of the best of the eighteen films in the Marvel Comic Universe, and the first to feature a predominantly…
Commuter, The (2018): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson…; A breakneck thriller starring latterday action man Liam Neeson, who here plays an insurance salesman who is unwittingly recruited into a murder…
Creed II (Creed 2) (2018): Dir. Steven Caple Jr.
Feat. Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson…; Workmanlike sequel to the 2015 ROCKY spin–off CREED, centered around the young, impulsive and compellingly flawed Adonis Creed (Michael B.…
Death Wish (2018): Dir. Eli Roth
Feat. Bruce Willis, Vincent D'Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue…; 6th film in the DEATH WISH series, and a remake of the original 1974 classic, with Bruce Willis as a surgeon burning for revenge after his wife and…
Den of Thieves (2018): Dir. Christian Gudegast
Feat. Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, 50 Cent…; Dependably hard–boiled heist movie set in LA, where law enforcement battles to prevent a planned robbery of the Federal Reserve. Gerard Butler…
Dragged Across Concrete (2018): Dir. S. Craig Zahler
Feat. Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles…; A simmering, witty and entirely unpredictable heist epic from the writer/director of BONE TOMAHAWK that stars an ageing Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughan…
Equalizer 2, The (2018): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders…; Sequel to the 2014 film based on the 1980's TV series of the same name in which Denzel Washington dutifully returns as a retired US Marine and…
Girls of the Sun (Les filles du soleil) (2018): Dir. Eva Husson
Feat. Golshifteh Farahani; Powerful wartime film following a Kurdish female battalion who are fighting against ISIS extremists to take back control of their village. Stars…
Gringo (2018): Dir. Nash Edgerton
Feat. David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton…; A mild–mannered businessman finds himself thrown into a world of crime and moral corruption when he is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel while…
Guns Akimbo (2018): Dir. Jason Lei Howden
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Ned Dennehy…; Daniel Radcliffe plays a nerdy video game developer who tries to save his ex–girlfriend from kidnappers while competing in an illegal…
Hotel Artemis (2018): Dir. Drew Pearce
Feat. Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella…; A dystopian action–thriller starring Jodie Foster as The Nurse, who runs a secret, members–only emergency clinic for criminals in a…
Hunter Killer (2018): Dir. Donovan Marsh
Feat. Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Common …; Tense military thriller where the Russian president is kidnapped during a coup, and US Navy Seals lead by Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) set out…
Hurricane (Mission of Honor) (2018): Dir. David Blair
Feat. Iwan Rheon, Milo Gibson, Stefanie Martini…; The tale of a Polish pilot who together with his comrades join the Hurricane Squadron 303 of the British Royal Air Force to fight during the Battle…
Hurricane Heist, The (2018): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace, Ryan Kwanten; Preposterous heist movie where the thieves work undercover of a hurricane! Complicating matters is a meteorologist whose brother is kidnapped by the…
Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot, The (2018): Dir. Robert D. Krzykowski
Feat. Sam Elliott, Aidan Turner, Caitlin Fitzgerald…; An enjoyably crackpot premise is carried with striking sincerity and aplomb by Sam Elliott, who plays a legendary war vet recruited to hunt down…
Meg, The (2018): Dir. Jon Turteltaub
Feat. Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson…; Shamelessly cheesy sub–JAWS aquatic entertainment, with Stratham as a deep–sea rescue diver who is going to save a group of scientists…
Mile 22 (2018): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, Lauren Cohan…; Visceral espionage thriller from the director of LONE SURVIVOR, who teams up for the fourth time with actor Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg plays CIA…
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Mission Impossible 6) (2018): Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames…; Tom Cruise reprises his role as Ethan Hunt in this highly regarded sixth installment of the film franchise. The stakes are higher than ever with…
Occupation (2018): Dir. Luke Sparke
Feat. Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison; After a small outback town is attacked by aliens, a group of civilians join together to form a resistance army and fight for the survival of the…
Ocean's 8 (Ocean's Eight) (2018): Dir. Gary Ross
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway…; A star–studded ensemble cast deliver a slick heist caper in the vein of previous installments. A team of crooks go for a 150 million dollar…
Overlord (2018): Dir. Julius Avery
Feat. Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier; A small group of American soldiers discover secret Nazi experiments after they are dropped behind enemy lines the day before D–day. A gleefully…
Penguin Highway (2018): Dir. Hiroyasu Ishida; Delightful anime about a fourth–grader trying to unravel the mystery of penguins suddenly appearing in his village, which may be connected to a…
Predator, The (2018): Dir. Shane Black
Feat. Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay…; Fourth installment of the PREDATOR film series, following a team of ex–soldiers and a science teacher as they fight to protect the world from…
Rampage (2018): Dir. Brad Peyton
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman…; A fun, big–budget monster movie featuring an extraordinarily intelligent silverback gorilla who mutates into a raging creature of enormous size…
Robin Hood (2018): Feat. Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn…; This razzie–nominated re–imagining of the oft–told, oft–filmed legend is a garbled but spirited take on the formula, and a…
Shadow (Ying) (2018): Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Chao Deng; Masterful wuxia epic from director Zhang Yimou (HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), set in a kingdom where a cunning military commander plots to…
Sicario: Day Of The Soldado (Sicario 2) (2018): Dir. Stefano Sollima
Feat. Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner; Blistering follow–up to the acclaimed 2015 film SICARIO, with Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro returning as a federal agent and a black op…
Sisters Brothers, The (2018): Dir. Jacques Audiard
Feat. John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal…; John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix play a couple of fraternal assassins who hunt down a gold prospector in 1850s Oregon in this richly satisfying and…
Skyscraper (2018): Dir. Rawson Marshall Thurber
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han…; Ludicrous action thriller where Dwayne Johnson plays a US war vet who provides security assessment for skyscrapers, but goes on the run after being…
Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018): Dir. Crispian Mills
Feat. Asa Butterfield, Finn Cole, Hermione Corfield…; Entertaining Simon Pegg and Nick Frost produced horror comedy set at an illustrious British boarding school, where a nearby fracking site creates a…
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Paul Bettany…; Han Solo gets his own movie in this stand–alone Star Wars anthology film, taking place a decade prior to the events of A New Hope, where Han…
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): Dir. Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Bob Persichetti
Feat. Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin…; The first animated film in the Spider–Man franchise set in the Marvel "Spider–Verse", where struggling teen Miles Morales trains with the…
Superfly (2018): Dir. Director X
Feat. Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams…; Confident remake of the 1972 Blaxploitation classic of the same name. With a music video auteur directing, this is a high gloss attempt to reach the…
Tomb Raider (2018): Dir. Roar Uthaug
Feat. Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins…; A prequel in the Tomb Raider franchise featuring a stand–out performance from Alicia Vikander as the totally bad ass Lara Croft. After refusing…
Upgrade (2018): Dir. Leigh Whannell
Feat. Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison Gilbertson; Futuristic body horror about a man who "upgrades" his body using an AI implant called STEM after his wife is murdered – the kicker of the…
Walking Out (2018): Dir. Alex Smith, Andrew J Smith
Feat. Matt Bomer, Alex Neustaedter, Bill Pullman; A haunting survival drama following an estranged father and son who trek into the Montana wilderness to hunt game, but experience an unexpected and…
6 Days (Six Days) (2017): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Abbie Cornish…; Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser helms this hostage thriller that faithfully recreates the siege of the Iranian Embassy in London, 1980.
American Assassin (2017): Dir. Michael Cuesta
Feat. Dylan O‘Brien, Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan…; After his girlfriend is killed in a wave of seemingly random terrorist attacks, a CIA black ops recruit (O'Brien) teams up with a cold war veteran…
American Made (2017): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright…; Tom Cruise stars in this energized biopic about an American pilot who became a drug–runner for the CIA in the 1980s that would come to be…
Atomic Blonde (2017): Dir. David Leitch
Feat. Charlize Theron, James McAvoy; Pulpy, neon–lit thriller from the makers of JOHN WICK with a remarkable performance from Charlize Theron, giving real emotional depth to a…
Baby Driver (2017): Dir. Edgar Wright
Feat. Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx…; Entertainingly preposterous heist–comedy from British upstart Edgar Wright, centred around a precociously talented getaway driver whose every…
Ballad of Lefty Brown, The (2017): Dir. Jared Moshe
Feat. Bill Pullman, Kathy Baker, Jim Caviezel…; Bill Pullman is the cowboy Lefty Brown in this entertaining modern western, tracking outlaws across the Montana plains in attempt to avenge the…
Dark Tower, The (2017): Dir. Nikolaj Arcel
Feat. Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor…; Stephen King adaptation which simplifies the author's acclaimed fantasy series into a watchable battle of good vs evil – represented by Idris…
Dunkirk (2017): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden, Barry Keoghan…; Christopher Nolan's grandiose staging of the famous evacuation of the French port of Dunkirk in May 1940 is a departure from the fantasy pictures the…
Fate of the Furious, The (Fast and the Furious 8) (2017): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson…; The loud and proud car–porn phenomenon continues unabated with a devilish plot twist that sees Dom (Vin Diesel) betray his FF crew after being…
Foreigner, The (2017): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan; Jackie Chan plays a businessman with a mysterious past who seeks to avenge the murder of his daughter by an Irish paramilitary group. An…
Free Fire (2017): Dir. Ben Wheatley
Feat. Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor…; Gleeful and hilariously nihilistic parody of the insanity of gun violence by acclaimed director Ben Wheatley (HIGH RISE). Set in 1970's Boston, an…
Geostorm (2017): Dir. Dean Devlin
Feat. Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris…; A designer of malfunctioning climate–control satellites tries to save the world from impending ecological disaster. The predictable plot and…
Hitman's Bodyguard, The (2017): Dir. Patrick Hughes
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman…; Smart–ass action shennanigans with Ryan Reynolds hired as a bodyguard to protect hitman Samuel L. Jackson who has to testify at the…
Hostiles (2017): Dir. Scott Cooper
Feat. Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi…; Slow–burning western set in 1892, when a legendary Army Captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous…
Iron Fist (TV Series) (2017): Feat. Finn Jones; TV series set in the Marvel Universe and featuring the comics character of the same name – a martial arts practitioner who wields the mystical…
Jawbone (2017): Dir. Thomas Q. Napper
Feat. Johnny Harris, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane…; A former youth boxing champion who is facing homelessness and alcohol abuse returns to his childhood boxing club, risking his life to regain his…
John Wick: Chapter 2 (John Wick 2) (2017): Dir. Chad Stahelski
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane…; Legendary ex–hitman John Wick is forced to go on the run after a bounty is placed on his head, in this excellently choreographed neo–noir…
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable (2017): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Ryunosuke Kamiki, Kento Yamazaki; Frenetic and boundlessly wacky live–action adaptation of the manga, with a head spinning plot involving psychic avatars who plot to bring down…
Journey's End (2017): Dir. Saul Dibb
Feat. Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield, Paul Bettany…; Adaptation of the 1928 play by war veteran R.C. Sheriff, set in the trenches in Aisne during WWI, where British officers face tensions, terror,…
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): Dir. Jake Kasdan
Feat. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart…; Reboot of the beloved 90's adventure, with four high school kids discovering an old video game console that transforms them into the avatars they…
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Allwyn, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey…; Charlie Hunman plays the Arthur of legend, unaware of his royal lineage until drawing the sword Excalibur from the stone. Director Guy Ritchie brings…
Knightfall (TV Series) (2017-2019): Feat. Tom Cullen, Jim Carter; Historical drama series about the Knights Templar, the powerful and mysterious Catholic military order from the middle ages. Made by The History…
Kong: Skull Island (2017): Feat. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson…; When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster…
Logan (2017): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Patrick Stewart…; Passionate, mature X–Men spin–off featuring the surly Wolverine. Withdrawn and noticeably older (but still ass–kicking), Logan…
Logan Lucky (2017): Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig…; Heist–comedy populated by an impressive ensemble cast, following the down–on–their–luck Logan family as they try to strike it…
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2017): Dir. Wes Ball
Feat. Dylan O‘Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster; The epic finale of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy, the dystopian adventure series based on the popular young adult novels.
Megan Leavey (Rex) (2017): Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Feat. Kate Mara, Ramon Rodriguez, Tom Felton…; Heartfelt war drama based on the true events about the eponymous young female US Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with a military…
Mountain Between Us, The (2017): Dir. Hany Abu-Assad
Feat. Idris Elba, Kate Winslet; Indris Elba and Kate Winslet are appealing in this lusciously shot romantic drama doubling as a tense mountain survival story. The pair are a surgeon…
Mummy, The (2017): Dir. Alex Kurtzman
Feat. Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella…; Tom Cruise plays a US military man who accidentally unearths Princess Ahmanet's tomb and unleashes unspeakable evil. A fun mish–mash of monster…
Only the Brave (2017): Dir. Joseph Kosinski
Feat. Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges…; Heroic true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters who risk everything to protect a town from the Yarnell Hill…
Papillon (2017): Dir. Michael Noer
Feat. Charlie Hunnam, Roland Møller, Rami Malek; Another film adaptation of the best–selling book telling the true story of the prison escape in 1941 of a man wrongfully convicted of murder.…
Pilgrimage (2017): Dir. Brendan Muldowney
Feat. Tom Holland, Richard Armitage, Jon Bernthal; An admirable Irish medieval thriller following a group of monks escorting a holy relic from their monastery to Rome, as seen from the perspective of…
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017): Dir. Joachim Roenning, Espen Sandberg
Feat. Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites…; Johnny Depp reprises his role as anarchic pirate Jack Sparrow in the fourth sequel of the swashbuckling fantasy franchise.
Pork Pie (2017): Dir. Matt Murphy
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, James Rolleston, Ashleigh Cummings…; Geoff Murphy's beloved and iconic New Zealand road movie is given a souped–up and delightfully witty make–over by his son, Matt Murphy,…
Power Rangers (2017): Dir. Dean Israelite
Feat. Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler…; Reboot of the fondly remembered teen super–hero TV Series, where aliens attack a small town and five ordinary adolescents must call upon their…
Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017): Dir. Takanori Tsujimoto
Feat. Orion Acaba, Erin Cahill, Darin De Paul; Third installment in the CG animated film franchise after DEGENERATION and DAMNATION, set in the same universe as the iconic video games series…
Sleepless (2017): Dir. Baran bo Odar
Feat. Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Scoot McNairy…; Glitzy Las Vegas–set remake of the French thriller SLEEPLESS NIGHT that takes place over the course of a single night. Jamie Foxx stars as a…
Sweet Country (2017): Dir. Warwick Thornton
Feat. Hamilton Morris, Sam Neill, Bryan Brown…; A sparse and beautifully shot film from the director of SAMSON AND DELILAH, telling a profound morality tale of almost biblical proportions, and…
Thor: Ragnarok (2017): Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett…; New Zealand's most successful film–maker on home turf (and former Aro Valleyite) Taika Waititi makes his equally successful Hollywood debut…
Tokyo Ghoul (2017): Dir. Kentaro Hagiwara
Feat. Masataka Kubota, Fumika Shimizu; A live–action adaptation of the manga series by Sui Ishida. In modern day Tokyo, flesh–eating ghouls live among humans, and after…
Wall, The (2017): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena, Laith Nakli; Two American soldiers are trapped by an Iraqi sniper in this deadly psychological thriller. Combining impressive marksmanship with a battle of wits,…
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): Dir. Matt Reeves
Feat. Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn; The third and final installment in the excellent Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy, with director Matt Reeves returning to complete the story that…
What Happened To Monday (Seven Sisters) (2017): Dir. Tommy Wirkola
Feat. Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe; By the director of DEAD SNOW and featuring a dynamic performance from Noomi Rapace as seven different characters. A dystopian future government is…
Wonder Woman (2017): Dir. Patty Jenkins
Feat. Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright…; Israeli actress Gal Gadot dazzles as the charismatic warrior princess who must leave her mythical island paradise and sail into WWI–embattled…
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini…; Michael Bay is comparatively restrained as he helms this visceral recreation of the attack on the U.S. compound in Libya.
Accountant, The (2016): Dir. Gavin O'Connor
Feat. Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons…; Though prone to contrivance, this is high–octane thriller is built around Ben Affleck's unusual character – a math savant, who works…
Age of Shadows, The (2016): Dir. Ji-woon Kim
Feat. Kang-ho Song, Gong Yoo, Han Ji-min; Elegantly crafted spy thriller set in Japanese occupied Seoul in the 1920's, in which a Korean–born police captain in the Japanese police force…
Allegiant (2016): Dir. Robert Schwentke
Feat. Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jeff Daniels…; Third in the Divergent series sees Shailene Woodley's Tris trying frantically to escape with Four beyond the wall that encircles Chicago, to finally…
Assassin's Creed (2016): Dir. Justin Kurzel
Feat. Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons…; Movie adaptation of the enormously popular video game where a man unlocks his "genetic memory", allowing him to access the memories, knowledge and…
Bastille Day (2016): Dir. James Watkins
Feat. Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon…; Brawny thriller with Idris Elba as a CIA agent forced to team up with a young con artist to thwart a terrorist attack.
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016): Dir. Sam Liu; The joker escapes from Arkham Asylum and it's up to Batman to stop him from driving police commissioner James Gordon insane. Twenty–sixth film…
Ben-Hur (2016): Dir. Timur Bekmambetov
Feat. Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro…; Leaden re–imagining of the classic tale with Jack Huston as young prince sold into slavery, and his quest for redemption.
Blood Father (2016): Dir. Jean-François Richet
Feat. Mel Gibson, William H. Macy, Erin Moriarty…; Mel Gibson attempts career rehabilitation in this stolid actioner, playing an ex–con who reunites with his estranged wayward…
Captain America: Civil War (2016): Dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Feat. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jnr., Scarlett Johansson…; Action spectacular as superheroes turn on each other after political interference causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.
Collide (2016): Dir. Eran Creevy
Feat. Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Ben Kingsley…; A kinetic action mash–up with Ben Kingsley hamming it up mercilessly as a German drug kingpin who kidnaps the girlfriend of an American…
Criminal (2016): Dir. Ariel Vromen
Feat. Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gary Oldman…; From the Luc Besson school of stylish action tosh comes this violent romp in which a dead CIA operative's memories are implanted into a…
Deadpool (2016): Dir. Tim Miller
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller; Super–smug but irresistible super–(anti)hero riff based on the Marvel comic about a wise–cracking former Special Forces operative…
Deepwater Horizon (2016): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O‘Brien…; Action–packed survival tale dramatizing the BP oil rig accident that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th, 2010, one of the world's…
Dog Eat Dog (2016): Dir. Paul Schrader
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe; Demonstrating that age hasn't tamed him, 70–year–old director Paul Schrader delivers this frenetic, nihilistic black comedy based on the…
Duel, The (2016): Dir. Kieran Darcy-Smith
Feat. Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Emory Cohen…; Engagingly odd western with Hemsworth investigating a series of unexplained deaths in a town in thrall to Harrelson's preacher.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016): Dir. David Yates
Feat. Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler…; This 1920's period fantasy adventure is the first in the HARRY POTTER universe to be adapted for the screen by J. K. Rowling herself. Eddie Redmayne…
Finest Hours, The (2016): Dir. Craig Gillespie
Feat. Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster…; Unpretentious disaster film with Chris Pine as a brave coast guard rescuing trapped sailors from a devastated oil tanker in the aftermath of a…
Free State of Jones (2016): Dir. Gary Ross
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell…; Matthew McConaughey stars in this fascinating true story as a disillusioned Confederate army deserter who returns to Mississippi and leads a militia…
Gods of Egypt (2016): Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler…; Ill–conceived fantasy epic in which a mortal hero must do battle with the god of darkness who has taken over the Egyptian empire.
Gold (2016): Dir. Stephen Gaghan
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard…; A down–on–his–luck prospector strikes it lucky after finding a massive gold deposit in the uncharted Indonesian Jungle, but finds…
Great Wall, The (2016): Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Jing Tian…; Inventive mash–up of historical epic and action fantasy places Matt Damon in China during the Song dynasty, as a European mercenary in the…
Grimsby (2016): Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Rebel Wilson…; Sacha Baron Cohen brings his gift for mimicry to the action genre, playing a dim–witted football hooligan reuniting with his estranged brother…
Headshot (2016): Dir. Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto
Feat. Iko Uwais, Chelsea Islan; Iko Uwais (star of THE RAID) returns in this impossibly violent Indonesian martial arts feast. An overused plot device of an elite fighter who wakes…
Hooten and the Lady (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Ophelia Lovibond, Michael Landes, Shaun Parkes…; A fussy British Museum curator reluctantly teams up with a roguish American adventurer to hunt treasure around the world, in this action adventure TV…
Huntsman, The: Winter's War (2016): Dir. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron…; Visually arresting prequel to SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN tells the tale of Eric and Freya two warriors trying to conceal their forbidden love.
In a Valley of Violence (2016): Dir. Ti West
Feat. Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, Taissa Farmiga…; Horror auteur Ti West lends his slow–burn, off–beat sensibility to the Western genre that may not be to conventional taste. Ethan Hawke…
Independence Day 2: Resurgence (2016): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Jessie Usher…; Routine effects–heavy sequel is set decades after the first Independence Day invasion, and finds Earth once again faced with an alien threat.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Patrick Heusinger…; Formulaic action–thriller sequel with Tom Cruise returning as the eponymous tough guy from Lee Child's series of popular novels, this time on…
Jane Got a Gun (2016): Dir. Gavin O'Connor
Feat. Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor…; Natalie Portman stars in this solid western forced to turn to her ex–lover for help to save her husband from a gang out to kill him.
Jason Bourne (2016): Dir. Paul Greengrass
Feat. Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander…; Breathless fifth entry in the Bourne franchise has Matt Damon returning as the former operative uncovering more secrets from his past.
Jungle Book, The (2016): Dir. Jon Favreau
Feat. Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley…; An eye–popping, effects–driven take on the tale of Mowgli a young boy raised by wolves who's existence is threatened by the tiger Shere…
Keanu (2016): Dir. Peter Atencio
Feat. Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Method Man …; Comedians Key and Peele's first feature has them cast as two buddies attempting to rescue a stolen kitten by posing as drug dealers.
Keeping Up With the Joneses (2016): Dir. Greg Mottola
Feat. Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm…; Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher play a suburban couple who becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover their seemingly…
Legend of Tarzan, The (2016): Dir. David Yates
Feat. Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson…; Alexander Skarsgard swings into the role of Tarzan who having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to…
Legends of Tomorrow (TV Series) (DC's Legends of Tomorrow) (2016): Feat. Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Arthur Darvill …; TV series set in the Arrowverse and based on DC Comics characters including Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl. Season One follows the fate of an…
Lethal Weapon (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Damon Wayans, Clayne Crawford; A quintessential "buddy cop" action comedy–drama series based on the 1980s & 90s film franchise created by Shane Black, with Damon Wayans and…
Limitless (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Jake McDorman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Jennifer Carpenter; Enjoyable follow–up to the Bradley Cooper film, this has Jake McDorman playing a typical twenty–something who gains the ability to use…
Live by Night (2016): Dir. Ben Affleck
Feat. Ben Affleck, Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson…; Ben Affleck's love letter to film noir set in Prohibition–era Boston where the flow of booze is controlled by an underground network of…
London Has Fallen (2016): Dir. Babak Najafi
Feat. Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman…; Riotously stupid sequel to OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN has Gerard Butler's special agent running frantically around trying to prevent the death of various…
Lost City of Z, The (2016): Dir. James Gray
Feat. Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller…; James Gray (THE IMMIGRANT) directs this Amazonian adventure based on a true story and adapted from the novel by David Grann. The early 20th…
Magnificent Seven, The (2016): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke…; Denzel Washington headlines this solid remake of the classic western charged with defending a small town from a corrupt industrialist.
Mechanic: Resurrection (2016): Dir. Dennis Gansel
Feat. Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones…; Jason Statham thumps his way through this by–the–numbers sequel to THE MECHANIC. Tommy Lee Jones eats what scenery remains.
Mermaid, The (2016): Dir. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
Feat. Chao Deng, Lin Yun, Zhang Yuqi…; Madcap comic fantasy that marks a return to form for director Chow tells the tale of a beautiful mermaid who falls for the property developer she was…
Monster Trucks (2016): Dir. Chris Wedge
Feat. Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Amy Ryan…; A truck–obsessed teen builds a monstrous vehicle out of spare parts in an attempt to escape his troubled small town existence.
Nice Guys, The (2016): Dir. Shane Black
Feat. Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice…; Genuinely hilarious buddy comedy from the director of KISS KISS BANG BANG (and writer of the LETHAL WEAPON movies back in the day) about a mismatched…
Now You See Me 2 (2016): Dir. Jon M. Chu
Feat. Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson…; Undemanding sequel with The Four Horseman forcibly reunited by a tech genius in order to pull off their most daring heist yet.
Patriots Day (2016): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon…; Director Peter Berg and star Mark Wahlberg follow DEEPWATER HORIZON with another gutsy dramatisation of a tragic American event, this time the 2013…
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016): Dir. Burr Steers
Feat. Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston…; The myriad charms of Jane Austen's classic novel are put to the test when zombies threaten the happiness of all who dwell on the Bennett estate.…
Quarry (TV Series) (2016): Dir. Greg Yaitanes, John Hillcoat
Feat. Logan Marshall-Green, Jodi Balfour, Damon Herriman…; A dark yet realistic crime drama series in which a disillusioned Vietnam War vet returns home to Memphis in 1972 only to find rejection and scrutiny,…
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016): Dir. Paul W.S. Anderson
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, Ali Larter…; Super soldier Alice is drawn back into the battle against the undead when she is the only survivor of the apocalypse at the end of Resident Evil:…
Star Trek: Beyond (2016): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban…; Thrilling third installment has Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter…
Suicide Squad (2016): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto…; Warped action from the DC Comics stable has a team of incarcerated super–villains recruited by a secret government agency to prevent the…
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2) (2016): Dir. Dave Green
Feat. Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry…; Loud, thinly scripted sequel is actually an improvement on the first. This time the Turtles battle –very, very noisily – the notorious…
Triple 9 (2016): Dir. John Hillcoat
Feat. Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie…; Bruising slice of pulp cinema features a team of entirely corrupt cops, in hock to the Russian mob, planning a heist that goes dramatically wrong
Tutankhamun (TV Mini-series) (2016): Dir. Peter Webber
Feat. Max Irons, Jonathan Aris, Sam Neill…; A four–part dramatisation of how a penniless, ostracised archaeologist named Howard Carter became a household name following his discovery of…
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016): Dir. Anna Foerster
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Charles Dance…; Fifth installment in the blood–busting franchise sees death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) attempting to stop the eternal war between Lycans…
War Dogs (2016): Dir. Todd Phillips
Feat. Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas…; Pointed political comedy with Jonah Hill and Miles Teller striking it rich when they land a contract to arm the Afghanistan army.
War on Everyone (2016): Dir. John Michael McDonagh
Feat. Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Pena, Theo James…; The Irish writer/director of CALVARY and THE GUARD goes Stateside for this comic actioner about two corrupt cops who gleefully blackmail and frame…
Warcraft: The Beginning (2016): Dir. Duncan Jones
Feat. Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster…; Stilted live–action rendering of the gaming phenomenon has an Orc horde invading the planet Azeroth and a few humans and dissenting Orcs are…
Wynonna Earp (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon…; Canadian supernatural Western series based on the IDW Comic, that follows Wyatt Earp's great granddaughter as she battles demons and other creatures…
33, The (2015): Dir. Patricia Riggen
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Rodrigo Santoro, James Brolin…; Measured recreation of the infamous Chilean mine disaster which left 33 miners trapped underground, and their struggle for survival.
Agent Carter (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy, Enver Gjokaj; Marvel crime series follows secret agent Peggy Carter as she attempts to thwart various atomic threats in forties New York.
American Ultra (2015): Dir. Nima Nourizadeh
Feat. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Connie Britton…; Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart reunite in this paranoid action–comedy , with Eisenberg dumbing down to play a hapless stoner who discovers…
Ant-Man (2015): Dir. Peyton Reed
Feat. Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll…; The Marvel film universe continues to expand with this fitfully amusing entry in which Paul Rudd acquires a crime–conquering super–suit…
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): Dir. Joss Whedon
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo…; More Marvel mayhem has the team forced to reassemble after Tony Stark and Bruce Banner awaken a long dormant peacekeeping program.
Blackhat (2015): Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Wei Tang…; Michael Mann directs this thriller about a convict and his American and Chinese partners tracking a high–level cybercrime network from Chicago…
Daredevil (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio; Marvel's blind superhero gets a laudable TV adaptation with Charlie Cox as the lawyer by day, superhero vigilante by night.
Embrace of the Serpent (El abrazo de la serpiente) (2015): Dir. Ciro Guerra
Feat. Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar; A breathtaking cinematic odyssey through the Amazon, following the quests of two European explorers (one in 1909 and the other in the 1940s).…
Everest (2015): Dir. Baltasar Kormakur
Feat. Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal…; This lavishly mounted account of the ill–fated climbing expedition that claimed the life of New Zealand mountaineer Rob Hall is especially…
Fast and Furious 7 (Furious 7) (2015): Dir. James Wan
Feat. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson…; Seventh high–octane installment has the gang targeted for revenge by an international terrorist organisation.
Gunman, The (2015): Dir. Pierre Morel
Feat. Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Jasmine Trinca…; Sean Penn stars as a sniper on a mercenary assassination team, who kills a Congolese minister, but his shot forces him into hiding.
Hardcore Henry (2015): Dir. Ilya Naishuller
Feat. Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett…; Innovative yet wearying sci–fi action film completely shot from a first–person perspective (using multiple head–mounted…
Hateful Eight, The (2015): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh…; An extremely bloody western from Tarantino that features a typically stellar cast as a group of miscreants and misanthropes holed up in a cabin in a…
Hollow Crown, The: Wars of the Roses (TV Series) (2015): Dir. Dominic Cooke
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Bonneville, Judi Dench…; A second series of star–studded, exceptionally presented Shakespeare adaptations, with Henry VI in two parts, along with Richard III. Together…
Hot Pursuit (2015): Dir. Anne Fletcher
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara, Matthew Del Negro; Reese Witherspoon headline this buddy–comedy as an uptight and by–the–book cop trying to protect the widow of a drug boss as they…
Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015): Dir. Francis Lawrence
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth…; Satisfying conclusion to the dystopian series has Katniss reunite with her friends as the war of Panem escalates.
In the Heart of the Sea (2015): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson…; Ron Howard directs this effects–heavy recounting of a New England whaling ship's sinking by a giant whale in 1820, the inspiration for the…
Insurgent (2015): Dir. Robert Schwentke
Feat. Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James…; Shailene Woodley returns in this second part of the dystopian teen trilogy and continues her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to…
Jupiter Ascending (2015): Dir. Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Feat. Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne…; A defiantly outlandish sci–fi epic from the Wachowski siblings (THE MATRIX, CLOUD ATLAS) that tells the tale of a young woman who discovers her…
Jurassic World (2015): Dir. Colin Trevorrow
Feat. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins…; The monstrous popcorn franchise reboots on the premise of silly humans building a theme park on the original site of Jurassic Park, only to have its…
Justified - The Final Season (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Walton Goggins…; Raylan Givens gets a terrific send–off in the conclusion to Elmore Leonard's urban western about an old–school U.S. Marshal reassigned…
Last Kingdom, The (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Alexander Dreymon, Ian Hart, Matthew MacFadyen…; Historical adventure series set in the divided England of the 9th century follows the travails of the orphaned son of a Saxon nobleman.
Last Knights (2015): Dir. Kazuaki Kiriya
Feat. Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, Aksel Hennie…; Clive Owen gets medieval as a fallen swordsman who leads a small army against a sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master.
Last Man On Earth, The (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, January Jones…; Quirky send–up of the post–apocalypse genre with talented comedians Kristen Schaal and Will Forte playing a pair of mismatched survivors…
Last Panthers, The (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim, John Hurt; Globe–trotting crime caper with Samantha Morton and Tahar Rahim on the trail of a gang of diamond thieves.
Last Witch Hunter, The (2015): Dir. Breck Eisner
Feat. Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood…; Vin Diesel lugs himself though this dark fantasy as a witch–hunter, cursed with eternal life, trying to prevent a plague from ravaging modern…
Legend (2015): Dir. Brian Helgeland
Feat. Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton…; Tom Hardy flexes his acting muscle as the identical twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray in this otherwise unremarkable drama that charts the rise…
Lost Worlds of Gerry Anderson, The (2015): Dir. Gerry Anderson; A two disc set from the puppetry maestro Gerry Anderson presents a collection of rare films and pilots from the famed creator of Thunderbirds, UFO,…
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Dir. George Miller
Feat. Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult…; Thrillingly turbo–charged fourth installment (and effective reboot) of the "salvage punk" action series set in post–apocalyptic Australia…
Man from U.N.C.L.E., The (The Man From Uncle) (2015): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander…; Guy Ritchie's remake of the cult TV series is a stylish tale of Cold War espionage with a CIA agent and a KGB operative participating in a joint…
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015): Dir. Wes Ball
Feat. Dylan O‘Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster…; Second entry in the dystopian adventure series picks up where its predecessor left off. Having escaped the Maze, the Gladers uncover a diabolical…
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Mission Impossible 5) (2015): Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner…; Tom Cruise and team return to take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – a rogue organization as highly skilled as…
Mortdecai (2015): Dir. David Koepp
Feat. Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor…; Caper comedy with Johnny Depp as a debonair art dealer racing to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain a code that leads to lost Nazi gold.
Oddball (Oddball and the Penguins) (2015): Dir. Stuart McDonald
Feat. Shane Jacobson, Sarah Snook, Alan Tudyk…; Charming family adventure about an eccentric chicken farmer, with the help of his granddaughter, who trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a…
Pan (2015): Dir. Joe Wright
Feat. Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund…; Visually dazzling but widely panned prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale has a young orphan spirited away to the magical world of Neverland to…
Point Break (2015): Dir. Ericson Core
Feat. Édgar Ramírez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone…; Pointless remake of the Kathryn Bigelow action classic about a young FBI agent who infiltrates a team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of…
Poldark (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Philip Davis; Remake of the classic swashbuckler with the strapping Aidan Turner as the Cornish nobleman embroiled in local scrapes and squabbles.
Revenant, The (2015): Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Feat. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson…; A masterfully intense dramatization of the gruelling experience of frontiersman Hugh Glass and his fight for survival after being mauled by a bear,…
Run All Night (2015): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman…; Liam Neeson moves both legs and fists as a professional hitman who must figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, or with his mob…
San Andreas (2015): Dir. Brad Peyton
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario…; Big–budget quake porn with Dwayne Johnson as a rescue–chopper pilot making a dangerous journey with his ex–wife across the state in…
Spectre (2015): Dir. Sam Mendes
Feat. Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux…; Daniel Craig's fourth Bond outing has 007 receiving a cryptic message from his past sending him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015): Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac…; A triumphant return to a a galaxy far, far away – and one that seemed further away after the prequels – is thrillingly directed by reboot…
Terminator: Genisys (2015): Dir. Alan Taylor
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke…; Arnie is back as the T–800, and back in 1984 with the twist that this time out he's Sarah Connor's guardian, but a fractured timeline cause…
Thunderbirds are Go! (TV Series) (2015): WETA Workshop lends their skills to this remake of the legendary TV series about the five Tracy brothers pilot remarkable, cutting–edge…
Turbo Kid (2015): Dir. Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell, Anouk Whissell
Feat. Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside…; Recommended for teens with strong constitutions, this gory post–apocalyptic romp set in a desolate "alternate 1997" follows a comic book fan…
Tut (TV Mini-Series) (2015): Dir. David Von Ancken
Feat. Ben Kingsley, Avan Jogia, Nonso Anozie; Melodramatic mini–series covering the rise to power of the extraordinary Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Ben Kinglsey hams it up as Tut's…
Wave, The (2015): Dir. Roar Uthaug; Classy Norwegian entry into the catastrophe drama genre, this white knuckle thriller mines the beauty and terror of Norway's Northwestern fjord land…
3 Days to Kill (2014): Dir. McG
Feat. Kevin Costner, Amber Heard, Hailee Steinfeld…; Kevin Costner flexes his aging muscles in this daft tough guy action movie, about a dying CIA agent who accepts one last dangerous mission in…
300: Rise of an Empire (2014): Dir. Noam Murro
Feat. Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey…; A second wave of sword and sandal gore, with Greek general Themistokles, outnumbered but determined, leading the charge against another massive…
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014): Dir. Scott Frank
Feat. Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour; Latterday action man Liam Neeson plays a world–weary unlicensed private detective who operates just outside the law to track down the monsters…
Amazing Spider-Man 2, The (Rise of Electro) (2014): Dir. Marc Webb
Feat. Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx…; Peter Parker comes up against Electro and the Green Goblin in this brash sequel to the Spider–Man reboot.
Big Game (2014): Dir. Jalmari Helander
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tommila, Felicity Huffman…; Bonkers actioner with Sam Jackson as the U.S. President relying on a teenager for aid after Air Force One crash lands in Finnish forest.
Black Sails (TV Series) (2014-2017): Feat. Zach McGowan, Luke Arnold, Toby Stephens…; Set in 1715, the "Golden Age of Piracy", this sexed–up action–packed adventure series from executive producer Michael Bay follows Captain…
Black Sea (2014): Dir. Kevin MacDonald
Feat. Jude Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn…; A robust, white–knuckle thriller in which a submarine captain takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a…
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Feat. Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson…; The Marvel juggernaut rolls on with this colossal sequel to the Captain America storyline, in which Steve Rogers must clear his name after being…
Cymbeline (Anarchy) (2014): Dir. Michael Almereyda
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich…; After their edgy version of Hamlet (2000), Ethan Hawke and director Michael Almereyda re–team for one of Shakespeare's lesser–known…
Dead Lands, The (2014): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka…; After his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery, a Maori chieftain's son, must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and…
Divergent (2014): Dir. Neil Burger
Feat. Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd…; Shailene Woodley plays a 'divergent', a personality type marked for elimination in this dystopian thriller based on Veronica Roth's bestselling young…
Dracula Untold (2014): Dir. Gary Shore
Feat. Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon…; Another definitely–not–untold Dracula story, revamped in typical Hollywood action–adventure style that may leave you yearning for…
Edge of Tomorrow (2014): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson…; Tom Cruise plays a reluctant futuristic solider who gets caught in a time loop and is forced to repeat his death on the battlefield until victory…
Equalizer, The (2014): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz; Hiding from his violent past, a man lives a quiet life working at a hardware store. When he is confronted by a new underground crime syndicate. He…
Exodus - Gods and Kings (2014): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro…; Ridley Scott directs this biblical epic in which a defiant Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses and sets 600,000 slaves on a monumental…
Expendables 3, The (2014): Dir. Patrick Hughes
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Harrison Ford…; Harrison Ford and Antonio Banderas lend their arthritic bodies to this chest–thumping third installment, no longer a throwback to the heydays…
Far from Men (2014): Dir. David Oelhoffen
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Reda Kateb; Viggo Mortensen stars in this existential western adapted from an Albert Camus' short story. Set in Algeria in the fifties, Mortensen is charged with…
Flash, The (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker; Enjoyable adaptation of the DC comic in which a forensic detective has a laboratory accident which causes the molecules of his body to vibrate at…
Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (TV Mini-Series) (2014): Dir. Mat Whitecross
Feat. Dominic Cooper, Lara Pulver, Lesley Manville…; The colourful and perilous adventures of Ian Fleming are liberally brought to life in this wartime spy romp pitched as the making of James Bond.
Fury (2014): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman…; An Allied tank on a deadly mission behind enemy lines finds itself outnumbered and outgunned in this heavy duty WWII vehicle for Brad Pitt, more…
Get Santa (2014): Dir. Christopher Smith
Feat. Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor…; Rollicking seasonal comedy about a father and son who team up to save Christmas once they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after…
Gotham (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donal Logue…; Batman prequel tells the story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Dir. James Gunn
Feat. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista…; Marvel's latest extravaganza is an irresistible pop–culture–inflected comic romp that centres on a group of space criminals who must work…
Hercules (2014): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt…; Entertaining sword–and–sandals schlock, with Dwayne Johnson muscling up as the legendary Greek demigod.
Hobbit, The - Battle of Five Armies (2014): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…; Spectacular concluding chapter of the trilogy has Bilbo and company forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely…
Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014): Dir. Francis Lawrence
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth…; Third in the series finds Katniss in District 13 fighting to save Peeta who is now a brainwashed captive of President Snow.
Into the Storm (2014): Feat. Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh; In the small town of Silverton, Two teenagers have been put in charge of filming their High School graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, dozens of…
Into the Woods (2014): Dir. Rob Marshall
Feat. Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine…; Stephen Sondheim's exuberant musical gets the gleaming big screen treatment from dir. Rob Marshall (CHICAGO, NINE), with Meryl Streep as the witch…
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014): Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Feat. Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner…; Kenneth Branagh directs the latest big screen installment in the adventures of Tom Clancy's hero CIA agent, Jack Ryan, this time revolving around a…
John Wick (2014): Dir. Chad Stahelski, David Leitch
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen…; A superbly choreographed "kick–ass" thriller that appropriately resurrects Keanu Reeves as an ex–hitman who comes out of retirement to…
Justified - Season 5 (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter…; Further episodes from the slick urban western about an old–school U.S. Marshal reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in the poor, rural…
Kajaki: Kilo Two Bravo (2014): Dir. Paul Katis
Feat. David Elliot, Mark Stanley, Scott Kyle; Nerve–wracking thriller, based on a true story, finds a unit of British paratroopers stranded in a minefield left over from the Soviet invasion.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014): Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Feat. Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson…; Good–natured, violent spoof in which gentleman spy Colin Firth recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the ultra–competitive…
Last Diamond, The (2014): Dir. Eric Barbier
Feat. Yvan Attal, Bérénice Bejo, Jean-Francois Stevenin; Slick heist film with an ex–con battling gangsters and ruthless killers in the race to pull off a daring diamond heist.
Last Ship, The (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Adam Baldwin, Rhona Mitra, Eric Dane…; A global pandemic kills off 80 percent of the earth's population, leaving the crew of a lone naval destroyer to stop the virus before humanity…
Left Behind (2014): Dir. Vic Armstrong
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray, Lea Thompson…; A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction.
Lucy (2014): Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-sik Choi; A woman's full mental capacity is unlocked when she inadvertently digests a powerful synthetic drug in this outrageous action film from dir. Luc…
Maze Runner, The (2014): Dir. Wes Ball
Feat. Dylan O‘Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter…; Post–apocalyptic thriller with teenage boys battling for survival in an enclosed maze.
Musketeers, The (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Luke Pasqualino, Peter Capaldi; A strapping reimagining of the adventures of Alexandre Dumas's Three Musketeers. Very much an old–fashioned swashbuckler in the campy tradition…
Need for Speed (2014): Dir. Scott Waugh
Feat. Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots…; Aaron Paul gets in touch with his inner boyracer in this slick illegal road–racing movie. Based loosely on the popular video game series,…
Noah (2014): Dir. Darren Aronofsky
Feat. Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone…; This thought–provoking religious epic from dir. Darren Aronofsky tackles the biblical story of Noah's Ark with seriousness and gusto.
Non-Stop (2014): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy…; Irish badness Liam Neeson must identify a hidden terrorist on–board a long haul flight who is threatening to kill a passenger every 20 minutes…
November Man, The (2014): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey…; An ex–CIA operative inds himself pitted against his former pupil in a deadly game involving both high level CIA officials and the Russian…
Pompeii (2014): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning…; This inglorious disaster epic from the 'other' Paul Anderson imagines the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in tandem with a hoary Ancient Roman melodrama.
Raid 2, The (2014): Dir. Gareth Evans
Feat. Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Julie Estelle…; Picking up from where it last left off, this epic sequel to the best martial arts movie in recent memory combines gangland melodrama (reminiscent of…
Robocop (2014): Dir. José Padilha
Feat. Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton…; Paul Verhoeven's electric blockbuster about a tormented robotic supercop is rebooted for the 21st century.
Robot Overlords (2014): Dir. Jon Wright
Feat. Ben Kingsley, Gillian Anderson, Callan McAuliffe…; Cheap and cheerful sci–fi set in a world overrun by robots from another galaxy Earth's future is in the hand of a small band of rebellious…
Sabotage (2014): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard…; A brawn–before–brains action vehicle for aging star Arnold Schwarzenegger, here playing the leader of a DEA task squad hunted by a…
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014): Dir. Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin…; A return to the hard boiled caricatures of Frank Miller's graphic "Sin City". Tales of vengeance, torture and infidelity are woven together into an…
Sons of Liberty (TV Series) (2014): Dir. Kari Skogland
Feat. Ben Barnes, Marton Csokas, Rafe Spall…; A History Channel miniseries in the "historical fiction" style, exploring the lives of America's Founding Fathers during the revolution that created…
Stretch (2014): Dir. Joe Carnahan
Feat. Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, Chris Pine…; Brash action–comedy with a Patrick Wilson as a hard–luck limo driver struggles to go straight and pay off a debt to his bookie. He takes…
Taken 3 (Tak3n) (2014): Dir. Olivier Megaton
Feat. Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace…; Third addition to the Liam Neeson action franchise has our hero accused of a murder he never committed or witnessed. More scowling and punching…
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014): Dir. Jonathan Liebesman
Feat. Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner…; Inexplicably, another mindless reboot of the ninja turtle franchise, only this time injected with all the crass and bombast of producer Michael Bay's…
Tokyo Tribe (2014): Dir. Sion Sono
Feat. Akihiro Kitamura, Ryôhei Suzuki, Hitomi Katayama; Dystopian action–musical set in an alternate Japan where territorial street gangs form opposing factions collectively known as the Tokyo Tribes.
Transformers - Age of Extinction (Transformers 4) (2014): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer…; Shia LaBeouf passes the Transformers baton to dudebro Mark Wahlberg in this kunckleheaded fourth installment of the Michael Bay–helmed…
William Kelly's War (2014): Dir. Geoff Davis
Feat. Tony Bonner; Low budget Australian WWI film following two brothers who enlist and are sent to Europe, fighting from the trenches of Gallipoli to the Western…
2 Guns (Two Guns) (2013): Dir. Baltasar Kormakur
Feat. Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton…; A slick, serviceable buddy cop romp with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg playing begrudging partners in a high stakes drug deal – neither…
47 Ronin (2013): Dir. Carl Rinsch
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki…; A rogue big screen retelling of an ancient Japanese legend, about a band of samurai determined to avenge the death of their master. Awkwardly…
A Good Day to Die Hard (Die Hard 5) (2013): Dir. Jason Moore
Feat. Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch…; The returns have all but diminished for this once durable, gold–standard action franchise, with aging Bruce Willis winding up in the middle of…
Adventurer, The - The Curse of the Midas Box (2013): Dir. Jonathan Newman
Feat. Aneurin Barnard, Lena Headey, Sam Neill…; Spiffy period adventure set in Victorian England about a teenager racing to find the eponymous 'Midas Box', a treasure which can turn any object to…
Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas (2013): Dir. Arnaud des Pallières
Feat. Mads Mikkelsen, Mélusine Mayance, David Kross…; Mads Mikkelsen plays a Robin Hood–esque horse trader who rallies against an oppressive regime in 16th century France. A stern medieval tale…
Atlantis (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Jack Donnelly, Mark Addy, Juliet Stevenson; An epic drama based around the stories of Greek mythology and the lost city of Atlantis. Jason, is sucked into a vortex and transported back to the…
Berlin File, The (2013): Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan
Feat. Jung-woo Ha, Gianna Jun; After an illegal arms deal in Berlin is disrupted by unknown assailants, a South Korean intelligence agent finds himself embroiled in a vast…
Blind Detective (2013): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Yuanyuan Gao; Dir. Johnnie To has a bob each way with this entertaining policier, effortlessly combining action, comedy and slapstick romance. Andy Lau plays the…
Dead Man Down (2013): Dir. Niels Arden Oplev
Feat. Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Terrence Howard…; Dir. Niels Arden Oplev (THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO) imports an Eastern European aesthetic into this New York–set gangland revenge thriller,…
Ender's Game (2013): Dir. Gavin Hood
Feat. Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld…; In the not–too–distant future, a young prodigy is charged with leading Earth's battle defense against a marauding fleet of alien…
Escape Plan (2013): Dir. Mikael Håfström
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent…; When a structural–security authority (Stallone) finds himself incarcerated in the world's most secret and secure prison, he has to use his…
Fast and Furious 6 (2013): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson…; This blockbusting addition to an already souped–up franchise scales new heights of ridiculousness and destruction. The gang race to take down a…
Firestorm (2013): Dir. Alan Yuen Kam-Lun
Feat. Andy Lau, Yao Chen; Exhilarating action thriller where a crew criminals manage to pull off a car heist in broad daylight on the streets of Honk Kong, and a hardboiled…
G.I Joe: Retaliation (2013): Dir. Jon M. Chu
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis…; The Joes strap up for another explosive slug fest with arch enemies Cobra in this dumb–fun sequel to the toy franchise blockbuster.
Gangster Squad (2013): Dir. Ruben Fleischer
Feat. Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin…; This straight–shooting, bang–a–minute gangster flick scores as both an entertaining throwback to 40s–era crime fighting, and…
Grudge Match (2013): Dir. Peter Segal
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Alan Arkin…; Sly Stallone and Bobby De Niro set aside their A–frames to shuffle back into the ring for one rematch up in this below–the–belt…
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013): Dir. Tommy Wirkola
Feat. Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen…; The Brothers Grimm fairytale is re–imagined as an action vehicle for the fantasy set, with the grown up siblings now self–employed as…
Hard To Be A God (2013): Dir. Aleksey German
Feat. Leonid Yarmolnik; A group of scientists are sent to the planet Arkanar to give aid to the local civilization, which is in the Medieval phase of its own history, in…
Hobbit, The - The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…; Chapter two of Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of The Hobbit, which sees the party's quest to reclaim their homeland from Smaug continue. Bilbo…
Homefront (2013): Dir. Gary Fleder
Feat. Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder…; From a script by Sylvester Stallone, this Southern–fried serving of violent moralism recalls the dime–a–dozen action movies of the…
I, Frankenstein (2013): Dir. Stuart Beattie
Feat. Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto…; Chaotic and at times incoherent action fantasy following Frankenstein's creature Adam in the centuries old war to prevent evil demons from taking…
Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013): Dir. Herman Yau
Feat. Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Anita Yuen…; The most authentic Ip Man film yet recounts the legendary grandmaster's exploits as a revered teacher of Wing Chun in Hong Kong during the 50s and…
Iron Man 3 (2013): Dir. Shane Black, Jeff Habberstad
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle…; Robert Downey Jr. returns for a third outing as the power–suited superhero in this latest installment to the Marvel canon.
Kick-Ass 2 (2013): Dir. Jeff Wadlow
Feat. Chloe Grace Moretz, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse…; The self–made superheroes who donned caps and masks to fight crime on their own terms return for this crash–bang sequel to the hit 2010…
Kill Point, The (TV Series) (2013): Dir. Steve Shill
Feat. Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, Tobin Bell…; High octane television series that follows a group of U.S. Marines recently returned from serving in Iraq as they come together to pull off a major…
Killing Season (2013): Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
Feat. Robert De Niro, John Travolta, Milo Ventimiglia; De Niro and Travolta, playing two veterans of the Bosnian War, face off on the Appalachian Mountains, in this cliched wilderness action movie.
Knights of Badassdom (2013): Dir. Joe Lynch
Feat. Ryan Kwanten, Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau…; Bumbling comedy parody of a group of live–action role players (LARPs) who inadvertently conjure up a demon and must raise swords to defeat it…
Last Stand, The (2013): Dir. Ji-woon Kim
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville…; Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to his first love – blowing shit up – in this explosive comeback vehicle for the former action star, in…
Lone Ranger, The (2013): Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner…; Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer bring TV western heroes Tonto and the Lone Ranger to the big screen in this splashy, rumble–and–rumble…
Lone Survivor (2013): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch…; Mark Wahlberg portrays Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the eponymous lone survivor of a covert mission against al–Qaeda gone wrong, in this powerful…
Machete Kills (2013): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson, Demian Bichir…; More stupid splatter from exploitation exponent Robert Rodriguez, here reviving Danny Trejo's Mexican badass for another round of saving the world,…
Man of Steel (2013): Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon…; Zack Snyder stylishly reboots the dormant Superman franchise with this moody re–imagining of the origins of Clark Kent.
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013): Dir. Isaac Florentine
Feat. Scott Adkins, Kane Kosugi; Usually the preserve of the straight–to–video market, this action–heavy Ninja adventure brings some of the toughest fight sequences…
Old Boy (2013): Dir. Spike Lee
Feat. Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley…; Spike Lee remakes Park Chan–wook's devastating revenge film about a man kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for 20 years without…
Olympus Has Fallen (2013): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermott…; It's Gerard Butler to the rescue when Korean terrorists infiltrate the White House and capture POTUS in this tough talking, fast thinking action…
On the Job (2013): Dir. Erik Matti
Feat. Joel Torre; A hard–hitting, hard–edged Filipino thriller reminiscent of THE RAID (particularly its sequel), based on a real life scandal concerning…
Pacific Rim (2013): Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi…; Guillermo Del Toro injects some bravado and visual panache into this otherwise knuckleheaded live–action cartoon about a team of robot pilots…
Pain & Gain (2013): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Anthony Mackie…; Michael Bay directs Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg in this all–American saga of beefcake personal trainers in over their heads in an…
Parker (2013): Dir. Taylor Hackford
Feat. Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis…; Jason Statham adds a muscular, street–wise dimension to Donald E. Westlake's pulp anti–hero (fixture of such films as POINT BLANK and…
Protector 2, The (Tom yum goong 2) (2013): Dir. Prachya Pinkaew
Feat. Tony Jaa, Marrese Crump, RZA; ONG–BAK superstar Tony Jaa punches below his weight in this undercooked sequel to the 2005 Sydney–set action romp about a country boy who…
R.I.P.D (2013): Dir. Robert Schwentke
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon…; This big budget flop is a lot of fun on its own terms: a carefree, unpretentious shoot–em–up about deceased detectives who project the…
RED 2 (2013): Dir. Dean Parisot
Feat. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker…; It's more of the same from the retired assassins club, who are still fighting for their survival in this entertaining, if entirely disposable…
Shield of Straw (2013): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Takao Ohsawa, Nanako Matsushima, Kishitani Goro…; The prolific Takashi Miike returns with a tale of a team of cops who must protect an accused killer with a billion–yen bounty on his head.
Snowpiercer (2013): Dir. Joon-ho Bong
Feat. Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, John Hurt…; Korean maestro Bong Joon–ho's English language debut is a breakneck sci–fi thriller set on a perpetual motion train carrying the last…
Star Trek - Into Darkness (Star Trek XII) (2013): Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch…; More of the same is a good thing in the case of J.J. Abrams' hit Star Trek reboot, with this fast–moving sequel centred on a formidable foe…
Suspect, The (Yong-eui-ja) (2013): Dir. Won Shin-yun
Feat. Gong Yoo, Park Hee-soon; Explosive action film following a betrayed North Korean special agent who defects to the South to seek revenge on his family's killer.
Welcome to the Punch (2013): Dir. Eran Creevy
Feat. James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough…; James McAvoy and Mark Strong square off as obsessive cop and elusive criminal mastermind respectively in this high–performance thriller set in…
White House Down (2013): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal…; Conveniently on a tour of the White House, action hero beefcake Channing Tatum scrambles to save the President (Jamie Foxx) from an invading…
Why Don't You Play in Hell? (Jigoku de naze warui) (2013): Dir. Sion Sono
Feat. Kunimura Jun, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Fumi Nikaido; Described by its creator as "an action film about the love of 35mm", this frenzied fanboy fiction from Shion Sono bears his trademark excess and…
Wolverine, The (2013): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima…; Hugh Jackman returns as X–Men's cult anti–hero in this Japan–set saga centred on deadly samurai and an old nemesis.
Wrong Mans, The (TV Series) (2013-2014): Feat. James Corden, Sarah Solemani, Tom Basden…; An ambitious BBC comedy–drama series co–created and written by GAVIN & STACEY alumni James Corden and Mathew Baynton that combines the…
1612 (2012): Dir. Vladimir Khotinenko
Feat. Pyotr Kislov; Bloated Russian 'historical' epic renders the 17th century civil war that ravaged the divided country as a Peter Jackson–esque battle fantasy.…
Act of Valour (2012): Dir. Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh; A bevy of real Navy SEALs star in this bicep–flexing action vehicle–cum–recruitment movie for the US Marine Corps. With the…
Amazing Spider-Man, The (2012): Dir. Marc Webb
Feat. Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans…; Andrew Garfield inherits the role of boy superhero with spider–like superpowers in this character driven reboot of the popular blockbuster…
Avengers, The (Marvel's Avengers) (2012): Dir. Joss Whedon
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson…; Barnstorming blockbuster with Marvel's premier superheroes joining forces to combat Thor's evil brother Loki and his alien army. Skilfully helmed…
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (2012): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy…; Christopher Nolan directs with bombast and brilliance this long–awaited finale to the "Dark Knight" trilogy, in which Christian Bale's aging…
Battleship (2012): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna …; The might of the US Navy take on marauding alien invaders in this belly–flop of a Hollywood blockbuster, apparently based on the popular Hasbro…
Bourne Legacy, The (2012): Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz…; Jeremy Renner plays a fellow estranged assassin to Matt Damon's unstoppable rogue agent in this brisk addition to the Bourne franchise, directed by…
Bullet to the Head (2012): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi…; A jaded hitman (Stallone) teams up with an embattled cop in this muscular Big Easy crime story, elevated by the seasoned, strong–arm direction…
Cleanskin (2012): Dir. Hadi Hajaig
Feat. Sean Bean, Charlotte Rampling, Abhin Galeya; Sean Bean plays a beefed–up Secret Service Agent pursing a known suicide bomber and his terrorist cell. Seen as a grunty action vehicle from…
Contraband (2012): Dir. Baltasar Kormakur
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale…; A solid, down–and–dirty outing for burly Mark Wahlberg, here playing a former smuggler who heads to Panama to score millions of dollars…
Django Unchained (2012): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio…; A cracking blaxploitation western from Quentin Tarantino, about a liberated slave who, with the help of a German bounty hunter, sets out to rescue…
Dredd (2012): Dir. Peter Travis
Feat. Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey…; This ultra–violent reboot of the 2000 AD comic book hero plays ups its B–movie stature to deliver a lean, mean policier less concerned…
End of Watch (2012): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick…; David Ayer, writer of TRAINING DAY, gives us another bracing cautionary tale of Los Angeles law enforcement, here following the good police work of…
Escape (2012): Dir. Roar Uthaug
Feat. Isabel Christine Andreasen, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal; A thrilling medieval chase movie, set in the aftermath of the Black Plague, about a captive teenage girl who escapes a bloodthirsty clan. Pursed…
Expendables 2, The (2012): Dir. Simon West
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme…; Sly Stallone rounds up the boys for another hour–and–a–half of homoerotic mass destruction in this muscle flexing,…
Get the Gringo (2012): Dir. Adrian Grunberg
Feat. Mel Gibson, Kevin Hernandez; Mel Gibson slums it as a drug runner sent to a hellish Tijuana prison in this lurid south–of–the–border thriller. Befitting of…
Good for Nothing (2012): Dir. Mike Wallis
Feat. Cohen Holloway, Inge Rademeyer, Jon Pheloung…; A convincingly mounted 'Pavlova Western' homegrown in New Zealand but set in the traditional American west, about a nameless outlaw's misguided…
Hamilton: In the Interests of the Nation (2012): Dir. Kathrine Windfeld
Feat. Mikael Persbrandt, Pernilla August, Jason Flemyng…; Scandi–crime goes gung–ho in this Swedish espionage thriller centred on a special agent who infiltrates the Russian mafia to bust a…
Hamilton: Not if it Concerns Your Daughter (2012): Dir. Tobias Falk
Feat. Mikael Persbrandt; Scandi super agent Carl Hamilton returns for a second mission of international intrigue and deep espionage. Here, he must go rogue to track down the…
Hit & Run (2012): Dir. David Palmer, Dax Shepard
Feat. Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper…; Comic chase film with Dax Shephard as a former getaway driver trashing his Witness Protection identity in order to get his girlfriend to a dream job…
Hobbit, The - An Unexpected Journey (2012): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…; Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with this epic first chapter in The Hobbit saga, which follows Bilbo Baggins' quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf…
Hunger Games, The (2012): Dir. Gary Ross
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth…; A 16–year–old girl must compete in a televised tournament in which 24 teenagers from a post–apocalyptic society fight to the death…
Into the White (2012): Dir. Petter Naess
Feat. Florian Lukas, Rupert Grint, David Kross…; Gentle anti–war drama with downed German and English pilots taking refuge in the same cabin in snow–bound Norway. Based on a true story.
Jack Irish: Bad Debts (2012): Dir. Jeffrey Walker
Feat. Guy Pearce, Marta Dusseldorp, Aaron Pedersen…; Guy Pearce plays the whiskey–soaked private investigator of the Peter Temple novels whose troubling past resurfaces after the death of an…
Jack Irish: Black Tide (2012): Dir. Jeffrey Walker
Feat. Guy Pearce, Marta Dusseldorp, Aaron Pedersen…; Second Jack Irish film has the beleaguered private investigator on the trail of an old mates missing son, who may have his reasons for disappearing.
Jack Reacher (2012): Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins…; Tom Cruise assumes the coveted role of Lee Child's best–selling anti–hero in this violent, no–nonsense action vehicle.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012): Dir. Brad Peyton
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson…; The Rock and friends return for this hammy, high–wire sequel to JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, with the intrepid explorers taking on the…
Justified - Season 3 (TV Series) (2012): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter…; Further episodes from the slick urban western about an old–school U.S. Marshal reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in the poor, rural…
Lawless (2012): Dir. John Hillcoat
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce…; Three ambitious brothers from the south turn to bootlegging, only to come up against the might of powerful urban gangsters in this vivid…
Lockout (2012): Dir. James Mather, Stephen St. Leger
Feat. Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare; Guy Pearce chews the scenery in this enjoyable piece of space junk, about a hard–as–nails convict who must escape the confines of a…
Man with the Iron Fists, The (2012): Dir. RZA
Feat. Russell Crowe, RZA , Lucy Liu…; Wu Tang Clan's RZA directs this slap–dash martial arts epic, based on the rapper's long–time love of kung fu movies. Starring a portly…
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Mission Impossible 4) (2012): Dir. Brad Bird
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg…; Back–to–basics third sequel sees an evergreen Tom Cruise go rogue to clear IMF's name while in pursuit of a fugitive terrorist with…
Motorway (2012): Dir. Pou-Soi Cheang
Feat. Anthony Wong, Shawn Yue, Josie Ho; China's answer to DRIVE retains much of the crisp understatement and effortless style of its stateside predecessor, pairing the electric nightlife of…
Premium Rush (2012): Dir. David Koepp
Feat. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dania Ramirez, Michael Shannon…; Interminably silly chase movie provides two–wheeled thrills and spills via its gung ho protagonist (Gordon–Levitt), a full–tilt…
Pusher (2012): Dir. Luke Prieto
Feat. Richard Coyle, Bronson Webb, Agyness Deyn…; Slick remake of the Nicolas Winding Refn thriller with Richard Coyle as a street dealer who's life spins out of control after losing a drug shipment.
Red Dawn (2012): Dir. Dan Bradley
Feat. Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson…; Jingoistic, on–the–nose remake of the '80s Cold War classic recruits a new band of teen heartthrobs to defend America from imminent…
Red Eagle (2012): Dir. Jose Ramon Ayerra Diaz
Feat. David Janer; Based on a popular Spanish TV show about a dashing teacher, who by night is a sort of Ninja–Zorro, fighting injustice and saving King and…
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Bingbing Li…; Further adventures in the undead, with Milla Jovovich continuing to kick zombie ass with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Rurouni Kenshin (2012): Dir. Keishi Otomo
Feat. Takeru Sato, Emi Takei, Teruyuki Kagawa…; A gracefully violent adaptation of the popular manga series, about a brilliant shogun who retreats from society during an era of decline for samurai,…
Safe (2012): Dir. Boaz Yakin
Feat. Jason Statham, James Hong; Jason Statham, the hardest working badass in showbiz, fights to protect a child maths prodigy from the snatches of the New York Triads in this handy…
Safe House (2012): Dir. Daniel Espinosa
Feat. Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga…; Efficient thriller with CIA rookie Reynolds in charge of keeping rogue agent Washington alive after their safe house is attacked by mercenaries.…
Shackleton's Captain (2012): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Craig Parker; The Endurance's ship captain, Frank Worsley, is given the spotlight in this searing reenactment of Ernest Shackleton’s troubled expedition to the…
Skyfall (2012): Dir. Sam Mendes
Feat. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench…; Bond’s 50th anniversary outing is his most spectacular and serious yet, with 007 drawn back to London, and eventually his Scottish homeland, in…
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012): Dir. Rupert Sanders
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron…; Dark re–imagining of the classic fairy tale with the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed becoming her protector and…
Sweeney, The (2012): Dir. Nick Love
Feat. Ray Winstone, Ben Drew, Hayley Atwell…; Ray Winstone phones it in as the 'ard as nails Flying Squad detective determined to bring down an old adversary planning a major bank heist. Maximum…
Taken 2 (2012): Dir. Olivier Megaton
Feat. Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace…; Middle–aged badass Liam Neeson returns in this enjoyable, if perfunctory sequel to the bloody–minded kidnapping hit, in which his family…
Thieves, The (2012): Dir. Dong-hun Choi
Feat. Gianna Jun, Hye-su Kim, Yun-seok Kim…; This slickly engineered Korean blockbuster (the second highest earning in the country's box office history) plays all the right cards in its…
This Means War (2012): Dir. McG
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy…; Bombastic action romance pits two CIA two operatives (lugheads Chris Pine and Tom Hardy) against each other in a war to win the hand of Reese…
Total Recall (2012): Dir. Len Wiseman
Feat. Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel…; A ramped up version of Philip K. Dick's classic sci–fi short, with Colin Farrell replacing Arnie as the unlucky recipient of a 'virtual…
Underworld: Awakening (2012): Dir. Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Charles Dance; When the human race wages war on both the Vampire and Lycan species, leather–clad warrioress Kate Beckinsale goes to battle in this routine…
Viral Factor, The (2012): Dir. Dante Lam
Feat. Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse; Dante Lam brings the fire once more in this out–and–out grunt fest of special forces action. As to be expected, the corny dramatic…
Wu Dang (2012): Dir. Patrick Leung
Feat. Vincent Zhao; A rambunctious, action–packed throwback to '80s martial arts flicks and strapping Indiana Jones–style adventure, centred on a famed…
5 Days Of War (2011): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Rupert Friend, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Richard Coyle…; Mediocre propaganda piece in which an American journalist, his cameraman, and a Georgian native get caught in the crossfire in the war between Russia…
Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (2011): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig…; Wellington's Weta Digital work their magic on this rollicking first installment of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's 3D animated trilogy of…
Battle: Los Angeles (2011): Dir. Jonathan Liebesman
Feat. Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan…; Noisy, militaristic sci–fi follows a platoon of Marines as they attempt to combat an alien invasion. Film's sole novelty is its marriage of…
Bellflower (2011): Dir. Evan Glodell
Feat. Evan Glodell, Tyler Dawson, Jessie Wiseman; Genuine oddity with two slackers spending their time building flamethrowers and various other weapons in the hope that the apocalypse is imminent.
Blitz (2011): Dir. Elliott Lester
Feat. Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen…; Subtlety–free actioner with Statham as a brutish cop given free reign to bring in a serial cop–killer. Almost oppressively violent with a…
Bomber, The (Ballada o bombere (Ballad Of A Bomber)) (2011): Dir. Vitaliy Vorobyov
Feat. Nikita Efremov, Ekaterina Astakhova, Aleksandr Davydov; Hum–drum war film – originally a television series – has a Russian aircraft crashing in Nazi occupied territory and the three…
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones…; Marvel's iconic superhero is reborn in this big, brash blockbuster, about a feeble military reject who is transformed into an ultimate solider by a…
Cat Run (2011): Dir. John Stockwell
Feat. Paz Vega, Janet McTeer, Christopher McDonald…; Unapologetically trashy caper with Paz Vega as a high class call–girl who after witnessing an orgy gone wrong finds herself pursued by…
Chinese Ghost Story, A (2011): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Louis Koo, Yifei Liu, Shao-gun Yu…; A lowly scholar falls in love with a beautiful ghost, but in order to win her freedom must do battle with the supernatural. Kinetic remake of the…
Colombiana (2011): Dir. Olivier Megaton
Feat. Zoe Saldana, Jordi Molla, Lennie James…; Yet another Luc Besson–produced action vehicle centred on a deadly female assassin, in which Zoe Saldana plays a trained killer seeking revenge…
Cowboys and Aliens (2011): Dir. Jon Favreau
Feat. Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde…; Jon Favreau (IRON MAN) directs this high concept alien invasion western, about a ragtag posse of cowboys who must stand up to an extraterrestrial…
Darkest Hour, The (2011): Dir. Chris Gorak
Feat. Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella…; Five young adults find themselves stranded in Moscow on the eve of a global alien invasion in this hokey sci–fi thriller produced by Timur…
Drive Angry (2011): Dir. Patrick Lussier
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner…; "GHOST RIDER meets DEATH PROOF" might as well be the tagline for this ludicrously imagined road movie, about a resurrected felon (Cage) who returns…
Eagle, The (2011): Dir. Kevin MacDonald
Feat. Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland…; Rousing, decidedly old–school epic with Tatum as a Roman soldier who journeys to occupied Britain to discover what caused the disappearance of…
Elephant White (2011): Dir. Prachya Pinkaew
Feat. Kevin Bacon, Djimon Hounsou, Jirantanin Pitakporntakul…; Bloody actioner with an assassin hired by a businessman to avenge the murder of his daughter by white slave traders in Thailand. Kevin Bacon adopts…
Fall of the Innocent (The Butcher of Prague) (2011): Dir. Petr Nikolaev
Feat. Karel Roden, Zuzana Fialova, Zuzana Bydzovska; WWII drama about the Nazi massacre and destruction of the Czech village of Lidice. The main protagonist is a man from the village who is sent to…
Fast and Furious 5 (Fast Five) (2011): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson…; The rubber hits the road yet again in this superior sequel. Diesel and co. this time find themselves caught between a ruthless drug lord and a…
Flypaper (2011): Dir. Rob Minkoff
Feat. Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Tim Blake Nelson…; Passable time–waster with Dempsey as a manic math whiz who has the misfortune to find himself as a hostage in simultaneous bank heists.
Front Line, The (2011): Dir. Hun Jang
Feat. Ha-kyun Shin, Soo Go; Big battles clash with big themes in this sizable war epic set during the last days of the Korean war, where soldiers from both the North and South…
Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (2011): Dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba…; Vrrmm, vrmmm....Nicolas Cage races with the devil in this unnecessary sequel to Marvel's mediocre GHOST RIDER. Despite CRANK directors Neveldine and…
Green Hornet, The (2011): Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz…; French auteur Michel Gondry directs this blockbuster spin–off of the classic crime fighting TV series about a scruffy millionaire (Rogen) and…
Green Lantern (2011): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard…; Superhero spectacle, with Ryan Reynolds as a test pilot granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as…
Grey, The (2011): Dir. Joe Carnahan
Feat. Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts…; Liam Neeson plays a skilled huntsman charged with leading a group of plane crash survivors through the remote Alaskan wilderness in this chilly…
Hanna (2011): Dir. Joe Wright
Feat. Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett…; Saoirse Ronan plays a ruthless teenage assassin who is raised by her father (Eric Bana) in isolation and pursed by CIA operatives across Europe in…
Haywire (2011): Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. Gina Carano, Michael Angarano, Channing Tatum…; Steven Soderbergh directs this classy action vehicle for mixed martial arts star Gina Carano, here playing a black ops spy who is double crossed on…
Hobo with a Shotgun (2011): Dir. Jason Eisener
Feat. Rutger Hauer, Gregory Smith, Brian Downey; Spawned from the leftovers of the Tarantino–Rodriguez 'Grindhouse' double–bill, this ropey pastiche of revenge movies and B–grade…
Hunter, The (2011): Dir. Daniel Nettheim
Feat. Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Frances O’Connor…; Willem Dafoe plays a mercenary sent to hunt for an endangered Tasmanian tiger in this sparse, psychological showcase of the Australian wilderness.
I Am Number Four (2011): Dir. D. J. Caruso
Feat. Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant…; Youthful sci–fi thriller centred on a teenage fugitive who, in hiding from mysterious forces, settles in a small Ohio town.
Immortals (2011): Dir. Tarsem Singh
Feat. Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff…; Supreme visual stylist Tarsem Singh (THE FALL) directs this B.C. spectacle about a mortal stonemason elected by Zeus to overthrow the tyrannical King…
Ironclad (2011): Dir. Jonathan English
Feat. Brian Cox, Jason Flemyng, James Purefoy…; Thumping medieval actioner has a group of Knights Templar fighting to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John. Satisfyingly bloody…
Justified - Season 2 (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter…; Further episodes from the slick urban western about an old–school U.S. Marshal reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in the poor, rural…
Killer Elite (2011): Dir. Gary McKendry
Feat. Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro…; Tough guy Jason Statham teams up with a wily Robert De Niro in this Mexican standoff between ex–special–ops agents with bounties on their…
Legend of the Millennium Dragon (2011): Dir. Hirotsugu Kawasaki; An impressively animated young–adult fantasy, centred on a 15–year–old school kid who is transported back to medieval Japan, and…
Lost Bladesman, The (2011): Dir. Felix Chong, Alan Mak
Feat. Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang; Yet another big screen reinvention of the 'Three Kingdoms' legend, this time from the perspective of talismanic figure Guan Yu, whose exploits on the…
Mechanic, The (2011): Dir. Simon West
Feat. Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland…; Bloody remake of a Charles Bronson vehicle with Statham as an elite hitman who takes a young apprentice under his wings.
My Kingdom (2011): Dir. Xiaosong Gao
Feat. Chun Wu, Geng Han; A commercial, action–inflected rendering of Peking Opera (a la Tsui Hark's PEKING OPERA BLUES), centred on the rivalry between two…
My Way (2011): Dir. Kang Je-Gyu
Feat. Jang Dong-Gun, Joe Odagiri, Bingbing Fan; The director of BROTHERHOOD OF WAR raises the stakes with this louder, bloodier, more spectacular WWII epic, centred on the true story of rival…
Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides (2011): Dir. Rob Marshall
Feat. Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane…; Johnny Depp returns with more limb–flailing shenanigans in this fourth installment of the increasingly tired franchise. This time Sparrow…
Priest (2011): Dir. Scott Charles Stewart
Feat. Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q…; Priests battle vampires in this post–apocalyptic fantasy based on the popular graphic novel.
Quick (2011): Dir. Beom-gu Cho
Feat. Min-Ki Lee, Ye-won Kang; A motorcycle courier must complete a series of near–impossible deliveries in order to save his girlfriend whose cycle helmet has been rigged…
Raid, The (The Raid: Redemption) (2011): Dir. Gareth Evans
Feat. Iko Uwais; The finest Asian action export since ONG–BAK, pitting an out–of–their–depth SWAT team against a tenement of drug dealers,…
Real Steel (2011): Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie…; Hugh Jackman seeks redemption as a boxing trainer for an all–robot fighting league in this silly, but triumphant sci–fi sports movie.
Season of the Witch (2011): Dir. Dominic Sena
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy…; Sword–and–sorcery tosh with Cage as an honorable knight charged with transporting a witch who may be the cause of the bubonic plague.
Seeking Justice (2011): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Nicolas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce…; Nicholas Cage enters into an agreement with an organization of vigilantes who offer to avenge a violent crime committed on his wife, only to demand…
Shaolin (2011): Dir. Benny Chan
Feat. Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Jackie Chan…; Feuding warlords threaten to tear China apart and only a group of Shaolin monks stand in the way of annihilation.
Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows (2011): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace…; Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively in this high–wire sequel to Guy Ritchie's blockbuster…
Sinking of the Laconia, The (TV Mini-Series) (2011): Dir. Uwe Janson
Feat. Andrew Buchan, Brian Cox, Franke Potente; Gripping reenactment of the events surrounding the ill–fated Laconia, a British ocean liner crippled by a German U–boat, who in turn…
Sleepless Night (2011): Dir. Frederic Jardin
Feat. Tomer Sisley, Serge Riaboukine, Julien Boisselier…; A stonking, white–knuckle French action picture, smartly and tightly wound around a cop's frantic search for a stolen drug stash in order to…
Smuggler (2011): Dir. Katsuhito Ishii
Feat. Satoshi Tsumabuki, Masatoshi Nagase, Yasuko Matsuyuki…; An entertainingly schizophrenic black comedy by way of cult Japanese dir. Katsuhito Ishii, whose penchant for the wacky and surreal drives this…
Source Code (2011): Dir. Duncan Jones
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga…; The dir. of MOON helms this smart sci–fi thriller, about a soldier (Gyllenhaal) thrust ‘neurologically’ into the shoes of a dead eyewitness…
Special Forces (2011): Dir. Stéphane Rybojad
Feat. Diane Kruger, Djimon Hounsou, Benoit Magimel; A kidnapped war correspondent is rescued by an elite unit of French soldiers, only to be relentlessly pursued by her Taliban captors. Grunty and…
Spy Kids 4 (All the Time in the World ) (2011): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard…; Rebooted fourth edition of the cartoonish espionage fantasy sees original spy kids Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara hand over the reins to a new duo…
Sucker Punch (2011): Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone…; The dir. of 300 helms this male adolescent fantasy based around a group of nubile young girls who reimagine the mental asylum they've been committed…
This Girl is Badass!! (2011): Dir. Mum Jokmok
Feat. JeeJa Yanin; Jija Yanin (CHOCOLATE) stars in this martial arts comedy about a girl whose family life is turned upside–down when she gets mixed up with…
Three Musketeers, The (2011): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Logan Lerman, Matthew MacFadyen, Ray Stevenson…; Spectacular trash from the lesser of the Paul Andersons, this 3–D swashbuckler has little time for history and storytelling, opting instead for…
Tower Heist (2011): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck…; Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead a group of working class bros on an elaborate take down of a mega–wealthy scamster in this large scale comedy…
Transformers - Dark of the Moon (Transformers 3) (2011): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro…; The brashest of blockbuster franchises rolls on seemingly eternally, but this one's at least an improvement of the execrable REVENGE OF THE FALLEN.…
Unknown (2011): Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
Feat. Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones…; Sleek thriller with Liam Neeson awakening from a coma with his identity seemingly erased.
Violet and Daisy (2011): Dir. Geoffrey Fletcher
Feat. Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, James Gandolfini…; Two young female assassins have second thoughts about executing their latest target (an affable James Gandolfini, one of the late actor's last roles)…
War of the Arrows (2011): Dir. Han-min Kim
Feat. Hae-il Park, Ryoo Seung-beom; A fast–paced period epic centred on the resistance of a group of villagers against the Manchurian invasion of Korea. Like THE HUNGER GAMES, an…
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011): Dir. Te-Sheng Wei
Feat. Ching-Tai Lin, Umin Boya, Masanobu Ando; An indigenous clan–based people living in harmony with nature find their way of life threatened when violent interlopers from another culture…
Your Highness (2011): Dir. David Gordon Green
Feat. Danny McBride, Natalie Portman, James Franco…; Deeply irreverent fantasy romp clearly conceived in a cloud of pot smoke has Franco and McBride desperate to rescue Deschanel from an evil wizard…
13 Assassins (2010): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Koji Yakusho, Yamada Takayuki, Yusuke Iseya…; Takashi Miike turns in perhaps his most entertaining and accomplished film yet with this rollicking SEVEN SAMURAI–inspired adventure, centred…
14 Blades (2010): Dir. Daniel Lee
Feat. Donnie Yen, Chun Wu, Sammo Hung…; A secret agent of the emperor’s court is betrayed by his colleagues in this spectacular Ming Dynasty–set thriller. Something of a return to…
22 Bullets (L' Immortel) (2010): Dir. Richard Berry
Feat. Jean Reno, Marina Fois, Richard Berry…; Violent gangland thriller has Jean Reno out for revenge after his former friend shoots 22 bullets into him.
24 - Season 8 (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland; Final season of the high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
A-Team, The (2010): Dir. Joe Carnahan
Feat. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel…; Updating the 80's TV series, a group of Iraq War veterans look to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a…
Bangkok Knockout (BKO) (2010): Dir. Panna Rittikrai
Feat. Chatchapol Kulsiriwoottichai, Sarawoot Kumsorn, Sorapong Chatree; Ordinary production values and mediocre performances are beside the point in this off–the–wall Thai martial arts, centred on a motley…
Beneath Hill 60 (2010): Dir. Jeremy Sims
Feat. Brendan Cowell, Gyton Grantley, Harrison Gilbertson…; Gripping, untold story of Australian daring beneath the trenches of WWI concerns a group of rag–tag engineers charged with sabotaging the…
Black Death (2010): Dir. Christopher Smith
Feat. Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice Van Houten…; Set during the time of the first outbreak of bubonic plague in England, a young monk is tasked with learning the truth about reports of people being…
Blades of Blood (2010): Dir. Jun-ik Lee
Feat. Seong-hyeon Baek, Seung-Won Cha; The dir. of THE KING AND THE CLOWN returns to the Chosun era with an energetic tale of working class uprising in the shadow of Japanese invasion. A…
Blood Fight: Bang Rajan 2 (2010): Dir. Tanit Jitnukul; Though not quite on the scale of the battle–heavy original, this fiery sequel nonetheless charges forth with another succession of brutal,…
Book Of Eli, The (2010): Dir. Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Feat. Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis…; Post–apocalyptic fable with attitude sees Denzel Washington play a hard–bitten prophet who must fight his way across America in order to…
Boy Wonder (2010): Dir. Michael Morrissey
Feat. Caleb Steinmeyer, Bill Sage; Superhero vigilantism with a serious tone, this thematically rich thriller about a Brooklyn teenager who adopts a 'boy wonder' alter ego in pursuit…
Bruce Lee My Brother (2010): Dir. Manfred Wong, Yip Wai-Man
Feat. Tony Leung (Kar-fai), Aarif Rahman, Christy Chung; A rambunctious, rose–tinted chronicle of Bruce Lee’s child and teenhood before departing for the USA to cement his screen legend. Doubling…
Bunraku (2010): Dir. Guy Moshe
Feat. Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman…; A gaudy east–west actioner in the spirit of recent martial arts mish–mashes (a la THE WARRIOR'S WAY) that comes off a little cheap at…
Captain Amazingly Incredible and the Space Vampires from the Evil Planet! (2010): Dir. Karl Burnett
Feat. Roy Snow, Nicko Vella, Karl Burnett…; Micro–budgeted comic caper from Shortland Street's Karl Burnett has superhero (and pimper of homeless people) Captain Amazingly Incredible do…
Centurion (2010): Dir. Neil Marshall
Feat. Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Noel Clarke…; Riveting, albeit bloody chase film has a splinter group of Roman soldiers fighting for their lives behind enemy lines after their legion is decimated…
Covert Affairs (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Anne Dudek…; Compulsive spy caper with Piper Perabo vamping it up as a CIA trainee inexplicably thrust into the front line and order to hunt down her…
Date Night (2010): Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg…; Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a bored married couple who are mistaken for a pair of international thieves in this crime–caper cum…
Deep, The (TV Mini-series) (2010): Dir. Jim O’Hanlon, Colm McCarthy
Feat. Minnie Driver, James Nesbitt, Goran Visnjic…; BBC adventure series following a research submarine beneath the Arctic that stumbles upon a terrifying secret with Earth–shattering…
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Andy Lau, Tony Leung (Kar-fai), Carina Lau…; Historical–whodunit, breathlessly paced, with Andy Lau as the dissident detective racing to hunt down a team of mysterious assassins attempting…
El Narco (2010): Dir. Luis Estrada
Feat. Damian Alcazar, Joaquin Cosio, Ernesto Gomez Cruz…; Intense crime drama that offers a hellish version of Mexico and the drug war seen through the eyes of a man returning to his home country after…
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (Elite Squad 2) (2010): Dir. José Padilha
Feat. Wagner Moura, Andre Ramiro; This riveting sequel to dir. Padilha's blockbuster policier features a more politically engaged storyline, with plenty of new angles on the…
Expendables, The (2010): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li…; Sylvester Stallone directs and leads a cast of old school action heroes for a mission impropable to assassinate a Latin American dictator.…
Faster (2010): Dir. George Tillman Jr.
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino…; Pedal–to–the–metal revenge thriller rarely lets up in its high paced offering, pitting The Rock against a number of grimy…
Fire Of Conscience (For Lung) (2010): Dir. Dante Lam
Feat. Leon Lai, Richie Ren, Baoqiang Wang; It’s all guns blazing in this bang bang throwback to the glory days of Hong Kong cinema, about a violent detective and a sly inspector’s efforts…
From Paris With Love (2010): Dir. Pierre Morel
Feat. John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak; John Travolta lets it all out as a CIA agent with a wild streak who joins up with an ambitious low–level spy (Meyers) to thwart a terrorist…
Gallants (2010): Dir. Chi-kin Kwok, Clement Sze-Kit Cheng
Feat. Siu-Lung Leung, Kuan Tai Chen; An exuberant homage to the Shaw Brothers films of yesteryear, this kung–fu comedy delights as an old–school actioner, replete with…
Green Zone (2010): Dir. Paul Greengrass
Feat. Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson…; Action ace Paul Greengrass deploys Bourne leading man Matt Damon in this frenetic, politically pointed thriller focused on the hunt for Weapons of…
Haunters (2010): Dir. Min-suk Kim; Two brooding pretty boys with unexplained superpowers battle it out in what is a familiar, if distinctly Korean spin on the anarchic superhero…
Inception (2010): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt…; Hitmaker Christopher Nolan (THE DARK KNIGHT) conjures up yet another thrilling, immaculately shot blockbuster, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the…
Ip Man 2 (2010): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam…; The kick–ass legend of Ip Man continues with the wushu grandmaster immigrating to Hong Kong to school other Kung Fu practitioners in the art of…
Iron Man 2 (2010): Dir. Jon Favreau
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson…; Spiffy, if routine blockbuster sequel finds Robert Downey Jr. reveling in his new–found celebrity as Iron Man while attracting the unwanted…
Jonah Hex (2010): Dir. Jimmy Hayward
Feat. Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox…; Josh Brolin revives DC Comics' anti–hero gunslinger in this acidic western, centred on the titular character's rage–fueled quest to…
Justified - Season 1 (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter…; Slick urban western with an old–school U.S. Marshal reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in the poor, rural coal–mining towns of…
Karate Kid, The (2010): Dir. Harald Zwart
Feat. Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson; Solid remake of the '80s classic with Jaden Smith as the bullied teen learning to fight back with the help of Jackie Chan.
Kick-Ass (2010): Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Feat. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage…; Adapted from the kick–ass graphic novel, this gleeful bone–cruncher portrays a world in which wannabe superheroes don costumes and fight…
Killers (2010): Dir. Robert Luketic
Feat. Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck…; Lukewarm romantic comedy with Kutcher and Heigl as a couple whose newlywed bliss is interrupted by a team of assassins out for blood. Crippled by…
Kites (2010): Dir. Anurag Basu
Feat. Hrithik Roshan, Bárbara Mori; Overheated even by Bollywood standards, this outlandish Las Vegas–set border romp pits a lovelorn hunk (Roshan) against police, bounty hunters,…
Knight and Day (2010): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard…; Brassy secret agent vehicle finds Tom Cruise on the lam from hired killers with Cameron Diaz in tow.
Last Circus, The (2010): Dir. Alex de la Iglesia
Feat. Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang; Clown rivalries collide in this violent, OTT genre riot from Spanish trash auteur, Alex de la Iglesia, set at both ends of Franco's dictatorship…
Legend of the Fist - The Return of Chen Zhen (2010): Dir. Andrew Lau
Feat. Donnie Yen, Shu Qi, Anthony Wong…; Belated sequel to Bruce Lee's FIST OF FURY (remade with Jet Li as FIST OF LEGEND) picks up well after the Dojo–busting triumphs of those films,…
Legion (2010): Dir. Scott Charles Stewart
Feat. Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black…; Enjoyable apocalyptic hokum with diner patrons caught in a crossfire between gun–toting celestials on the eve of Armageddon. Paul Bettany plays…
Let the Bullets Fly (2010): Dir. Wen Jiang
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Ge You, Wen Jiang…; Cocksure 'noodle' western – best described as a Chinese variation on Kurosawa's YOJIMBO – pits a notorious bandit against the mob boss of…
Little Big Soldier (2010): Dir. Sheng Ding
Feat. Jackie Chan, Lee-Hom Wang; Charismatic anti–war comedy stars Jackie Chan as a lowly foot soldier who strikes it lucky when he captures a wanted enemy General (Wang).…
Losers, The (2010): Dir. Sylvain White
Feat. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans…; Bombastic, boof–headed action based on the Vertigo comic about double–crossed mercenaries out for revenge will satisfy those in search of…
MacGruber (2010): Dir. Jorma Taccone
Feat. Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe…; From the SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE comedy stable comes this spiffy parody of '80s TV legend MACGYVER, with Will Forte rockin' the mullet as he battles…
Machete (2010): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert De Niro…; Hyper–violent 'Mexploitation' actioner from director Robert Rodriguez that fleshes out his popular mock–trailer from he and Tarantino's…
Man From Nowhere, The (Ajeossi) (2010): Dir. Jeong-beom Lee
Feat. Won Bin, Sae-ron Kim; Korean action movie following a former special agent who is living a quiet life as a pawnshop owner after his wife dies in a tragic accident, when a…
Moby Dick (2010): Dir. Mike Barker
Feat. Ethan Hawke, William Hurt, Charlie Cox…; Herman Melville's classic adventure gets another worthy adaptation this with William Hurt as the self–destructive Captain Ahab. Solid made for…
Mutant Girls Squad (2010): Dir. Noboru Iguchi, Yoshihiro Nishimura, Tak Sakaguchi
Feat. Yumi Sugimoto, Tak Sakaguchi; Japan's outlandish splatter–comedy phase reaches its logical end point with this three–chapter collaboration between the most notorious…
Nikita (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca…; Luc Besson's original female assassin lives on in this slick, aggressive TV spin–off fronted by leggy Canto star Maggie Q as a deadly escapee…
Once a Gangster (2010): Dir. Felix Chong
Feat. Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Alex Fong; Nimble action–comedy with two jaded gangsters urged by their elders to fight for the position of Dragon Head of the Hong Kong Underworld.…
Other Guys, The (2010): Dir. Adam McKay
Feat. Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson…; Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg make for incompatible partners in this absurdist buddy–cop homage from the dir. of STEP BROTHERS and TALLADEGA…
Pacific, The (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Joseph Mazzello, James Badge Dale, John Seda…; Searing, no–expense–spared follow–up to the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg–produced BAND OF BROTHERS shifts its epic perspective…
Predators (2010): Dir. Nimrod Antal
Feat. Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga…; Chosen for their ability to kill without conscience, a group of killers must survive an alien race of predators that have set out to target them as…
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010): Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley…; Jake Gyllenhaal flexes his pecs in this extravagant adaptation of the popular 'Arabian adventure' video game.
Raavan (2010): Dir. Mani Ratnam
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan; Bullish, jungle–set spectacular, based on the Indian legend of 'The Ramayan', is both a vanity project for glamour couple Abhishek Bachchan and…
RED (R.E.D.) (2010): Dir. Robert Schwentke
Feat. Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren…; Entertaining cannon fodder, this is yet another comic book adaptation of assassins on the lam, but one distinguished by its dynamite cast and…
Reign of Assassins (2010): Dir. Chao-Bin Su
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Woo-sung Jung, Kelly Lin…; Classy John Woo–produced swordplay, with Kelly Lin as a feared wuxia assassin who, seeking a new life, surgically alters her appearance (to…
Repo Men (2010): Dir. Miguel Sapochnik
Feat. Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga…; In a derivative future–world where artificial organs are readily sold and repossessed, this cocksure shoot em up pits a debt–riddled repo…
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates…; Bloody fourth installment has Jovovich join a group of survivors who want to relocate to the mysterious, but supposedly unharmed safe haven, known…
Robin Hood (2010): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow…; Reuniting GLADIATOR director Ridley Scott with star Russell Crowe, this brawnier, grittier update of the Sherwood forest legend surveys the origins…
Salt (2010): Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor…; Outlandish thriller with Jolie as a C.I.A. agent accused of being a Russian spy, and with the C.I.A. in pursuit she must fight to clear her name.…
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010): Dir. Edgar Wright
Feat. Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick…; Wearing its super–coolness on its sleeve, this precocious action–comedy stars archetypal geek Michael Cera as a gawky bass–player…
Skyline (2010): Dir. Colin Strause, Greg Strause
Feat. Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson…; Resourceful low–budget alien invasion film has bright lights appear all over Los Angeles, mesmerizing the citizens of the city while luring…
Smokin' Aces 2 (The Assassins Ball) (2010): Dir. P.J. Pesce
Feat. Tom Berenger, Michael Parks, Autumn Reeser…; A bevy of professional assassins converge on an unassuming FBI agent (Tom Berenger) in this prequel to the 2007 shoot–em–up hit. Hard man…
Sorcerer's Apprentice, The (2010): Dir. Jon Turteltaub
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina, Jay Baruchel…; Playing to type, Jay Baruchel is the average, unassuming new recruit of a master sorcerer (Nicholas Cage) who needs the help of a protégé to defeat…
Strike Back (TV Series) (2010-2017): Feat. Andrew Lincoln, Richard Armitage, Michelle Lukes…; An high–octane action series centred on the intersecting operations of an SAS Sergeant (Armitage) and an SIS Agent (Lincoln) over the course of…
Super (2010): Dir. James Gunn
Feat. Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, Liv Tyler…; Violent comedy with Rainn Wilson as a schlubb turned violent avenger after his wife runs off with a drug dealer. Uneven, perhaps intentionally, with…
Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010): Dir. Stuart Beattie
Feat. Caitlin Stasey, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lincoln Lewis…; John Marsden's enduring 'Tomorrow' series of novels for young adults receives its first big screen treatment in this story of foreign (Asian!)…
Town, The (2010): Dir. Ben Affleck
Feat. Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm…; Competent, briskly executed heist drama from actor/dir. Ben Affleck follows an armed robbery crew out of Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood, and the…
Tracker (2010): Dir. Ian Sharp
Feat. Ray Winstone, Temuera Morrison, Gareth Reeves…; Ray Winstone is lured to New Zealand in this turn–of–the–century chase movie, in which the hulking Brit plays a master South…
Unstoppable (2010): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson…; Grunty thriller with Denzel in pursuit of a runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals that threatens to decimate a town. Pure action cinema that's…
Violent Kind, The (2010): Dir. Butcher Brothers
Feat. Cory Knauf, Joe Egender, Bret Roberts…; Rockin' horror with bikers pursued by a malevolent gang of hopped up 'Rockabillies". Bloody, trashy, exploitation from directors of THE HAMILTONS.
Warlord (Warlord, The True Story Of Prince Yaroslav) (2010): Dir. Dmitri Korobkin
Feat. Aleksandr Ivashkevich, Svetlana Chuikina, Aleksei Kravchenko…; Bloody epic full of swords and bears that tells the true tale of mighty Prince Yaroslav, who united the tribal lands of 11th century Russia.
Warrior's Way, The (2010): Dir. Sngmoo Lee
Feat. Jang Dong-Gun, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush…; A ninja assassin (Jang Dong–Gun) on the run from his former clan is forced to hide in the American Badlands after refusing a mission to kill a…
Wild Target (2010): Dir. Jonathan Lynn
Feat. Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, Rupert Grint…; Bumbling Brit comedy of a middle–aged assassin (Nighy) who spares the life of one of his targets (Blunt), only to attract the attention of a…
12 Rounds (2009): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott…; Mindless action–flick–with–a–shtick focused on a police detective who must complete 12 gruelling puzzles in order to rescue…
2012 (2009): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandiwe Newton…; Oh the humanity! Doomsday specialist Roland Emmerich renders the disaster movie redundant with this senseless, all–or–nothing…
Afro Samurai Resurrection (2009): Dir. Fuminori Kizaki
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu, Mark Hamill; Stylish sequel reprises the Samuel L. Jackson–voiced Afro Samurai, here coming out of retirement to fend off a sadistic villainess. Garnished…
Armored (2009): Dir. Nimrod Antal
Feat. Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne…; Slick heist film has a down on his luck Iraq war veteran finding for a security company where he finds himself drawn into a forty–two million…
Attack on Leningrad (2009): Dir. Aleksandr Buravsky
Feat. Gabriel Byrne, Mira Sorvino, Armin Mueller-Stahl; A soaring, action–packed journey of heroism and sacrifice as one crusading journalist desperately fights to uncover the horrors buried within…
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer…; Werner Herzog's spin on the 1992 bad–boy classic delights in seeing a pasty, middle–aged Nicolas Cage cracking up (in all three meanings…
Betrayal (2009): Dir. Hakon Gunderson
Feat. Lene Nystrøm, Götz Otto, Kåre Conradi; Deceit and opportunism are the currencies traded in this passable wartime thriller, recommended for fans of MAX MANUS. Lene Nystrøm (of 90’s pop…
Bitch Slap (2009): Dir. Rick Jacobson
Feat. Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Julia Voth…; Wickedly titled but low–grade fusion of Russ Meyer and Tarantino follows three ass–kicking bad girls as they plot to extort a drug…
Black Dynamite (2009): Dir. Scott Sanders
Feat. Michael Jai White, Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson; Spot–on Blaxpoitation homage with the superfly Black Dynamite out for vengeance when "The Man" kills his brother and floods his 'hood with…
Black Lightning (Chernaya Molniya) (2009): Dir. Dmitriy Kisselev, Aleksandr Voytinskiy
Feat. Grigoriy Dobrygin, Ekaterina Vilkova, Viktor Verzhbitskiy; Timur Bekmambetov–produced action–adventure, about a poor Russian student who's gifted a used car by his father for his birthday.…
Bodyguards and Assassins (2009): Dir. Teddy Chen
Feat. Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung (Kar-fai)…; A hefty, star–studded take on turn of the century events in Hong Kong, in which the assassination of famous revolutionary figure Sun Yat Sen…
Boogie (2009): Dir. Gustavo Cova; Violent, devilish adaptation of Roberto Alfredo Fontanarrosa's celebrated cartoons ('Boogie, the Oily'), about a jaded war veteran whose bloodlust…
Cell 211 (Celda 211) (2009): Dir. Daniel Monzon
Feat. Alberto Ammann, Luis Tosar, Vincente Romero…; A substantial hit in its native Spain, this brutal thriller doubles as an intelligent critique of the Spanish penal system, with a young prison guard…
Chaw (2009): Dir. Jeong-won Shin
Feat. Jeong-hwa Eom; Dorky, RAZORBACK–inspired monster mash, in which a misfit hunting party – including a master huntsman, hotshot cop, and foolhardy ecologist…
Crank 2: High Voltage (2009): Dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Feat. Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam…; Improbable, full–tilt sequel to the action trash–classic CRANK sees Jason Statham miraculously reprise his role as the professional…
Diamond 13 (2009): Dir. Gilles Behat
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Asia Argento, Olivier Marchal; Downbeat and convoluted thriller with a dying cop roping in his loyal partner in a scheme to steal a shipment of cocaine from a drug…
District 13: Ultimatum (2009): Dir. Patrick Alessandrin
Feat. Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle; Cash–in sequel to the Luc Besson–produced sci–fi thriller whose action was shaped creatively around Parkour, an athletic pursuit…
District 9 (2009): Dir. Neill Blomkamp
Feat. Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James; Superb sci–fi blockbuster from first–time writer/director Blomkamp, set in an alternate–reality Johannesburg where an…
Donner Party, The (2009): Dir. T. J. Martin
Feat. Crispin Glover, Clayne Crawford, Mark Boone Jr.…; Survival western taking a few liberties with the true story of the Donner Party, who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains while attempting…
Fast and Furious (Fast and The Furious 4, The) (2009): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster…; Fourth in the petrol–headed series sees FBI agent Brian O'Conner (Walker) team up once more with ex–con Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) to…
Fullmetal Alchemist (TV Series) (2009): Two brothers scour a war–torn land for the Philosopher's Stone, a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform Alchemy in impossible ways.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009): Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Rachel Nichols…; SFX heavy live–adaptation of the popular toy franchise sees the G.I. Joe super–soldiers take on a corrupt arms dealer and the mysterious…
Gamer (2009): Dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Feat. Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall…; Gerard Butler fights the system in this action orgasm, caught in a world where gamers control humans in mass–scale, multi–player online…
Give 'Em Hell Malone (2009): Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Thomas Jane, Ving Rhames, French Stewart…; A tough as nails private investigator squares off with gangsters and their thugs to protect a valuable secret. Malone goes through hell to protect…
Goemon (2009): Dir. Kazuaki Kiriya
Feat. Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Osawa; The dir. of CASSHERN helms this visionary medieval spectacle, based on a 16th century bandit whose Robin hood–style exploits are steeped in…
Green Lantern: First Flight (2009): Dir. Lauren Montgomery
Feat. Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer…; A solid animated outing for one of the lesser–known superheros of the DC Universe, The Green Lantern, who gains his powers through a magical…
Horde, The (La Horde) (2009): Dir. Yannick Dahan, Benjamin Rocher
Feat. Aurelien Recoing, Eric Ebouaney, Doudou Masta; Fist–pumping zombie flick pits cops and criminals in a fight for their life against the walking dead amidst the slums of Paris. Bloody and…
Inglourious Basterds (Inglorious Bastards) (2009): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Eli Roth…; A cocky, revisionist war epic channeling spaghetti westerns and the Dirty Dozen, Quentin Tarantino’s long–time pet project is perhaps his…
Kamui (2009): Dir. Yoichi Sai
Feat. Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Koyuki; High adventure and spectacular fight sequences energize this otherwise inadequate period piece about fugitive ninjas in Japan.
Last Rites of Ransom Pride, The (2009): Dir. Tiller Russell
Feat. Lizzy Caplan, Scott Speedman, Cote de Pablo…; Pulpy, stylized western with Caplan carrying the body of her dead lover home across treacherous lands in order to give him a proper burial.
Merantau (2009): Dir. Gareth Evans
Feat. Iko Uwais; Indonesia's riposte to ONG–BAK stars newcomer Iko Uwais as a young man from a Jakarta tribe whose rite of passage via the big city exposes him…
Mulan (2009): Dir. Jingle Ma, Wei Dong
Feat. Zhao Wei, Jaycee Chan; The legend of Mulan (previously tackled by Disney) is given the big screen treatment in this sweeping historical costume epic, a current specialty of…
Ninja Assassin (2009): Dir. James McTeigue
Feat. Rain , Naomie Harris, Ben Miles…; Severed limbs dominate this off the wall chopsocky fight fest with a rogue ninja taking on the a clan of ninjas in that sneaky way that ninjas…
Ong-Bak 3 (2009): Dir. Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai
Feat. Tony Jaa; Cliffhanger ending to the ONG–BAK legend sees Thai martial arts phenom Tony Jaa return to battle his arch nemesis (from Part II’s prequel…
OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009): Dir. Michel Hazanavicius
Feat. Jean Dujardin; Bumbling intelligence officer and shameless chauvinist, Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, returns for Brazilian adventures in this bright and breezy spy…
Perrier's Bounty (2009): Dir. Ian Fitzgibbon
Feat. Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Gabriel Byrne…; Jovial Irish caper in the vein of Sexy Beast, with Murphy as a petty crim in hock to a local gangster. A talented cast clearly enjoying themselves…
Pope Joan (2009): Dir. Sonke Wortmann
Feat. Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham, John Goodman…; Rousing, fable–like account of the life of a ninth century female pope who rose gradually through the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy while…
Public Enemies (2009): Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, Christian Bale…; Michael Mann transposes the cops–and–robbers psychology of HEAT to depression–era America in this ambitious, if at times inadequate…
Raging Phoenix (2009): Dir. Rashane Limtrakul
Feat. JeeJa Yanin; The female star of CHOCOLATE returns with break dancing moves to complement her sick martial arts skills, in this over–the–top kickboxing…
Robogeisha (2009): Dir. Noboru Iguchi
Feat. Aya Kiguchi; Two sisters, recruited as assassins in a robotic geisha army, fight from the inside to take down the head of an evil corporation. More cartoonish,…
Sea Wolf, The (2009): Dir. Mike Barker
Feat. Sebastian Koch, Stephen Campbell Moore, Neve Campbell…; Thrilling maritime–yarn based on the grim Jack London book, chronicling the exploits of the vindictive Captain Wolf Larson (Koch) and the…
Sengoku Basara (TV Series) (Samurai Kings) (2009): In the bloody Warring States Period, of feudal Japan, many generals fought in an endless struggle for power, but one man proved to be too big of a…
Sherlock Holmes (2009): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams…; Blockbuster makeover of the famous sleuth has Holmes re–imagined as a brawny, off–beat super–hero type, battling a fiendish villain…
Sniper, The (Sun cheung sau) (2009): Dir. Dante Lam
Feat. Edison Chen, Richie Ren, Xiaoming Huang…; Macho, ADD shoot ‘em up follows an elite sniper unit from Hong Kong who, with the aid of a brash young rookie, must take down an…
Solomon Kane (2009): Dir. Michael J. Bassett
Feat. James Purefoy, Max von Sydow, Pete Postlethwaite…; Conan creator Robert E. Howard's pulpy fantasy gets a suitably bloody adaptation with James Purefoy donning the boots to star as the hell–bound…
Star Trek (Star Trek XI (Reboot)) (2009): Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg…; Enterprising and entirely effective "reboot" of the Sci–Fi franchise, charting the early days of Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS…
Storm Warriors, The (Storm Riders II) (2009): Dir. Oxide Pang, Danny Pang
Feat. Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng, Simon Yam; The Pang brothers helm this flamboyant, effects–heavy sequel to the OTT Hong Kong hit, delivering a mixture of wushu and wizardry with…
Surrogates (2009): Dir. Jonathan Mostow
Feat. Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike…; Bruce Willis is called to action in this glassy, futuristic thriller, set in a world in which humans live their everyday lives through lifelike…
Terminator Salvation (2009): Dir. McG
Feat. Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood…; Po–faced fourth installment in the TERMINATOR franchise sees a grizzly John Connor (Bale) lead the resistance against SKYNET and its army of…
Tracing Shadow (Zhui ying) (2009): Dir. Marco Mak, Francis Ng
Feat. Jaycee Chan, Hao Dang, Francis Ng; This batty Ming Dynasty comedy is a worthy throwback to Hong Kong’s campy martial arts movies of the early 90s, with an extravagant blend of…
Transformers - Revenge Of The Fallen (Transformers 2) (2009): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel…; Blockbuster buffoon Michael Bay reignites the conflict between warring robot tribes the Autobots and the Decepticons, with weedy hero Sam (LaBeouf)…
Treasure Hunter, The (2009): Dir. Yen-ping Chu
Feat. Jay Chou, Chiling Lin, Eric Tsang…; Madcap fusion of Indiana Jones and martial arts mayhem, with Mandarin popstar Jay Chou leading the charge as a protector of relics on the hunt for a…
Turning Point (2009): Dir. Herman Yau
Feat. Michael Tse, Anthony Wong, Francis Ng…; A triad gangster wrestles with conflicting loyalties after being selected by his boss to become a mole within the police force, then being recruited…
Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans (2009): Dir. Patrick Tatopoulos
Feat. Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra; Latest in the long–suffering Underworld series focuses on the origins of the ancient feud between the vampires and the Lycans. This…
Valhalla Rising (2009): Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn
Feat. Mads Mikkelsen; Mads Mikkelsen plays an enslaved warrior drawn into a viking crusade in this gritty, visceral primordial adventure from dir. Nicolas Winding Refn…
Vengeance (2009): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Testud, Anthony Wong…; French tough guy Johnny Hallyday returns to China to exact revenge on his family's killers in another high class shoot 'em up from Hong Kong's action…
Watchmen (2009): Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino…; Spectacular – although flawed – live action adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, focused around a group of retired…
Wonder Woman (2009): Dir. Lauren Montgomery
Feat. Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina…; Excellent animated feature telling the origin story of Wonder Woman (voiced by Russell) and her quest to protect the world from Ares (Molina). The…
Woochi: Goblin Wizard (Jeon Woochi : The Taoist Wizard) (2009): Dir. Dong-hun Choi
Feat. Dong-won Kang, Yun-seok Kim, Su-jeong Lim…; Mayhem is unleashed in contemporary Seoul when Taoist wizards do battle with time traveling goblins.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009): Dir. Gavin Hood
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston…; Hugh Jackman reprises his role as wolfy superhero Wolverine, charting his origin–story from innocent child through to fully–fledged,…
Yatterman (2009): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Shô Sakurai, Saki Fukuda, Kyoko Fukada; Fantastical live–action anime serves kids and kidults alike with its tale of mild–mannered shop keepers who don jaunty costumes to fight…
24 - Redemption (2008): Dir. Jon Cassar
Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Carlyle, Gil Bellows…; Solid feature–length primer for 24's seventh season finds the ever–durable Jack Bauer on the lam from American authorities, hiding out in…
24 - Season 7 (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland; Further episodes in this high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
An Empress and the Warriors (Kong saan mei yan) (2008): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Donnie Yen, Xiaodong Guo, Zhenghai Kou…; Jazzed up historical drama with a young woman thrust into the role of Empress upon her father's death, and fight for her kingdom. Conventional…
Appaloosa (2008): Dir. Ed Harris
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger…; Enjoyable "old–school" Western directed by Ed Harris, who also stars as an incorrigible marshal who is hired along with deputy Viggo Mortensen…
Australia (2008): Dir. Baz Luhrmann
Feat. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham…; Aussie golden boy Baz Luhrmann's larger–than–life epic sees an English aristocrat and cattle driver attempt to save an inherited outback…
Babylon A.D. (2008): Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz
Feat. Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Depardieu…; Mind–numbing, muddled Vin Diesel thriller that sees the furrowed–brow strongman playing a callous mercenary recruited to smuggle a woman…
Bangkok Dangerous (2008): Dir. Oxide Pang, Danny Pang
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Charlie Yeung; Continuing the dubious trend of Asian filmmakers helming American remakes of their own hit movies, this strictly by–the–numbers thriller…
Batman: Gotham Knight (2008): Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Feat. Kevin Conroy, David McCallum, Parminder Nagra; From the producers of BATMAN BEGINS and the highly anticipated 'The Dark Knight' comes this stylish anime collection of six sequences tracing…
Batman: The Dark Knight (2008): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart…; Christopher Nolan’s follow–up to BATMAN BEGINS pitches Christian Bale’s Batman against Heath Ledger’s lunatic Joker, propelling this…
Brothers Bloom, The (2008): Dir. Rian Johnson
Feat. Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo…; Fanciful tale of two grifting brothers (Brody, Ruffalo) who, in attempting to ensnare an eccentric heiress (Weisz), fall for both her feminine charms…
Chanbara Beauty (2008): Dir. Yôhei Fukuda
Feat. Eri Otoguro, Chise Nakamura; Fan–servicing bikini swashbuckler, with two scantily clad babes slashing their way through zombie hoards. A crummy, if entertaining hodgepodge…
Chocolate (2008): Dir. Prachya Pinkaew
Feat. JeeJa Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong; Impressive newcomer Jeeja Yanin plays a butt kicking autistic girl (!) in this exhilarating revenge movie, a standout amongst Thailand’s recent…
Cloverfield (2008): Dir. Matt Reeves
Feat. Michael Stahl-David, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas…; A giant, malevolent extraterrestrial terrorises New York City in this dazzling cult creature–feature–with–a–twist: the action…
Comanche Moon (TV Mini-series) (2008): Feat. Adam Beach, Linda Cardellini, Rachel Griffiths…; Clunky prequel to the Lonesome Dove franchise, with Steve Zahn and Karl Urban filling the younger shoes of Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones…
Day the Earth Stood Still, The (2008): Dir. Scott Derrickson
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith…; Rather vague, king–sized remake of the 1951 sci–fi classic, in which an alien visitor brings to earth a warning of imminent…
Death Race (2008): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane…; Give ‘em what they want actioner starring the genre’s go–to guy Jason Statham as a former racing champ turned wrongfully imprisoned convict…
Defiance (2008): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell…; Edward Zwick (GLORY) delivers big, earnest moments in this true story of four brothers who launch an all–Jewish resistance against the Nazis…
Doomsday (2008): Dir. Neil Marshall
Feat. Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Alexander Siddig…; Cult director Neil Marshall (THE DESCENT) returns with this gleefully anarchic, ultra–violent sci–fi actioner in which a taskforce from…
Dragonlance: Dragons of the Autumn Twilight (2008): Dir. Will Meugniot
Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Lucy Lawless, Michelle Trachtenberg; Basic Fantasy adventure animation based on the novel and role–playing game of the same name about a group of heroes defending their land…
Eagle Eye (2008): Dir. D. J. Caruso
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson…; Derivative but entertaining cyber–thriller in which a young man and single mother get framed as terrorists and find themselves unexpectedly…
Felon (2008): Dir. Ric Roman Waugh
Feat. Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Anne Archer…; Hard–nosed prison drama follows the fate of a caring father (Dorff) who finds himself incarcerated inside a maximum security prison after…
Female Agents (Les femmes de l'ombre) (2008): Dir. Jean-Paul Salome
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Julie Depardieu, Marie Gillain…; Substantial, exciting WWII espionage thriller following an all–female commando unit of the French Resistance recruited to rescue a British…
Flashpoint (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni, Sergio Di Zio; High–octane cop show from Canada following the 'Strategic Response Unit', a team of elite police who take on the riskier jobs the rest won't…
Fool's Gold (2008): Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland…; Combustable rom–com coupling McConaughey and Hudson reunite for this high seas adventure; he plays a bum treasure hunter obsessed with finding…
Forbidden Kingdom, The (2008): Dir. Rob Minkoff
Feat. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano; Hokey martial arts vehicle for Hong Kong’s two biggest action stars, which finds an American teen transported back to ancient China in the throws…
Good, the Bad, the Weird, The (2008): Dir. Ji-woon Kim
Feat. Kang-ho Song, Byung-hun Lee, Woo-sung Jung; The high–end stylist behind Korean box office hits A BITTERSWEET LIFE and A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, dir. Kim Ji–woon flavours this eastern…
Hancock (John Hancock) (2008): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman…; Will Smith stars in this action comedy as an unlikely superhero whose sarcasm and destructive ways have put him out of favour with his public. As…
Hell Ride (2008): Dir. Larry Bishop
Feat. Larry Bishop, Michael Madsen, Eric Balfour…; Grindhouse–inspired biker flick stars Bishop as the head of a biker gang on a mission to avenge a fallen comrade killed by a rival…
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008): Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor…; The cigar–smoking demon must defeat the fabled golden army and his own self–doubt in this fabulous sequel to 2004’s HELLBOY.…
Horseman, The (2008): Dir. Steven Kastrissios
Feat. Peter Marshall, Caroline Marohasy, Brad McMurray…; Nihilistic low–budget revenge flick follows the violent trail of a grieving father out for vengeance after his daughter's death from an…
Incredible Hulk, The (2008): Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt…; The Green Machine gets another going–over in this serviceable update of the Marvel comic, tracking itinerant scientist Edward Norton as he…
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen…; The belated return of Indiana Jones for another thrilling adventure quest, this time to find the crystal skull in Peru before the Soviets get their…
Ip Man (2008): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan…; Kung fu stalwart Donnie Yen assumes the legend of Ip Man, celebrated master of the rare and deadly form of martial arts, Wing Chun (later adopted by…
Iron Man (2008): Dir. Jon Favreau
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges…; Technically stunning live–action realisation of the story of Marvel comic superhero Iron Man – otherwise known as Tony Stark – a genius…
Jason Byrne: The Byrne Identity (2008): Feat. Jason Byrne; One of Ireland's favourite stand ups performs the set from his popular Edinburgh Festival show as well as new material for the dvd, filmed live at…
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (2008): Dir. Eric Brevig
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem; A "rollercoaster" entertainment based very loosely on Jules Verne's famous novel, this version sees a contemporary trio embarking on an inadvertent…
Jumper (2008): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell; Pea–brained, wildly disjointed sci–fi chase flick from the director of THE BOURNE IDENTITY centres on a 'jumper' (Christensen) whose…
L Change the World (2008): Dir. Hideo Nakata
Feat. Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Youki Kudoh; Sugar–rushing spinoff of the Japanese sci–fi DEATH NOTE films, from the director of THE RING, picking up with detective 'L' attempting to…
Last Enemy, The (TV Mini-series) (2008): Dir. Iain B. MacDonald
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Anamaria Marinca, Max Beesley…; Five–part BBC TV drama set in a near–future version of London, where the population is controlled via a centralised database that tracks…
M.W. (2008): Dir. Hitoshi Iwamoto
Feat. Hiroshi Tamaki, Yamada Takayuki; Osamu Tezuka’s manga about plot to unleash nerve gas on Japan receives a big–budget makeover. Simple–minded action vehicle is all about…
Maiden Heist (2008): Dir. Peter Hewitt
Feat. Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, William H. Macy…; Agreeable caper with three aging security guards conspire to steal the artwork they're supposed to be protecting. Intended as an affectionate…
Max Manus: Man of War (2008): Dir. Joachim Roenning, Espen Sandberg
Feat. Aksel Hennie, Agnes Kittelsen, Nicolai Cleve Broch…; Rousing wartime actioner chronicles the exploits of irrepressible Norwegian resistance hero Max Manus, whose sabotaging of the Nazi’s stampede…
Max Payne (2008): Dir. Jason Moore
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges…; Another over–stylised blockbuster based on a video game, this stars Wahlberg as a particularly grim maverick cop on a mission of revenge to…
Miracle at St. Anna (2008): Dir. Spike Lee
Feat. Derek Luke, John Turturro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt…; A messily formed, though nonetheless vital piece of corrective history, with Spike Lee directing this recreation of the feats of the…
Mummy, The - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello…; Veteran adventurer Rick O’Conner (Fraser) returns with family in tow to battle Jet Li’s ‘Dragon Emperor’ in this bloated third installment of…
North Face (Nordwand) (2008): Dir. Philipp Stölzl
Feat. Benno Fürmann, Florian Lukas; Exceptionally vivid, nerve–wracking mountaineering thriller in which two novice climbers attempt to be the first to scale the treacherous north…
Ong-Bak 2 (Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning) (2008): Dir. Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai
Feat. Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree, Sarunyu Wongkrachang; Heavy–handed follow–up to the decade’s best martial arts movie, co–directed by and starring ONG–BAK’s Tony Jaa as a…
Pride and Glory (2008): Dir. Gavin O'Connor
Feat. Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight…; A withdrawn, honest Irish cop becomes tangled in a web of betrayal when his brother's drug bust goes savagely wrong and he is ordered to investigate…
Quantum Of Solace (2008): Dir. Marc Forster
Feat. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko…; Number 22 in the enduring Bond series is an action–heavy adventure with Daniel Craig returning as the man with the gun on a revenge mission to…
Rambo: Reloaded (2008): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden…; Rambunctious, ultra–violent Sylvester Stallone–directed actioner sees Sly reprising his ammo–strapped role (this time in…
Red Baron, The (Der rote Baron) (2008): Dir. Nikolai Müllerschön
Feat. Maxim Mehmet, Til Schweiger, Joseph Fiennes…; Biographical melodrama focused around Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the celebrated showboating WW1 pilot. Thrilling airborne set–pieces make up…
Red Cliff (The Battle of Red Cliff) (2008): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fengyi Zhang…; A gargantuan Han Dynasty epic from Hong Kong's action movie grandmaster, John Woo, in which two kingdoms must form an unlikely alliance to stave off…
RocknRolla (2008): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton…; Stylephile Guy Ritchie revisits well–trodden territory with this typically tangled crime caper involving a menagerie of seedy opportunists…
Ruins, The (2008): Dir. Carter Smith
Feat. Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Joe Anderson; Gory cautionary tale, adapted from Scott Smith’s popular pulp novel, in which a group of college pals on an eye–opening Mexican vacation…
Sky Kids (The Flyboys) (2008): Dir. Rocco de Villiers
Feat. Stephen Baldwin, Tom Sizemore, Jesse James…; Big hearted adventure follows the exploits of a bullied loner and protective best friend who inadvertently cross paths with a scheming mobster (a…
Speed Racer (2008): Dir. Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Feat. Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman…; The Wachowskis(THE MATRIX) take the wheel in this hyperactive version of 60s animation series SPEED RACER, with the eponymous hero (Hirsch) battling…
Spirit, The (2008): Dir. Frank Miller
Feat. Jaime King, Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes…; Hollow directorial debut from comic book artist Miller centered around a rookie cop who comes back from the dead to fight crime as the stylish…
Stone of Destiny (2008): Dir. Charles Martin Smith
Feat. Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Robert Carlyle…; Crowd–pleasing heist movie following a group of young Glaswegian students as they attempt to steal the Stone of Scone, a beloved symbol of…
Street Kings (2008): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie, Forest Whitaker…; LA CONFIDENTIAL author James Ellroy and the writer of TRAINING DAY team up for this ultra–macho, ultra–violent LAPD–centric…
Sword Of The Stranger (Sutorenjia: Mukô Hadan) (2008): Dir. Masahiro Andô; Ferocious feature–length anime sees a young boy and his dog accompany a nameless samurai as they try to escape relentless Ming warriors. A…
Taken (2008): Dir. Pierre Morel
Feat. Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley…; Retired CIA operative Liam Neeson goes COMMANDO all over Paris on a ruthless mission to save his kidnapped daughter from an Albanian prostitution…
Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Busy Phillips; Flashy sci–fi series set two years after TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY and centred on Sarah Connor and her son preparing for battle against the…
Three Kingdoms (Resurrection of the Dragon) (2008): Dir. Daniel Lee
Feat. Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q…; Rousing take on a Chinese literary classic rehashes the legendary Han Dynasty power struggle between three warring kingdoms (recently given the royal…
Transporter 3, The (2008): Dir. Olivier Megaton
Feat. Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, Francois Berleand; The third in the mind–numbing action series sees Statham reprise his role as mercenary transporter whose package is now a Ukrainian beauty he…
Tropic Thunder (2008): Dir. Ben Stiller
Feat. Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jnr., Jack Black…; Ferociously funny action comedy from actor–director Ben Stiller, following a group of pretentious actors on a mission to create the biggest…
Tunnel Rats (2008): Dir. Uwe Boll
Feat. Wilson Bethel, Michael Pare, Mitch Eakins; Inept Vietnam War pic with U.S Special Forces sent into an elaborate underground maze to kill the Vietcong. By consensus this is Boll's "best"…
Underdog Knight, The (Ying Han) (2008): Dir. Sheng Ding
Feat. Ye Liu, Yong You, Anthony Wong; An offbeat, anti–heroic character study out of mainland China, in which a self–styled martial arts pretender lands a job as bodyguard for…
Vantage Point (2008): Dir. Peter Travis
Feat. Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Dennis Quaid…; Tipsy, time–swapping political thriller cribs liberally from RASHOMON and TV–terrorist heart–stopper 24 in congealing multiple…
Wanted (2008): Dir. Timur Bekmambetov
Feat. James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman; A relentless rollercoaster ride on amphetamines, this breakneck graphic novel adaptation from the Russian director of NIGHT WATCH tracks the…
24 - Season 6 (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland; Further episodes in this high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
3:10 To Yuma (2007): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster…; Rugged and authentic remake of the '57 western, about a desperate, cash–strapped rancher escorting a notorious outlaw to Yuma via locomotive…
Afro Samurai (2007): Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman; The perpetually cool Samuel L. Jackson reeks of attitude as the voice of an Afro–American samurai hellbent on revenge. In the spirit of KILL…
American Gangster (2007): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor…; Hefty gangster flick in the tradition of SCARFACE, SERPICO, et. al., but based on an amazing true story: Washington plays Frank Lucas, the driver to…
Assembly (2007): Dir. Feng Xiaoning
Feat. Hanyu Zhang; Searing Chinese war drama set during the country's last days of Civil war, in which a courageous army captain fights tooth and nail to stave off a…
Beowulf (2007): Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins…; Originally earmarked for 3D IMAX cinemas, this groundbreaking animation brings to screen the Old English epic of hero Beowulf (Winstone) and his…
Bionic Woman, The (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Michelle Ryan, Miguel Ferrer, Molly Price…; Updated version of the 70's TV series about a female athlete who is gifted with bionic strength after a serious accident.
Black Belt (Kuro-obi) (2007): Dir. Shunichi Nagasaki
Feat. Akihito Yagi, Tatsuya Naka; Defence meets attack in this measured martial arts drama set in 1930s Japan, in which two karate experts (played by real–life karate pros) take…
Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007): Dir. Paul Greengrass
Feat. Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Édgar Ramírez…; Quality white–knuckle thrills–and–spills flick concludes the Bourne trilogy – and our super–spook hero’s (Damon)…
Chuck (TV Series) (2007-2008): Feat. Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin; Affable action series centred on a computer geek recruited into the CIA after inadvertently downloading top–secret government secrets onto his…
Crows O (Kurôzu zero) (2007): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Shun Oguri, Kishitani Goro, Yamada Takayuki…; Irresistibly entertaining manga adaptation from the genius director of ICHI THE KILLER, presenting the first in a series of Japanese action films…
Death Proof (2007): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan…; Tarantino, that great galloping genre geek, further indulges his jones for '70s B flicks and sexual kicks with his half of the 'Grindhouse' double…
Death Sentence (2007): Dir. James Wan
Feat. Kevin Bacon, Kelly Preston, John Goodman…; Violent vigilante bloodbath from the dir. of SAW, featuring Kevin Bacon as a mild mannered man turned bloodthirsty bad dad after his son is randomly…
Die Hard 4.0 (Live Free or Die Hard) (2007): Dir. Len Wiseman
Feat. Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long…; Bruce Willis returns as hardass action copper John McClane, taking on a plugged–in, post–9/11 terrorist cell in this fourth addition to…
Dororo (2007): Dir. Akihiko Shiota
Feat. Ko Shibasaki, Satoshi Tsumabuki; Electrifying action fantasy based on a manga comic by the grandfather of Anime – Osamu Tezuka (ASTRO BOY), in which an abandoned samurai's son…
Dragon Wars (D-War) (2007): Dir. Hyung-rae Shim
Feat. Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster; Schlocky and ungainly monster movie makes good fist of its Korean legend, about giant dragons resurrected and dispatched upon Los Angeles, served…
Drummer, The (Zhan. gu) (2007): Dir. Kenneth Bi
Feat. Tony Leung (Kar-fai), Kenneth Tsang, Jaycee Chan; Visually enticing martial arts drama of a self–indulgent son sent into the Taiwanese mountains to escape gangland city retribution, who ends up…
Eastern Promises (2007): Dir. David Cronenberg
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel…; A muscular, satisfying thriller set in the underworld of the Russian mafia in London, this reteams the director and star of A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,…
Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite) (2007): Dir. José Padilha
Feat. Wagner Moura, Andre Ramiro, Caio Junqueira…; Brawny South American policier centred on a special division of Brazilian drug enforcement at war with the drug lords of Rio de Janeiro. Stacked…
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): Dir. Tim Story
Feat. Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans…; Comparable sequel to the hit live–action adaptation of the Marvel comic books, with the dir. and cast returning as the four discover there are…
Fighting Beat (2007): Dir. Piti Jaturaphat; Agile martial arts action flick based in a Thai street fighting bar renowned for its local competitors, who find themselves in a deadly fight for…
Ghost Rider (2007): Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley…; The latest Marvel superhero to 'ignite' the screen, a rather unlikely Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who strikes a deal…
Golden Compass, The (2007): Dir. Chris Weitz
Feat. Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ben Walker…; Visually magnificent fantasy epic adapted from the first installment in Philip Pullman's controversial "His Dark Materials" trilogy traverses similar…
Graduation (2007): Dir. Michael Mayer
Feat. Adam Arkin, Shannon Lucio, Riley Smith…; Teen heist flick concerns a quartet of college friends on the brink of graduation who try to pull off a risky bank job to help fund cancer treatment…
Harvest (2007): Feat. Joseph Sonson, Baril Pelage, Aurea Joseph; Hybrid adventure/music film focused around a restless Ganja planter who decides to harvest his whole crop in order to fulfil what he believes to be…
Hitman (2007): Dir. Xavier Gens
Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko…; Luc Besson–esque actioner, deriving from the Playstation 2 game, in which Number 47 (Olyphant) – a hairless, soulless, ruthless…
Hot Fuzz (2007): Dir. Edgar Wright
Feat. Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman…; A tour de force of comedy from the creators of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and TV's "Spaced", this fills every corner of its big widescreen with better jokes,…
Hunting Party, The (2007): Dir. Richard Shepard
Feat. Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, James Brolin…; Action–packed serio–comic political thriller in the spirit of THREE KINGS centres on the shaggy dog story of an intrepid trio of…
Kingdom, The (2007): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper…; Jamie Foxx hunts a faction of terrorists in this Middle Eastern–set actioner concerning the aftermath of a suicide bombing on American citizens…
Kung Fu Dunk (Gong fu guan lan) (2007): Dir. Yen-ping Chu
Feat. Charlene Choi, Jay Chou, Eric Tsang…; Inane sporting comedy about a skilled martial artist recruited to play basketball at the local university in return for help in finding his birth…
Last Legion, The (2007): Dir. Doug Lefler
Feat. Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai; CGI fantasy dramatising the plight of Rome's last emperor, the child Romulus Augustus, and his protectors – Firth, Kingsley, and Bollywood star…
Mad Detective (2007): Dir. Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Feat. Lau Ching-wan, Kelly Lin; Flawed yet watchable policier in which a faultily–wired, one–eared detective with psychic leanings (Lau) is brought in to help on a cold…
Mark of Cain, The (2007): Dir. Marc Munden
Feat. Leo Gregory, Matthew McNulty, Gerard Kearns…; Based on real first–person accounts, this fictional British war drama explores the effects of the Iraq conflict on two young soldiers who can…
Mongol (2007): Dir. Sergei Bodrov
Feat. Tadanobu Asano; A fiercely–mounted early history of Genghis Khan, from the Mongol leader’s childhood years through to his all–conquering warpath across…
Monkey Magic (2007): Enjoyable Japanese action based on the cult MONKEY! TV series, rejoining our adventurers as they travel into the mountains to recover a magical orb…
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007): Dir. Jon Turtletaub
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger…; Family adventure sequel joining up with a treasure hunter on a global quest for clues to prove his family's innocence over Abraham Lincoln's death. A…
Next (2007): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore; Nick Cage plays a schlocky Vegas magician with a secret power – he can see a wee way into the future – which makes him a useful (if…
Ocean's Thirteen (Ocean's 13) (2007): Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon…; Another high–rolling casino caper from ringmaster Soderbergh, this third flutter on the heist franchise retains his original debonair cast in a…
One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates (2007): Dir. Takahiro Imamura; Bristling feature length adventure from Japan's most popular manga series of all time, set in an era of warring pirate factions competing for a…
Pathfinder (2007): Dir. Marcus Nispel
Feat. Karl Urban; Finding a path to Hollywood, local boy Karl Urban pumps up for this grunting and gory Viking spectacle, that bases its story on the Oscar nominated…
Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End (2007): Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom…; Blockbuster third installment in the ever–popular swashbuckling franchise finds Johnny Depp and crew having to sail off the edge of the map and…
Planet Terror (2007): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin…; Robert Rodriguez's half – and quite possibly, the better half – of the "Grindhouse" double bill (with Quentin Tarantino's DEATH PROOF),…
Postal (2007): Dir. Uwe Boll
Feat. Zack Ward, Dave Foley, J.K. Simmons…; Profoundly dim farce recounts the misadventures of hopeless layabout who conspires with his cult leader uncle to rip off an amusement park, trouble…
Prince and the Pauper, The (A Modern Twain Story) (2007): Dir. James Quattrochi
Feat. Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Vincent Spano…; Identical Sprouse twins (THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY) team up again in this modern take on the classic Twain story as two wayward boys from…
Resident Evil - Extinction (2007): Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter; Milla Jovovich returns in the war against the undead in this third installment of the game–turned–film franchise. This time our…
Rise - Blood Hunter (2007): Dir. Sebastian Guitierrez
Feat. Lucy Liu, James D'Arcy, Michael Chiklis…; Lucy Liu seeks revenge using a trusty silver crossbow against those who transformed her into a bloodlusty creature of the undead in this stylish…
Rogue (2007): Dir. Greg McLean
Feat. Radha Mitchell, Michael Vartan, Sam Worthington; Second terrifying outing from the dir. of WOLF CREEK centers on a 'rogue' giant crocodile in the Australian outback, whose latest prey is a boatful…
Rogue Assassin (War) (2007): Dir. Philip G Atwell
Feat. Jet Li, Jason Statham; Mildly entertaining actioner pits Statham as an FBI detective hell–bent on revenge after Li kills his partner; titular character Li, meanwhile,…
Rush Hour 3 (2007): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan; Action pals Tucker and Chan are back for all–new buddy–cop Asian fusion antics – and are transplanted to gay Paris to fight the Triads.…
Severed Ways (2007): Dir. Tony Stone
Feat. Tony Stone, Fiore Tedesco, Gaby Hoffmann; On the coast of North America in AD 1007, two Norsemen are stranded when their expedition is attacked and they are left for dead. As they struggle to…
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars (2007): Dir. Julian Kemp
Feat. Jonathan Pryce, Bill Paterson, Anna Chancellor; Holmes gets kicked into the 21st century with this made–for–TV family drama in which the crime–busting duo must rely on a gang of…
Shoot 'em Up (2007): Dir. Michael Davis
Feat. Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci; Clive Owen delivers a baby and some good one–liners, as well as the thrills the title promises, in this loud, obnoxious, wildly adrenalised…
Shooter (2007): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover…; Mark Wahlberg plays a military sniper recruited to prevent an presidential assassination in this political thriller for a generation of George…
Siyama: Village of Warriors (2007): Dir. Preecha Songsakul; Three teenagers travel back to the 18th century in their Toyota to lend a helping hand to villagers engaged in an epic battle with a callous Burmese…
Smokin' Aces (2007): Dir. Joe Carnahan
Feat. Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys…; A high–strung crime caper of competing assassins from the dir. of NARC, dispatching with boyish glee a bevy of visual and narrative bullet…
Sovereign's Servant, The (2007): Dir. Oleg Ryaskov
Feat. Dmitriy Miller, Aleksandr Bukharov; Two French aristocrats are sent by Louis XIV to observe the Swedish and Russian armies just before the Battle of Poltava in this sweeping Russian…
Spider-Man 3 (Spiderman 3) (2007): Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco…; The third entry in the mega–successful Marvel franchise finds Peter Parker/Spiderman confronting a coterie of villains and emo–like teen…
Sukiyaki Western Django (2007): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Ando Masanobu, Yusuke Iseya, Renji Ishibashi…; Mashing spaghetti western and samurai farce, Takashi Miike spins an east–meets–west tale of two rival clans attempting to bolster their…
Superman: Doomsday (2007): Feat. Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, John Di Maggio…; Brutal animation based on 'The Death of Superman' comic where our red caped superhero must defeat the creature 'Doomsday' and rise from the dead to…
Sword Of Alexander (Taitei no ken) (2007): Dir. Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Feat. Hiroshi Abe, Riki Takeuchi; Camp sword and sorcery pastiche mines the Japanese tradition for bizarre humour, genre–mincing, and spectacular overacting, with…
Tin Man (TV Mini-series) (2007): Dir. Nick Willing
Feat. Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough…; Futuristic, CGI–rich TV mini–series re–imagining the L. Frank Baum classic THE WIZARD OF OZ. Quirk bunny Zooey Deschanel (WEEDS,…
Transformers (2007): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight…; Industrial–strength live–action adaptation of the cult 80s cartoon, about two waring robot factions with the ability to 'transform' into…
Vexille (2007): Dir. Fumisiko Sori; Brawny sci–fi anime set in the year 2077, in which a special agent is sent to examine the capabilities of Japan’s robot technology, and its…
Warlords, The (Tau ming chong) (2007): Dir. Peter Chan
Feat. Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro…; Spectacular, if now commonplace amongst a legion of Chinese historical epics, this tale of feuding warlords relays its angst, betrayal, and gory…
Weapons (2007): Dir. Adam Bhala Lough
Feat. Nick Cannon, Paul Dano, Mark Webber…; Nihilistic thriller revolves around the intersecting lives of gun–toting teenagers and the circumstances surrounding a murder filled…
You Move You Die (2007): Dir. Ketzal Sterling
Feat. Ketzal Sterling, Bruce Hopkins; Ad hoc gangster thriller out of Auckland concerns a stolen engagement ring, and its ensuing recovery by a desperate fiancée and his posse of…
16 Blocks (2006): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse; Surprisingly taut and minimalist New York City actioner has downtrodden, booze–addled cop Bruce Willis assigned a fool's errand to transport a…
24 - Season 5 (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland; Further episodes in this high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
300 (2006): Dir. Zack Snyder
Feat. Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West…; Brawny, unapologetic war mongering from the imagination of Frank Miller (SIN CITY), this ancient warrior epic indulges heavily in CGI effects and a…
Above and Beyond (TV Mini-Series) (2006): Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson
Feat. Jason Priestley, Joss Ackland, Kenneth Welsh…; Commendable mini–series based on the true story of the Atlantic Ferry Operation in WW2 – a last–ditch aerial attack from Canada's…
Alatriste (2006): Dir. Agustin Diaz Yanes
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Elena Anaya, Javier Camara; Viggo Mortensen plays a Spanish noble warrior in this epic adaptation of Arturo Pérez–Reverte's best–selling books. Lavished with the…
Amazing Extraordinary Friends (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Carl Dixon, Hannah Marshall, David McPhail…; Lightweight, tongue–in–cheek Kiwi kids series focused around a young boy who gains heroic powers and goes on a quest to recruit other…
Apocalypto (2006): Dir. Mel Gibson
Feat. Dalia Hernandez, Rudy Youngblood; Dir. Mel Gibson’s oft–enthralling action adventure follows a young tribesman living in a jungle village who is taken prisoner by Mayan…
Bandidas (2006): Dir. Joachim Roenning, Espen Sandberg
Feat. Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn…; A spicy and saddled western vehicle for bosom buddies Hayek and Cruz, with the spunky duo turning to bank robbery in an effort to combat a marauding…
Battle of Wits, A (Muk gong) (2006): Dir. Jacob Cheung
Feat. Andy Lau, Sung-kee Ahn, Zhiwen Wang…; Broad, engrossing siege epic, in which a lone, resolute hero fights for a village overrun by a 25,000–strong army in 370 B.C. China. Though…
Black Book (Zwartboek) (2006): Dir. Paul Verhoeven
Feat. Carice Van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman; A Jewish singer goes deep undercover for the Dutch resistance in this splashy, larger–than–life WWII yarn set in Nazi–occupied…
Blackbeard (2006): Dir. Kevin Connor
Feat. Stacy Keach, Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward; Fun, if historically inaccurate tele romp through the high seas in the 18th century, based loosely on the true story of pirate Edward Teach who would…
Bleach (TV Series) (2006): Immensely popular anime series follows the supernatural adventures of a gifted teenager whose ability to channel the powers of a ‘Soul Reaper’…
Blood Diamond (2006): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou…; Robust action film with a political conscience, Leonardo DiCaprio gamely sustains a South African accent and an amoral toughness as a…
Broken Trail (TV Mini-series) (2006): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Robert Duvall, Thomas Haden Church, Greta Scacchi…; High calibrE made–for–TV western about an aging cowboy and his nephew who rescue five Chinese girls from a slave trader while…
Casino Royale (2006): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Eva Green…; The James Bond franchise finds a new face, goes back to the very beginning, and rediscovers its mojo, with new Bond Daniel Craig and Kiwi dir. Martin…
Children of Men (2006): Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Feat. Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor…; Clive Owen is pursued across a dystopian England of 2027 in this stimulating, pertinent sci–fi parable, rendered with stunning virtuosity by…
City of Violence, The (2006): Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan
Feat. Doo-hong Jung, Kil-Kang Ahn; A dazzling, action–fantastic revenger by way of Korea, this draws its considerable bloodletting from the aftermath of a funeral, where two…
Condor, The (Stan Lee Presents - The Condor) (2006): Dir. Steve Gordon
Feat. Wilmer Valderrama, Maria Conchita Alonso; When his parents are murdered and his legs destroyed in a violent invasion, Hispanic skatie Tony Valdez uses bits and pieces from his Dad's…
Crank (2006): Dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Feat. Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam; Shamelessly adrenalized actioner posits that a professional assassin (Statham) trying to go straight is poisoned by his spiteful employers and will…
Curse of the Golden Flower (2006): Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou; Another sumptuous Tang Dynasty epic in martial arts from the dir. of HERO, cast in the mould of a Shakespearian power struggle between an Emperor, an…
Deadwood - Season 3 (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker…; Further tales from the troubled Arizona town of Deadwood. Season Three: 12 episodes across four discs. Disc 1: Tell Your God to Ready for Blood, I…
Dish Dogz (2006): Dir. Mikey Hilb
Feat. Luke Perry, Haylie Duff, Marshall Allman; Glossy teen drama set at an extreme sports camp, following the relationship between a chef and one of the dishwashers, who dreams of being a…
Dragon Tiger Gate (2006): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Donnie Yen…; Flamboyant, off–the–hook actioner in which two estranged kung–fu masters must put aside their differences to overcome a marauding…
Dynamite Warrior (2006): Dir. Chalem Wongpim
Feat. Dan Chupong, Leo Putt; As if to accommodate an escalating reputation for martial arts outrageousness, Thailand’s stunt extraordinaires risk life and limb in their most…
Eight Below (Antarctica) (2006): Dir. Frank Marshall
Feat. Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Jason Biggs; Rousing Antarctic adventure, loosely based on the true story of a 1950s research team who were forced by weather and circumstances to abandon their…
Exiled (Fong juk) (2006): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Richie Ren…; Master exponent of genre Johnnie To pays homage to spaghetti westerns and the bygone era of John Woo in this energetic, skilfully dispatched action…
Fast and the Furious 3, The - Tokyo Drift (2006): Dir. Justin Lin
Feat. Lucas Black, Lil' Bow Wow, Sung Kang; Second retread for the 'boy racer' franchise takes an Asian detour, with hothead Lucas Black having one car–smash too many and being sent to…
Flyboys (2006): Dir. Tony Bill
Feat. James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno; Soaring, occasionally hokey aviation adventure recalling the true–life exploits of the Lafayette Escadrille, a French fighter squadron patched…
Fountain, The (2006): Dir. Darren Aronofsky
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn…; A madly ambitious, visually splendid odyssey from dir. Darren Aronofksy, this will certainly intrigue fans of his earlier work, while sci–fi…
Guardian, The (2006): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Costner, Sela Ward; Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner get wet as trainee coast guard and salty swim legend respectively in this broad–chested adventure about an…
Host, The (Gwoemul) (2006): Dir. Joon-ho Bong
Feat. Kang-ho Song, Doona Bae, Ah-sung Ko; Colossal Korean blockbuster that single–handedly revives the generic monster movie: birthed from a batch of military–grade chemicals…
Man vs Wild (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Bear Grylls; Macho malarkey with modern day Macgyver and master masochist Bear Grylls running round extreme terrains tormenting himself for the benefit of couch…
Mission: Impossible 3 (2006): Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Keri Russell…; Propulsive and hyper–violent third outing for Tom Cruise as US superagent Ethan Hunt, here on a globe–jetting mission to foil a vile…
New World, The (2006): Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. Colin Farrell, Q'orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer…; An epic naturalist meditation on the European settlement of America from dir. Terrence Malick (DAYS OF HEAVEN), which reveals a thoughtful and at…
No Mercy For The Rude (2006): Dir. Cheol-hie Park
Feat. Ha-kyun Shin; A mute hitman limits his contract killings to ‘rude’ individuals, saving up for a voice–restoring operation in this unconventional riff on…
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006): Dir. Michel Hazanavicius
Feat. Jean Dujardin; Dusting off a little–known French spy spoof from the 1960's, this remake upgrades rather than updates the franchise, combining the Bond school…
Other Side, The (2006): Dir. Gregg Bishop
Feat. Nathan Mobley, Jaimie Alexander; Paced like a bat–out–of–hell, this action–packed yet intricate 'undead' thriller follows a murdered student to hell and back…
Outlaw (2006): Dir. Nick Love
Feat. Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Rupert Friend…; Unpleasant slug–fest with Sean Bean establishing a posse of vigilantes to round up the 'lawless scum' pervading Britain. Simplistic thriller…
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest (2006): Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley…; Smash sequel–equal, which replicates the swashbuckling wit, quirkiness and visual excitement of its predecessor, again following the…
Poseidon (2006): Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss…; Pointless, but admittedly lean and racy, this remake of the 1970s disaster epic THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE is set aboard a giant cruise ship which is…
Rebel, The (2006): Dir. Truc "Charlie" Nguyen
Feat. Dustin Nguyen; This vigorous martial arts actioner set in 1920s Vietnam is unusually committed to the finer details of political turmoil and period recreation,…
Rescue Dawn (2006): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies; In dramatizing the unforgettable true story of Dieter Dengler – heroic subject matter of doco LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY – Werner Herzog…
Robin Hood (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Jonas Armstrong, Lucy Griffiths, Richard Armitage…; The latest reincarnation of Robin Hood is a lavish, broadly appealing small screen BBC revival of the Sherwood legend. All of Robin’s friends and…
Robin-B-Hood (Bo bui gai wak) (2006): Dir. Benny Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Louis Koo, Michael Hui…; Chan hams it up in this big–budget action caper as a compulsive gambler who inadvertently ends up with a kidnapped baby as a means to pay off…
Rocky Balboa (Rocky VI) (2006): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Milo Ventimiglia; Not quite down for the count, Sylvester Stallone heaves himself off the canvas for one last shot at glory in this, the sixth (and surely final) ROCKY…
Sentinel, The (2006): Dir. Clark Johnson
Feat. Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria…; A political conspiracy thriller with plenty of gun–cocked posturing involves veteran secret service agent Michael Douglas, implicated in a…
Seraphim Falls (2006): Dir. David Von Ancken
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston; More old–fashioned than revisionist, this muscular revenge western trails a savage army colonel (Neeson) as he hunts down a union officer…
Snakes on a Plane (2006): Dir. David R Ellis
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Margulies, Rachel Blanchard…; Shamelessly egregious B–movie actioner with Samuel L. Jackson playing an FBI agent escorting a federal murder witness (Phillips) on a…
Superman Returns (2006): Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey…; Solid revival of the 'Man of Steel' franchise soars to new heights of conceptual daring and tour–de–force action, with newcomer Brandon…
Tiger Brigades, The (2006): Dir. Jerome Cornuau
Feat. Clovis Cornillac, Diane Kruger, Edouard Baer…; Splashy French adventurism, in the spirit of THE UNTOUCHABLES, pits a high–minded inspector and his hard knocks 'Tiger Brigade' of crimebusters…
Tristan and Isolde (2006): Dir. Kevin Reynolds
Feat. James Franco, Rufus Sewell, Sophia Myles; Accessible and handsome rendering of the legendary Celtic love affair between a noble British knight (Franco) and an Irish princess (Myles), which…
Ultraviolet (2006): Dir. Kurt Wimmer
Feat. Milla Jovovich, William Fichtner; Bleak and vaguely coherent sci–fi actioner, with Milla Jovovich playing a diseased half–vampire who must protect a small boy –…
Unit, The (TV Series) (2006): Dir. David Mamet, various
Feat. Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, Robert Patrick…; The brainchild of David Mamet, this riveting black–ops suspenser serialises the daring assignments of a covert special forces team who, under…
United 93 (2006): Dir. Paul Greengrass; Intensely affecting recreation of the fated last flight of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11th 2001, where passengers successfully rose up…
Vengeance (Phairii phinaat paa mawrana) (2006): Dir. Preaw Sirisuwan; Fast–paced jungle fantasy horror has a young man and his friends in pursuit of an escaped prisoner inside a fantastical forest populated by…
World Trade Center (2006): Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal…; Powerful and gripping rendering of the plight of two NYC cops who became trapped in the rubble of the collapsing World Trade Center in the 9/11…
X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart…; Third entry in the X–MEN series maintains the intensity with a raft of new mutants – of various persuasions – and an intriguing new…
24 - Season 4 (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Elisha Cuthbert; Further episodes in this high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
Aeon Flux (2005): Dir. Karyn Kusama
Feat. Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller…; Sci–fi action fantasy based on the mid–1990s animation by Peter Chung, in which a spandex–clad superheroine (Theron) flits around…
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005): Dir. Jean-François Richet
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Drea De Matteo…; Effective update of John Carpenter's 1970s classic in which high–impact action and a fairly convincing raw tenseness carry the wellworn tale of…
Azumi 2 (2005): Dir. Shusuke Kaneko
Feat. Aya Ueto, Shun Oguri, Ai Maeda…; Samurai girl–power sweeps feudal Japan once more in this competent, but lesser installment (minus the original director) in the Azumi…
Batman Begins (2005): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman…; Angular and grim prequel explores the origins of brooding superhero Batman, here played by Christian Bale, from the childhood trauma of millionaire…
Beowulf and Grendel (2005): Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson
Feat. Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgard, Sarah Polley; A rousing medieval adaptation of the Anglo–Saxon epic poem in sweeping fantasy tones. Filled with constant action in a strange, otherworldly…
Bittersweet Life, A (2005): Dir. Ji-woon Kim
Feat. Byung-hun Lee; A suave mob enforcer's mercy for one of his intended victims results in the full wrath of the Korean organised crime world in this slick, ultra…
Cinderella Man (2005): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti…; Premium Hollywood biopic has Russell Crowe sluggin' it out as real–life prizefighter Jim Braddock, who during the Great Depression rose from…
Constantine (2005): Dir. Francis Lawrence
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton…; A stylish, but rather misfiring adaptation of the DC comicbook 'Hellblazer', with Keanu Reeves playing a wry, hard–boiled detective with…
Deadwood - Season 2 (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker…; Further tales from the troubled Arizona town of Deadwood. Season Two: 12 episodes across four discs. Disc 1: A Lie Agreed Upon – Part 1, A…
Death Trance (2005): Dir. Yuji Shimomura
Feat. Tak Sakaguchi; Another insane, neo–samurai fantasy from the VERSUS camp involving the battle over a mysterious coffin that, if opened, could destroy the…
Domino (2005): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Delroy Lindo…; Brash, hyperkinetic action rendition of the life and times of Domino Harvey (played by Knightley), the daughter of movie–star Laurence Harvey,…
Doom (2005): Dir. Andrzej Bartkowiak
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike; Based on one of the most popular computer games ever made, this concerns a corp of elite commandos who are sent into a quarantined laboratory on Mars…
Duelist (Hyeongsa) (2005): Dir. Lee Myung-Se
Feat. Ji-won Ha, Sung-kee Ahn, Dong-won Kang; A restless, meta–revisionist sword epic from the dir. of NOWHERE TO HIDE places two undercover police officers in pursuit of an elusive…
Elektra (2005): Dir. Rob Bowman
Feat. Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Terence Stamp; Reprising her quasi–superhero role from DAREDEVIL, Garner dons a red supervixen outfit as a contract assassin pitted against a cabal of ninjas…
Empire (2005): Feat. Colm Feore, Emily Blunt, Jonathon Cake; Glossy and occasionally patchy drama which reconstructs the events surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar (Freore) and the succession of…
Empire of the Wolves (L'Empire des Loups) (2005): Dir. Chris Nahon
Feat. Jean Reno, Laura Morante; Jean Reno plays a brutal French policeman brought out of 'compulsory retirement' to hunt for the murderers of some Turkish labourers in Paris. He…
Fantastic Four (2005): Dir. Tim Story
Feat. Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans…; A surprisingly fetching adaptation of Stan "Spider–man" Lee's tale of a group of astronauts transformed by accidental exposure to cosmic…
Four Brothers (2005): Dir. John Singleton
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin…; Four adopted brothers of mixed race band together – despite their differences and life problems – to avenge their elderly mother's murder…
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005): Dir. Jim Sheridan
Feat. 50 Cent, Terrence Howard; Gangster–rap star "Fiddy" Cent (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) tells the rags–to–riches tale of his Queens, NYC upbringing and how he saved…
Gisaku (2005): Dir. Baltasar Pedrosa; Spanish–anime hybrid concerns an alliance of samurai warriors pitted against a demonic ‘Master of Darkness’ hell–bent on destroying…
Great Raid, The (2005): Dir. John Dahl
Feat. Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, Connie Nielsen…; Forthright retell of one of WWII's most daring missions, where a group of US Army Rangers plotted to rescue 511 American POWs from a Japanese prison…
Harsh Times (2005): Dir. David Ayer
Feat. Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria; An urban masculine tale of crime, violence and staunch brotherhood in seedy South Central L.A., this is raw yet highly implicative about wasted male…
Hostage (2005): Dir. Florent Emilio Siri
Feat. Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Jonathan Tucker…; Bruce Willis negotiates familiar territory as a SWAT agent drawn into a messy siege in a high–security mansion, where three white–trash…
Initial D (Tau Man Jid) (2005): Dir. Wai Keung Lau
Feat. Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong…; Sleak and light, this adaptation of the Shuichi Shigeno's famous 'manga' comic by the makers of INFERNAL AFFAIRS, concerns a boy–racer (played…
Into the Blue (2005): Dir. John Stockwell
Feat. Jessica Alba, Paul Walker, Scott Caan…; Four youthful free–divers plunge into the waters of the Bahamas in search of supposed sunken treasure, but instead discover a planeload of pure…
Kidnapped (TV Mini Series) (2005): Feat. Adrian Dunbar, John Bach, Paul McGann…; A stirring adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure yarn, set around a young boy's entanglement with the Scottish Jacobite rebellion…
King Kong (2005): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black…; Peter Jackson's colossal remake lavishes one of the cinema's greatest legends in 21st century technology and ratchets up the emotional stakes to…
Kingdom of Heaven (2005): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Eva Green…; Arch–epic of the 12th century crusades, this follows an honourable French blacksmith (Bloom) into the maelstrom of Jerusalem,…
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005): Dir. Shane Black
Feat. Val Kilmer, Robert Downey Jnr., Corbin Bernsen…; Reflexively vulgar and enjoyably vicious, this comic–thriller has fumbling thief Downey Jnr. by chance winning an audition for a film part,…
Kokoda (2005): Dir. Alister Grierson
Feat. Jack Finsterer, Simon Stone, Travis McMahon…; Visceral, against–the–odds WWII flick revisits the legendary story of inexperienced Aussie battlers taking on the mighty Japanese army in…
Last Drop, The (2005): Dir. Colin Teague
Feat. Billy Zane, Michael Madsen, Sean Pertwee…; Competent, if not exactly scintillating, suspenser in which a group of allied soldiers are airdropped into Europe to steal gold and other treasures…
Legend Of Zorro, The (2005): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell…; Rather belated sequel to THE MASK OF ZORRO finds most of the cast (minus Anthony Hopkins) regrouping for another swashbuckling romp in 1850s…
Lord Of War (2005): Dir. Andrew Niccol
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan…; A thoughtful though heavy–handed thriller about an intelligently amoral Ukrainian–American (Cage), who dedicates himself to the world…
Mangal Pandey (2005): Dir. Ketan Mehta
Feat. Aamir Khan, Toby Stephens; Accomplished and stirring Hindi epic based on the life and times of Mangal Pandey (Khan), leader of the 1857 'Indian Mutiny' which severely…
Mee-Shee (The Water Giant) (2005): Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Bruce Greenwood, Rena Owen, Joel Tobeck; A modest yet engaging family adventure, partly filmed in New Zealand, with special effects by 'Jim Henson's Creature Shop'.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn; Propelled by a nicely preposterous premise this action–comedy has bored suburban couple Pitt and Jolie both leading double–lives as…
Myth, The (San Wa) (2005): Dir. Stanley Tong
Feat. Jackie Chan; Alternating between past and present, Jackie Chan plays a warrior general during the Qing Dynasty and a modern day archaeologist respectively in this…
One Last Dance (2005): Dir. Max Makowski
Feat. Francis Ng, Harvey Keitel, Ti Lung; Subdued low–budget Singaporean actioner in which an assassin (Ng) on his final assignment must take out a group of kidnappers who have snatched…
Over There (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Josh Henderson, Luke MacFarlane, Erik Palladino; Demanding Iraqi War excursion from Steven Bochco (NYPD BLUE) focuses on a US army unit’s dispatch to Iraq. Light on politics, this nevertheless…
Promise, The (Wu ji) (2005): Dir. Chen Kaige
Feat. Hiroyuki Sanada, Dong-Kun Jang, Cecilia Cheung…; Visually exquisite, if utterly frivolous Golden Globe–nominated romantic epic from the director of FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE relays the story of…
Protector, The (Tom yum goong, Warrior King) (2005): Dir. Prachya Pinkaew
Feat. Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao; Muay Thai phenomenon Tony Jaa continues his reinvigoration of the martial arts genre with this hotly anticipated follow–up to ONG–BAK: a…
River Queen (2005): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, Cliff Curtis…; Both underrated and overblown, dir. Vincent Ward's (VIGIL) ambitious historical drama depicts the journey across heart, soul and land–scapes of…
Sahara (2005): Dir. Breck Eisner
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn…; Preposterous action yarn has 'New Age' treasure–hunter McConaughey team up with Zahn to find a Confederate battleship which is somehow wrecked…
Samurai 7 (TV Series) (2005): Dir. Toshifumi Takizawa; Daring anime update of Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI, set in a post–apocalyptic world where partly–bionic former samurai roam the wilderness…
Samurai Commando: Mission 1549 (2005): Dir. Masaaki Tezuka
Feat. Yosuke Eguchi, Kyoka Suzuki; Flashy remake of Sonny Chiba's 'time slip' shogun fantasy G.I SAMURAI, with a unit of advanced Special Forces soldiers inadvertently transported back…
Seoul Raiders (2005): Dir. Jingle Ma
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Shu Qi, Richie Ren; Hokey but fun pseudo–sequel to 'Tokyo Raiders' that finds Hong Kong special agent Lam (Tony Leung) on the hunt for counterfeiters in Seoul,…
Seven Swords (2005): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung; Legendary Hong Kong dir. Tsui Hark returns with an action epic set among the brutal 17th Century Ching dynasty, as seven warriors come together to…
Shadowless Sword (Muyeong geom) (2005): Dir. Young-Jun Kim
Feat. Seo-Jin Lee, Yoon So-yi; Spiffy Korean wuxia extravaganza grafting comedy, romance and action aplenty onto the skin of an ambitious historical epic. Scaling the efforts of…
Shakugan No Shana (TV Series) (2005): Yuji is returning from school when suddenly time stops and monsters appear to devour people. He is not frozen, however. When one of the monsters…
Sin City (2005): Dir. Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller
Feat. Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen…; A sensational slab of stylized and ultra–violent pulp fiction, adapted from Frank Miller's own notorious 'crime noir' comicbooks, and…
SPL (Sha Po Lang) (2005): Dir. Wilson Yip
Feat. Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam…; Intense cops–and–hoods thriller which clearly raises the bar for Hong Kong martial–arts by infusing its tale of an idealistic cop…
Stealth (2005): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx; Paranoid technology thriller has three top navy fighter pilots (Biel, Lucas, Foxx) startled to discover their new wingman is EDI – a highly…
Tiger Blade, The (Seua khaap daap) (2005): Dir. Theeratorn Siriphunvaraporn
Feat. Atsadawut Luengsuntorn; Spiffy addition to the Thai martial arts boom, with action centered around the recovery of a magical ‘tiger blade’, by cops and robbers…
To The Ends of the Earth (TV mini-series) (2005): Dir. David Attwood
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jared Harris, Sam Neill…; Based on William Golding's epic trilogy, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a young aristocrat who travels to Australia on a journey of…
Transporter 2 (2005): Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Jason Statham, Keith David, Hunter Clary…; Thinly conceived sequel finds mercenary 'transporter' Statham fingered for the kidnapping of a US drug czar's son and having to find a vital viral…
Underworld: Evolution (2005): Dir. Len Wiseman
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Derek Jacobi, Bill Nighy; The slinky, rubber–clad Kate Beckinsale continues her Vampiric crusade against 'the Lycans' (Werewolves) in this obligatory sequel to the…
Unleashed (Danny the Dog) (2005): Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins; Aggressive action drama concerns an animalistic hitman (Li) who has been secretly raised by a Glaswegian mobster (Hoskins) as a dog trained to attack…
V for Vendetta (2005): Dir. James McTeigue
Feat. Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea…; Set in the year 2020, this dystopian thriller adapts Alan Moore's graphic novel about a world where deadly viruses have wiped out most of America and…
xXx - The Next Level (xXx - State of the Union) (2005): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Ice-Cube, Willem Dafoe, Peter Strauss…; Bridge–burning sequel to the extreme–sports–spy hit, kills off the original star (Vin Diesel) in the opening scene, before ramping…
6 AM (2004): Dir. Adrian Kwan
Feat. Kenny Kwan, Steven Cheung, Charlene Choi…; Popular Canto–pop duo ‘The Boy’z’ star in this absurdist gangster tale, playing high school slackers ‘Bowl’ and ‘Noodle’ who…
After the Sunset (2004): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson…; Recently retired jewel thieves Brosnan and Hayek are safely esconsed on a desert island, when an old FBI nemesis turns up simultaneous with a…
Agent Cody Banks 2 (Destination London) (2004): Dir. Kevin Allen
Feat. Frankie Muniz, Anna Chancellor, Keith Allen…; Fairly average sequel to Cody Banks' first James Bond Jr. adventure, here travelling to London as a disguised clarinet player to thwart an evil…
Alamo, The (2004): Dir. John Lee Hancock
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric…; Big–budget recasting of the fabled 'Battle of the Alamo' in 1836 between Texan (US) and Mexican forces, which marked a turning point in…
Alexander (2004): Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer…; A valiant, though flawed attempt by dir. Oliver Stone (PLATOON) to depict the life and times of Grecian military commander Alexander the Great,…
Alien vs. Predator (AVP) (2004): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Ewen Bremner…; A loud and slime–lacquered clash of the sci–fi titans, the enticing prospect of two classic bogeymen going monstrous…
Arahan (2004): Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan
Feat. Ryoo Seung-beom, Yoon So-yi, Ahn Sung-Ki; Urban martial arts injected with supernatural pep, this effects–laden action comedy has an ultimately limited box of tricks, but provides more…
Around the World in 80 Days (2004): Dir. Frank Coraci
Feat. Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Jim Broadbent…; Colourfully energetic version of Jules Verne's classic adventure, in which a casual bet sets three unusual companions on a race around the…
Barrio 13 (District B13) (2004): Dir. Pierre Morel
Feat. Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle; Set in a near–future ghetto dystopia, this slightly–plotted action spectacle thrills as a vehicle for its martial art of choice: Parkour,…
Blade - Trinity (2004): Dir. David S Goyer
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Jessica Biel…; The third (and surely last) installment in the vampire slasher BLADE trilogy, with Snipes again donning the sobering mantle of vampire–human…
Born to Fight (Kerd ma lui) (2004): Dir. Panna Rittikrai
Feat. Chattapong Pantanaunkul; Created by the makers of the stupendous ONG BAK, this lesser action vehicle is contrived around a showdown in the Thai countryside between a…
Bourne Supremacy, The (2004): Dir. Paul Greengrass
Feat. Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Brian Cox…; Creditable sequel to the sleeper hit THE BOURNE IDENTITY, which tracked the anxieties of an amnesiac former CIA–assassin on the run across…
Breaking News (Dai Si Gein) (2004): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Richie Ren, Kelly Chen, Nick Cheung…; A tricky scenario provides the basis for this Hong Kong thriller that pulsates with heavy gunfire, jumpstart editing and quasi–satirical…
Brotherhood of War (Tae Guk Gi) (2004): Dir. Kang Je-Gyu
Feat. Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, Lee Eun-Joo; Deemed as one of the most graphic and violent war films ever made, this tells the story of two South Korean brothers (Bin and Dong–Gun) who…
Casshern (2004): Dir. Kazuaki Kiriya
Feat. Yusuke Iseya, Kumiko Aso, Akira Terao; Set in a ravaged, post–nuclear war future, ruled by a fascist clique, this rearranges some familiar elements with a visually charged, epic…
Catwoman (2004): Dir. Pitof
Feat. Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone…; A mild–tempered woman (Berry), killed by her treacherous employer, is mysteriously reincarnated with feline–speed reflexes and the…
Cellular (2004): Dir. David R Ellis
Feat. Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Jason Statham…; Interesting abduction thriller leads with a premise that has flaky beachbum Evans rung on his cellphone with a chilling message from a kidnap victim…
Chronicles of Riddick, The (2004): Dir. David Twohy
Feat. Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Thandiwe Newton…; Vin Diesel goes on the run as 'Riddick', the anti–hero of PITCH BLACK, in a far more elaborate space opera based around the evil ambitions of a…
Crimson Rivers 2 - Angels of the Apocalypse (2004): Dir. Olivier Dahan
Feat. Jean Reno, Benoit Magimel, Christopher Lee; Barely coherent, but mostly fun sequel to the serial–killer hunt of CRIMSON RIVERS, has detective Reno return to track a case of religious…
D.E.B.S. (Debs) (2004): Dir. Angela Robinson
Feat. Sara Foster, Jordana Brewster, Devon Aoki…; After passing a secret aptitude test hidden inside a normal school exam, a gaggle of nubile schoolgirls are recruited to a secret espionage…
Day After Tomorrow, The (2004): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dash Mihok…; Another disaster–spectacle revival from the makers of "Independence Day" that sees scientist Dennis Quaid trying in vain to warn the world of…
Deadwood - Season 1 (TV Series) (2004): Feat. Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker…; An acclaimed new revision of the Western genre, recounting the complex and troubling establishment of the Arizona town of Deadwood in the 1880s,…
Flight of the Phoenix (2004): Dir. Jason Moore
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Miranda Otto…; Workmanlike remake of the 1965 Aldrich near–classic, in which a plainload of oilworkers crashland in the desert (here the Gobi), leaving them…
Hellboy (2004): Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Ron Perlman, David Hyde Pierce, John Hurt…; Surefire comicbook yarn – fusing Nazi occultism, demonic otherworlds and FBI intrigues with nice touches of style, humour and…
House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu) (2004): Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau; The dir. of HERO follows up with an equally watchable oriental spectacle, inserting the same cartwheeling martial arts action, complete with torrents…
I, Robot (2004): Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood…; Standard model adaptation of Isaac Asimov's 1950s sci–fi speculations about the dystopian possibilities of a robot–riddled…
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004): Dir. Robert Harmon
Feat. Tom Selleck, James Remar, Timothy Bottoms…; Historical war dramatization of the three months leading up to Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, and how General Dwight Eisenhower…
Incident At Loch Ness (2004): Dir. Zak Penn
Feat. Werner Herzog; Droll and rather odd filmbiz comedy follows the efforts of German auteur Werner Herzog (GRIZZLY MAN) and an inept Hollywood producer, Zak Penn, to…
Kill Bill - Vol. 2 (2004): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah…; The second half of Quentin Tarantino’s revenge saga is an uneven but redeeming affair that brings closure to his magnum opus with more character…
King Arthur (2004): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Keira Knightley, Clive Owen, Joel Edgerton…; An interesting, serious–minded revision of the Camelot legend, recasting Arthur (Owen) as a half–Roman mercenary who, with his comrades,…
King Solomon's Mines (TV Mini-series) (2004): Feat. Patrick Swayze, Alison Doody, Roy Marsden…; Two–part miniseries based on H. Rider Haggard's timeless tale of Allan Quartermain's quest to find the fabled mines of King Solomon, and the…
Kung Fu Hustle (2004): Dir. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
Feat. Stephen Chow (Chiao), Wah Yuen; Hong Kong superstar Stephen Chow trumps all previous efforts (and that's saying something) with this dynamic, bust–a–gut funny…
Ladder 49 (2004): Dir. Jay Russell
Feat. John Travolta, Joaquin Phoenix, Jay Hernandez…; Without working up much heat, this firefighting drama is a melodramatic look at the life crises of those manning the hoses and ladders, with Phoenix…
Lady Death (2004): Elevated feature–length anime based on the "Lady Death" comic series about a beautiful girl accused of consorting with the devil and sentenced…
Las Vegas (TV Series) (2004): Feat. James Caan, Josh Duhamel; Set in the environs of the fictional "Montecito Resort and Casino" of the Nevada gambling town, this escapist drama revolves chiefly around…
Librarian Trilogy, The (2004-2008): Feat. Noah Wyle, Bob Newhart, Stana Katic…; Enthusiastic adventure trilogy stars Wyle as Flynn Carsen, a student who is suddenly and mysteriously employed as the Librarian at the New York…
Mindhunters (2004): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. LL Cool J, Jonny Lee Miller, Val Kilmer…; Mindlessly contrived suspense yarn, gains satisfactions from the sheer loopiness of its central tale of seven trainee FBI 'profilers', who must…
Naruto - The Movie(s) (2004-2014): Dir. Tensai Okamura; The NARUTO series concerns its titular hero and his companions protecting the world from bands of rogue ninjas and other dangers in wait. In…
National Treasure (2004): Dir. Jon Turteltaub
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Sean Bean, Harvey Keitel…; Deft treasure yarn with Nic Cage in the 'Indiana Jones' role – an archaeologist in hot pursuit of a legendary war chest hidden by the Founding…
New Police Story (2004): Dir. Benny Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Daniel Wu; A groundbreaking fourth (or possibly fifth) entry in Jackie Chan's martial arts series about the life of a reckless Hong Kong policeman, here…
Ocean's Twelve (Ocean's 12) (2004): Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon…; Virtually the entire attractive 'ratpack' of the OCEAN'S ELEVEN remake regroup for a further spin of the heist–comedy wheel, this time on the…
Puerto Vallarta Squeeze (2004): Dir. Arthur Allan Seidelman
Feat. Harvey Keitel, Scott Glenn, Craig Wasson; Weary with the life, a hit–man (Glenn) makes a deal with a writer and his wife for them to help him to the Mexican border and beyond. While…
Punisher, The (2004): Dir. Jonathan Hensleigh
Feat. Tom Jane, John Travolta, Laura Elena Harring; A violent, straight–faced adaptation of the Marvel Comics hero (without superpowers), a traumatised cop who seeks to inflict grave punishment…
Resident Evil - Apocalypse (2004): Dir. Alexander Witt
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr…; Sequel to the adaptation of the Playstation video game, has Jovovich returning for another blood–drenched 90 minutes trying to fight her way…
Spartan (2004): Dir. David Mamet
Feat. Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, William H. Macy…; An expert 'special ops' agent (Kilmer) is sucked headfirst into a wild, yet plausible conspiracy involving the kidnapping of the US president's…
Spider-Man 2 (Spiderman 2) (2004): Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina…; The webbed superhero swings back with a vengeance in this excellent sequel, dir. Raimi winding up the vertiginous action to exhilarating…
Spooked (2004): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Cliff Curtis, John Leigh, Christopher Hobbs…; An ambitious though uneven thriller based on the true–life NZ case of a computer expert who ended up with disc–fulls of incriminating…
Starship Troopers 2 (Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation) (2004): Dir. Phil Tippett
Feat. Richard Burgi, Lawrence Monoson, Colleen Porch; Sequel to Paul Verhoeven's satirical futuristic sci–fi, which achieves much of the same thing on a fraction of the budget. The plot this time…
Steamboy (2004): Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo; A rapturous adventure set in quasi–futuristic Victorian England, where a young lad is given a "steamball" to take care of and becomes slowly…
Survive Style 5+ (2004): Dir. Gen Sekiguchi
Feat. Tadanobu Asano, Hiroshi Abe, Vinnie Jones…; Hitmen, hypnotists, murdered spouses, and a trio of oddball thieves converge in this delirious, unclassifiable comedy–mystery–drama by…
Taxi (2004): Dir. Tim Story
Feat. Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Gisele Bundchen; A NYC detective recruits a taxi driver (Latifah) renowned for her driving skills, to catch a gang of leggy super–model bank robbers (all…
Thunderbirds (2004): Dir. Jonathan Frakes
Feat. Bill Paxton, Ben Kingsley, Barry Corbet…; A live–action replay of the classic 60s sci–fi series which bears more relation to generic teen adventure than the spirit of the…
Troy (2004): Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom…; Homer's epic is cranked up to full fury in this Hollywood CGI–ed adaptation, depicting the seige of Troy by the vengeful Greek army and the…
Van Helsing (2004): Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh…; More entertaining than some critics might have you believe, this big–budget monster–mash sees Hugh Jackman out to save a Transylvanian…
Walking Tall (2004): Dir. Kevin Bray
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Kirsten Wilson…; Gung–ho revenge vehicle set in backwoods America, showcasing the dumb–smart style of rising action star The Rock as a 'Special Forces'…
2 Fast 2 Furious (The Fast and the Furious 2) (2003): Dir. John Singleton
Feat. Paul Walker, Cole Hauser, James Remar; Furiously hyped retread of THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, with undercover cop Paul Walker seeking to redeem himself by infiltrating the street racing…
24 - Season 2 (TV Series) (2003): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland; Further episodes in this high–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode) with Kiefer Sutherland as lead…
Accidental Spy, The (2003): Dir. Teddy Chen
Feat. Jackie Chan; One of Jackie Chan's 'Off–Hollywood' productions, an international action adventure filmed on the cheap in Hong Kong. Contains lashings of…
Aragami (2003): Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura
Feat. Takao Osawa, Masaya Kato, Tak Sakaguchi; Another confidently executed, blood–soaked samurai fantasy from dir. Kitamura (VERSUS), set in a remote medieval temple into which a wounded…
Azumi (2003): Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura
Feat. Aya Ueto, Shun Oguri, Kenji Kohashi; The dir. of VERSUS advances to a studio–scale budget for this historical action yarn, set around a skilled swords–woman in ancient feudal…
Bad Boys 2 (2003): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Joe Pantoliano…; A new low (or high) in crassness from the Bruckheimer action movie sausage machine (see CON AIR, ARMAGEDDON), with maverick cops Smith and Lawrence…
Ballistic: Ecks Vs Sever (2003): Dir. Wych Kaosayananda
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Lucy Liu; Panned on release, this over–geared action slambam has its own sense of chaotic fun that may be enjoyable for some out there. Antonio…
Basic (2003): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Connie Nielsen…; Slick jungle thriller kept interesting by a far from basic storyline involving US troops on a training mission in Panama. When the squad runs into…
Battle Royale II: Requiem (Battle Royale 2) (2003): Dir. Fukasaku Kinji, Fukasaku Kenta
Feat. Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ai Maeda, Shugo Oshinari; Bolder and bloodier sequel that introduces 9/11–style terrorist topicality into its violent, 'last teen standing' scenario, with overt…
Battlestar Galactica (TV Mini Series) (2003): Dir. Michael Rymer
Feat. Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell; Glossed–up reprise of the late–70s sci–fi TV series, which replaces the cuteness with a more sombre tone, ethnic diversity and…
Bulletproof Monk (2003): Dir. Paul Hunter
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott; Chow Yun–Fat further dabbles in Hollywood waters as the mystical tutor of a brawling street tough, in a mostly silly action outing based on an…
Catch That Kid (2003): Dir. Bart Freundlich
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Max Thieriot, Corbin Bleu…; First there were SPY KIDS, then CODY BANKS and now, three more sub–teens with special skills, this time planning to rob the world's…
Charlie's Angels - Full Throttle (2003): Dir. McG
Feat. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu…; Charlie's most recent 'Angels' return for a second comic–action romp with all the bright colours, sexy costumes, hi–tech clowning and…
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003): Dir. Andrzej Bartkowiak
Feat. Jet Li, DMX, Tom Arnold…; High–impact fusion of martial arts and hiphop wisecrackery, concerned with a tale of dueling street gangs and stolen diamonds. Hilariously,…
Crime Spree (2003): Dir. Brad Mirman
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Harvey Keitel, Johnny Hallyday…; Slick comedy crime caper focused on a group of French thieves on a heist in Chicago where they mistakenly rob the head honcho of the Mafia and end up…
Daredevil (2003): Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
Feat. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell…; The darkest tinged Marvel Comics adaptation yet, with Ben Affleck doing a sterling job of playing the titular superhero, a blind lawyer turned…
Deadly Cargo (Cámara Oscura) (2003): Dir. Pau Freixas
Feat. Unax Ugalde, Adria Collado; Two friends on a scuba–diving trip get into troubled waters when they turn up a body, accidentally destroy their ship and happened to be…
Fearless (Jet Li's Fearless; Huo Yuan Jia) (2003): Dir. Ronnie Yu
Feat. Jet Li; Lively martial–arts epic which is reportedly Jet Li's final offering of screen 'wushu' (traditional Chinese fighting) , retells the story of…
Foolproof (2003): Dir. William Phillips
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, David Suchet; A slick if stereotypical heist thriller, in which a group of brainy thieves plan 'foolproof' heists, but find their ambitions go awry when their next…
Grand Theft Parsons (2003): Dir. David Caffrey
Feat. Johnny Knoxville, Christina Applegate, Robert Forster…; A blackly comic account of the wordly departure of country–folk–rock pioneer Gram Parsons, who after perishing of a drug overdose, had…
Hidalgo (2003): Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Louise Lombard; Grandly conceived, this period adventure epic has a troubled 'Pony Express' rider (Mortensen) summoned to compete in an epic 3000–mile race…
Hollywood Homicide (2003): Dir. Ron Shelton
Feat. Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin…; Frantic action–comedy, hardly distinctive for its 'in–shop' Hollywood setting, but with enough gags and star pratfalls from the leads to…
Hulk (2003): Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte…; The thinking person's superhero actioner, this boldly revises the 1960s Marvel Comics icon, a mild–mannered scientist who, when triggered or…
Infernal Affairs 2 (Mou gaan dou II) (2003): Dir. Wai Keung Lau, Siu Fai Mak
Feat. Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Carina Lau…; Solid prequel to the hit Hong Kong policier, goes back in time to the era of the 1991 and moves forward in three acts to the Chinese handover,…
Infernal Affairs 3 (Mou gaan dou III) (2003): Dir. Wai Keung Lau, Siu Fai Mak
Feat. Andy Lau, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Leon Lai…; Actual sequel to the hit Hong Kong gangland–cop thriller attempts valiantly to tie up loose ends, both picking up where corrupt cop Ming (Lau)…
Italian Job, The (2003): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron…; The 60s heist classic, madeover with an attractive young cast and hi–tech savvy, but with the fleet of getaway Minis intact. Vowing revenge…
Kill Bill - Vol. 1 (2003): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox…; A blunt revenge picture souped up as an over–the–top homage to 70s ‘grindhouse’ flicks, this “fourth film by Quentin Tarantino”…
Last Samurai, The (2003): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, William Atherton…; Swathed in the scenery of New Zealand, this enactment of the Japanese civil wars of the late 19th century is an ambitious, though…
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The (2003): Dir. Stephen Norrington
Feat. Sean Connery, Stuart Townsend, Jason Flemyng…; A swanky action–adventure in Victorian period dress that’s enticing premise teams up heroes and villains from classic fiction – Allan…
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson's adaptation of J R R Tolkien's fantasy trilogy of 'Middle Earth' reaches its spectacular climax, drawing the story–threads…
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Extended Edition) (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; The final installment in Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy classic. This version includes an extra 45 minutes of footage.
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Limited Edition) (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's final installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (2003): Dir. Peter Weir
Feat. Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy; Vivid sea–chase yarn, set during the Napoleonic Wars, with Crowe commanding the screen as the sympathetic captain of a British frigate…
Matrix Revolutions (2003): Dir. Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving…; The 'Matrix Trilogy' concludes in a green–tinged maelstrom of CGI–enhanced action and conceptual confusion. Trinity (Moss) and…
Medallion, The (2003): Dir. Gordon Chan Kar-Seung
Feat. Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, Claire Forlani…; Jackie Chan's Hollywood serenade continues, here he plays a Hong Kong detective loaned to Interpol to track down a magical medallion that gives its…
My Name is Modesty (2003): Dir. Scott Spiegel
Feat. Alexandra Staden; Low–budget prequel to the Modesty Blaise comic book series, with Staden's journey from being a Balkan child refugee to becoming a morally…
Napoleon (TV Mini-series) (2003): Dir. Yves Simoneau
Feat. Christian Clavier, Gerard Depardieu, John Malkovich…; A handsomely staged French (though English language) production of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Clavier) from his youthful antics, military…
Ned Kelly (2003): Dir. Gregor Jordan
Feat. Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush…; Australia's most famous bushranger is portrayed with outright sympathy and a large measure of romantic invention in this messy, but not entirely…
Ninja Scroll (TV Series) (Jube Ninpucho) (2003): Dir. Tatsuo Sato; Anime series based on the movie NINJA SCROLL (1993), set in Feudal Japan and following the adventures of a mercenary ninja. 13 Episodes.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek…; The final 'installment' in dir. Rodriguez' violent Mexican trilogy (see EL MARIACHI and DESPERADO), with Banderas again the loner in a dusty town,…
Ong-Bak (Muay Thai Warrior) (2003): Dir. Prachya Pinkaew
Feat. Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao; A martial arts juggernaut from Thailand, in which a benign village kickboxer travels to big bad Bangkok in search of a sacred statue stolen from his…
Open Range (2003): Dir. Kevin Costner
Feat. Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Annette Bening…; Costner stars and takes the reins of this latterday Western about a group of itinerant cattle grazers fending off the thuggish tactics of a brutal…
Paycheck (2003): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman…; Action–orientated version of a typically complex Phillip K Dick sci–fi story, in which hero Affleck must contend with wiped memories,…
Peter Pan (2003): Dir. P.J. Hogan
Feat. Jason Isaacs, Geoffrey Palmer, Richard Briers…; Commendably conservative version of the now–classic J M Barrie play, in which Peter Pan persuades a family of children away to Never Never…
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003): Dir. Gore Verbinski
Feat. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush…; A terrific, tongue–in–cheek action romp set in the pirate days of the Caribbean, with Johnny Depp leading the charge as a madcap, slyly…
S.W.A.T. (SWAT) (2003): Dir. Clark Johnson
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez…; Competent, but hardly special updating of the 70s cop show (Special Weapons And Tactics), which mixes credible action assignments with personality…
Shanghai Knights (2003): Dir. David Dobkin
Feat. Owen Wilson, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen; The successful teaming of Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson returns in a hyperreal 19th century world of Victorian threads, kung fu moves and offbeat, if…
Silmido (2003): Dir. Woo-Suk Kang
Feat. Ahn Sung-Ki, Kyung-gu Sol; Korean Cold War thriller which takes the true scandal of how a team of gangsters and death–row criminals were recruited in 1968 as part of a…
Snow Walker, The (2003): Dir. Charles Martin Smith
Feat. Barry Pepper, Annabella Piugattuk, James Cromwell; An adventure story well told about a pilot and an injured Inuit woman who struggle for survival against the harsh elements of the Canadian…
Spy Kids 3-D (Game Over) (2003): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Ricardo Montalban…; Another installment in the successful SPY KIDS franchise, adding the gimmick of '3–D' to the family action format. This time round, the…
Stander (2003): Dir. Bronwen Hughes
Feat. Tom Jane, Deborah Kara Unger; The true story of South Africa's most famous bank–robber of the 1970s, a white police officer (Jane) who wearied of being an Apartheid enforcer…
Tears of the Sun (2003): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser…; Bruce Willis leads the charge in a 'Special Ops' mission in war–ravaged Nigeria. Assigned to rescue a UN doctor (Belluci!) he and his squad…
Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (2003): Dir. Jonathan Mostow
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes…; The final, belated chapter of the TERMINATOR series, minus the original director and most of the original cast, Schwarzanegger excluded. In many…
Terror Peak (2003): Dir. Dale G. Bradley
Feat. Lynda Carter, Antony Starr, Parker Stevenson…; An average telemovie set in New Zealand, in which a holidaying American family venture into the mountains but are surprised by an erupting volcano…
Timeline (2003): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Paul Walker, Gerard Butler, Frances O’Connor…; Time–travel actioner adapted from the novel by Michael Crichton (JURASSIC PARK) in which a group of students race through a wormhole in time to…
Tomb Raider - Cradle of Life (2003): Dir. Jan De Bont
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Noah Taylor, Ciaran Hinds; Equally preposterous (and fun) sequel to the first bigscreen incarnation of computer–game adventure idol Lara Croft. In this latest collection…
Torque (2003): Dir. Joseph Khan
Feat. Martin Henderson, Ice-Cube, Jay Hernandez…; A gleefully trashy motorbike actioner with Kiwi–born Henderson mounting up as a tough rider who's being framed for the murder of a…
Underworld (2003): Dir. Len Wiseman
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen…; A sleek action workout in which cat–suited vampire Beckinsale fights an ongoing war with the other creatures of night, werewolves, but also…
Warrior, The (2003): Dir. Asif Kapadia
Feat. Irfan Khan, Puru Chibber; Award–winning debut for British born dir. Kapadia follows the quest of a lone swordsman to escape his brutal paymaster in ancient feudal…
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (Tian di ying xiong) (2003): Dir. He Ping
Feat. Wen Jiang, Xueqi Wang, Vicki Zhao; A lavish post–CROUCHING TIGER epic derived from a Chinese folktale about an Imperial assassin who is sent forth to the Gobi desert to eliminate…
Welcome to the Jungle (The Rundown) (2003): Dir. Peter Berg
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Seann William Scott, Christopher Walken…; Broadly enjoyable action–comedy in which 'retrieval expert' The Rock lands in the Amazon rainforest to rescue his employer's kidnapped…
Zatoichi (2003): Dir. Takeshi Kitano
Feat. Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano; Actor–director–cult hero Takeshi Kitano stylishly revives a hero of well–known Japanese mythology and scores his most broadly…
1492: Conquest of Paradise (2002): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Armand Assante, Sigourney Weaver; Ridley Scott's solid historical epic telling the fictionalized story of the travels to the New World by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and…
24 - Season 1 (TV Series) (2002): Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Leslie Hope, Dennis Haysbert…; High–concept TV thriller, covering 24 hours of real time events (an hour per episode), with Kiefer Sutherland as lead special agent of a…
800 Balas (800 Bullets) (2002): Dir. Alex de la Iglesia
Feat. Carmen Maura, Sancho Gracia; Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia (DAY OF THE BEAST) brings his wild energy to this story of a stuntman in Almeria whose career is floundering in…
A Man Apart (2002): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant; When his wife is killed by drug–dealer types, DEA agent Vin Diesel goes into full–blown 'Charles Bronson' mode. Despite his appealing…
Adventures of Pluto Nash, The (2002): Dir. Ron Underwood
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Randy Quaid, Rosario Dawson…; Sci–fi comedy set in 2080 and following a lunar nightclub owner and ex–convict (Eddie Murphy) who is trying to keep the mafia out of his…
Alive (2002): Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura
Feat. Hideo Sakaki, Koyuki, Tak Sakaguchi; A convicted murderer is sentenced to death, only to escape execution and become the subject of bizarre prison experiments in this inventive marriage…
Below (2002): Dir. David Twohy
Feat. Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood; A ghost–story set aboard a US submarine in 1943, that combines a spooky use of sound, darkness and psychology to keep it above the prowling…
Blue Crush (2002): Dir. John Stockwell
Feat. Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Matthew Davis; Turbo charged surf drama in which ‘surfing Cinderella’ Kate Bosworth dreams of “laying pipe” on the big waves of Oahu, Hawaii, but must…
Bourne Identity, The (2002): Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Chris Cooper…; A stylish transcription of the Robert Ludlum thriller, with amnesiac CIA super–agent Matt Damon scrambling to survive as he’s hunted…
Core, The (2002): Dir. Jon Amiel
Feat. Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Delroy Lindo; Overblown actioner in which scientists discover that the Earth's core will soon stop spinning, unleashing a wave of natural…
Count of Monte Cristo, The (2002): Dir. Kevin Reynolds
Feat. Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Michael Wincott…; Replicating the contemporary–yet–traditional witty action–mix of MASK OF ZORRO, this version of Alexander Dumas’ 19th century…
Dead or Alive 3 (Final) (2002): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Sho Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi; Imaginative, futuristic final entry in a remarkable action trilogy that this time presents its anti–heroic pair toughing it out in a dystopian…
Die Another Day (2002): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Judi Dench…; High on octane, low on sustenance, Pierce Brosnan beefs up the machismo (and arrogance?) for his fourth outing as Bond – indignant after a long…
Dust (2002): Dir. Milcho Manchevski
Feat. Joseph Fiennes, David Wenham; The dir. of BEFORE THE RAIN executes this ‘Balkan western’ with violent, overblown panache despite some miscasting and a dusted–off…
Extreme Ops (2002): Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Devon Sawa, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell…; An appealing tale of snow–boarders turned 'special agents' that quickly skis off into the realms of complete fantasy. While on assignment…
Flix Mix Ultimate Fights (2002): Feat. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes…; An intense compilation of the most memorable and ambitious fight scenes from Hollywood and abroad.
Four Feathers, The (2002): Dir. Shekhar Kapur
Feat. Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, Kate Hudson; The British Army copes with an uprising in Sudan in 1875, while one officer must redeem himself from a charge of cowardice – which earned him…
Gods and Generals (2002): Dir. Ronald F. Maxwell
Feat. Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall…; Prequel to GETTYSBURG, this American Civil War drama follows the career of Confederate general 'Stonewall' Jackson. Filled with the same epic…
Hero (2002): Dir. Zhang Yimou
Feat. Jet Li, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Maggie Cheung…; Though no doubt diminished on the small screen, this ancient Martial Arts spectacle from the dir. of RAISE THE RED…
Home Alone 4 (Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House) (2002): Dir. Rod Daniel
Feat. Mike Weinberg, French Stewart; Fourth installment in the Home Alone series, with all new actors. Kevin McCallister tries to defend his future stepmother's house from nemesis Marv…
Hunted, The (2002): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Benicio Del Toro, Connie Nielsen; Hunt–and–kill thriller with Del Toro playing a psychically wounded veteran of Kosovo, who back in America begins stalking deer hunters in…
I-Spy (2002): Dir. Betty Thomas
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen; The 60s TV–series of the same name fashioned as a slick but silly buddy comedy and a shameless star vehicle for two tried–and–true…
Infernal Affairs (2002): Dir. Wai Keung Lau, Siu Fai Mak
Feat. Andy Lau, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Anthony Wong…; This dynamic cops ‘n’ robbers spectacle is populist Hong Kong film–making at its most slick and sophisticated. Infused with more than a…
K19 - Widowmaker (2002): Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Feat. Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson; Solid actioner revisits the long–censored account of a Russian super–submarine which had a disastrous reactor meltdown…
Legend of Suriyothai, The (2002): Dir. Chatrichalerm Yukol; A lavish historical epic financed by the royal family of Thailand (and directed by a prince) and centred around two powerful women – a princess…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Extended Edition) (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and dramatic…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Limited Edition) (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's second installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
Missing Gun, The (Xun qiang) (2002): Dir. Chuan Lu
Feat. Wen Jiang; Wound–up thriller set in a small and eccentric Chinese village, where a policeman wakes one morning with a hangover to find his…
Musketeer, The (2002): Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Justin Chambers, Tim Roth, Mena Suvari…; Concentrating itself on one of Dumas’s “Three Musketeers”, D’Artagnan (Justin Chambers) fights the influence of a villainous Tim Roth in 17th…
Naked Weapon (Chek Law Dak Gung) (2002): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Maggie Q; A quasi–homage to NAKED KILLER, this sleazily–violent actioner portrays the development of a three–women hit squad by the…
Naruto (TV Series) (2002-2007): Dir. Jeff Nimoy; Compelling Ninja anime series in the vein of DRAGON BALL Z, following a young orphan by the name of Naruto striving to become the next Hokage of his…
Nest, The (Nid de Guêpes) (2002): Dir. Florent Emilio Siri
Feat. Nadia Farès, Samy Naceri, Benoit Magimel; A brutally efficient and stylish French action yarn about a night–time standoff between various crims, security guards and an army of Albanian…
Resident Evil (2002): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez; Lifted from the Playstation computer–game, this action–horror concerns an off–limits scientific installation which has become…
Returner (2002): Dir. Takashi Yamazaki
Feat. Takeshi Kaneshiro; Kitted out with a charismatic cast, CGI–action that delivers, and tongue–lightly–in–cheek, this slick, big–budget…
Road To Perdition (2002): Dir. Sam Mendes
Feat. Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law…; Handsomely–mounted Chicago gangland flick that casts Tom Hanks against type as a mob hitman who becomes an ‘angel of vengeance’ after he is…
Scorpion King, The (2002): Dir. Chuck Russell
Feat. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Steven Brand; Spun off from the recent MUMMY remakes, this logically demented action–horror prequel concerns the struggle of Mathayus (played by WWF’s…
Shackleton (2002): Dir. Charles Sturridge
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz; Channel 4’s mini–series version of polar–explorer Ernest Shackleton’s voyage to the South Pole in 1914. A brilliant adventure tale…
So Close (Chik yeung tin sai) (2002): Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Shu Qi, Karen Mok, Vicki Zhao; Presenting... a heroic trio of femmes for a new generation – a kind of high–octane "Asian Charlie's Angels". This super–flash…
Spider-Man (Spiderman) (2002): Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe…; New–improved re–spinning of the Marvel comic book superhero that finds a perfect match of material and director, and the crucially…
Spy Kids 2 - The Island of Lost Dreams (2002): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Steve Buscemi…; The diminutive spies of the hit family thriller return for another colourful, goofy round of saving the day for the grownups. In team with a rival…
Stick Up, The (2002): Dir. Rowdy Herrington
Feat. James Spader, David Keith, Leslie Stefanson; James Spader robs a small–town bank wearing a clown mask, in this heist thriller with a few noir pretensions. Another one that has fallen…
Stranded (Náufragos) (2002): Dir. Maria Lidon
Feat. Vincent Gallo, Maria de Medeiros; A team of astronauts crashland on the 'red planet' without hope of rescue, beginning a race against their diminishing oxygen supply to somehow find…
Sum of All Fears, The (2002): Dir. Phillip Alden Anderson
Feat. Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Philip Baker Hall; A nightmarish post–9/11 thriller from Tom Clancy, with Ben Affleck taking the place of Harrison Ford as CIA–man Jack Ryan, here hunting…
Tongan Ninja (2002): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Jemaine Clement, Sam Manu, Linda Tseng; An engagingly cheesy martial–arts parody that derives freshness from its unique South Pacific flavour and the comic ingenuity of its star and…
Transporter, The (2002): Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Jason Statham, Shu Qi, Francois Berleand; Slick, highly kinetic action with Jason Statham playing a mob courier on the French Riviera who stumbles into complications involving…
Tuxedo, The (2002): Dir. Kevin Donovan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt; Novelty Hollywood vehicle for Jackie Chan outfits the star as a chauffeur–turned–secret agent with an Inspector Gadget–type tuxedo…
Vampire Hunters (2002): Dir. Wellson Chin
Feat. Ken Chang; Typically enjoyable and overblown Hong Kong mayhem, where five powerful warriors battle the Vampire King and his followers. Written and produced…
We Were Soldiers (2002): Dir. Randall Wallace
Feat. Mel Gibson, Greg Kinnear, Chris Klein…; Big–budget, lavish re–enactment of America’s curtain–raiser in the Vietnam War, the fierce battle of la Drang, with an…
Windtalkers (2002): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Christian Slater, Adam Beach…; Based on a little–known chapter of WWII – the use by the US army of Navajo Indians for their ‘unbreakable’ language to help…
X-Men 2 (2002): Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart…; A new war between humans and mutants looks to boil over in this sure–footed sci–fi sequel, again steered by dir. Singer. Centred…
xXx (2002): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Vin Diesel, Marton Csokas, Asia Argento; James Bond made–over for Playstation fans as a triple–strength dose of hi–tech thrills, macho posturing and general…
15 Minutes (2001): Dir. John Herzfeld
Feat. Robert De Niro, Edward Burns, Charlize Theron…; Seeking his televised share of fame, a deranged serial–killer is stalking the streets of NYC, with celebrity detective Robert De Niro in tow.…
Alias (TV Series) (2001): Feat. Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan…; Depicts the adventures of a college student (Garner) who moonlights as a special agent – fulfilling dangerous covert operations for the CIA and…
Asoka (2001): Dir. Santosh Sivan
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa; Scintillating, hallucinatory epic of ancient India that’s perhaps the first ‘Bollywood’ film to reach international audiences, telling the…
Avalon (2001): Dir. Mamoru Oshii; A landmark technical achievement from the director of Anime classic GHOST IN THE SHELL, this distinctive 'hybrid' Anime is curiously inspired by…
Back to the Secret Garden (2001): Dir. Michael Tuchner
Feat. Joan Plowright, George Baker, Cherie Lunghi…; Sequel to the 1993 enchanted family adventure THE SECRET GARDEN set years later with the original children Mary and Colin now married (yes, they are…
Band of Brothers (TV Series) (2001): Dir. Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Mikael Salomon
Feat. David Schwimmer, Ron Livingston; The brainchild of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this excellently–produced WWII mini–series follows the fortunes of ‘Easy Company’,…
Behind Enemy Lines (2001): Dir. Jason Moore
Feat. Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman; Beyond–credibility gungho actioner which has fighter–pilot Owen Wilson shot down over Bosnia because he’s witnessed a Serb…
Black Hawk Down (2001): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Sam Shepard, Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett…; Intense, eardrum–battering re–enactment of a street–battle during the US campaign in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993, painting the…
Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des Loups) (2001): Dir. Christophe Gans
Feat. Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci, Mark Dacascos; A ripping, action–packed 18th century detective story based on the true–life case of the Beast of Gevaudan – a killer or creature who…
Collateral Damage (2001): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elias Koteas, Cliff Curtis; Overtaken by the events of September 11, 2001, (the cinema release was delayed 6 months) this terrorist thriller has…
Count of Monte Cristo, The (2001): Dir. Josee Dayan
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Ornella Muti, Jean Rochefort; The classic tale of injustice and revenge (by Alexander Dumas), gets respectful treatment in this French TV mini–series starring Gerard…
Diamond of Jeru (2001): Dir. Ian Barry, Dick Lowry
Feat. Billy Zane, Keith Carradine, Paris Jefferson; Solid telemovie in the action–adventure mould, with Zane playing a scientist who journeys up a river in Borneo with his wife in the hunt for…
Enemy at the Gates (2001): Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud
Feat. Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz…; A big–budget recreation of the crucial WWII battle of Stalingrad, in which Germans and Russians fought it out till there was a toll of over 1…
Fast and the Furious, The (2001): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez; A shameless pleasure for petrol–heads, this not particularly deep action–drama set amid the world of street–drags, gets its message…
Formula 51 (The 51st State) (2001): Dir. Ronnie Yu
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer…; Super drug–chemist Jackson embarks to the UK on the deal of a lifetime, but is quickly embroiled in murky underworld plots in…
Fourth Angel, The (2001): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Jeremy Irons, Forest Whitaker, Charlotte Rampling…; The inimitable Jeremy Irons plays a magazine editor whose family are killed in a terrorist attack by a Serbian man, and he decides to seek justice…
Fulltime Killer (2001): Dir. Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Feat. Andy Lau, Simon Yam, Kelly Lin…; Two very different hit men face off in this Hong Kong action film, with Andy Lau playing a flamboyant new hotshot who is tracking down the number one…
Ichi the Killer (2001): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto; Dir. Takashi Miike earned his notoriety with this wincingly violent revenge thriller in which a bent ex–cop (played by "Tetsuo" director,…
Invincible (2001): Dir. Jefery Levy
Feat. Billy Zane; Four contemporary samurais must defeat their hereditary enemies the Shadowmen in this high–gloss–low–concept actioner.
Knight's Tale, A (2001): Dir. Brian Helgeland
Feat. Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany; Surprisingly satisfying medieval comedy slam–bang, that wears its mindlessness on its chain–mail sleeve, while Geoffrey Chaucer’s…
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (2001): Dir. Simon West
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Noah Taylor; Hugely silly fantasy–action is never a bore, despite all the odds, with an oiled Angelina Jolie filling the kit of the pneumatic…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…; Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…; Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Limited Edition) (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's first installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
Mummy Returns, The (2001): Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah…; And Brendan Fraser is once again on hand to battle the bandaged corpse of the Egyptian Imhotep on behalf of all civilization. Also stars WWF’s The…
Musa - The Warrior (2001): Dir. Kim Sung-Su
Feat. Woo-sung Jung, Ahn Sung-Ki, Zhang Ziyi; Genuinely spectacular 14th century restaging of "The Seven Samurai" that was the (then) most expensive film made in its native…
One Take Only (Som and Bank: Bangkok for Sale) (2001): Dir. Oxide Pang
Feat. Wanatchada Siwapornchai, Pawarith Monkolpisit; Another visually dizzying trip into the dens of the Thai capital for dir. Pang, this time steering a tale of two streetwise lovers – a…
One, The (2001): Dir. James Wong
Feat. Jet Li, Jason Statham; Ludicrous sci–fi action vehicle for Jet Li – immensely disappointing from the team behind FINAL DESTINATION. The acting is only just more…
Pearl Harbour (2001): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett…; Overblown, but technically impressive rendition of the 1941 Japanese surprise–attack on Pearl Harbour in which a sizable proportion of the US…
Pistol Opera (2001): Dir. Seijun Suzuki
Feat. Makikio Esumi, Shirley Yamaguchi, Kirin Kiki…; A comeback of sorts for brilliant Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, who brings a self–referential and at times incomprehensibly abstract style…
Princess Blade (Shurayuki-Hime) (2001): Dir. Shinsuke Sato; Post–apocalyptic Japanese samurai action adapted from a graphic novel, employs a stark visual style to convey its tale of a disturbed young…
Princess of Thieves (2001): Dir. Peter Hewitt
Feat. Keira Knightley, Malcolm McDowell, Stuart Wilson; A pre–blockbuster Kiera Knightley plays the daughter of Robin Hood in this Disney re–imagining of the Sherwood legend: sporting the…
Requiem (2001): Dir. Hervé Renoh
Feat. Patrick Dell'Isola, Moussa Maaskri, Julie-Anne Roth; Stylish French action horror in which four vicious convicts hole up in a remote Cistercian monastery. Terrorising the monks and a young woman who has…
Rollerball (2001): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Jean Reno, Chris Klein, LL Cool J…; Now–notorious flop ‘remake’ of the James Caan original, set around the violent futuristic game of the title (kind of a cross between…
Rush Hour 2 (2001): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, John Lone; Sturdy followup to the action–comedy pairing of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, as LAPD cops on the trail of Triad boss John Lone, Chan’s…
Score, The (2001): Dir. Frank Oz
Feat. Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Edward Norton…; Slick but perfunctory caper–comedy with Marlon Brando luring heist–specialist Robert De Niro into a ‘big score’ with Edward…
Showtime (2001): Dir. Tom Dey
Feat. Robert De Niro, Eddie Murphy, William Shatner…; Rehashing 48HRS with 15 MINUTES, this works reasonably hard to inject new pizzazz into the cop buddy–movie, with old–hand Robert De Niro…
Swordfish (2001): Dir. Dominic Sena
Feat. John Travolta, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman…; Slick and stupid action–thriller in the post–Bruckheimer mould, teaming Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and John Travolta for a bank job (with…
Tigerland (2001): Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Colin Farrell, Clifton Collins Jr., Matthew Davis…; The dir. of recent Hollywood gloss forsakes stars for a gritty, admired character piece set in a Vietnam War–bootcamp in Louisiana, 1971.…
Uprising (2001): Dir. Jon Avnet
Feat. Leelee Sobieski, Hank Azaria, David Schwimmer…; An above–par telemovie that depicts the clearing of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII by the Nazis. Treading similiar territory to SCHINDLER'S…
Versus (2001): Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura
Feat. Tak Sakaguchi, Kenji Matsuda; The zombie genre is resurrected yet again, here spliced with Asian combat routines and punk–gangster gunplay, and set in the local woods on an…
Volcano High (Whasango) (2001): Dir. Tae-gyun Kim; Wildly action–packed Korean thriller, set in a future high–school where combat–trained, telekinetic students and staff slug it out…
Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch) (2000): Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Feat. Emilio Echevarria, Gael Garcia Bernal, Goya Toledo…; Bursting forth with passion, cinematic mettle and pungent local flavours, this debut feature, a triptych of stories set in polyglot Mexico City, is…
Art of War, The (2000): Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Donald Sutherland, Michael Biehn…; Wesley Snipes dishes up his well–practiced Art of Action, as a UN Special–Agent who becomes the prime–suspect patsy in the…
Bang Rajan (2000): Dir. Tanit Jitnukul; Truly ferocious action spectacular based on the true tale of how a small Siamese village tried to withstand the efforts of 100 000 invading Burmese…
Bichunmoo (2000): Dir. Young-Jun Kim; Boasting the biggest budget of any Korean film, this period epic, a kind–of "Once Upon a Time in Korea", blends the usual ingredients with…
Charlie's Angels (2000): Dir. McG
Feat. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu…; TV's favourite female crimefighters get the big screen makeover. Not quite the phenomenon that were Farrah and co., contemporary imposters Drew…
City of Lost Souls (2000): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Teah , Michelle Reis, Ren Osugi; Another turbo–charged piece of blood–drenched lunacy from prolific genre stylist Takashi Miike, marked out by its Brazilian protagonist…
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000): Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi…; A fantasy–fuelled, Chinese feudal melodrama laced with jaw–dropping combat sequences (arguably the best ever staged), this represents a…
Dead or Alive 2 (Tobosha) (2000): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Sho Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi, Shinya Tsukamoto; Understated yet rewarding sequel to the mind–blowing gangster actioner follows on from the 'end of the world' with an unrelated story, with…
Gangster No. 1 (2000): Dir. Paul McGuigan
Feat. Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany; Ageing gangster Malcolm McDowell recalls his ascendance in the 70s to London’s underworld throne at the expense of the ‘Butcher of Mayfair’,…
Get Carter (2000): Dir. Stephen Kay
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Mickey Rourke…; Unnecessary remake of the British hard–boiler transposes the action to the Pacific Northwest where Las Vegas mob enforcer Sylvester Stallone…
Gladiator (2000): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris…; As good a Roman Sandal epic as ever there was, with a stoic and be–sandalled Russell Crowe refusing to carry over his loyalty to the new…
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000): Dir. Dominic Sena
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall; A Jerry Bruckheimer remake of a cult 1974 film about car–thieves, with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie boosting and revving–up a variety…
JSA: Joint Security Area (2000): Dir. Park Chan-Wook
Feat. Kang-ho Song, Young-ae Lee; A Korean military thriller of high repute that opens with a double–killing on the bitterly–tense border between North and South and…
Kiss of the Dragon (2000): Dir. Chris Nahon
Feat. Jet Li, Bridget Fonda; As the most skilled lawman in China, Jet Li is the perfect man to clean up Paris of its drug–dealing scum, using his acupuncture needles to…
Les Miserables (TV Mini-series) (2000): Dir. Josee Dayan
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, John Malkovich…; Well mounted and faithful adaptation of Victor Hugo's tale of persecution and revenge set in early 19th century France, with Gerard Depardieu playing…
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton…; Submerging all traces of the original series, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, whose mission it is to keep a deadly synthetic virus out of the hands…
Patriot, The (2000): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson…; Mel Gibson transplants the patriotic, anti–English fervour of BRAVEHEART into an American Revolutionary setting, playing real–life…
Perfect Storm, The (2000): Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane…; Fishing boat captain George Clooney gets his crew back to sea, just in time for the biggest storm in recorded history. Dividing into two distinct…
Romeo Must Die (2000): Dir. Andrzej Bartkowiak
Feat. Jet Li; Scion of a Chinese family at war with a black clan in San Francisco, maestro Jet Li must dish out the chop–socky in a martial–arts bash…
Rules of Engagement (2000): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Guy Pearce…; Colonel Samuel L. Jackson interprets the 'rules' when the US Embassy in Yemen is attacked by terrorists. But after the smoke has cleared 83…
Shaft (2000): Dir. John Singleton
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree, Toni Collette…; Despite the excellent pedigree of those involved – Samuel L Jackson, Richard Roundtree, dir. John Singleton, Toni Collette – this revival…
Shanghai Noon (2000): Dir. Tom Dey
Feat. Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu; Jackie Chan pilots for this lightweight, crowd–pleasing throwback to the Wild West that adds his brand of naïve Eastern exotism to the ol'…
Sixth Day, The (2000): Dir. Roger Spottiswoode
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Goldwyn, Robert Duvall; Topical, intriguing premise about cloning is levelled out into being just another vehicle for the ailing star of Arnold Schwarzenegger. As an…
Snatch (2000): Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Dennis Farina, Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro…; A LOCK STOCK knock–off by 'im–who–knows–best: the director himself, Guy Ritchie. Like its predecessor, this cockney…
Space Cowboys (2000): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland…; Director Clint Eastwood plays a specially trained astronaut who takes three of his retirement–age buddies into space on a mission to repair a…
Tears of the Black Tiger (Fah Talai Jone) (2000): Dir. Wisit Sasanatieng; A blast of wild inspiration from the New Thai Cinema, this restages a Hollywood Western within a luridly kitschy setting using back–projection,…
Time and Tide (2000): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Nicholas Tse, Wu Bai; Healthy measures of hard–boiled alienation and gyroscopic fire–fights ignite this Hong Kong kick–butt–fest that somersaults…
U-571 (2000): Dir. Jonathan Mostow
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Harvey Keitel, Bill Paxton…; World War 2: Matthew McConaughey and his submarine crew snatch a vital German spy machine, then find themselves trapped on a U–boat where all…
Vertical Limit (2000): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney…; With Queenstown convincingly CGI–ed into the Himalayas, Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton and Robin Tunney less solid as the mountaineers, this…
Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar (1999): Dir. Claude Zidi
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Roberto Benigni; An ambitious, 'live–action' adaptation of Goscinny and Uderzo's classic Roman Age comicbook. Visually lavish, this was a box–office…
Bangkok Dangerous (1999): Dir. Danny Pang, Oxide Pang
Feat. Pawalit Mongkolpisit, Premsinee Ratanasopha, Patharawarin Timkul; Frenetic, violent gangland tale set in the throbbing Thai capital, about a deaf–mute hitman isolated by his affliction and his profession, and…
Boondock Saints, The (1999): Dir. Troy Duffy
Feat. Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Willem Dafoe…; Irish–Bostonian brothers Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus become vigilante saints after knocking off some Russkie wise guys, becoming…
Busted (Everybody Loves Sunshine) (1999): Dir. Andrew Goth
Feat. Goldie , David Bowie; North London mobster glory awaits Goldie (the drum–n–bass star) who must reclaim his criminal empire from a…
CI5: The New Professionals (TV Series) (1999): Feat. Edward Woodward; Short–lived revival of the seminal British TV series finds the fictional government agency now tackling international acts of terrorism,…
Corruptor, The (1999): Dir. James Foley
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg; Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun–Fat finds a suitable Hollywood side–dish in Mark Wahlberg (a better choice than Mira Sorvino anyway), for a…
Crossing, The (1999): Dir. Robert Harmon
Feat. Jeff Daniels, Roger Rees, Sebastian Roche; Acclaimed telemovie recreation of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware during the American War of Independence. Jeff Daniels lives up to the…
Dead or Alive (Hanzaisha) (1999): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Sho Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi, Ren Osugi; A jaw–dropping, wickedly amoral revenge thriller from the dir. of AUDITION, who blows the dust (and the roof) off gangster movie cliches and…
Deep Blue Sea (1999): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J; Jaws in an underwater science lab. Actionmeister dir. Renny Harlin (CLIFFHANGER) dispenses with all the important plot–details early, in order…
Emperor and the Assassin, The (Jing Ke Ci Qin Wang) (1999): Dir. Chen Kaige
Feat. Gong Li, Zhang Fenyi; Vast, gilded historical spectacle set in the 3rd Century BC, centred on China's legendary first Qin emperor's struggle to consolidate a unified…
End of Days (1999): Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger; An ever so slightly angst–ridden Arnie squares off against Mr 666, as the millenium turns. The script is satanism by numbers, but director…
Gorgeous (1999): Dir. Vincent Kok
Feat. Jackie Chan, Shu Qi, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai)…; After his Hollywood junket, Jackie Chan returns to post–handover Hong Kong to play a dashing, embattled millionaire who falls…
Harsh Realm (TV Series) (1999-2000): Feat. Scott Bairstow, D.B. Sweeney, Terry O'Quinn…; A US infantryman (Bairstow), about to be demobilised, is given one last mission – to test a top secret 'virtual reality' training game. It…
Hero (A Man Called Hero) (1999): Dir. Wai Keung Lau
Feat. Ekin Cheng, Shu Qi, Kristy Yang; A typically offbeat HK amalgam of historical saga, martial arts action and CGI special effects. Set in the first half of the 20th century, this…
Instinct (1999): Dir. Jon Turtletaub
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Jr. Gooding; In another mad shrink role, Anthony Hopkins loses it while studying mountain gorillas in Africa and is brought back to the US for assessment by Cuba…
Joan of Arc (The Messenger) (1999): Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Milla Jovovich, Dustin Hoffman, John Malkovich…; The French heroine gets the big–budget splurge with a religiously inspired Milla Jovovich leading the French peasantry against the Brits, only…
Mummy, The (1999): Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah…; The old Universal horror wrapped in Indiana Jones–style adventure with 1920s archeologists and treasure hunters (led by Brendan Fraser)…
Nowhere to Hide (1999): Dir. Lee Myung-Se
Feat. Park Joong-Hoon, Ahn Sung-Ki; An irreverent pastiche of seemingly every violent cop flick ever made, this hysterical, hyper–kinetic Korean action movie throws up every…
Plunkett and Macleane (1999): Dir. Jake Scott
Feat. Robert Carlyle, Liv Tyler, Jonny Lee Miller; A pair of highwaymen (of indeterminate vintage) lighten the purses of the undefended of Merry Old Blighty. Robert Carlyle and Liv Tyler barely stay…
Ride with the Devil (1999): Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Tobey Maguire, John Caviezel, Skeet Ulrich…; One of the best recent attempts at an American Civil War drama, demonstrating the South's point of view with sympathy and only a few wrong moves.…
Running Out of Time (1999): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Andy Lau, Lau Ching-wan; A crackingly–paced, plot–bending Yin–Yang heist drama, with terminally–ill master jewel thief Andy Lau playing against the…
Scarlet Pimpernel, The (Mini Series) (1999): Dir. Simon Langton
Feat. Richard E. Grant, Elizabeth McGovern; A lively television adaptation of the Baroness Orczy's famous novel set around the bloody chaos of post–revolutionary France and one English…
Thirteenth Warrior, The (1999): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Antonio Banderas; A smouldering Antonio Banderas is an Arab recruited to make up the numbers by a group of Vikings on a kind of 'Magnificent 13' mission: defending a…
Three Kings (1999): Dir. David O. Russell
Feat. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice-Cube…; A refreshingly irreverent view of the US Military translated into a box–office hit for this unpredictable black–comedy that puts a…
To Walk with Lions (1999): Dir. Carl Shultz
Feat. Richard Harris, Kerry Fox; Eventual sequel to BORN FREE, which picks–up the true life quest of conservationist/game–keeper George Adamson (Richard Harris) amid…
Trench, The (1999): Dir. William Boyd
Feat. Paul Nicholls, Daniel Craig, Danny Dyer…; WWI film set in the 48 hours leading up to the Battle of the Somme, in which the British Army lost the greatest number of soldiers in a single day of…
Wild Wild West (1999): Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld
Feat. Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh…; The star and director of MEN IN BLACK and recoupled for this Sci–fi–Western–spoof, first aired as a popular,…
World Is Not Enough, The (1999): Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Robert Carlyle, Sophie Marceau…; Pierce Brosnan is back for a third time in the most cartoonish entry in many a season, with in–jokes, sexual allusions and fire–power…
Armageddon (1998): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton…; After the tragedy of DEEP IMPACT, we get to witness the end of the world again, this time Jerry Bruckheimer–style (CON AIR, THE ROCK). That…
Assignment, The (1998): Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley; International espionage flick that revels in the skillful, old–fashioned flourishes of an elaborate terrorist caper. Tourist Aidan Quinn gets…
Avengers, The (1998): Dir. Jeremiah Chechik
Feat. Uma Thurman, Ralph Fiennes, Sean Connery; Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes indulge hip nostalgia in this critically–savaged update on the classic 60s TV series. Replicating the…
Big Hit, The (1998): Dir. Kirk Wong
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Applegate; Mark Wahlberg headlines this fast–paced comic actioner, playing a super–polite hitman who breakdances his way through some heavy gunplay…
Blackjack (1998): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Kate Vernon; Action dir. John Woo moonlights with this Canadian telemovie that has beefcake security Dolph Lundgren contracted to protect a supermodel marked for…
Blade (1998): Dir. Stephen Norrington
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Udo Kier; Half–vampire/half–human Wesley Snipes straps on the body–armour and weaponry in this doomsday duel for possession of the Earth,…
Bullet Ballet (1998): Dir. Shinya Tsukamoto
Feat. Shinya Tsukamoto, Hisashi Igawa; After his fiancee commits suicide, a young man tries to obtain a gun so that he can do the same, and in the process becomes embroiled in warfare…
Fallen (1998): Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland; SEVEN–style thriller has Detective Denzel Washington stalking a seemingly immortal foe, the demon Azazel, in autumnal Philadelphia. Suffers…
Frenchman's Creek (1998): Dir. Ferninand Fairfax
Feat. Tara Fitzgerald, Anthony Delon, Tim Dutton; Rollicking, handsome adaptation that deviates somewhat from Daphne Du Maurier's classic tale of the love affair between an impulsive English lady and…
Hitman (1998): Dir. Tung Wai
Feat. Jet Li; Would–be assassin Jet Li joins in the race to avenge the murder of an evil Japanese businessman for the tune of $100 million, but is encumbered…
Hornblower (TV Series) (1998-2003): Feat. Ioan Gruffudd; Lavish, high–end production of C. S. Forester's legendary Horatio Hornblower, with Ioan Gruffudd staunchly portraying the British Naval…
Kite (Kite Liberator) (1998-2007): Dir. Yasuomi Umetsu; A gory revenge tale boasting visuals on par with BLOOD – THE LAST VAMPIRE, this controversial anime details the exploits of a young woman,…
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci…; Mel and Danny couldn't refuse the pay–cheque for this fourth and biggest–grossing outing yet, which at least has Hong Kong's Jet Li to…
Man in the Iron Mask, The (1998): Dir. Randall Wallace
Feat. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, Gerard Depardieu; Modern swashbuckler conducts the sequel to THE THREE MUSKETEERS (also from Alexander Dumas) in measured tones that defeat one's expectations.…
Martial Law (TV Series) (1998-2000): Feat. Sammo Hung, Arsenio Hall; Action–comedy series starring prolific Hong Kong actor/director/producer Sammo Hung (and frequent Jackie Chan collaborator) as a Chinese law…
Mask of Zorro, The (1998): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones; Scabarding much of the swordplay of the Tyrone Power original for mega–budget stuntwork and destruction, this ultimately swaps one brand of…
Mercury Rising (1998): Dir. Harold Becker
Feat. Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin; Bruce Willis as, you guessed it, a maverick FBI–man, follows this case with a frowning seriousness, cutting the wisecrackery of the DIE HARD…
Moby Dick (1998): Dir. Franc Roddam
Feat. Patrick Stewart, Gregory Peck, Henry Thomas…; Rich re–telling of the ultimate ocean adventure of a fixated captain on a quest to capture a great white whale that took his leg off. A worthy…
Mr Nice Guy (1998): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Jackie Chan; Another comic hodgepodge starring the overworked Jackie Chan, filmed and set in Melbourne, Australia (as a budget consideration?) An incriminating…
Newton Boys, The (1998): Dir. Richard Linklater
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich…; Former indie–darling, Richard Linklater (SLACKER, DAZED AND CONFUSED), chronicles the 1920s bankrobbing true exploits of the four brothers,…
Passion in the Desert, A (1998): Dir. Lavinia Currier
Feat. Ben Daniels, Michel Piccoli, Paul Meston; An intense, almost supernatural relationship develops between a leopard and its prey, a French soldier from Napoleon's Army lost in the Egyptian…
Payback (1998): Dir. Brian Helgeland
Feat. Mel Gibson, Deborah Kara Unger; Mel Gibson gets to behave badly as an indestructible armed robber who gets carried away on a sadistic get–even mission against a crime…
Perdita Durango (1998): Dir. Alex de la Iglesia
Feat. Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem; Derivative English language debut from the promising director of Spanish cult faves ACCION MUTANTE and DAY OF THE BEAST. Typical of writer Barry…
Replacement Killers, The (1998): Dir. Antoine Fuqua
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino; Debut US big–screen for the golden–boy of Hong Kong action – Chow Yun–Fat – he whose placid composure will always mask…
Run Lola Run (1998): Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Franke Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu; Runaway foreign–language hit clocks up mileage from a simple conceit – flame–haired punkette Lola has twenty minutes to go like the…
Rush Hour (1998): Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker; Crackerjack no–brainer puts an East–West spin on the odd–couple–buddy–cop formula with Chinaman Jackie Chan (modest,…
Saving Private Ryan (1998): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns…; Tom Hanks commands a squad assigned to retrieving a single man from behind German lines in WWII France. With 'sacrifice' the key theme,…
Siege, The (1998): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Denzel Washington, Bruce Willis, Annette Bening; In a standoff of virtue versus guts, Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis deal with an Islamic terrorist assault on New York City in the best way they…
Six Days Seven Nights (1998): Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Harrison Ford, Anne Heche; Harrison Ford and Anne Heche fully embrace the conventions of the romantic comedy–adventure as the mis–matched couple who are thrown…
Sleepless Town (Fuyajo) (1998): Dir. Chi-Ngai Lee
Feat. Takeshi Kaneshiro, Sihung Lung, Kathy Chow; Hybridistic pan–Asian thriller set in the 'sleepless' red–light district of Tokyo, where petty crim Kaneshiro must revisit his gangster…
Soldier (1998): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Kurt Russell, Gary Busey, Jason Scott Lee; Military sci–fi adventure wherein Kurt Russell utters terse words as an out–moded fighting machine grasping at a few straws of humanity…
Storm Riders, The (1998): Dir. Wai Keung Lau
Feat. Sonny Chiba, Aaron Kwok; The big Hong Kong hit of '98 – a super–extravagant 'flying swordsman' fantasy that ambitiously distils a popular Manga comic book series…
Taxi (1998): Dir. Gerard Pirés
Feat. Samy Naceri, Frederic Diefenthal; From writer/producer Luc Besson, this four–wheeled fantasy comedy sets up a speed–freak taxi driver with a cop that can’t drive to…
Thin Red Line, The (1998): Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Elias Koteas…; A studiously arthouse rendition of WWII, isolating a crucial battle of the Pacific campaign (Guadacanal) as a minutely observed microcosm of humanity…
Trigun (TV Series) (1998): The $60,000,000,000 Man – Vash the Stampede is a wanted man with a habit of turning entire towns into rubble. The price on his head is a…
U.S. Marshals (1998): Dir. Stuart Baird
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes; Tommy Lee Jones rebirths his role in THE FUGITIVE for this informal sequel, sending out an APB for the armed, dangerous and mysterious Wesley Snipes.…
Who Am I? (1998): Dir. Jackie Chan, Bennie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan; A standard opening soon flowers into one of Jackie Chan's crazier flights of action–ballet, playing an amnesiac commando who can't work out why…
Air Force One (1997): Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman; Patriot tripe of the first order in which the private plane of the US president is infiltrated and held to ransom by Russkie terrorists. Without…
Black Mask (1997): Dir. Daniel Lee
Feat. Jet Li, Lau Ching-wan; Mild–mannered librarian by day – pain–resistant, cool–garbed crime–fighter by night – Jet Li's engaging…
Con Air (1997): Dir. Simon West
Feat. Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich…; The prison genre meets the airborne thriller(!) but invigorated no end by super–slick production and direction and the ever–dependable…
Cop Land (1997): Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel…; Brooding, shadowy conception of the American Dream gone rotten, pivots on a smouldering role for Sly Stallone, as a shell–shocked cop gone to…
Curdled (1997): Dir. Reb Braddock
Feat. Angela Jones, William Baldwin; Confident black comedy with an uncurdled premise – an innocent yet morbidly–fascinated senorita joins a Miami cleaning agency…
Dangerous Ground (1997): Dir. Darrell James Roodt
Feat. Ice-Cube, Elizabeth Hurley, Ving Rhames; Lowbrow blaxploitation pic masquerading as politically impassioned drama sees Ice–Cube returning to less–than–stable South African…
Dante's Peak (1997): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton; Ex–pat Kiwi Donaldson ushers the lava in this pretty engaging, effects–laden update of the '70s disaster movie. Pierce Brosnan and Linda…
Dobermann (1997): Dir. Jan Kounen
Feat. Tcheky Karyo, Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci…; Frenetic French crime thriller filled with over the top gun play and colourful yet grimy characters. Vincent Cassel plays a bank robber known as…
Double Team (1997): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Rodman, Mickey Rourke; Jean Claude Van Damme and basketball superfreak Dennis Rodman muscle up against the reliable terrorism of the ultimate whacko, Mickey Rourke. …
Downtime (1997): Dir. Bharat Nalluri
Feat. Paul McGann; A good crack from the Brits at the action–thriller genre, starring Paul McGann as a troubled ex–copper who helps a solo–mum escape…
Edge, The (1997): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle MacPherson; Cool–headed millionaire Anthony Hopkins, playboy hot–head Alec Baldwin, and their pilot get trapped in the Alaskan wilderness, where they…
Face Off (1997): Dir. John Woo
Feat. John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen; Dir. John Woo melds modern action technology with old–fashioned Mission Impossible–style intrigue. Good guy John Travolta and bad guy…
Fire Down Below (1997): Dir. Felix Enrique Alcala
Feat. Steven Seagal, Randy Travis, Levon Helm; The vicious yet eco–friendly Steven Seagal points his hose toward a rank case of enviromental damage in the coal–belt of Kentucky, where…
GI Jane (1997): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, Anne Bancroft; A staunch, suede–headed Demi Moore is enlisted in a US Army commando squad in a call for equal–opportunity by stylist dir. Ridley Scott. …
Hard Rain (1997): Dir. Mikael Salomon
Feat. Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater; Bank–robber Morgan Freeman targets a Mid–Western town and doggedly continues his heist as rising floodwaters turn the streets into…
Hot City (Original Gangstas) (1997): Dir. Larry Cohen
Feat. Pam Grier, Jim Brown, Fred Williamson…; Rising crime in the old 'hood reunites 70s blaxploitation superstars Pam Grier, Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Richard Roundtree to exploit…
I Went Down (1997): Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Feat. Peter McDonald, Antoine Byrne, David Wilmot…; Irish filmmakers lift a few steps from the TRAINSPOTTING lads and the Coen Bros for this deadpan skid into misadventure, amongst a crew of criminal…
Into Thin Air: Death On Everest (1997): Dir. Robert Markowitz
Feat. Peter Horton, Christopher McDonald, Nathaniel Parker…; Dramatic recreation of the disastrous 1996 Everest expedition that counted NZer Rob Hall among its many casualties. Based on the first–hand…
Kull the Conqueror (1997): Dir. John Nicolella
Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Tia Carrere; OTT high action follow–up to CONAN THE BARBARIAN sees Kevin Sorbo play Kull, a barbarian who becomes king but must fight an undead witch and…
Lost Valley (1997): Dir. Dale G Bradley
Feat. Andrea Thompson, Meg Foster, Mandie Gillette…; Straight–to–video local thriller concerning two backpackers (Meg Foster and Andrea Thompson) and their daughters (Mandie Gillette and…
Metro (1997): Dir. Thomas Carter
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Michael Wincott; Wisecracking hostage negotiator Eddie Murphy has the smile wiped off his face when his girlfriend is taken hostage by psychopath Michael Wincott.…
Odyssey, The (1997): Dir. Andrei Konchalovsky
Feat. Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini…; Homer's epic gets the televisual treatment as Odysseus makes his long journey home – through many an exotic location – while his wife…
Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Jet Li; Jet Li reprises his signature role in the popular saga, this time reinvented as a Kung Fu Western – the perfect setting for…
Peacemaker, The (1997): Dir. Mimi Leder
Feat. George Clooney, Nicole Kidman; Russkie terrorism triggers special forces Colonel George Clooney and nuclear–expert Nicole Kidman into hairs–breadth world–saving…
Ronin (1997): Dir. John Frankenheimer
Feat. Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone…; Perfunctory caper round the grey streets of Paris stuffs as much car–chasing and other cliches as possible into its baggy plot concerning…
Saint, The (1997): Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, Rade Serbedzija…; Val Kilmer's reincarnation of 'The Saint' only vaguely resembles the original character played by Roger Moore and Iain Ogilvy. There is considerable…
Seven Years in Tibet (1997): Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud
Feat. Brad Pitt, David Thewlis; On the eve of WWII, Austrian nationalist Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) embarks on a mountain–climbing odyssey in the Himalayas, where he is…
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997): Dir. Jan De Bont
Feat. Jason Patric, Sandra Bullock, Temuera Morrison; SPEED–on–water is everything the first one isn't – derivative, soulless, slackly plotted, and unintentionally funny. Also, Keanu…
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Dir. Roger Spottiswoode
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh…; Pierce Brosnan is back for a second round as 007, this time embroiled in the war–waging activities of an unscrupulous media baron (Jonathan…
Vanishing Point (1997): Dir. Charles Robert Carner
Feat. Viggo Mortensen, Christine Elise, Steve Railsback…; Made–for–TV reprise of the 1971 transcontinental driving classic, with the chiselled Mortensen taking the mad dog role of Kowalski, now a…
Volcano (1997): Dir. Mick Jackson
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche; A film that presupposes that LA sits on top of a load of steaming bile. A Heston–esque Tommy Lee Jones reigns in the non–stop disasters…
Young Thugs - Innocent Blood (1997): Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Naoto Takenaka; Gangster shenanigans with cult dir. Takashi, this time taking a more measured approach to the story of four young friends who drift together and…
Andersonville (TV Mini-series) (1996): Dir. John Frankenheimer
Feat. Frederic Forrest, Ted Marcoux, Jarrod Emick; TV western set during the American Civil War, about a group of Union soldiers who are sent to a Confederate prison camp near Andersonville, Georgia…
Blade, The (1996): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Xin Xin Xiong, Moses Chan, Man Cheuk Chiu; Honour and retribution are the key themes in this densely–plotted, straight–faced actioner set in a mythic–historical setting.…
Broken Arrow (1996): Dir. John Woo
Feat. John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis…; When John Travolta nicks off with a couple of nuclear warheads, its enough to transform his (former) air–force buddy (Christian Slater) into…
Chain Reaction (1996): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz; The science–slip and fugitive genres converge in this rather silly vehicle for a post–SPEED Keanu Reeves. His innocent,…
City of Industry (1996): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff, Famke Janssen; A jewel heist goes wrong with double–crossings eventuating in a bitter wrangle between laconic veteran Harvey Keitel and hot–head upstart…
Daylight (1996): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen…; They do make disaster movies like they used to! Sly Stallone seeks to rescue those entrapped by a huge explosion in a NYC subway tunnel, while the…
Eraser (1996): Dir. Charles Russell
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Caan, Vanessa (singer/actress) Williams…; Arnold Schwarzenegger bankrolls another effects–driven hardware epic, playing an FBI agent who 'erases' the identities of important,…
Executive Decision (1996): Dir. Stuart Baird
Feat. Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal; Middle Eastern terrorists hi–jack a Jumbo and bring aboard a lethal nerve–gas capable of wiping out small nations. For a sure recipe for…
First Strike (1996): Dir. Stanley Tong
Feat. Jackie Chan, Jackson Liu, Annie Wu; Jackie Chan is back to further embarrass the Yankee action–pretenders. Some mumbo–jumbo about stolen Ukrainian warheads provides an…
Fled (1996): Dir. Kevin Hooks
Feat. Stephen Baldwin, Laurence Fishburne; Violent comedy handcuffs together movie–obsessed computer whizz Stephen Baldwin with no–nonsense criminal Laurence Fishburne. Breaking a…
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis…; Join in the riot with an edgy thriller that loses its head midway through and gets stuck into some gleefully supernatural carnage. The director of…
Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996): Dir. Stephen Hopkins
Feat. Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer; When construction on a railroad in 19th century Uganda is interrupted by two ferocious, crafty lions snacking on the workers, the great white hunter…
Glimmer Man, The (1996): Dir. John Gray
Feat. Steven Seagal, Damon Wayans; Buddhist detective Steven Seagal partners up with a wisecracking Damon Wayans in this LA variation on 48 HRS. Hunting a serial killer linked to the…
Goldeneye (1996): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Isabella Scorupco…; Brosnan cuts the mustard as the new 007, aided by shrewd modifications that thoroughly re–invigorate the franchise – playful,…
Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1996): Dir. Peter Markle
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Michael Madsen; Dim–bulb mobster Frankie (Dennis Hopper) tires of his sadistic boss Sal (Michael Madsen) and decides to branch out into the LA porn–movie…
Last Man Standing (1996): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, Christopher Walken…; Gunslinger Bruce Willis dishes up violent justice for two factions of bootleggers in an actioner that ropes in western, mob movie, film noir and even…
Long Kiss Goodnight, The (1996): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson; Heroic chemistry between Geena Davis and Samuel L Jackson fuels this spectacular actioner, with more than a few eyebrows raised sardonically along…
Maximum Risk (1996): Dir. Ringo Lam
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natasha Henstridge; In fact a risk–free zone, and firm proof that Jean–Claude Van Damme is unable to escape the B–movie treadmill. Plot involves JC…
Mission: Impossible (1996): Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Tom Cruise; Hollywood refit of the '60s cult TV show with classic stylings and theme–tune thankfully intact. Precisely executed action sequences redeem a…
Mulholland Falls (1996): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Nick Nolte, Michael Madsen, Chazz Palminteri…; ONCE WERE WARRIORS director Lee Tamahori goes Hollywood with this tough gangster noir, fitted with an all–star cast and open chequebook. At…
Once a Thief (1996): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Sandrine Holt, Ivan Sergei, Nicholas Lea…; John Woo remakes his Hong Kong hit with an American cast of young unknowns in English. Woo pretty much operates as gun–for–hire here, but…
Quest, The (1996): Dir. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Jean Claude gets his manhood tested many times in far Asia with an endless series of daunting foes. Plus something about self–discovery for the…
Rock, The (1996): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris; Amateur commando Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery square–up against a granite–faced Ed Harris, holding San Francisco to ransom with…
Rumble in the Bronx (1996): Dir. Stanley Tong
Feat. Jackie Chan, Anita Mui; Jackie Chan's Hollywood breakthrough combines unrelenting Chan–style martial arts with big–budget stuntwork. Unabashedly cheesy yet…
Sudden Death (1996): Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Jean–Claude Van Damme goes DIE HARD when a wise–ass villain holds to ransom the U.S. Vice President and a stadium full of…
Sunchaser, The (1996): Dir. Michael Cimino
Feat. Woody Harrelson, John Seda, Anne Bancroft…; A Hollywood surgeon is kidnapped and traipsed through wild gang frontiers by a dying half–breed hoodlum. Shot full of Navajo mystic hokum, it's…
Top Fighter (1996): Dir. Toby Russell
Feat. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme; An extensive, action–packed look at martial art stars 'exploring the psychology of the combatant and how each has perfected his craft'.
Turbulence (1996): Dir. Robert Butler
Feat. Ray Liotta, Lauren Holly; Parachutes on! A 747 hijacked by hypermaniac serial–killer Ray Liotta is heading into an electrical storm! No prizes for guessing if they make…
Twister (1996): Dir. Jan De Bont
Feat. Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman…; Big kids and little kids will be enthralled by the special effects on offer here, though let it be said the script suffers under its obligation to…
Victory (1996): Dir. Mark Peploe
Feat. Willem Dafoe, Irene Jacob, Sam Neill…; Adventure film set in 1913 and based on the novel of the same name by Joseph Conrad. After attempting to rape a woman, a man living in Dutch occupied…
Assassins (1995): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore; A dark, protracted tale of two hitmen, old hand Sylvester Stallone who wants out of the racket, and new kid on the block Antonio Banderas out for…
Bad Boys (1995): Dir. Michael Bay
Feat. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence; Will Smith and Martin Lawrence ride their wave of their current popularity with this buddy cop movie that maximises their likeable personas. A…
Braveheart (1995): Dir. Mel Gibson
Feat. Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan…; Mel Gibson stars in and directs this illustrious historical account of the struggle of William Wallace, a common Scot who initiated a revolt against…
Clockers (1995): Dir. Spike Lee
Feat. Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo…; Spike Lee lights up another joint from Richard Price's fiery urban crime best–seller. In the wake of a drugland murder, detective Harvey Keitel…
Congo (1995): Dir. Frank Marshall
Feat. Dylan Walsh, Ernie Hudson, Tim Curry; This Jurassic turkey from the usually–golden pen of Michael Crichton follows a mis–matched motley crew into the African jungle to…
Crying Freeman (1995): Dir. Christophe Gans
Feat. Mark Dacascos, Julie Condra; Originally a Manga comic character, potter–turned–lethal martial–artist Freeman here becomes three–dimensional in the form of…
Cutthroat Island (1995): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella…; One of Hollywood's biggest financial disaster's, Geena Davis and husband/director Harlin thought the public were begging for a pirate epic of…
D'Artagnan's Daughter (Revenge of the Musketeers) (1995): Dir. Bertrand Tavernier
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Philippe Noiret; This gleefully French swashbuckler checks in as a loose sequel to the Three Muskeeters. The magnetic Sophie Marceau stars as the feisty titular…
Dead Presidents (1995): Dir. Hughes Brothers
Feat. Larenz Tate, Keith David, N'Bushe Wright; The Hughes Brothers follow up MENACE II SOCIETY with a heist movie set in 1970s Harlem. A scarred Vietnam vet fails to adjust to civilian life and…
Desperado (1995): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi…; Rodriguez' big–budget blow up of his cult hit EL MARIACHI, with Latino golden–boy Antonio Banderas as the vengeance–bent…
Die Hard with a Vengeance (Die Hard 3) (1995): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons; Third chapter in the big loud adventures of a white–vested cop goes to a ridiculous extreme to top what is increasingly seeming like an…
Fair Game (1995): Dir. Andrew Sipes
Feat. William Baldwin, Cindy Crawford, Steven Berkoff…; Producer Joel Silver fashions a vehicle for the marquee name and face of supermodel Cindy Crawford. William Baldwin provides her with brawny…
First Knight (1995): Dir. Jerry Zucker
Feat. Sean Connery, Julia Ormond, Richard Gere; Pared–down retelling of the Arthurian legend of Camelot is, while no great shakes, at least as good as most other efforts that have been made…
Heat (1995): Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Al Pacino, Robert De Niro; Epic bank–heist drama matches heavyweight detective Al Pacino against master–thief Robert De Niro. While this dream pairing generates the…
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) (1995-1999): Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst; Hugely popular fantasy series starring Kevin Sorbo as the classic half God/half man who travels through a fantastical ancient Greece in search of…
High Risk (1995): Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Jet Li, Jacky Cheung; A Hong Kong actioner worth singling out from the glut, Jet Li is charisma–on–legs as an unflappable stunt double/bodyguard who is forced…
J.A.G. (TV Series) (1995): Feat. David James Elliott, Tracey Needham, Catherine Bell; Hold on to your hairpiece, it's JAG! (U.S. military acronym for Judge Advocate General!) Predominantly follows a lieutenant called "Harm", who used…
Money Train (1995): Dir. Joseph Ruben
Feat. Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes; Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes attempt to reprise the chemistry from WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP as two cop brothers(!) who chase serial killers, babes…
New Jersey Drive (1995): Dir. Nick Gomez
Feat. Sharron Corely, Gabriel Caseus; The director of indie fave LAWS OF GRAVITY scores a big budget for his sophomore effort, and though he retains a naturalistic style, this has little…
North Star (1995): Dir. Nils Gaup
Feat. Christopher Lambert, James Caan; Inuit indian Christopher Lambert tussles with tough prospector–baron James Caan in 19th century Alaska, over a rich lode of gold running…
Panther (1995): Dir. Mario Van Peebles
Feat. Kadeem Hardison, Bokeem Woodbine, Joe Don Baker…; Released to some controversy, this relates the saga of the 60s community group–turned–'urban guerillas', the Black Panthers. A violent,…
Peace Hotel (1995): Dir. Wai Ka-Fai
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Chow Yun–Fat stars in his last Hong Kong opus before taking the Hollywood leap. A 1920s Chinatown Western, he runs the 'Peace Hotel', a refuge…
Quick and the Dead, The (1995): Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe…; A showdown at a gunfighting competition that plays like a cross between a 'Milky Bar' ad and a WWF pro–wrestling rumble. Director Raimi (EVIL…
Rob Roy (1995): Dir. Michael Caton-Jones
Feat. Tim Roth, Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange; The other kilt and bagpipes period epic is set in the 17th Century highlands, and maintains its own dignity under capable direction. Roth has a riot…
Score (1995): Dir. Atsushi Muroga
Feat. Shu Ehara, Hiroshi Miyasaka, Ryuushi Mizukami; A kinetic, if largely derivative actioner, which comes over as a Japanese RESERVOIR DOGS set around an unstable band of Yakuza henchmen attempting to…
Screamers (1995): Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Peter Weller; Devastating economic bloc–wars have led to out–of–control self–mutating weaponry – a complex story held together by…
Species (1995): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Forest Whitaker…; Ben Kingsley rounds up 'experts' (Michael Madsen, Forest Whitaker, Alfred Molina, Marg Helgenberger), a kind of A–Team of strange phenomena to…
Tuskegee Airmen, The (1995): Dir. Robert Markowitz
Feat. Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Jr. Gooding; Fishburne and Gooding Jnr. are among those called up for this fact–based story of black US Airforcemen whose contribution to the war effort…
Under Siege 2 (1995): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Steven Seagal, Eric Bogosian, Katherine Heigl…; Ex–Aro Valleyite Geoff Murphy polishes this potential turd and produces an invigorating romp on a fast–moving train. Granted, Seagal…
White Squall (1995): Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Jeff Bridges; Salty skipper Jeff Bridges recruits wayward lads for some discipline and adventure aboard a brigantine ship. After much jostling of testosterone,…
Wild Bill (1995): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, John Hurt…; Evocatively intercuts the remorseful twilight of gunfighter Wild Bill Hicock's life, with a series of tangy, sepia–toned flashbacks.
Xena - Warrior Princess (TV Series) (1995-1996): Dir. Charles Siebert, Anson Williams, Gary Jones
Feat. Lucy Lawless; Spinoff to the iconic 1990s 'Hercules' series, that became a cult in its own right. Mixing slapstick action and snappy one–liners into a…
Ashes of Time (1994): Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung; From revered mo–hup novelist Jing Yong's East, South, West, North, Wong Kar–Wai trailblazes the Hong Kong art movie with a cyclical tale…
Bad Girls (1994): Dir. Jonathan Kaplan
Feat. Madeleine Stowe, Andie MacDowell, Mary Stuart Masterson…; Saddle up with four popular Hollywood femmes for this enjoyably silly Western – easier on the eye than most.
Beverly Hills Cop 3 (1994): Dir. John Landis
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo…; Second and final sequel in the Axel Foley comedy–action series. Nominally concerning a counterfeit ring in L.A., this is definitely better than…
Beyond Rangoon (1994): Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Patricia Arquette; The tragedies mount for a young doctor taking a recuperating holiday in late eighties Burma, on the eve of a violent crackdown by the ruling…
Blown Away (1994): Dir. Stephen Hopkins
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Jeff Bridges; A psychotic terrorist is determined to test the skills of a bomb disposal expert to the limit. Action presides over logic but it's an exciting entry…
Bodyguard from Beijing (1994): Dir. Yuen Kwai
Feat. Jet Li; Jet Li is "The Bodyguard" in this delightful parody of the Kevin Costner/Whitney Houston smash. A gourmet chop suey of action, humour and simmering…
Burning Paradise (1994): Dir. Ringo Lam
Feat. John Ching, Willi Chi; Dir. Ringo Lam hits prime form in this Kung Fu excursion into the distant Chinese past. Previous hero Fong Sai Yuk and friends must quickstep…
Clear and Present Danger (1994): Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Harrison Ford, Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer…; Vulnerable hero Jack Ryan again in meatier, superior follow–up to PATRIOT GAMES that masterfully stages its action around a credible, complex…
Drop Zone (1994): Dir. John Badham
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey; Wesley Snipes is a numbered passenger again in trying to crack a skydiving terrorist gang led by Gary Busey. Not much grey matter to be found…
Drunken Master II (Legend of Drunken Master) (1994): Dir. Lau Kar Leung
Feat. Jackie Chan; Jackie Chan gets comic mileage with the dubious idea that he can only tap into his martial art prowess while pissed as a newt. Jackie continues to…
Escape from Absolom (1994): Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Ray Liotta, Lance Henrickson; Defiant 21st Century prisoner Ray Liotta is banished to a dreaded prison island where punishment comes in the form of unbridled gang warfare. Lots…
Fist of Legend (1994): Dir. Gordon Chan Kar-Seung
Feat. Jet Li; Jet Li stars in an infinitely superior remake of Bruce Lee's FIST OF FURY. A showcase of the highest calibre martial arts choreography, but firmly…
Future Cops (1994): Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok; Good dumb fun is the pure agenda of this kitsch, kinetic fantasy–comedy based on the popular ‘Streetfighter’ arcade game. On the trail…
Geronimo (1994): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Wes Studi, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman…; Intelligent, if unremarkable, big–budget Western that chronicles the U.S. Army's attempt to bring down the great Apache warrior,…
God of Gamblers Return (1994): Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Chow Yun–Fat returns as a charming poker player who enjoys the quiet life until a challenger kills his wife and begins to target his friends. …
Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994): Dir. Bill L. Norton
Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Anthony Quinn, Michael Hurst…; Made–for–TV caper has our brawny hero's plans for a wedding celebration come to ruin as he must defend his village against a marauding…
Heroic Trio 2 - Executioners (1994): Dir. Johnnie To, Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung…; Downbeat sequel returns the trio of feisty femmes to combat the evil mega–corporation that taken a stranglehold on the world's…
Killing Zoe (1994): Dir. Roger Avary
Feat. Jean-Hugues Anglade, Eric Stoltz, Julie Delpy; A heist movie as grim and graceless as its title bears the Tarantino monicker (as executive producer) but director Avary only proves he has much to…
Last Outlaw, The (1994): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine…; Kiwi director's bloody Western with Rourke as a psychopathic confederate hunting down the remnants of his white trash gang.
Legends of the Fall (1994): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas…; American folk melodrama spans the decade around World War I in which the three sons of righteous patriarch Anthony Hopkins become divided over the…
Leon The Professional, The (Professional, The) (1994): Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman; The director of NIKITA revamps his French hit with American money and the English language. An Italian hitman in New York reluctantly adopts a…
Love and a 45 (1994): Dir. C.M. Talkington
Feat. Rory Cochrane, Michael Bowen; A Tarantino knock–off in which lovers–on–the–run go wild at heart in a world of eccentric misfits, ultra–violence,…
M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV Series) (Mantis) (1994): Dir. Sam Raimi
Feat. Carl Lumbly, Roger Rees; A wheelchair–bound scientist becomes a crime–fighter after building himself a powerful exo–skeleton that gives him superhuman…
Master, The (1994): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Jet Li; Hong Kong action supremo Tsui Hark stages some wonderful fight sequences to showcase the dexterous talents of new action man Jet Li. The setting…
Ocean Girl (TV Series) (1994-1997): Feat. Marzena Godecki, Jeffrey Walker, Kerry Armstrong; Environmentally conscious Australian cult adventure series based around a mystical girl from under the sea who has the ability to communicate with…
On Deadly Ground (1994): Dir. Steven Seagal
Feat. Steven Seagal, Michael Caine, Joan Chen; Steven Seagal goes PC as a macho hero with an environmental agenda in Alaska. The film even concludes with a personal message from the star/director.
Pulp Fiction (1994): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman…; With just his second film, Quentin Tarantino not only became a household name but a massive cultural phenomenon. He miraculously surpasses…
Rapa Nui (1994): Dir. Kevin Reynolds
Feat. Jason Scott Lee, Rena Owen, George Henare…; Two boyhood friends from different tribes struggle to lead their people and win the love of the same woman. Ambitious Easter Island adventure is…
Specialist, The (1994): Dir. Luis Llosa
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, James Woods…; Explosives expert Stallone helps out avenging angel Stone in sending bad guys Woods and Roberts to Kingdom Come. Shamelessly implausible stuff is…
Speed (1994): Dir. Jan De Bont
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock…; A jaw–dropping, state–of–the–art spectacle in which new slim–line action hero Reeves battles wits with a…
Stargate (1994): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson; Kurt Russell and James Spader headline this big–budget spectacle. Promising start evokes the epic adventure intrigue of a LAWRENCE OF ARABIA,…
Streetfighter (1994): Dir. Steven De Souza
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Kylie Minogue; Targeting the same young audience as its video–game namesake, Van Damme does what he does best as Guile, the wronged good guy who…
Surviving the Game (1994): Dir. Ernest Dickerson
Feat. Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey; Slick, if unnecessary, variation of 'The Most Dangerous Game' story in which a street–bum (Ice T) becomes the unwitting target of rich men who…
Terminal Velocity (1994): Dir. Deran Sarafian
Feat. Charlie Sheen, Nastassja Kinski, James Gandolfini…; Sheen plays a skydiving expert roped into international espionage by way of the mysterious Kinski. It's sexist, crass and juvenile, but never dull,…
Timecop (1994): Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver…; Big–budget sci–fi film disabled by a banal script and a leaden leading man. Jean Claude Van Damme plays a 21st Century cop who tracks…
Treasure Hunt (1994): Dir. Ricky Lau
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; CIA operative Chow Yun–Fat falls in love while on secret assignment at mainland Shaolin monastery. Bubble–headed romance with some action…
True Lies (1994): Dir. James Cameron
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold; Action set pieces just don't come any bigger or better than under monster–budget maestro, James Cameron. Reteaming with Schwarzenegger, it's…
Wing Chun (1994): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen; Martial–arts star Michelle Yeoh lends some charisma to a cotton–sugar tale of remote villagers plagued by robbers. In the title role Yeoh…
Wyatt Earp (1994): Dir. Lawrence Kasdan
Feat. Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman; Lovingly crafted rendition of an oft–told legend is the first major flop in the careers of Costner and the director. Not a bad film, but the…
Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The (TV Series) (1993-1994): Dir. Bryan Spicer
Feat. Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, Christian Clemenson; Wacky TV western following a Harvard–educated lawyer–turned–bounty hunter who goes after an outlaw using a range of curiously…
Adventures of Huck Finn, The (Huckleberry Finn) (1993): Dir. Stephen Sommers
Feat. Elijah Wood, Courtney B. Vance, Robbie Coltrane…; A Walt Disney adaptation of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which 90s kids may remember being screened on TV fairly regularly. Received…
Barefoot Kid, The (1993): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Aaron Kwok; Rites–of–passage, chop–socky style with lithe HK supernova Aaron Kwok as the eponymous hero whose inititation into manhood is…
Boiling Point (1993): Dir. James B. Harris
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Dennis Hopper, Viggo Mortensen; Cop thriller rises above its familiar plot through the likeable heavyweight cast.
Bride With White Hair 2, The (Bai fa mo nu zhuan II) (1993): Dir. Ronnie Yu, David Wu
Feat. Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, Christy Chung; Above–average sequel to the martial arts blockbuster continuing on directly from its cliffhanger ending, with the viciously insane Lin, now…
Butterfly and Sword (1993): Dir. Michael Mak
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Michelle Yeoh, Joey Wong…; Raucous, fast–paced martial arts fantasy boasts a top–flight cast and some of the most ludicrous action sequences of the 90s. Michelle…
Carlito's Way (1993): Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Viggo Mortensen; De Palma contains his usual showy excess and proves he can be a consummate storyteller with this captivating, multi–layered crime yarn. Al…
Cliffhanger (1993): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow; Schlock doesn't get any slicker than this romp on the ice–capped Dolomites. The best thing Stallone's done since the original ROCKY, even if…
Crime Story (1993): Dir. Kirk Wong
Feat. Jackie Chan; A serious Jackie Chan movie for which he even nabbed a HK oscar! Based on a true story involving police corruption and a kidnapping ring, the…
Crow, The (1993): Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott…; Sleek action fantasy on which its star, Brandon Lee, lost his life before its completion. The designer mayhem plays like a gothic music video, though…
Death Train (1993): Dir. David Jackson
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Patrick Stewart, Alexandra Paul…; Originally made for TV, this action flick based on the Alistair MacLean novel pitches Brosnan's hero against Christopher Lee's evil Russian general,…
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993): Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, Robert Wagner…; Jason 'no–relation' Scott Lee clenches Bruce Lee's fists of fury in this entertaining 'loving–tribute'–style biopic of the great…
Fencing Master, The (1993): Dir. Pedro Olea
Feat. Omero Antonutti, Assumpta Serna, Joaquim De Almeida; Opulent tale of lust and betrayal in politically turbulent turn–of–the–century Spain. A middle–aged celibate fencing teacher…
Getaway, The (1993): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen…; A glossy yet respectable remake of the 1972 Peckinpah thriller with real–marrieds Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger in the shoes of Steve McQueen…
Gettysburg (1993): Dir. Ronald F. Maxwell
Feat. Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen; A truly epic screen version of the three–day American Civil War battle of 1863. The director's decade–long obsession is rich in military…
Hard Target (1993): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Hong Kong action style–merchant John Woo goes America and fashions an ultra–violent cartoon for Jean–Claude Van Damme. Complete…
Heart of Darkness (1993): Dir. Nicolas Roeg
Feat. Tim Roth, John Malkovich; A more literal adaptation of the Joseph Conrad novel that inspired APOCALYPSE NOW. Roth plays the British captain leading a team along the Congo and…
Heroic Trio (1993): Dir. Johnnie To
Feat. Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh; An invisible criminal is stealing babies for a sewer–dwelling villain and it's up to three dazzling super–chicks. Hugely entertaining…
Iron Monkey (Siunin Wong Fei-hung tsi titmalau) (1993): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Donnie Yen; Enjoyably charged with wacky humour, this fairly traditional Hong Kong slambam concerns a doctor and his daughter who must track down a notorious…
Judgment Night (1993): Dir. Stephen Hopkins
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Cuba Jr. Gooding, Denis Leary…; Enjoyable, if conventional late–night thriller has four yuppies in an RV take a detour on the way to a boxing match, ending up in the wrong…
Jurassic Park (1993): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum…; Richard Attenborough's eccentric billionaire has perfected his tropical island themepark. With cutting edge science; he has revived the dinosaurs!…
Kung Fu Cult Master (1993): Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Chingmy Yau; Extraordinarily over–the–top martial arts epic in which Jet Li procures invincible powers while negotiating the restless hordes from…
Last Action Hero (1993): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Conceptually brilliant idea – movie fan is projected into world of his action idol (Arnie) who also joins him in the 'real' world – is sunk with…
Legend 2, The (1993): Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Jet Li, Michelle Reis; Jet Li returns as the hero 'Fong Sai Yuk', battling the oppressive ruling Chinese government in the ranks of the subversive Red Flower Society. With…
Legend of Fong Sai Yuk, The (1993): Dir. Yuen Kwai
Feat. Jet Li; Hilarious and oddly satisfying mixture of character, comedy, drama, incredible action, and high camp tragedy! Jet Li stars in one of the best HK…
Menace II Society (1993): Dir. Hughes Brothers
Feat. Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Samuel L. Jackson; A ghetto drama about young men on a no–win cycle of guns and drugs in south central L.A., this covers simlar geographical and philosophical…
Midnight Sting (Diggstown) (1993): Dir. Michael Ritchie
Feat. James Woods, Louis Jr. Gossett, Heather Graham; This crowd–pleaser delivers with Woods in usual form as a smarmy ex–con fraudster who orchestrates a boxing scam with help from boxing…
Moon Warriors (1993): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui; Flashy feudal martial arts adventure features the high kicks of Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui, in a battle of noble siblings to regain the…
Once Upon a Time in China 3 (1993): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan; Jet Li must quash a Russian plot to murder the ruling eunuch, fight a band of gangsters, and find a way to propose to Rosamund Kwan. Predictable yet…
Passenger 57 (1993): Dir. Kevin Hooks
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Bruce Payne, Tom Sizemore; Wesley Snipes has a number and is not a free man when his trans–Atlantic flight is interrupted by a bastard with an English accent and an…
Posse (1993): Dir. Mario Van Peebles
Feat. Mario Van Peebles; Actor/director Van Peebles infuses the Western with flamboyant, MTV–style visuals. He leads a gang of charismatic young black guns seeking to…
Robocop 3 (1993): Dir. Fred Dekker
Feat. Robert Burke, Nancy Allen, Rip Torn…; Replacing Peter Weller in this final installment is Robert Burke.
Sharpe (TV Series) (1993-1998): Dir. Tom Clegg
Feat. Sean Bean, Brian Cox; Various teledramas adapting Bernard Cornwall's famous novels about the adventures of an officer in the 19th century British Army. In perhaps his best…
Shopping (1993): Dir. Paul Anderson
Feat. Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Jonathan Pryce; Joy–riding, shop–looting youths cruise the neon–lit urban squalors of Northern England. Realism is bypassed in favour of a visual…
Silent Tongue (1993): Dir. Sam Shepard
Feat. Alan Bates, Richard Harris, River Phoenix; A personal project for playwright/actor/director Shepard, this ghost story chiefly indicts the mistreatment of the native Indian. Haunting film…
Striking Distance (1993): Dir. Rowdy Herrington
Feat. Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Farina…; Routine tough–guy vehicle for Bruce Willis who does the maverick cop thing, this time as a river boat night patrolman investigating a series of…
Sugar Hill (1993): Dir. Leon Ichaso
Feat. Wesley Snipes; Snipes vehicle in which he plays a drug dealer wanting to wade out of the mire and come to terms with his afflicted past.
Tai Chi Master, The (1993): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh; Jet Li ascends to be the founder of the Chinese art of self–defence and healing known as Tai Chi Chuan, but not before crossing blades with,…
Three Musketeers, The (1993): Dir. Stephen Herek
Feat. Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell…; Very glossy and yet very average version of the classic Alexandre Dumas novel. Tim Curry's eccentric villain is perhaps the highlight.
Tombstone (1993): Dir. George P. Cosmatos
Feat. Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer; Not–so–young guns Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer as Earp and Holliday don't quite make it past being big boys in dress–up. There's…
True Romance (1993): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Gary Oldman…; Precocious, ultra–violent black comedy from the pen of Tarantino in which comic–book–nerd Christian Slater transforms into…
Bride with White Hair (1992): Dir. Ronnie Yu
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin; In a remote China of superstition and legend, vicious clan skirmishes result in an eye–popping frenzy of acrobatic martial arts. Resplendent…
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Marlon Brando, Tom Selleck, George Corraface; The other film version of CC's oceanic excursion with George Corraface and Brando in one of his notoriously overpaid cameos.
Deep Cover (1992): Dir. Bill Duke
Feat. Laurence Fishburne, Jeff Goldblum; Principled cop Larry Fishburne goes into deep cover to penetrate a dangerous drug cartel and forms a partnership with with drug–dealing…
Dragon Inn (New Dragon Gate Inn) (1992): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung (Kar-fai)…; Gory Ming Dynasty–set epic in which forces of good and evil clash swords over the fate of feudal China. An extravagant climax, featuring…
El Mariachi (1992): Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez; A cause celebre of low–budget film–making, this $7000 Tex–Mex wonder about a guitar–player mistaken for a gangster contains…
Far and Away (1992): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman; Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman sport Irish accents for this sweeping saga that follows their quest to claim a piece of America they can call their own.
Full Contact (1992): Dir. Ringo Lam
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Chow Yun–Fat rescues his friend from a loan shark, but the friend leaves him for dead in a botched robbery and takes off with his girlfriend. A…
Gladiator (1992): Dir. Rowdy Herrington
Feat. Cuba Jr. Gooding, James Marshall, Robert Loggia…; This fist–clenching he–man pic replays many of the licks from ROCKY, but it's played out with relentless professionalism. Marshall and…
Hard-Boiled (1992): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Anthony Wong; An action film to end all action films, John Woo's technical command of the genre reaches its peak with this ballistic ballet in which Chow…
Jock of the Bushveld (1992): Feat. Jonathan Rands, Robert Urich, Sean Gallagher; Based on the beloved South African book of the same name, this is the true story of a hopeful prospector, and his faithful canine companion, who…
Last of the Mohicans, The (1992): Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Wes Studi…; Update of James Fenimore Cooper's oft–filmed novel with Daniel Day–Lewis sporting the hero's loin–cloth. Authentically recreates…
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo; More Mel Gibson and Danny Glover – it's another action–packed, fast–paced and amusing ensemble of good–guy/bad–guy…
Nails (1992): Dir. John Flynn
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Anne Archer, Tomas Milan…; Dennis Hopper kicks butt as Harry Niles, a veteran cop 'as hard as nails'. After his partner is taken out by Cuban assassins, Harry uncovers a…
Naked Killer (1992): Dir. Clarence Fok-Yiu
Feat. Chingmy Yau, Simon Yam, Carrie Ng; Sex and violence potently combust in a tale of nubile assassins and a love–struck, traumatised cop. The plot may typically wander but it…
Nowhere to Run (1992): Dir. Robert Harmon
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette; Van Damme vehicle marks a minor progression in his ability to master a vocabulary as well as his weight–training. His escaped convict turns…
Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1992): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Jet Li, Donnie Yen; Comic emphasis is given to the continuing adventures of a traditional martial artiste in late 1900s. Escapist elements are graced with fine…
Patriot Games (1992): Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin…; Ford is maverick FBI agent Jack Ryan (James Bond sans sense of humour) who blows away an IRA terrorist, and finds himself the target of a zealous…
Police Story 3 (Supercop) (1992): Dir. Stanley Tong
Feat. Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh; Jackie Chan returns as death–defying maverick cop Ka Kui, while Michelle Yeoh offers some savvy sidekick. From the director of Jackie's first…
Rapid Fire (1992): Dir. Dwight H. Little
Feat. Brandon Lee; A college student is forced to stretch his martial–arts skills to stay alive after witnessing a gangland murder. A kick above the average…
Reservoir Dogs (1992): Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Feat. Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi…; Partners–in–crime Keitel, Roth, Buscemi, Madsen and others reel from a botched jewel heist in an abandoned warehouse. Tarantino's…
Saviour of the Soul (1992): Dir. David Lai
Feat. Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok; Breathtaking camerawork and special effects combine with hallucinatory plotting as two city–dwelling mercenaries do battle with the silver fox,…
Sniper (1992): Dir. Luis Llosa
Feat. Tom Berenger, Billy Zane; Cold assassin Berenger and rookie Zane turn against each other in the gruelling Panama jungle. A dense actioner, with liberal use of the…
South Central (1992): Dir. Steve Anderson
Feat. Glenn Plummer; Compelling ghetto fable about a gang–member whose violent background impedes his attempt to start a fresh with his neglected wife and child.
Stalingrad (1992): Dir. Joseph Vilsmaier
Feat. Dominique Horwitz, Thomas Kretschmann, Jochen Nickel; Superlative evocation of WW2 tragedy from a German perspective. A unit of soldiers are posted to the front line in the merciless Russian winter to…
Trespass (1992): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Ice-T, Ice-Cube, Bill Paxton…; Two firemen set off to claim a 50–year buried stolen fortune, but their dreams turn sour when they encounter an unhospitable street gang headed…
Under Siege (1992): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones; Block–buster breakthrough for Seagal – he plays the ship's cook who turns into a human Swiss army–knife when Tommy Lee Jones attempts…
Unforgiven (1992): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman…; Clint Eastwood delivers the film of his acting and directing career with a smoulderingly dark rendering of a smart script about an aging gunfighter…
Universal Soldier (1992): Dir. Roland Emmerich
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren; Van Damme and Lundgren team for this big–budget futuristic romp with an extravagance of punch–ups, explosions and wisecracks.
Black Cat (1991): Dir. Dickson Poon
Feat. Jade Leung; The Hong Kong industry could not resist a crack at French action fave Nikita, the foxy misfit trained as an assassin for the secret service. A…
Chinese Ghost Story 3 (1991): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung; Spirited retread of the first movie, in which the evil Tree Spirit is back with yet another ghost played by Joey Wong. It takes place 100 years…
Double Impact (1991): Dir. Sheldon Lettich
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Jean Claude Van Damme teams up with himself to play estranged twin brothers who put aside their mutual animosity to avenge their father's killer.
Flash, The (TV Series) (1991): Feat. John Wesley Shipp, Amanda Pays, M. Emmet Walsh…; Vastly underrated TV adaptation of the DC comicbook hero, in which a forensic detective (Shipp) has a laboratory accident which causes the molecules…
Hard Way, The (1991): Dir. John Badham
Feat. Michael J. Fox, James Woods; Michael J. Fox is perfectly cast as a Hollywood actor, keen to shrug off his clean image by playing a cop in his next film. James Woods plays his…
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991): Dir. Simon Wincer
Feat. Mickey Rourke, Don Johnson; A self–mocking vehicle for macho stalwarts Rourke and Johnson. They team up to rob a bank, but it's O.K. coz they're helpin' out a buddy who's…
Highlander 2 (1991): Dir. Russell Mulcahy
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Michael Ironside…; Sequel to the video blockbuster of the 80's sees the back–story of the original film ditched and Scottish immortal MacLeod now in fact an alien…
Kuffs (1991): Dir. Bruce A. Evans
Feat. Christian Slater; A street–smart vehicle for (post)–teen idol Slater, who inherits a licence to kill the S.O.B. who snuffed his elder sibling.
Last Boy Scout, The (1991): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans, Danielle Harris; Willis and Wayans team as the wise–cracking 'good' guys in another bloody buddy–cop outing from the LETHAL WEAPON/DIE HARD team.
Martial Law (1991): Dir. Steve Cohen
Feat. Cynthia Rothrock, Chad McQueen, David Carradine; Ropey early American action vehicle for martial–arts queen Cynthia Rothrock (who cut her teeth in Hong Kong) playing second fiddle to Chad (son…
Men of Respect (1991): Dir. William Reilly
Feat. John Turturro; MacBeth is courageously transposed here into the American gangster milieu, with the dependably good Turturro as the power–hungry tyrant whose…
Mobsters (1991): Dir. Michael Karbelnikoff
Feat. Christian Slater, Richard Greico, Patrick Dempsey; Christian Slater, Richard Grieco and Patrick Dempsey play the infamous trio that changed the face of organised crime. Very violent film attempts to…
New Jack City (1991): Dir. Mario Van Peebles
Feat. Ice-T, Wesley Snipes, Judd Nelson…; A mean thriller set in New York's drug–plagued underworld. Stylish rap soundtrack.
Old Man And the Sea, The (1991): Dir. Jud Taylor
Feat. Anthony Quinn, Patricia Clarkson, Joe Santos…; Based on Ernest Hemingway's great allegorical novel, Anthony Quinn is perfectly cast as Santiago, the aging fisherman who engages in an epic battle…
Once a Thief (1991): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Kenneth Tsang; Whimsical actioner combines directorial flair with the charisma of Chow Yun–Fat. He leads an elite team of art thieves who encounter the…
Once Upon a Time in China (1991): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Jet Li, Biao Yuen, Rosamund Kwan; Extravagent epic about legendary Chinese martial artiste and conqueror, Wong Fei Hung. Beautifully filmed spectacle, punctuated with exciting combat…
Out for Justice (1991): Dir. John Flynn
Feat. Steven Seagal, William Forsythe, Jerry Orbach; He's been ABOVE THE LAW, HARD TO KILL & MARKED FOR DEATH so of course it's only fair that he's out for justice! Seagal punches his way through the…
Point Break (1991): Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Lori Petty…; 100% pure adrenalin? You bet! FBI rookie Keanu Reeves goes undercover to lynch an elite gang of surfing bankrobbers. Wild and incredulous, but…
Robin Hood (1991): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Patrick Bergin, Uma Thurman, Jeroen Krabbe; Bergin inhabits the role of the noble swashbuckler in this modest adaptation of the Anglo legend.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): Dir. Kevin Reynolds
Feat. Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio…; Lavishly mounted mega–hit. An exhilarating romp through the forests of Sherwood.
Scream of Stone (Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein) (1991): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Donald Sutherland, Mathilda May, Brad Dourif; Solid and steady climbing adventure set around an attempt on the incredibly difficult Patagonian peak of Cerro Torre. Despite some absolutely…
Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991): Dir. Mark Lester
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Brandon Lee; Testosteroned vehicle for Lundgren and Lee as two mismatched L.A. cops who encounter the furious fists of Japanese drug lords.
Story of Ricky (Riki-Oh aka Lai Wong) (1991): Dir. Nam Nai-Choi
Feat. Fan Siu-wong; Hong Kong cult sensation that comedically stir–fries prison ultra–violence with Western–style splatter. Rib–cracking,…
Toy Soldiers (1991): Dir. Daniel Petrie Jnr.
Feat. Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Keith Coogan; An elite boarding school comes under siege from the son of an extradited Columbian drug king. Shamelessly well executed.
Another 48 Hours (1990): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte, Brion James…; Barely adequate sequel to the buddy–cop smash hit.
Backdraft (1990): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro, William Baldwin…; Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro and others are no match for the sizzling special effects that predominate this tale of fire–fighting brothers who…
Blue Steel (1990): Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Feat. Jamie Lee Curtis, Ron Silver; A predatory psychopath stalks rookie cop in rare action from a female perspective. The genre is assaulted by the director with unequivocal flair.
Bullet in the Head (1990): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee; John Woo's indictment of war as raw and visceral as its title. Three friends flee Hong Kong and find themselves knee deep in the corruption and…
Chinese Ghost Story 2 (1990): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung; The original cast return for another surreal, big–budget fantasy that delivers as much as the first one, with more of a comedic slant. This…
Dark Angel (1990): Dir. Craig Baxley
Feat. Dolph Lundgren; Sci–Fi action. A cop with attitude discovers the vicious serial killer he is stalking is an alien life–form.
Days of Thunder (1990): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Paul Newman; TOP GUN on wheels with Tom Cruise as a star rookie race–driver whose attention behind the wheel veers to Dr. Nicole Kidman's behind.
Death Warrant (1990): Dir. Deran Sarafian
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; The muscles from Brussels does it again and goes undercover in a penitentiary to find out who's been topping inmates.
Delta Force 2 (1990): Dir. Aaron Norris
Feat. John P. Ryan, Richard Jaeckel, Billy Drago; When DEA agents are taken captive by a ruthless South American kingpin (Billy Drago!), the Delta Force (led by Chuck Norris) are reunited (minus Lee…
Dick Tracy (1990): Dir. Warren Beatty
Feat. Warren Beatty, Madonna; A glossy update of the comic–book and 1940s TV serial with Warren Beatty as the suave crime–buster. Superb art–direction, costumes…
Die Hard 2 (1990): Dir. Renny Harlin
Feat. Bruce Willis; Another difficult Christmas for cop Bruce Willis when he is stranded at a Washington Airport. No, it couldn't be...more terrorists?!
Fire Ice and Dynamite (1990): Dir. Willy Bogner
Feat. Roger Moore, Shari Belafonte; Preposterous action vehicle featuring Roger Moore as an eccentric tycoon who puts his fortune up for grabs in a winter sporting contest, with the…
Fourth War, The (1990): Dir. John Frankenheimer
Feat. Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow, Harry Dean Stanton; Cold War thriller set during the early days of detente has Scheider and Prochnow as two border commanders whose friendly rivalry on the…
God of Gamblers (1990): Dir. Wong Jing
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Chow Yun–Fat plays a gambling king who is de–throned by amnesia, then embraced by a petty hustler who discovers he can trigger his memory…
Goodfellas (1990): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro…; The double–edged allure of life in the Mafia is richly detailed in Martin Scorsese's riveting saga that follows a young mobster through three…
Hard to Kill (1990): Dir. Bruce Malmuth
Feat. Steven Seagal, William Sadler; Pony–tailed tough guy Seagal spent seven years in a coma after a brutal attack, but now he's ripe to have the last laugh.
Hudson Hawk (1990): Dir. Michael Lehmann
Feat. Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Sandra Bernhard…; Good–natured adventure with Bruce Willis as a reformed cat burglar who is blackmailed to steal from the Vatican. A major box–office…
Kid from Tibet, A (1990): Dir. Yuen Biao
Feat. Biao Yuen, Michelle Reis, Wah Yuen; Amiable, energetic actioner stars the director as a young monk who must avenge a friend's death using Tibetan magic, pyrotechnics and a host of…
King of New York (1990): Dir. Abel Ferrara
Feat. Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes…; A ruthless drug lord (Walken) is determined to resume his throne as the king of New York's underworld after five years behind bars. A vicious crime…
King of the Kickboxers I & II (1990-1991): Dir. Lucas Lowe
Feat. Loren Avedon, Richard Jaeckel, Don Stroud; Spectacular fight sequences lift this spin–off from the NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER films out of the dreck, with Loren Avedon returning as a cop…
Licence to Kill (License to Kill) (1990): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell; Dalton continues as a tougher and more cynical Bond, as he attempts to avenge the murder by ruthless drug lord Franz Sanchezz, of his best friend.…
Marked for Death (1990): Dir. Dwight H. Little
Feat. Steven Seagal, Joanna Pacula, Keith David; Seagal takes on a hoard of dreadlocked Jamaican drug pushers in this slick, bone–snapping actioner.
Memphis Belle (1990): Dir. Michael Caton-Jones
Feat. Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan…; A likeable modern war drama with a well–known, fresh–faced male cast who make up the crew of the title B–17 bomber about to…
Men at Work (1990): Dir. Emilio Estevez
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Leslie Hope…; Real–life bros Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen play two garbage men who uncover a conspiracy involving illegal toxic waste dumping and decide…
Miami Blues (1990): Dir. George Armitage
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Fred Ward, Jennifer Jason Leigh; A psychotic criminal steals a detective's I.D. and proceeds to clean up their 'most wanted' list in this violent comedy.
Mountains of the Moon (1990): Dir. Bob Rafelson
Feat. Patrick Bergin, Iain Glen, Richard E. Grant…; Ambitious saga details the quest of Sir Richard Burton to discover the source of the Nile river. Compelling personal story remains focused amid the…
Navy Seals (1990): Dir. Lewis Teague
Feat. Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton…; Explosive action flick starring Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn as Commandos in America's most elite Navy squad, who are on a mission to rescue…
Night of the Fox (TV Mini-series) (1990): Dir. Charles Jarrott
Feat. Michael York, George Peppard, Deborah Raffin…; An American officer is captured on German soil during WWII and a daring plot is hatched by the allies to rescue him. based on the novel by Jack…
Revenge (1990): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn, Madeleine Stowe…; Pulpy action thriller from director Tony Scott (TOP GUN) about a U.S. Navy aviator (Kevin Costner) who falls in love with the wife of Mexican crime…
Robocop 2 (1990): Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. Peter Weller; Peter Weller returns as the cyber–policeman in this violent sequel.
Rocky V (Rocky 5) (1990): Dir. John G. Avildsen
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young…; Final, agonising round in the ROCKY series, has the Italian Stallion return to the 'old neighbourhood' to coach various new prospects.
Ronin-gai (Roningai: Street of the Samurai) (1990): Dir. Kazuo Kuroki
Feat. Yoshio Harada, Renji Ishibashi, Kanako Higuchi; Samurai drama set in the 19th century near the end of the Japanese civil war, following several disgraced and listless ronin who attempt to regain…
Rookie, The (1990): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen; A low–point for Eastwood before his meteoric come–back. His veteran cop teams with straight–laced Sheen, who reluctantly rely on…
She Shoots Straight (Huang jia nu jiang) (1990): Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Joyce Godenzi, Sammo Hung; Taut and melodramatic, this HK policier concerns a decorated and ultra–competent female police officer (Godenzi) who arouses jealousy in her…
Skinny Tiger Fatty Dragon (Shou hu fei long) (1990): Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Sammo Hung, Liu Chia Liang, Carrie Ng; Amusing action spoof starring the incomparable Samo Hung as one of a pair of bumbling cops who go on the hunt for drug traffickers in Hong Kong, but…
State of Grace (1990): Dir. Phil Joanou
Feat. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris; Penn returns to his Irish mob roots in New York's Hell's Kitchen to find tenuous–at–best relations with the neighbouring Mafia. Oldman…
Swordsman (1990): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Jacky Cheung, Man Cheung, Sam Hui; A good–natured swordsman from Ming Dynasty China, gets involved in a scramble for a priceless book. Excellent special effects but confusing…
Wrong Bet (1990): Dir. Sheldon Lettich
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Van Damme deserts the foreign legion and becomes a professional streetfighter.
Young Guns 2 (1990): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland…; The long–neglected Western finds popularity with a new generation with an all–star youthful cast.
Around the World in 80 Days (TV Mini-series) (1989): Dir. Buzz Kulik
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Eric Idle, Peter Ustinov…; Mostly delightful version of Jules Verne's light adventure yarn, in which Phileas Fogg (Brosnan) attempts the titular feat for a bet. More complete…
Best of the Best (1989): Dir. Robert Radler
Feat. Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland…; Five young men learn what it takes to compete at the highest level in this late eighties favourite. Think Karate Kid meets Breaking Away.
Blind Fury (1989): Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Rutger Hauer; A nice comic turn for Rutger Hauer as a blind cane–wielding tough guy in this martial arts parody.
Booker (TV Series) (1989-1990): Feat. Carmen Argenziano; Good value spin–off series from 21 JUMP STREET, with Richard Grieco from the original series taking on the role of a rebellious private…
Born On the Fourth of July (1989): Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Tom Cruise; Tom Cruise gives an exhilarating performance as Ron Kovic, the teenage patriot who became an embittered, paralysed Vietnam vet, to finally emerge as…
Canton Godfather, The (Miracles; Mr. Canton and Lady Rose) (1989): Dir. Jackie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Anita Mui; Though light on martial arts, this lavish period production is generally considered Jackie Chan's most accomplished movie. At once inspired by THE…
Casualties of War (1989): Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, John Leguizamo…; A squad of soldiers become caught in the moral dilemma of wartime Vietnam. Platoon leader Sean Penn goes beyond the call of duty while Michael J.…
Class of 1999 (1989): Dir. Mark Lester
Feat. Malcolm McDowell; This is a tongue–in–cheek sequel to CLASS OF 1984 in which prototype androids are brought in to teach class and wield some discipline.
Cyborg (1989): Dir. Albert Pyun
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Inglorious "sword–and–sci–fi" vehicle for the then–rising star of Jean Claude Van Damme, directed by prolific trash merchant,…
Farewell to the King (1989): Dir. John Milius
Feat. Nick Nolte, Nigel Havers, Frank McRae…; Half–successful attempt to fashion a mythic tale from the Japanese invasion of Borneo in WW2, with a US Army deserter (Nolte) and a British…
Glory (1989): Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes…; Time and place is perfectly re–created in this moving account of the plight of Negro soldiers during the American civil war.
Henry V (1989): Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed…; A remarkable achievement from Kenneth Branagh both as actor and first–time director, he brings a new vitality to Shakespeare's most energetic…
Iceman Cometh, The (Time Warriors) (1989): Dir. Fok Yiu Leung
Feat. Biao Yuen, Maggie Cheung; A pair of Ming Dynasty adversaries find themselves defrosted 300 years later in contemporary Hong Kong. Film festival fave combines outrageous farce…
In The Line of Duty (In The Line of Duty 4: The Witness) (1989): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Donnie Yen, Cynthia Khan , Michael Wong…; Although the fourth in a film series about a flashy martial–arts cop, this is generally considered the best, with Yen taking his police job in…
Kickboxer (1989): Dir. Mark DiSalle
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Van Damme vengeance vehicle for fans of the muscled one only.
Killer, The (1989): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Action at break–neck speed with a body–count to match the running time, this smorgasbord of super–violence with lashings of good…
Lock Up (1989): Dir. John Flynn
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland; Prison inmate Stallone is persecuted by sadistic warden Sutherland. A bit nasty.
Lonesome Dove (TV Mini-series) (Lonesome Dove, Streets Of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk, Return to Lonesome Dove) (1989-1993): Dir. Simon Wincer
Feat. Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover…; A hefty star cast congregate for this acclaimed TV adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel about two former Texas Rangers (Duvall, Jones) who retire to…
Mighty Quinn, The (1989): Dir. Carl Schenkel
Feat. Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers…; Entertaining Caribbean caper stars Denzel as the chief of police on a tropical island who is suddenly thrust into action when his crooked best friend…
Next of Kin (1989): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Patrick Swayze, Adam Baldwin, Helen Hunt…; Patrick Swayze is at his two–fisted best as a tough Chicago cop who teams with his hillbilly kinfolk when a young brother is brutally murdered…
Old Gringo (1989): Dir. Luis Puenzo
Feat. Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Smits; Western following an American school teacher (Jane Fonda) who is captured by soldiers of Pancho Villa's army while working in Mexico in 1913, and…
Punisher, The (1989): Dir. Mark Goldblatt
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Louis Jr. Gossett; Based on the Marvel comic hero, a NY cop emerges as a merciless vigilante after his family is murdered in a car bomb.
Rikyu (1989): Dir. Hiroshi Teshigahara
Feat. Rentaro Mikuni, Tsutomu Yamazaki; A unique dramatic meditation on the symbolic qualities of the Japanese tea ceremony, set around a Buddhist priest and the ruling Shogun of Japan in…
Roadhouse (1989): Dir. Rowdy Herrington
Feat. Patrick Swayze; Swayze is hired as a bouncer at a local watering–hole where his fists do a lot of overtime, but his philosophy degree goes to waste. Music by…
Salute of the Jugger (1989): Dir. David Peoples
Feat. Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen; Rutger Hauer leads a band of brutal apocalyptic gladiators in their challenge for The League.
Tango and Cash (1989): Dir. Andrei Konchalovsky
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell; Enjoyable buddy–cop caper with Stallone and Russell as rugged, competitive partners with a sense of humour.
Zatoichi 26 (Darkness Is His Ally) (1989): Dir. Shintaro Katsu
Feat. Shintaro Katsu; An enjoyable, autumnal revival of the 1960s–70s samurai movie franchise, with a much older Katsu reprising his role of the blind swordsman and…
Action Jackson (1988): Dir. Craig R. Baxley
Feat. Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Sharon Stone; Sports hero turned actor Carl Weathers lends charisma as the titular Detroit cop driven by vengeance to stay on the trail of dastardly auto magnate…
Bat 21 (1988): Dir. Peter Markle
Feat. Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry Reed…; Gene Hackman is shot down over enemy lines deep in war–torn Vietnam; Danny Glover is the Air Force pilot charged with saving his skin. Expect…
Beast, The (the Beast Of War) (1988): Dir. Kevin Reynolds
Feat. George Dzundza, Jason Patric, Stephen Baldwin…; Laying aside the usual sympathies, this American war–drama pursues a tense running–battle between a Soviet tank–crew and Afghani…
Cohen and Tate (1988): Dir. Eric Red
Feat. Roy Scheider, Adam Baldwin; A nine–year–old witness to a gangland murder is kidnapped by two neurotic thugs who can't bear each other. Inventive road–movie…
Colors (1988): Dir. Dennis Hopper
Feat. Sean Penn, Robert Duvall; A grim portrait of law enforcement. Mismatched police partners are assigned to the rife gang–related problems in South–Central L.A.
Dead Pool, The (1988): Dir. Buddy Van Horn
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, Jim Carrey…; Dirty Harry investigates a series of bizarre death threats.
Deceivers, The (1988): Dir. Nicholas Meyer
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Saeed Jaffrey, Shashi Kapoor; Fact–based account of a secret society of murderers, and of the man who exposed them in British India 1825. Based on the novel by John Masters.
Die Hard (1988): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman…; Star–making role for Bruce Willis as an ordinary cop who runs into international terrorism at the top of a skyscraper on Christmas Eve. …
Dragons Forever (1988): Dir. Sammo Hung, Corey Yuen
Feat. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; Final martial–arts rumble for the 'three brothers' team of Chan, Hung and Biao (see PROJECT–A), here playing three spokes in a nefarious…
Flaming Brothers (Jiang hu long hu men) (1988): Dir. Tung Cho 'Joe' Cheung
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Alan Tang, Pat Ha; Two close friends from the island of Macao (Tang and Yun–Fat) become dangerously involved in the Chinese triads through decades of prosperity…
Messenger of Death (1988): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Charles Bronson, Trish Van Devere, Laurence Luckinbill…; Lacklustre thriller for Bronson, playing a reporter determined to get to the bottom of a feud betwen two Mormon sects up in the Rocky Mountains.
Midnight Run (1988): Dir. Martin Brest
Feat. Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin; A cleverly plotted non–stop action jaunt across the States with a bounty hunter hired to bring a crooked accountant back to L.A. before the…
Moonwalker (1988): Dir. Colin Chilvers, Jerry Kramer
Feat. Michael Jackson; Feature–length fantasy from the imagination of pop–prince Michael Jackson that combines sci–fi, adventure and plenty of…
Never Say Die (1988): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Temuera Morrison; Geoff Murphy re–applies his GOODBYE PORK PIE formula for this good–natured action yarn which posits Temuera Morrison as an unwitting…
Nico: Above the Law (1988): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Sharon Stone…; Former bodyguard Seagal makes his debut as a short–fused cop who employs martial artistry to teach hoodlums that crime doesn't pay for hospital…
Pathfinder (Ofelas) (1988): Dir. Nils Gaup
Feat. Mikkel Gaup; Over icy, unforgiving terrain, a 16–year–old boy diverts a group of marauders who have raided his village. Powerful adventure film…
Police Story 2 (1988): Dir. Jackie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung; Jackie Chan directs this follow–up to his landmark hit, playing a demoted detective who must use his wiles to track down bomb–scare…
Rambo 3 (1988): Dir. Peter MacDonald
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna; The belated finale to the RAMBO series sees the human battletank John Rambo (Stallone) dropped into Afghanistan to rescue his mentor (Crenna). In…
Red Heat (1988): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Belushi, Peter Boyle…; Director reworks his 48HRS for Arnie and Belushi as mismatched cops on a mission in Moscow.
Tequila Sunrise (1988): Dir. Robert Towne
Feat. Mel Gibson, Kurt Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer…; Wandering yet amiable thriller replicates the trashy romanticism of Old Hollywood, with drug–dealer Mel Gibson trying to go straight under the…
Walker (1988): Dir. Alex Cox
Feat. Ed Harris, Rene Auberjonois, Peter Boyle…; Harris is William Walker in an unwieldy, idiosyncratic account of the American adventurer's takeover of Nicaragua in 1855.
Young Guns (1988): Dir. Christopher Cain
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland…; The long–neglected Western finds popularity with a new generation with an all–star youthful cast.
Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold (1987): Dir. Gary Nelson
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone, James Earl Jones…; Proficient, if dated adventure yarn in which explorer Chamberlain and archaeologist Stone set off to Africa in search of a missing brother. Mixes…
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987): Dir. Sam Firstenberg
Feat. Michael Dudikoff, Steve James; Hokey martial arts movie from the Cannon Films stable, with an American Army ranger attempting to save a group of marines who have been brainwashed…
Better Tomorrow II, A (1987): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Kenneth Tsang, Emily Chu; Sequel to Woo's breakout genre classic finds Chow Yun–Fat shoehorned (as the twin brother of his original role, no less) into another fire…
Beverly Hills Cop 2 (1987): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Brigitte Nielsen…; Slick, though belated sequel to the action–comedy smash which launched Eddie Murphy to superstardom.
Bloodsport (1987): Dir. Newt Arnold
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Powerful debut from Jean Claude Van Damme with some superbly choreographed violence, though fans of kick–boxing need only apply.
Bullseye (1987): Dir. Carl Schultz
Feat. Bruce Spence, John Wood, John Meillon…; Rollicking outback adventure with two rougish best mates absconding with 1000 head of cattle from their ruthless owner, who naturally enough wants…
Captain James Cook (TV Mini Series) (1987): Dir. Lawrence Gordon Clark
Feat. Keith Michell, Fernando Rey, Carol Drinkwater; Lavishly–produced series about the epochal sea voyages of Captain James Cook, who set out from Britain in 1768 to observe the transit of Venus…
Chinese Ghost Story, A (1987): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Leslie Cheung; The first of a marvellous trilogy of outrageous fantasies set in Ming Dynasty–era China, in which student Leslie Cheung falls in love with an…
City On Fire (1987): Dir. Ringo Lam
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee; Undercover cop Chow Yun Fat is wounded in the aftermath of a bloody heist gone horribly wrong, and trapped in the thieves' hideout as they determine…
Cop (1987): Dir. James B. Harris
Feat. James Woods, Brian Dennehy; James Woods gives another intense performance enduring the occupational hazards of crime–fighting. Based on the James Ellroy novel 'Blood On…
Death Wish 4 (Death Wish 4: The Crackdown) (1987): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan…; After his girlfriend's daughter dies from a drug overdose, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) once again returns to vigilantism to take down major figures…
Escape From Sobibor (1987): Dir. Jack Gold
Feat. Rutger Hauer, Alan Arkin, Joanna Pacula; An unsettling and chilling account of an attempt by Jews to escape the Sobibor concentration camp in Eastern Poland in 1944. Originally made for…
Extreme Prejudice (1987): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Maria Conchita Alonso…; Former childhood friends Boothe and Nolte find themselves on opposite sides of the law, and in love with the same woman in this gritty modern…
Fatal Beauty (1987): Dir. Tom Holland
Feat. Whoopi Goldberg, Sam Elliott, Ruben Blades; Whoopi Goldberg stars in this action–comedy thriller as a tough narc cop with a wig for every occasion. Clearly modelled after the BEVERLY…
Full Metal Jacket (1987): Dir. Stanley Kubrick
Feat. Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio…; Disturbing account of the recruitment, training and combat of young Americans in Vietnam. A powerful indictment of the senselessness of war, superbly…
Hamburger Hill (1987): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Anthony Barrile, Don Cheadle, Courtney B. Vance…; Matter–of–fact depiction of a particularly costly battle of the Vietnam War, in which US troops repeatedly tried to capture 'Hill 937' in…
Lethal Weapon (1987): Dir. Richard Donner
Feat. Mel Gibson, Danny Glover; Enjoyable caper–comedy, teaming up Gibson and Glover as partners–in–crime–fighting, struck a winning formula and inspired a…
Lighthorsemen, The (1987): Dir. Simon Wincer
Feat. Peter Phelps, Jon Blake, Sigrid Thornton…; Gung–ho and melodrama collide in this WWI adventure of Australian–mounted infantry (and a few Gallipoli veterans) in Palestine. The tone…
Living Daylights, The (1987): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo, Jeroen Krabbe; Timothy Dalton in his debut as Bond delivers up an impressively slick performance as he struggles to disenable an evil Russian general from igniting…
Masters of the Universe (1987): Dir. Gary Goddard
Feat. Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster…; Brain–deadening adaptation of the TV cartoon has Dolph Lundgren stepping into the furry loincloth to take on Skeletor and his robotic guards.
Over the Top (1987): Dir. Menahem Golan
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Robert Loggia, Susan Blakely; Over the top in more ways than one, this ripely macho action–drama, set around the world of competitive arm wrestling, has Stallone play a…
Predator (1987): Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers; Big Arnie leads a SWAT team into the South American jungle only to be confronted by a faceless, hostile alien life–form. Solid sci–fi…
Robocop (1987): Dir. Paul Verhoeven
Feat. Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox…; Loaded with sweat–breaking violence and suspense, dir. Paul Verhoeven never surpassed this stunning dystopian satire about a prototype cyborg…
Running Man, The (1987): Dir. Paul Michael Glaser
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto…; Schwarzenegger is in his element in this dystopian fantasy set around a televised game–show. The story has much in common with ROLLERBALL, but…
Sicilian, The (1987): Dir. Michael Cimino
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp, Joss Ackland…; Still reeling from the box office catastrophe of HEAVEN'S GATE, Michael Cimino turned his attention to this Mario Puzo–scripted saga about an…
Stakeout (1987): Dir. John Badham
Feat. Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Madeleine Stowe…; Cops Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez run into some well–scripted comic entanglements on surveillance detail.
Steel Dawn (1987): Dir. Lance Hool
Feat. Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi, Anthony Zerbe…; Cheesy post–apocalyptic western with Mr. Patrick Swayze as Nomad the Warrior – a man wandering the desert with a large sword seeking to…
Superman 4 (Superman IV: The Quest for Peace) (1987): Dir. Sidney J. Furie
Feat. Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper…; Final entry in the Christopher Reeve series, this time clashing with implacable foe Lex Luther (Hackman) who has produced a superpowered ally,…
Untouchables, The (1987): Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro; Well–cast and generally classy update of the adventures of Elliot Ness, the earnest law enforcer who took on Al Capone during the prohibition…
Wanted Dead or Alive (1987): Dir. Gary Sherman
Feat. Rutger Hauer, Gene Simmons, Robert Guillaume; Hauer stars as a bounty hunter coming to grips with Middle Eastern terrorism. Explicitly violent, with a knock–out finale.
Aliens (1986): Dir. James Cameron
Feat. Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn…; Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, the only survivor from the first grisly encounter with the slimy she–creature, here joining a team of…
Armour of God (1986): Dir. Jackie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan; Jackie Chan blows a bigger budget than usual for this crazy quest for some relics of a Crusader's armour in Eastern Europe. Drab stretches are…
Better Tomorrow, A (1986): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat; Chow Yun–Fat stars in the high–octane gangster flick that literally changed the face of the genre. A cop becomes ostracized by the force…
Big Trouble in Little China (1986): Dir. John Carpenter
Feat. Kurt Russell; High–tech, tongue–in–cheek adventure in which Kurt Russell kicks butt in Chinatown.
Black Moon Rising (1986): Dir. Harley Cokeliss
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Hamilton, Robert Vaughn; Tommy Lee Jones is hired by the government to steal a data tape from a criminal organisation, which he hides inside a futuristic prototype car, which…
Cobra (1986): Dir. George P. Cosmatos
Feat. Sylvester Stallone; Gruesome post–RAMBO vehicle for Sly Stallone as a tough city cop.
Delta Force, The (1986): Dir. Menahem Golan
Feat. Chuck Norris, Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam…; Typically explosive Cannon Films production that marked the last box office hit for the martial–artist–turned–film–star Chuck…
Eastern Condors (Dung fong tuk ying) (1986): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; A Hong Kong riff on THE DIRTY DOZEN, in which 12 Chinese convicts accept a mission into Vietnam to destroy an abandoned American weapons…
Frog Dreaming (The Quest, The Go-Kids) (1986): Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. Tony Barry, Rachel Friend; E.T. star Henry Thomas heads to the land down under in this unsettling children's film, directed by the distinguished Ozploitationist Brian…
Golden Child, The (1986): Dir. Michael Ritchie
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance; Hot off BEVERLY HILLS COP, Eddie Murphy plays a private detective specializing in missing children who is charged with finding a special child whom…
Great Bookie Robbery, The (TV Mini Series) (1986): Dir. Mark Joffe
Feat. John Bach, Bruno Lawrence, Andy Anderson…; Classic heist drama based on a multi–million dollar robbery in 1976 Melbourne, and re–enacted by the cream of New Zealand's acting…
Heroes Shed No Tears (1986): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Eddy Ko; Bloody actioner has elite commandos having to capture a drug lord and smuggle him into Thailand. Things do not go smoothly. Early John Wood effort…
King Kong Lives (1986): Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. Linda Hamilton, Brian Kerwin, John Ashton; A truly blasphemous sequel to the already inessential 1976 remake, has the big ape somehow survive the fall from the World Trade Centre but needing a…
Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, The (1986): Dir. William A. Graham
Feat. Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson…; Likeable version of the last years, not days, of the legendary Frank and Jesse James played by 'outlaw' country music stars Johnny Cash and Kris…
Leading Edge, The (1986): Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Billy T. James; Adventure docu–drama that's little more than an excuse to show off some wonderful South Island scenery and awesome ski theatrics. Billy T.…
Millionaire's Express (Foo gwai lit che) (1986): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen, Rosamund Kwan; Camp and hysterical genre mash–up, has Samo Hung as a bumbling brothel–owner who entraps a group of millionaire's in his hometown (by…
Mosquito Coast, The (1986): Dir. Peter Weir
Feat. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, River Phoenix; A knock–out thriller about the woes of obsession with Harrison Ford as the idealistic inventor who drags his family into the thick of the South…
Murphy's Law (1986): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Charles Bronson, Carrie Snodgrass, Robert F. Lyons…; A violent funride and one of Bronson's better actioners, playing a wily detective, framed for the murder of his ex–wife. In between escaping…
Peking Opera Blues (1986): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Brigitte Lin, Cherie Chung, Sally Yeh; One of prolific Hong Kong director/producer Tsui Hark's most celebrated films is a genre–blending romp set around the Peking Opera in 1913. A…
Platoon (1986): Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen; This film won the Best Picture Oscar for its compelling and sincere account of the Vietnam, also ushering the era of 1980s film reappraisals of the…
Raw Deal (1986): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Formula action with Arnie as trouble–shooting former FBI agent.
Run, Chrissie, Run! (1986): Dir. Chris Langman
Feat. Carmen Duncan, Red Symons; An ex–terrorist from Germany is on the run in Australia with her teenage daughter Chrissie, with a former lover on her trail, and two IRA…
Running Scared (1986): Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal, Steven Bauer; Two street–wise Chicago cops have to shake off some rust after returning from a Key West vacation to pursue a drug dealer that nearly killed…
Salvador (1986): Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. James Woods, James Belushi; A potent dramatisation of a journalist's experiences in El Salvador, with Woods in his usual dynamic form. Never one for fence–sitting, the…
Shanghai Surprise (1986): Dir. Jim Goddard
Feat. Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman…; Universally panned adventure flick stars Madonna as a missionary (!) on the hunt for medicinal opium (!) and then–husband Penn plays the…
Sledge Hammer! (TV Series) (1986): Feat. David Rasche, Harrison Page, Anne-Marie Martin; GET SMART meets DIRTY HARRY in this riotous late–night spoof detailing the exploits of unorthodox Inspector 'Sledge Hammer', a loose cannon of…
Tai Pan (1986): Dir. Daryl Duke
Feat. Bryan Brown, Joan Chen, Kyra Sedgwick; Colourful though largely missed attempt at adapting James Clavell's novel about the adventures of a rogue trader in 19th century Hong Kong . Despite…
Top Gun (1986): Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer…; Star–making film for Cruise, who goes through all the right motions to get millions of bums on seats. The routine plot is overcome by the…
View to a Kill, A (1986): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts…; Roger Moore's final outing as agent 007. Evil billionaire industrialist Max Zorin (Walken) and his lethal associate May Day (Jones) plan to take over…
Where the River Runs Black (1986): Dir. Christopher Cain
Feat. Charles Durning, Dana Delany; Compassionate eco–drama about an Amazon–raised orphan who is assimilated into civilisation by a priest (Durning).
Wraith, The (1986): Dir. Mike Marvin
Feat. Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn…; Cartoonish supernatural actioner starring Charlie Sheen as a murdered Arizona teen who mysteriously returns from the dead as an all–powerful…
2019: The New Barbarians (Nuovi barbari, I) (1985): Dir. Enzo G. Castellari
Feat. Fred Williamson, Giancarlo Prete; Third and final episode in the post–apocalyptic BRONX WARRIORS series, escapes the bloody rubble of New York City for a MAD MAX–style…
Burke and Wills (1985): Dir. Graeme Clifford
Feat. Jack Thompson, Nigel Havers, Greta Scacchi; True blue Aussie classic chronicling the famous journey of two ill–prepared explorers across the unforgiving outback.
Code of Silence (1985): Dir. Andrew Davis
Feat. Chuck Norris, Henry Silva, Dennis Farina; One of action star Chuck Norris's best films is this non–martial arts vehicle in which he plays a streetwise plainclothes cop who takes down a…
Commando (1985): Dir. Mark Lester
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya…; When his daughter is kidnapped, retired marine "John Matrix" (Schwarzenegger) is forced to murder an entire army of other marines with his bare…
Emerald Forest, The (1985): Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Powers Boothe, Meg Foster; Sumptuous Amazon adventure story concerns an one man's struggle to find his son, kidnapped ten years earlier and initiated into a primitive society.
Heart of the Dragon (Long de xin) (1985): Dir. Sammo Hung, Fruit Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Emily Chu; Uncharacteristically serious Chan–Hung drama follows police detective Chan's difficulties in caring for his mentally disabled, child–like…
Invasion U.S.A. (1985): Dir. Joseph Zito
Feat. Chuck Norris, Richard Lynch, Melissa Prophet…; Chuck Norris smashes bazooka–wielding Russian commies in this Reaganite wet dream.
Jewel of the Nile, The (1985): Dir. Lewis Teague
Feat. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny De Vito; Sequel to ROMANCING THE STONE again teams Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, this time for a rollicking adventure in the Middle East. Mostly…
King Solomon's Mines (1985): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone, Herbert Lom…; Fairly lively adaptation of H Rider Haggard's classic African adventure yarn (filmed several times before), with Chamberlain and Stone dodging…
Mr. Vampire (1985): Dir. Ricky Lau
Feat. Ching-Ying Lam, Siu-hou Chin, Ricky Hui…; Influential kung–fu ghostbusting flick is a distinctively Eastern slant on the 'vampire' genre – less like caped Counts, more like…
No Retreat No Surrender (1, 2 & 3) (1985): Dir. Corey Yuen, Lucas Lowe
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Loren Avedon, Cynthia Rothrock; A naive karate fanatic, trained in the ancient secrets of martial arts by the spirit of Bruce Lee, must use his newly acquired skills to save Seattle…
Pale Rider (1985): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood; Clint Eastwood mounts his heroic saddle to help protect gold miners bullied by a ruthless tycoon. Clint would have to wait seven years before he…
Police Assassins (Yes Madam) (1985): Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, Tsui Hark; Cheesy but fun outing has two hard–as–nails policewomen Michelle Yeoh (in her first lead role) and Cynthia Rothrock turning in their…
Rambo 2 (1985): Dir. George Pan Cosmatos
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier; Iconic actioner in which traumatised commando John Rambo (Stallone) returns to Vietnam to rescue imprisoned G.I.s. Simplistic and violent, but a key…
Red Sonja (1985): Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielsen, Sandahl Bergman…; Unremarkable except for its silliness, this excursion into CONAN territory pits uber–bimbo Nielsen against various diehard villains.…
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley…; Fred Ward plays a tough NYC cop whose death is faked and a new identity of "Remo Williams" is bestowed by a secret organization known as CURE who…
Robbery Under Arms (1985): Dir. Ken Hannam
Feat. Sam Neill; Rollicking outback western with our Sam Neill as a charismatic bushranger at the head of a wild colonial gang in search of love, loot and adventure.…
Rocky IV (Rocky 4) (1985): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young…; Third sequel in the ROCKY franchise adds some new moves, but gets a whole lot dumber. Here, Stallone fights a Russian superboxer (Lundgren) who has…
Romancing the Stone (1985): Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas; Witty, fast–paced adventure through the South American jungle with Turner and Douglas well cast as made–for–each–other…
Runaway Train (1985): Dir. Andrei Konchalovsky
Feat. Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay; Voight and Roberts are terrific as two ecsaped convicts who endure a nerve–jangling journey aboard an unstoppable locomotive. Based on a…
Shaker Run (1985): Dir. Bruce Morrison
Feat. Cliff Robertson, Leif Garrett, Lisa Harrow…; Cult film sees Kiwi scientist Harrow steal a biological weapon that some mercenaries are keen to get their hands on. She enlists daredevil drivers…
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow; Super–charged policier with slimeball cop Petersen on the trail of big–time counterfeiters led by Dafoe. Swirlingly paced, with a car…
Water (1985): Dir. Dick Clement
Feat. Michael Caine, Billy Connolly, Valerie Perrine…; When oil is discovered on a peaceful Caribbean outpost island it swiftly finds itself embroiled in a political upheaval with all sides fighting for…
Young Sherlock Holmes and the Pyramid of Fear (1985): Dir. Barry Levinson; Highly watchable updating of Sherlock Holmes, with his teenage incarnation plumbing 'thugee' cult mysteries in Victorian London. Notable at the…
Airwolf (TV Series) (1984-1987): Feat. Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine, Alex Cord; Eighties television series centered on a high–tech military helicopter and its crew as they undertake various missions of espionage, often with…
Beverly Hills Cop (1984): Dir. Martin Brest
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Steven Berkoff; Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley has never been funnier than in this winning combo of action and comedy.
Blue Thunder (TV Series) (1984): Feat. James Farentino, Dana Carvey; Television series based on the 1983 movie of the same name about the law enforcers and tacticians operating the Blue Thunder helicopter and its…
Bounty, The (1984): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier…; Robert Bolt’s (A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS) version of the ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ tale of Fletcher Christian’s (Mel Gibson) mutiny…
Cannonball Run 2 (1984): Dir. Hal Needham
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin…; The answer to the trivia question: which film features both Jackie Chan and Frank Sinatra? More star–studded carnage in this fitfully amusing…
Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, The (1984): Dir. Kar-leung Lau
Feat. Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, Kara Hui…; Hong Kong martial arts epic set circa the 10th century, with a Mongol army attempting to overthrow the influential Yang family, defenders of the Song…
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan (1984): Dir. Hugh Hudson
Feat. Christopher Lambert, Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm…; Tale of Tarzan (Christopher Lambert), is here evoked with a suitably steamy jungle atmosphere and festooned with Edwardian theories of 'social…
Missing in Action (1984): Dir. Joseph Zito
Feat. Chuck Norris, M. Emmet Walsh; Simplistic but iconic 80s actioner, with Norris as a RAMBO–figure, a Vietnam Vet who returns to liberate POWs from their jungle hellholes.…
Once Upon a Time in America (1984): Dir. Sergio Leone
Feat. Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern…; An all–star cast feature in Sergio Leone's violent but sobering gangland saga, following the rise and fall of four Jewish childhood pals…
Red Dawn (1984): Dir. John Milius
Feat. Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Harry Dean Stanton…; Playing out the US fear/fantasy of Commie invasion, this sees a high–school football team (led by Patrick Swayze) make for the hills and wage…
Repo Man (1984): Dir. Alex Cox
Feat. Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton; Young punk Emilio Estevez unwittingly becomes involved in the car re–possession business in this curious cocktail of action, sci–fi and…
Robin of Sherwood (TV Series) (1984-1986): Feat. Michael Praed, Ray Winstone; A serious–minded retelling of the 'Robin Hood' legend with Michael Praed playing the handsome 'Robin of Loxley' who copes not only the…
Shaka Zulu (TV Mini-series) (1984): Dir. William C Faure
Feat. Robert Powell, Edward Fox, Henry Cele; Set in 19th century South Africa, this recounts the epic land wars between the Zulu tribes and European immigrants, with true TV mini–series…
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1984): Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. Tanya Roberts, Ted Wass, Donovan Scott; 80's cult fantasy flop based on the comic book jungle girl heroine Sheena, a female version of Tarzan who was raised by a fictional African tribe.
Street Hawk (1984-1985): Feat. Rex Smith, Joe Regalbuto; Short lived KNIGHT RIDER knock–off is still an enjoyable ride. Teen idol Smith plays a formed dirt bike racer recruited by a covert…
Streets of Fire (1984): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Willem Dafoe, Michael Pare, Rick Moranis…; Surprise hit is an unusual blending of motorcycles, 50s rock'n'roll melodrama and tough, futuristic street action. Lane plays a pop diva who is…
Supergirl (1984): Dir. Jeannot Szwarc
Feat. Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole…; Dilute but amiable spinoff has Superman's kid cousin, Supergirl (Slater), sent to Earth to foil the plans of an evil sorceress (Dunaway) who has laid…
Sword of the Valiant (The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight) (1984): Dir. Stephen Weeks
Feat. Miles O'Keefe, Cyrielle Clair, Leigh Lawson…; Cannon Films fantasy fodder from the 1980's starring a hilariously coiffured Miles O'Keefe as Sir Gawain and Sean Connery as the Green Knight,…
Tightrope (1984): Dir. Richard Tuggle
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Genevieve Bujold, Dan Hedaya…; Eastwood boldly portrays an obsessed cop, forced to confront his own disturbed sexuality when on the trail of a sex murderer on the lurid streets of…
10 to Midnight (1983): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Charles Bronson, Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens…; Rather dubious vehicle for Bronson as a cop used to bending the rules, but who gets caught out for falsifying evidence against a nasty…
Blue Thunder (1983): Dir. John Badham
Feat. Roy Scheider, Warren Oates, Candy Clark…; Cartoonish action flick with Roy Scheider as a test pilot selected to fly the world's most high–tech helicopter pilot who uncovers a…
BMX Bandits (1983): Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. Nicole Kidman, David Argue; With youthful energy making up for a lot, this kids' heist movie stars a young, frizzy–haired Nicole Kidman as one of a trio of teens who…
Calamity Jane (1983): Dir. James Goldstone
Feat. Jane Alexander, David Hemmings, Talia Balsam…; Gutsy western adventure centred on the west's ultimate tomboy 'Calamity Jane,' (realistically portrayed by Jane Alexander) renowned for her ability…
D.C. Cab (1983): Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Mr T, Max Gail, Gary Busey…; Low–octane comedy about a group of hapless cabbies struggling to keep their ailing company afloat. Mr. T and a pre–brain injury Gary…
Devil's Sword (1983): Dir. Ratno Timoer
Feat. Barry Prima; A villager must race a band of marauding psychopaths to find and acquire the legendary Devil's Sword. Unfortunately, the sword is no match for the…
Escape From the Bronx (1990: Bronx Warriors II) (1983): Dir. Enzo G. Castellari
Feat. Henry Silva, Giancarlo Prete; Dystopian sequel to the cult 80s dud BRONX WARRIORS, with New York City a wasteland ruled over by vicious motorcycle gangs and corporate villains.…
High Road To China (1983): Dir. Brian G. Hutton
Feat. Tom Selleck, Bess Armstrong; A biplane pilot is saddled with a spoiled industrialist's daughter as she searches for her missing father through Asia, entangling them in a struggle…
Hong Kong 1941 (Dang doi lai ming) (1983): Dir. Po-Chi Leong
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Alex Man, Kien Shih…; One of Chow Yun–Fat's early classics, this portrays the disturbing invasion of Hong Kong by the Japanese in 1941, which disrupts the dreams and…
Le Dernier Combat (The Last Battle) (1983): Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Pierre Jolivet, Jean Bouise, Jean Reno; The director's impressive debut (at the age of 24) is a post–apocalyptic fable, strikingly filmed in black and white with almost no…
Legend of the Eight Samurai (Satomi hakken-den) (1983): Dir. Fukasaku Kinji
Feat. Sonny Chiba, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Hiroyuki Sanada; In an ancient unspecified era, eight samurai must battle supernatural forces, witches and other hazards to rescue a princess, who is about to be…
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983): Dir. Steve Carver
Feat. Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera…; Man–of–few–words Norris plays a Texas Ranger who brandishes his martial arts trained fists as well as the requisite firepower in…
Midnite Spares (1983): Dir. Quentin Masters
Feat. Bruce Spence, James Laurie; Cult Aussie race car movie. Young racing driver Steve comes up against a nefarious den of car thieves who may just have something to do with his…
Never Cry Wolf (1983): Dir. Carroll Ballard
Feat. Charles Martin Smith, Brian Dennehy; Contemplative true story with a biologist studying the declining population of caribou in the Canadian tundra. Caused a small storm for being the…
Never Say Never Again (1983): Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. Sean Connery, Barbara Carrera; Connery returns to role he made famous after a twelve year absence. He's lost none of his earlier style and charm or gorgeous women for that matter.…
Octopussy (1983): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Maud Adams; Moore plays 007 in this, the thirteenth Bond film. Travelling to India and Germany, Bond investigates a jewellery smuggling operation, encountering…
Osterman Weekend, The (1983): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Dennis Hopper; An adaption of Robert Ludlum's well–known novel about cold–war espionage and paranoia.
Professional: Golgo 13, The (1983): Classic anime stylishly relays the underworld movements of a legendary hitman and his contract killings. Based on a long–running manga, with an…
Project A ('A' gai waak) (1983): Dir. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung
Feat. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; A famous peak period work from martial art maestro Jackie Chan in turn of the century Hong Kong, with Chan in pursuit of vicious buccaneers. Famous…
Return of Captain Invincible, The (1983): Dir. Phillipe Mora
Feat. Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee, Bill Hunter…; Campy superhero comedy starring Captain Invincible – a chunky ex superhero who now prefers chopping back the lagers to fighting crime in white…
Right Stuff, The (1983): Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Fred Ward; A richly detailed, down–to–earth account of the lives of the first Americans to travel into space. Top ensemble cast.
Savage Islands (Nate and Hayes) (1983): Dir. Ferninand Fairfax
Feat. Tommy Lee Jones, Michael O'Keefe; Tommy Lee Jones runs amok in the Pacific, clashing with pirates, missionaries, and a cannibalistic tribesman (played by Prince Tui Teka). Its clunky…
Scarface (1983): Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Al Pacino; Sweat–breakingly violent portrait of a contemporary mobster with Pacino in top gear as the ruthless megalomaniac. Stunning, if you can hack…
Sudden Impact (1983): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood; Eastwood directs this fourth Dirty Harry outing with magnum force.
Uncommon Valor (1983): Dir. Ted Kotcheff
Feat. Gene Hackman, Fred Ward, Reb Brown…; Gene Hackman plays an American marine who believes his son is still being held in Laos in the aftermath of The Vietnam War. From the director of the…
Under Fire (1983): Dir. Roger Spottiswoode
Feat. Nick Nolte, Joanna Cassidy, Gene Hackman…; A sterling drama concerning journalistic ethics in the mire of the Nicaraguan civil war. Nick Nolte is a photographer who is tempted into taking…
Utu (1983): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Tim Elliott…; After the great success of GOODBYE PORK PIE, dir. Geoff Murphy and his team get their fingernails dirty with this indigenous 'Western' that addresses…
Utu - Redux (1983-2013): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Wi Kuki Kaa…; With lavish technical enhancement and narrative streamlining, this 'Redux' version of the 1983 epic restores its rightful place in the canon of great…
Wild Horses (1983): Dir. Derek Morton
Feat. Keith Aberdein, John Bach, Bruno Lawrence…; A Kiwi western set in Tongariro National Park, and based around real events and people associated with the wild equine inhabitants of the Central…
Zu Warriors (Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain) (1983): Dir. Tsui Hark
Feat. Biao Yuen, Moon Lee, Brigitte Lin…; A renowned fantasy film, in which four medieval warriors search the universe for twin swords with which to defeat a powerful demon, which threatens…
1915 (TV Mini-series) (1982): Feat. Scott Burgess, Scott McGregor, Lorraine Bayly…; A solid recreation of the Great War era, this TV mini–series charts the experiences of several young men leaving the home–front in…
1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982): Dir. Enzo G. Castellari
Feat. Vic Morrow, Fred Williamson, Christopher Connelly; Renowned cheese–fest in which youth gangs of the post–Apocalypse Bronx, battle each other and an evil corporate arms manufacturer. Prime…
48hrs (48 Hours) (1982): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte, Annette O'Toole…; Eddie Murphy excels in his film debut as a street–smart ex–con who teams up with veteran cop Nick Nolte to track down some bad…
A-Team, The (TV Series) (1982): Dir. Rod Holcomb
Feat. George Peppard, Mr T, Tim Dunigan…; Pumped–up, jingoistic 80s TV–series about a commando crew of misfits led by George Peppard. The rest of team comprised Mr T, Tim Dunigan,…
Attack Force Z (1982): Dir. Tim Burstall
Feat. Mel Gibson, Sam Neill, Chris Haywood; Manly, gung–ho war vehicle stars fresh–faced Australasians Mel Gibson and Sam Neill as commandos dispatched to rescue survivors of a…
Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982): Dir. Robert M. Young
Feat. Edward James Olmos, Tom Bower, Bruce McGill; A young Mexican who kills a sherriff in self defence is manhunted by Texas Rangers as rumours of his notoriety become increasingly inflated.…
Barbarosa (1982): Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Willie Nelson, Gary Busey; A dignified, under–rated Western from Australian director Fred Schepisi that pairs Gary Busey with Willie Nelson in a tale of a young cowboy…
Battletruck (Warlords of the 21st Century) (1982): Dir. Harley Cokeliss
Feat. Michael Beck, Annie McEnroe, James Wainwright…; In the 21st Century oil wars have left civilisation verging on collapse. Lawlessness and anarchy are the order of this day in this…
Beastmaster, The (1982): Dir. Don Coscarelli
Feat. Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, Rip Torn; Hammy fantastical adventure centred on a mighty warrior on a revenge mission for the death of his family at the hands of a tyrannical priest. An 80's…
Death Wish 2 (1982): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia…; Sequel to the revenge thriller, with Charles Bronson returning as the architect–turned–vigilante, hunting down the people who murdered…
Dragon Lord (Long xiao ye) (1982): Dir. Jackie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Wai-Man Chan; Chiefly of interest to Chan–completists, this wraps a threadbare plot about stolen Chinese artifacts around some admittedly spectacular…
Duel to the Death (Xian si jue) (1982): Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Norman Chu, Damian Lau; Groundbreaking martial–arts actioner from dir. Ching Siu–Tung (CHINESE GHOST STORY) about a Ming–era duel between a Chinese (Lau)…
Firefox (1982): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Freddie Jones, David Huffman; Eastwood directs himself as a Vietnam vet assigned to steal a supersonic prototype from the Russians. Slow to start but gives way to some fine…
First Blood (Rambo) (1982): Dir. Ted Kotcheff
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy…; The first, most serious, and so perhaps most hilarious of the Rambo films has Sly Stallone as a buff Vietnam vet who loses his marbles and goes…
For the Term of His Natural Life (TV Mini-series) (1982): Dir. Rob Stewart
Feat. Colin Friels, Anthony Perkins, Patrick Macnee…; Solid dramatisation of the Marcus Clarke novel concerning an Englishman unjustly transported to the harsh penal colony of Tasmania in the 1830s. Good…
Fort Apache: The Bronx (1982): Dir. Daniel Petrie
Feat. Paul Newman, Danny Aiello; Taut urban policier finds Bronx cop Paul Newman in a moral quandary over fellow officer Danny Aiello (who's just thrown a Puerto Rican teenager off a…
Ginger Meggs (1982): Dir. Jonathan Dawson
Feat. Garry McDonald; Colourful movie adaptation of the iconic Australian comic strip, following the antics of a red–haired prepubescent mischief–maker who…
Impossible Kid, The (1982): Dir. Eddie Nicart
Feat. Weng Weng, Romy Diaz, Nina Sara; Chop–socky sequel with world's smallest spy again coming up another baddie intent to destroy the world. Comical dialogue, and more ball busting…
Junkman - Gone in 60 Seconds 2 (1982): Dir. H.B. Halicki
Feat. H.B. Halicki, Susan Shaw; Further automotive shenanigans from ace petrolhead Halicki, setting a new record for the sheer number of cars and planes destroyed in one…
Legend of a Fighter (Huo Yuan-Jia) (1982): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Kar-yan Leung; A 'wireless' kung–fu masterclass from one of Hong Kong's most feted martial arts exponent, dir. Ping (choreographer for THE MATRIX), here…
Legendary Weapons of China (1982): Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Liu Chia Liang; Forthright Shaw Brothers classic with the invincible Gordon Liu as a dogged kung fu master pursued relentlessly by hired assassins. And intriguing…
Marco Polo (1982): Dir. Giuliano Montaldo
Feat. Kenneth Marshall, Denholm Elliott, F. Murray Abraham; TV miniseries about the 13th–century Venetian merchant and explorer who sought to link Asia and Europe through trade.
Ninja Wars (Iga ninpûchô) (1982): Dir. Mitsumasa Saito
Feat. Hiroyuki Sanada, Sonny Chiba; Period fantasy action involving magicians, love potions and endangered royalty in ancient Japan, a story resolved with a fair amount of…
One Down Two To Go (1982): Dir. Fred Williamson
Feat. Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly…; Straight–to–video blaxploitation, about a trio of kung fu fighters (Kelly, Brown and Williamson) who go after crooked event promoters.…
Prodigal Son, The (Bai Ga Jai) (1982): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen, Ching-Ying Lam…; One of the all–time great kung fu features, has a young man (Biao) pursue the martial arts, but eventually discovering that his rich father has…
Rocky III (Rocky 3) (1982): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire…; Weakish second sequel finds Rocky fighting back after a defeat by a nasty new boxer.
Scarlet Pimpernel, The (TV Mini-Series) (1982): Dir. Clive Donner
Feat. Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen; Top–notch mini–series version of the classic tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel – an English nobleman who lived a double–life…
Shaolin Prince (1982): Dir. Chia Tang
Feat. Ti Lung; Respected fight choreographer Tang Chia helms one of his few films as director: two princes are separated at birth; one is raised by Shaolin monks…
T.J. Hooker (TV Series) (1982-1986): Feat. William Shatner, Heather Locklear, Adrian Zmed; Former STAR TREK–ker Shatner made a recovery to television fame for this affable cop drama, playing a tough but compassionate veteran who…
Who Dares Wins (1982): Dir. Ian Sharp
Feat. Lewis Collins, Edward Woodward, Judy Davis…; An SAS agent infiltrates a radical anti–nuclear group when they are held responsible for the assassination of a British undercover agent. Loopy…
An Eye for an Eye (1981): Dir. Steve Carver
Feat. Chuck Norris, Christopher Lee, Richard Roundtree…; Chuck Norris plays a disgraced police officer who goes it alone to kick Chinese drug–trafficking butt in this violent actioner from the Cannon…
Condorman (Condor Man) (1981): Dir. Charles Jarrott
Feat. Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Barbara Carrera; An odd, but likeable superhero–spy yarn from Disney, in which a cartoonist (Crawford) turns himself into a living version of one of his own…
Das Boot (The Boat) (1981): Dir. Wolfgang Petersen
Feat. Jurgen Prochnow; Nail biting, meticulous and realistic account of a German U–boat's prowlings through the North Atlantic. The most expensive German film to…
Dragonslayer (1981): Dir. Matthew Robbins
Feat. Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson…; Highly under–rated medieval fantasy in which a young wizard defies substantial and often thrilling odds to defeat a malevolent dragon.…
Fall Guy, The (TV Series) (1981): Feat. Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, Heather Thomas; Post–SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN vehicle for Lee Majors, with the burly TV star balancing freelance work as a bounty hunter with a day job as a…
For Your Eyes Only (1981): Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet; Roger Moore as Bond in the film which attempted a return to the minimalist roots of Fleming's writing. Gone, for now, are the mountains of gadgets…
For Your Height Only (1981): Dir. Eddie Nicart
Feat. Weng Weng, Yehlen Catral, Carmi Martin…; Schlocky riff on the 007 franchise with pint sized ass–kicker Weng Weng as the world's smallest super spy, Agent 00, doing battle with mad…
Force Five (1981): Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Joe Lewis; Ultraviolent action, with Joe Lewis leading a skilled quintet of martial artists to rescue a girl from an island fortress ruled over by a religious…
Game of Death 2 (1981): Dir. Ng See Yuan
Feat. Bruce Lee; Posthumous reworking of Bruce Lee's uncompleted final film utilises a lookalike and found footage to pad out the fight sequences already…
Loveless, The (1981): Dir. Kathryn Bigelow, Monty Montgomery
Feat. Willem Dafoe, Robert Gordon, Marin Kanter; A brooding, fetishised love–letter to the motorcycle movies of the 1950s (THE WILD ONE et al), with a bike gang having a troubled interlude in…
My Young Auntie (1981): Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Kara Hui, Liu Chia Liang; Screwball comedy fits like a glove in this kung fu farce concerning a family inheritance and the sexual tension between a side–kicking Aunt…
Night Hawks (1981): Dir. Bruce Malmuth
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Rutger Hauer…; Two undercover NYC cops are faced with the unenviable task of tracking down Europe's number one terrorist in this underrated 80's action flick.…
Race for the Yankee Zephyr (1981): Dir. David Hemmings
Feat. Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, Donald Pleasence…; Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, Donald Pleasance and George Peppard cavort on and over the South Island in search of a 'McGuffin'.
Sharky's Machine (1981): Dir. Burt Reynolds
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Vittorio Gassman, Brian Keith…; Burt Reynolds assumed directing duties for this sleazy cop–thriller about political corruption. Mixes exciting, gory action–scenes with…
Smokey Bites the Dust (1981): Dir. Charles B Griffith
Feat. Jimmy McNichol, Janet Julian, Walter Barnes; Not in any way related to SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, this cheapie from Roger Corman factory is enjoyable on its own terms. Charting the rivalry between a…
Southern Comfort (1981): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward…; A foolish National Guard unit encounter anything but Southern hospitality while on training manoeuvres in the Louisiana bayous. This allegory of the…
Tarzan the Ape Man (1981): Dir. John Derek
Feat. Bo Derek, Richard Harris, Miles O'Keefe; Famously atrocious 1980s retelling of the Tarzan story, with the lone distinction of featuring a semi–clothed Bo Derek. Playing the apeman,…
Victory (Escape to Victory) (1981): Dir. John Huston
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow; Implausible yet jolly entertaining WWII story has a soccer team of assorted POWs attempting to escape a Paris stadium during a match against the Nazi…
Warrior, the (Jaka Sembung) (1981): Dir. Sisworo Gautama Putra
Feat. Barry Prima; A shirtless Robin hood figure with magical powers fights off the evil Dutch Imperialists. Jam packed with ambitious stunts and unique special effects…
Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (1981): Dir. Sergio Corbucci
Feat. Bud Spencer, Terence Hill, Sergio Corbucci; On a small pacific island, Alan and Charlie try to find a war treasure left behind by the Japanese army in World War II.
Battle Creek Brawl (Big Brawl, The) (1980): Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Jackie Chan, Jose Ferrer; Jackie Chan goes up against a merciless giant man named Kiss when he finds himself caught up in the middle of a giant small town brawl in Battle…
Big Red One, The (1980): Dir. Samuel Fuller
Feat. Lee Marvin; The best role in years for Lee Marvin, who plays the intrepid squadron leader of director Sam Fuller's WWII memoirs. Distinctive war film is…
Bronco Billy (1980): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke; Amiable drama has Clint play the sharp–shooting proprieter of a travelling 'cowboy' show which is on a losing streak. Eastwood himself…
Chain Reaction, The (1980): Dir. Ian Barry; A holidaying couple are unwittingly exposed to contamination in this watchable nuclear thriller. Plausibility soons gives way to an enjoyable…
Dogs of War, The (1980): Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Christopher Walken, Colin Blakely, Tom Berenger; Frederick Forsyth's best–seller gets reasonably good treatment here, Christopher Walken playing a hard bastard mercenary hired by Big Business…
Encounters of the Spooky Kind (Gui da gui) (1980): Dir. Sammo Hung
Feat. Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; A groundbreaking Hong Kong blend of martial arts action, horror, and slapstick humour, set around Hung's attempts to battle the voodoo and hopping…
Heaven's Gate (1980): Dir. Michael Cimino
Feat. Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt…; One of Hollywood's biggest financial disasters contributed to the demise of United Artists studios. Despite its flaws, this full–length version…
Hunter, The (1980): Dir. Buzz Kulik
Feat. Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold…; McQueen's final film, playing a bounty hunter (apparently based on Papa Thorson) who tracks down bail jumpers and other criminal miscreants. Not…
Kagemusha (1980): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara; A majestic 16th century saga about a petty thief who ascends to tribal leadership on account of his resemblance to a dying warlord. Shared the top…
Lion of the Desert (1980): Dir. Moustapha Akkad
Feat. Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, John Gielgud…; An epic account of the 'David and Goliath' battle on the Libyan desert between Mussolini's all–powerful army and the Bedouin, circa 1930.
Long Riders, The (1980): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine…; Sombre treatment of the perennial Jesse James/Cole/Younger–gang saga, starring real–life brothers Carradine, Keach and Quaid, does…
North Sea Hijack (Ffolkes) (1980): Dir. Andrew V. McLaglen
Feat. Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins…; Roger Moore's attempt to distance himself from his typecasting as a cheeky playboy by playing an eccentric anti–terrorism expert who volunteers…
Octagon, The (1980): Dir. Eric Karson
Feat. Chuck Norris, Karen Carlson, Lee Van Cleef…; Economical Chuck Norris martial arts adventure focusing on a retired karate champion recruited to take out a group of Central American terrorists he…
Raise the Titanic (1980): Dir. Jerry Jameson
Feat. Richard Jordan, Jason Robards Jr., David Selby…; As ill–fated as the original vessel, this expensive adaptation of Clive Cussler's potboiler concerns the efforts of a salvage crew to refloat…
Sea Wolves, The (1980): Dir. Andrew McLagen
Feat. Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven…; Salty War drama based on a real covert mission during World War II in which a group of middle–aged civilian ex–soldiers are sent by the…
Shogun (Mini Series) (1980): Dir. Jerry London
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune; Exciting TV mini–series version of James Clavell's novel set in Feudal Japan. Great locations and rousing battle–scenes make for a most…
Stir (1980): Dir. Stephen Wallace
Feat. Bryan Brown, Max Phipps, Dennis Miller…; Grimily authentic prison drama (an Australian specialty) charts the brutality of the NSW penal system in the 1970s and the eventual consequence: mass…
Tom Horn (1980): Dir. William Wiard
Feat. Steve McQueen, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth…; Flawed but beautifully lensed tale based on a real–life Wyoming bounty hunter, who outlived the wild years of the 19th century and was…
Young Master, The (Shi di chu ma) (1980): Dir. Jackie Chan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Biao Yuen; A fine early action–comedy from the phenomenal Jackie Chan, here trying to lure a wayward fellow student back to the 'right' side of martial…
A Force Of One (1979): Dir. Paul Aaron
Feat. Chuck Norris, Jennifer O'Neill, Clu Gulager…; Passable crime thriller with Chuck Norris near the start of his career playing a karate champion assisting the police to hunt down a…
Apocalypse Now (1979): Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall…; A harrowing account of a soldier's hazardous river journey, his mission to assasinate a renegade colonel who has gone mad in the depths of the…
Apocalypse Now Redux (1979): Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall…; Twenty years after its release, dir. Coppola’s expressionist epic of the Vietnam War, is ‘healed’ (redux in Latin) by the re–inclusion of…
Arabian Adventure (1979): Dir. Kevin Conner
Feat. Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea, Mickey Rooney…; Sumptuous Arabic fantasy set around a treasure hunt for the mystical Rose of Elil. Good f/x and a great British cast make for smooth entertainment.
Ashanti (1979): Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Michael Caine, Peter Ustinov, Omar Sharif…; When his wife is kidnapped by Arab slave traders, UN medic Michael Caine hops aboard a camel and goes on an adventure quest to retrieve her. Caine…
Bushido Blade, The (1979): Dir. Shusei Kotani
Feat. Richard Boone, Frank Converse, James Earl Jones…; Predating SHOGUN by a year, this martial arts adventure set in mid–19th century Japan, has an American marine (Boone) pledged to recover the…
Cuba (1979): Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Sean Connery; Political adventure set at the end of the Batista regime concerning a mercenary mixing business with pleasure in the revolution–torn state.
Dukes of Hazzard, The (TV Series) (1979-1985): Feat. Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach…; Mixing hayseed humour and car–action aplenty, this hit TV show milked Southern stereotypes for all their worth as country cousins Bo (dark) and…
Fast Company (1979): Dir. David Cronenberg
Feat. William Smith, Claudia Jennings, John Saxon; Dir. Cronenberg's least typical movie – a straightforward car racing actioner – about a team of drag racers who must overcome their…
From Hell to Victory (1979): Dir. Umberto Lenzi
Feat. George Peppard, George Hamilton, Horst Buchholz…; Italian exploitation hack Umberto Lenzi directs this serviceable WWII epic, about six friends who vow to reunite despite going their separate ways…
G.I. Samurai (Sengoku jieitai; Time Slip) (1979): Dir. Mitsumasa Saito
Feat. Sonny Chiba, Jun Eto; A squadron of Japanese soldiers, together with their weaponry, helicopter and gunboat, are accidentally caught in a 'time slip' and transported back…
Hart to Hart (TV Series) (1979-1984): Feat. Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers; Classic TV fluff from the 1980s, this erstwhile detective series features a wealthy married couple (Wagner and Powers) spending their spare time as…
Heroes Of The East (Zhong hua zhang fu) (1979): Feat. Chia Hui Liu, Yuka Mizuno; Graceful martial arts film focused around a Chinese man who must prove the superiority of Chinese kung fu over Japanese to his disillusioned Japanese…
Jaguar Lives! (1979): Dir. Ernest Pintoff
Feat. Joe Lewis, Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence…; A Spanish–American actioner featuring "three Bond villains" and "one Bond beauty" in the cast but who, in true exploitation fashion, barely…
Magnificent Butcher (Lin shi rong) (1979): Dir. Sammo Hung, Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; Peak Samo Hung martial artistry, collaborating here with with action legend Yuen Woo Ping for a tale based on the true–life exploits of Lam Sai…
Meteor (1979): Dir. Ronald Neame
Feat. Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden…; Clumsy disaster movie with the USA and the USSR forming an unlikely alliance during the Cold War to prevent a giant asteroid from destroying the…
Moonraker (1979): Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, Lois Chiles…; Roger Moore as Bond pursues a megalomaniac billionaire into outer space in one of the more outlandish entries of the series. Memorable scenes…
Resurrection of Golden Wolf (1979): Dir. Toru Murakawa
Feat. Yusaku Matsuda, Sonny Chiba; A moderately subversive actioner which revolves around an apparently mild–mannered 'salary man' (Matsuda), who by night sheds wig and glasses…
Rocky II (1979): Dir. Sylvester Stallone
Feat. Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young…; First sequel to the boxing smash–hit, sees a straight rematch between Rocky Balboa (Stallone) and Apollo Cread. Final fight scene is a…
Shaolin Temple (1979): Dir. Cheung Hsin Yen
Feat. Jet Li; Martial Arts superstar Jet Li’s debut film, as a Shaolin–trained fighter who exacts revenge upon an evil warlord, already displaying the…
The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979): Dir. David Lowell Rich
Feat. Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, Robert Wagner…; The final gasp of the AIRPORT series of disaster thrillers, which still attracted top stars right up to this nadir. Here, the titular supersonic…
Warriors, The (1979): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Michael Beck, James Remar; NY street–gang Warriors, stranded far from their home–turf, must risk crossing the territory of a dozen other hostile gangs. Sleek yet…
Zulu Dawn (1979): Dir. Douglas Hickox
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Peter O'Toole, Phil Daniels…; Prequel to ZULU is a vivid recreation of the Battle of Isandhlwana.
Avalanche (1978): Dir. Corey Allen
Feat. Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow, Robert Forster…; It's Rock (Hudson) against mountain in this Roger Corman–produced cash–in on the Disaster Movie craze of the 1970s about winter…
Boys in Company C, The (1978): Dir. Sidney J. Furie
Feat. Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, R. Lee Ermey…; A rugged and absurdist action film about young soldiers scarred by the horrors and blunders of war. Faintly critical of America’s involvement, this…
Comes A Horseman (1978): Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Jane Fonda, James Caan, Richard Farnsworth…; An unusual attempt to transfer the grand mythos of the Western to a latterday setting, with Fonda playing a ranch boss, who mixes it up with a cousin…
Convoy (1978): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine; Derived from the eponymous pop anthem, Kris Kristofferson's 'Rubber Duck' musters a band of disgruntled truckees to wage a protest.
Cyclone (1978): Dir. René Cardona Jr.
Feat. Arthur Kennedy, Carroll Baker, Lionel Stander; Mexican survival horror with a brutal cyclone pummeling the first 20 minutes of the film, resulting in an airplane crash, and a group of survivors…
Deer Hunter, The (1978): Dir. Michael Cimino
Feat. Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep; A grimly realistic portrait of how the atrocities of the Vietnam war have an effect on a group of friends. Robert De Niro heads a virtuoso cast in…
Driver, The (1978): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani…; Memorable exercise in action stylistics from dir. Hill (THE WARRIORS), which opposes specialist getaway driver Ryan O’Neal with maniacal cop Bruce…
Drunken Master (1978): Dir. Yuen Woo Ping
Feat. Jackie Chan; The martial arts comedy that put Jackie Chan on the map tells the tale of a disobedient son learning the art of Drunken Fist Kung Fu in order to stop…
Goin' South (1978): Dir. Jack Nicholson
Feat. Jack Nicholson, Mary Steenburgen, Christopher Lloyd…; The ‘Western’ done as farce, with troublesome outlaw Jack Nicholson rescued from the gallows by Mary Steenbergen, in a marriage of…
Great Train Robbery, The (1978): Dir. Michael Crichton
Feat. Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland; Smooth–running recreation of purportedly the first train robbery ever, of a load of gold bullion in 19th century Ireland. Sean Connery…
Hooper (1978): Dir. Hal Needham
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field…; Burt Reynolds capitalizes on the success of SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT with this equally irreverent action–comedy as an aging Hollywood stuntman who…
Stunt Rock (1978): Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. Monique Van de Ven; Corny stunt–fuelled musical actioner about an Aussie stuntman sent to LA to work on a TV series who helps his cousin's band 'Sorcery' to…
Sweeney 2 (1978): Dir. Tom Clegg
Feat. John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Denholm Elliott; Sequel to the 1977 movie SWEENEY, continuing the adventures of members of the Flying Squad, a division of London's Metropolitan Police. This time the…
Wild Geese, The (1978): Dir. Andrew McLagen
Feat. Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris…; Trashily entertaining adventure yarn has a gaggle of middle–aged mercenaries drawn into a rescue job for a kidnapped politician in deepest…
Airport '77 (1977): Dir. Jerry Jameson
Feat. Jack Lemmon, Lee Grant, James Stewart…; This third installment in the Airport franchise has a jetliner plunging into the mid–Atlantic's Bermuda Triangle where a fresh celebrity…
Big Sleep, The (1977): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Oliver Reed, Robert Mitchum, Joan Collins…; Having switched the setting of Chandler's classic Marlowe mystery to the U.K, it's still a hard act to follow after the magnificent performance of…
Bridge Too Far, A (1977): Dir. Richard Attenborough
Feat. Dirk Bogarde, Robert Redford, Sean Connery…; Perhaps a battle–scene too far for some, but for afficiandos this epic account of an abortive Allied invasion of Holland is sure to provide…
Brink's Job, The (1977): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Peter Falk, Warren Oates, Gena Rowlands…; In 1950, the Brink’s security firm in Boston was robbed of nearly $3,000,000, in one of the US’ largest ever heists. This version of events…
Cassandra Crossing, The (1977): Dir. George P. Cosmatos
Feat. Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner…; A few too many disasters – train crashes, plagues, terrorists etc. – make for an overcooked yet still entertaining actioner. An…
Clans of Intrigue (Chu liu xiang) (1977): Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Ti Lung; Another collaboration between dir. Yuan and the charismatic Ti Lung, in a historical detective story set around a legendary swordsman who tries to…
Cross of Iron (1977): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason…; A doomed German platoon facing annihilation at Russian hands find their instinct for personal glory greater than their instinct for…
Damnation Alley (1977): Dir. Jack Smight
Feat. Jan-Michael Vincent, George Peppard, Dominique Sanda…; Post–apocalyptic thriller that follows a group of WWIII survivors at a military installation who drive across the desolate wasteland to find…
Death Duel (San shao ye de jian) (1977): Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Derek Yee, Chen Ping, Yu An-an; A Shaw Bros. extravaganza that benefits from its pared–down take on the swordplay–and–intrigue formula and impressive visuals,…
Deep, The (1977): Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Shaw…; Underwater intrigue from novelist Peter 'Jaws' Benchley, with Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset (in next to nothing) teaming with salty seadog Robert…
Eagle Has Landed, The (1977): Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall; German commandos plot to assasinate Winston Churchill in this suspenseful thriller, apparently based on fact. Michael Caine, strangely plausible as a…
Gauntlet, The (1977): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke; Lean tale of survival against the odds, with Clint playing a washed–up cop assigned to escort a Las Vegas call–girl (Locke) to a trial in…
Golden Rendezvous (1977): Dir. Ashley Lazarus
Feat. Richard Harris, John Vernon, Gordon Jackson…; Richard Harris dodges bullets in this daffy thriller about a luxury cruise liner held to ransom by terrorists. This early UNDER SIEGE provided plenty…
Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment (1977): Dir. Yukio Noda
Feat. Sonny Chiba; Sonny Chiba oozes masculine cool as the titular hitman of Takao Saito's best–selling manga. A hard–boiled exploitation noir which doesn't…
Grand Theft Auto (1977): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Ron Howard, Marion Ross, Barry Cahill; Petrolhead debut in the directing seat for Ron Howard (who also stars) is a car–chase special involving a young runaway couple in the crunching…
Last Remake of Beau Geste, The (1977): Dir. Marty Feldman
Feat. Marty Feldman, Michael York, Ann-Margret…; Marty Feldman directs and co–writes this star–studded satire loosely based on the novel Beau Geste, a frequently–filmed story of…
MacArthur (1977): Dir. Joseph Sargent
Feat. Gregory Peck; A well–mounted political biography of the WW2 General during the Pacific wars.
Mannaja: A Man Called Blade (1977): Dir. Sergio Martino
Feat. Maurizio Merli, John Steiner; One of the last belated gasps of the 'spaghetti western' genre, with the handsome Merli playing a bounty hunter whose special talent is with the…
Mighty Peking Man, The (Hsing Hsing wang) (1977): Dir. Meng-Hwa Ho
Feat. Danny Lee; A hilarious Shaw Brothers riff on KING KONG, with an earthquake disturbing the slumbers of a giant ape in the Himalayas who then heads into India to…
Orca (The Killer Whale) (1977): Dir. Michael Anderson
Feat. Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, Bo Derek…; A killer whale goes feral after its pregnant mate is slayed by grizzly fisherman Richard Harris in this largely maligned JAWS spinoff from the dir.…
Professionals, The (TV Series) (1977-1983): Dir. William Brayne
Feat. Lewis Collins, Martin Shaw, Gordon Jackson; CI5 hard–men Bodie and Doyle shoot first and then ask no questions in their dirty (but necessary) line of work. A seminal TV Series of the…
Rollercoaster (1977): Dir. James Goldstone
Feat. Timothy Bottoms, George Segal, Henry Fonda…; Star–studded ‘disaster’ thriller set around an amusement–park saboteur Timothy Bottoms who’s being hunted by George Segal. Neat…
Slap Shot (1977): Dir. George Roy Hill
Feat. Paul Newman, Strother Martin, Michael Ontkean…; Violent ice–hockey scenes jostle with profane humour in this ironic sports–flick based around a failing minor–league team, coached…
Sleeping Dogs (1977): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Sam Neill, Warren Oates; Roger Donaldson's nihilistic action–thriller in which Sam Neill finds himself alone between two opposing extremist groups. A trail–blazer…
Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Dir. Hal Needham
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason…; Influential action–comedy rides shotgun with trucking good ol’ boys Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed, trying to out–race sheriff Jackie…
Sorcerer (1977): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal; Second film adaptation of the French novel WAGES OF FEAR, following the fates of four outcasts who take on a job transporting a cargo of unstable…
Spiderman (1977): Dir. E.W. Swackhamer
Feat. Nicholas Hammond; Becoming The Webbed One when bitten by a radioactive spider, Nicholas Hammond goes on to display wall–hugging behaviour and lumpy costume, with…
Spy Who Loved Me, The (1977): Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Richard Kiel; Moore's Bond teams up with seductive Soviet Agent Anya Amasova (Bach) to track down missing Allied and Soviet atomic submarines. The trail leads to…
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977): Dir. George Lucas
Feat. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford…; George Lucas' epic trilogy of space adventure begins "long ago and far far away", with the life of Luke Skywalker being disturbed by the galactic war…
Sweeney! (1977): Dir. David Wickes
Feat. John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Barry Foster; An officer in the Flying Squad, a division of London's Metropolitan Police, becomes embroiled in a political scandal when he investigates the death…
Telefon (1977): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Charles Bronson; Espionage thriller with Bronson as Russian agent sent to stop a crazy defector from triggering hypnotised saboteurs in the US.
Wonder Woman, The New Adventures of (TV Series) (1977-1979): Feat. Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner; Charles Moulon’s 1940s comic strip updated to the feminist 70s, his superheroine fighting terrorist and subversive elements for undercover…
18 Bronzemen (Return of the 18 Bronzemen) (1976): Dir. Joseph Kuo
Feat. Tien Peng, Carter Hwang, Polly Shang-Kuan; Two friends must fight their way out of a Shaolin temple – and 18 formidable bronze warriors – in this celebrated kung fu classic.…
21 Hours at Munich (1976): Dir. William A. Graham
Feat. William Holden, Shirley Knight, Franco Nero…; Teledrama depiction of the infamous events at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where the terrorist group Black September took 11 Israeli athletes…
Assault On Precinct 13 (1976): Dir. John Carpenter
Feat. Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston; A deserted urban jail comes under siege by a ruthless gang in this contemporary reworking of RIO BRAVO. The pin–drop atmosphere is intensified…
Barney (1976): Dir. David Waddington
Feat. Spike Milligan, Sean Kramer, Brett Maxworthy; Aussie family movie shipwrecks a 12 year old boy with a common criminal as they both emigrate to 19th century Australia.
Battle of Midway (1976): Dir. John Smight
Feat. Henry Fonda, Charlton Heston; A large–scale re–enactment of this decisive WWII naval battle. A huge all–star cast, scrap it out.
Big Bus, The (1976): Dir. James Frawley
Feat. Ned Beatty, Stockard Channing, Rene Auberjonois…; One of the first and best of the 'Disaster Movie' spoofs – set aboard a nuclear–powered bus which loses its brakes somewhere along the…
Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976): Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Paul Newman, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster…; Off–key satire on 'official' American history, with Paul Newman as the charismatic fraud Bill Hickock, whose Wild West Show toured America in…
Cannonball (1976): Dir. Paul Bartel
Feat. David Carradine, Paul Bartel; A kind of contemporary sequel to DEATH RACE 2000, David Carradine and Paul Bartel reteam for this self–consciously tacky road movie. Carradine…
Challenge of the Masters (Huang Fei-hong yu liu a cai) (1976): Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Gordon Lau, Chan Koon Tai, Lai Lai Lee; One of the great exponents of shaolin kung fu cinema, dir. Chia Liang, here casts his attention on the Chinese legend of Fei–hung. Played by…
Deathcheaters (1976): Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. Grant Page, John Hargreaves, Chris Haywood; Stunt–packed Aussie adventure involving a couple of spies attempting to infiltrate the stronghold of a criminal genius. It's all just a…
Eat My Dust! (1976): Dir. Charles B Griffith
Feat. Ron Howard, Warren Kemmerling; Set around the racetrack world of stock–cars and demolition derbys, this Roger Corman–produced actioner has a young Ron Howard behind the…
Enforcer, The (1976): Dir. James Fargo
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Bradford Dillman…; For sheer hokey excitement, Clint's third outing as Dirty Harry is worth a revisit.
Gator (1976): Dir. Burt Reynolds
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Lauren Hutton, Jack Weston…; Burt returns for more Southern hijinks in this easy–going sequel to WHITE LIGHTNING, which also happens to be his directorial debut. Story…
Gumball Rally (1976): Dir. Charles Bail
Feat. Michael Sarrazin, Gary Busey, Raul Julia; Dir. by stunt specialist Bail, this car race indulgence depicts an illegal jaunt across America with hotrods, motorbikes, sports cars and grand prix…
Hand Of Death (Shao Lin men) (1976): Dir. John Woo
Feat. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen; Fairly standard HK action fare with a young Shaolin martial–artist given the difficult task of avenging the death of a member of his order.…
Killer Force (1976): Dir. Val Guest
Feat. Telly Savalas, Peter Fonda, Hugh O'Brian…; Routine heist film made palpable by its oddball casting, with Savalas hot on the heels of Fonda and his crack team of thieves as they plot an…
Mad Dog Morgan (1976): Dir. Phillipe Mora
Feat. Dennis Hopper, David Gulpilil, Jack Thompson…; Graphic, mostly entertaining account of the exploits of bushranger Daniel Morgan, who terrorised the Australian goldfields in the 19th…
Magic Blade, The (Tien ya, ming yueh tao) (1976): Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Ti Lung, Ching Li, Lo Lieh; Excellent action tale from the prime era of "Wu Xia" cinema, this has three rival swordsman in medieval China compete for possession of a secret…
Man in the Iron Mask, The (1976): Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Patrick McGoohan, Jenny Agutter…; Polished version of Dumas’ other great swashbuckler that encompasses The Three Musketeers, with Richard Chamberlain leading a great cast.
Missouri Breaks, The (1976): Dir. Arthur Penn
Feat. Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Harry Dean Stanton…; Startling 70s Western, pairs regulator Marlon Brando and horse rustler Jack Nicholson for a brutal, yet often comic game of…
Outlaw Josey Wales, The (1976): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke; Clint Eastwood mixes action, high drama, humour and landscape to create one of his most satisfying tales of the Wild West. His peaceful farmer turns…
Return of a Man Called Horse, The (1976): Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. Richard Harris, Gale Sondergaard, Geoffrey Lewis; Renowned sequel to the notorious Western, with English aristocrat Harris returning to Dakota and the Yellow Hand Sioux tribe he was inducted into.…
Robin and Marian (1976): Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw…; Hearty adventurism envisions Robin Hood as an aging 40–something, who upon returning from the Crusades, rekindles his rivalry with the Sheriff…
Shaolin Temple (1976): Dir. Chang Cheh; This stands alongside ENTER THE DRAGON in terms of both its elaborate kung–fu theatrics and its influence and success in the Western…
Shaolin Wooden Men (1976): Feat. Jackie Chan; Jackie Chan cut his teeth on these cheap fist–and–feet–fests. More intentionally serious than his later star–turns, but…
Shootist, The (1976): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. John Wayne, Ron Howard, Lauren Bacall; Celebrated finale to John Wayne's career playing an aging gunfighter seeking obscurity but assailed by cancer and various 'young guns', out to prove…
Shout at the Devil (1976): Dir. Peter R. Hunt
Feat. Lee Marvin, Roger Moore, Barbara Parkins…; A diverting adventure yarn set in WWI–era East Africa, in which Marvin and Moore join forces to smuggle ivory in the face of German occupying…
Sky Riders (1976): Dir. Douglas Hickox
Feat. James Coburn, Susannah York, Robert Culp; Absurd political–terrorism romp with a tough–as–nails James Coburn commandeering hang–gliders in a daring attempt to rescue…
Swashbuckler (1976): Dir. James Goldstone
Feat. Robert Shaw, James Earl Jones, Peter Boyle…; Refreshingly unselfconscious pirate yarn with Robert Shaw crossing swords with a fey Peter Boyle against Caribbean backdrops. Released at a time…
Sweeney, The (TV Series) (1976): Dir. David Wickes, Tom Clegg
Feat. John Thaw, Dennis Waterman; Before THE PROFESSIONALS and MINDER came the ground–breaking Brit cop show starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman. A highly influential action…
Victory at Entebbe (1976): Dir. Marvin J. Chomsky
Feat. Helmut Berger, Linda Blair, Burt Lancaster…; A made–for–television film first broadcast on ABC, depicting the raid on Entebbe Airport in Uganda and the freeing of Israeli hostages…
Web of Death, The ( Wu du tian luo) (1976): Dir. Yuen Chor
Feat. Yang Chiang, Ching Li, Norman Chu…; Shaw Brothers 'wu xia' at its ripest and most expressive, injecting a tale of ancient clan rivalry with great action, creative polish and bizarre…
Bite the Bullet (1975): Dir. Richard Brooks
Feat. Gene Hackman, James Coburn; Gene Hackman and James Coburn are adversaries who contest a gruelling 700–mile horse race.
Brannigan (1975): Dir. Douglas Hickox
Feat. John Wayne, Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson…; Effective late–career casting for Wayne, playing a Chicago cop who pursues a criminal across the Atlantic to London. Although featuring a…
Breakheart Pass (1975): Dir. Tom Gries
Feat. Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna…; Charles Bronson plays a prisoner being transported on a train with a small U.S. army unit and medical supplies through the Rocky mountains. The…
Breakout (1975): Dir. Tom Gries
Feat. Charles Bronson, Robert Duvall, Jill Ireland…; Action–adventure vehicle for Charles Bronson, giving the furrow–browed actor a more lighthearted role as a bush pilot who is hired for…
Conduct Unbecoming (1975): Dir. Michael Anderson
Feat. Michael York, Richard Attenborough, Trevor Howard; Well–made, though somewhat old–fashioned version of Barry England's play about misbehaviour among the British Army in India. The stars…
Count of Monte Cristo, The (1975): Dir. David Greene
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Trevor Howard, Tony Curtis…; This made for television retelling of Alexandre Dumas' timeless tale of epic revenge is a highly watchable, though dated effort, with Chamberlain…
Earthquake (1975): Dir. Mark Robson
Feat. Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene…; The earth moves for Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Green, Richard Roundtree, Genevieve Bujold and the rest of LA in this 70s Disaster opus. Good…
Eiger Sanction, The (1975): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee; Star/director Eastwood plays a mountaineering, art–loving version of James Bond in this bumbling thriller. Lame dialogue and cool threads…
French Connection 2, The (1975): Dir. John Frankenheimer
Feat. Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson…; Hackman reprises his role as Lt. Doyle, where unfinished business leads him to perilous encounters on French soil.
Great Waldo Pepper, The (1975): Dir. George Roy Hill
Feat. Robert Redford, Bo Brundin, Susan Sarandon; Rousing aviation film following Waldo Pepper (Redford), a former WW1 flight–instructor who takes up extreme stunt flying in order to make up…
Hard Times (Street Fighter) (1975): Dir. Walter Hill
Feat. Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland…; During the Great Depression Charles Bronson fights economic gloom with his fists in this invigorating punch–fest from the action ace Walter…
Hindenburg, The (1975): Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft, William Atherton…; Tense thriller follows the last flight of the Hindenburg airship from Nazi Germany to New York in 1937, where it notoriously burst into flames upon…
Huckleberry Finn (1975): Dir. Robert Totten
Feat. Ron Howard, Royal Dano, Antonio Fargas…; Fairly straightforward version of Mark Twain's best–loved book, with Howard playing Huck with freckled charm. Avoids some of the darker…
Hustle (1975): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Catherine Deneuve, Eddie Albert…; A case–hardened Los Angeles detective finds himself drawn into a dark, complex puzzle involving the death of a teenage girl, but his…
Killer Elite, The (1975): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Robert Duvall, James Caan; Minor Peckinpah shoot–em–up with mercenary Duvall double–crossing partner Caan. Gripping finale, though.
Man Friday (1975): Dir. Jack Gold
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Richard Roundtree, Peter Cellier; Spin–off on the Defoe classic, "Robinson Crusoe", updated with Man Friday revolting against white supremacy and engaging in a conflict with…
Man from Hong Kong, The (1975): Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. George Lazenby, Bill Hunter, Rebecca Gilling…; Cracking martial arts adventure tracking an inspector sent to Australia to expel a drug courier. Photogenically set against the backdrops of Ayers…
Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975): Dir. Yu Wang
Feat. Yu Wang; Legendary martial arts anomaly cited by Quentin Tarantino as his favourite kung fu film, this stars (and is directed by) Jimmy Yu Wang as a…
Rollerball (1975): Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams…; The title refers to a violent sport in a corrupt, totalitarian future society where all forms of violence have been outlawed. Influenced by A…
Sheba, Baby (1975): Dir. William Girdler
Feat. Pam Grier, Austin Stoker, Rudy Challenger; Blaxploitation action film with Pam Grier playing a Chicago private detective who returns to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky to fight the…
Sholay (Flames) (1975): Dir. Ramesh Sippy
Feat. Dharmendra , Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Bhaskar; This roundabout Bollywood classic, about a former law enforcer who enlists two criminal misfits to help him seek revenge, plunders spaghetti…
Velvet Smooth (1975): Dir. Michael Fink
Feat. Johnnie Hill; Minor blaxploitation starlet Johnnie Hill gets to strut her stuff as a "fighting whirlwind" in this cheesey 70s effort.
Wind and the Lion, The (1975): Dir. John Milius
Feat. Sean Connery, Candice Bergen; Connery plays a Moroccan sheik who kidnaps American Bergin, angering the US government. Old fashioned epic based loosely on fact.
Yakuza, The (1975): Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura; Mitchum challenges the sword and secrets of the Japanese Mafia in this accomplished actioner written by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne.
Airport 1975 (1974): Dir. Jack Smight
Feat. Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy…; First sequel to the 'disaster' blockbuster of 1970, this places its star–cast in a disabled Boeing 747 with both pilots down and the chief…
Black Belt Jones (1974): Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Jim Kelly; Jim Kelly (a former international middleweight karate champion) battles the Mafia to save his school of self–defense in this…
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Warren Oates, Kris Kristofferson, Gig Young…; One of the director's best, a modern–day western set in Mexico, with wash–out gringo Warren Oates questing for the bounty–prize…
Death Wish (1974): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Charles Bronson; Charles Bronson became a household name in the role of a New York businessman who takes the law into his own hands after his wife and daughter are…
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974): Dir. John Hough
Feat. Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam Roarke…; Countercultural couple Mary and Larry commandeer a muscle car, a mechanic, and a whole lotta highway in this hard and fast rev–up of the chase…
Foxy Brown (1974): Dir. Jack Hill
Feat. Pam Grier, Peter Brown, Terry Carter…; Badass Pam Grier vehicle from director Jack Hill, the "Howard Hawks of exploitation filmmaking" according to Tarantino. When mobsters murder her…
Freebie and the Bean (1974): Dir. Richard Rush
Feat. James Caan, Alan Arkin, Valerie Harper…; A genre–twisting cop film from the dir. of THE STUNT MAN, that has cops Caan and Arkin in pursuit of a gangster and leaving an immense trail of…
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (Shura-yuki-hime: Urami Renga) (1974): Dir. Toshiya Fujita
Feat. Meiko Kaji, Yoshio Harada, Kazuko Yoshiyuki…; Excellent, though not widely celebrated sequel, has Kaji put her sword skills to work in Meiji Japan playing off the ruthless government against an…
Land of the Lost (TV Series) (1974): Feat. Wesley Eure, Philip Paley, Kathy Coleman; Oddly camp Saturday morning TV show following forest ranger Rick Marshall and his two children who inadvertently opened a rift in time, and now must…
Lone Wolf & Cub 6: White Heaven in Hell (1974): Dir. Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Junko Hitomi…; The continuing adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro. Lone wolf and Cub return for their final battle…
Man with the Golden Gun, The (1974): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland; Moore's second film as Bond finds him in Southeast Asia battling for possession of a deadly weapon. There's a price on his head and the world's…
Mr. Majestyk (1974): Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Charles Bronson, Lee Purcell; One of Charles Bronson's better thrillers, starring as a Colorado melon–farmer fighting both a wrongful conviction and the Mob. Contains some…
Return of the Street Fighter (Satsujin ken 2) (1974): Dir. Shigehiro Ozawa
Feat. Sonny Chiba; First sequel to THE STREET FIGHTER, has premiere Japanese martial artist Sonny Chiba – beloved of Quentin Tarantino – fight with a…
Street Fighter, The (1974): Dir. Shigehiro Ozawa
Feat. Sonny Chiba; Career–making martial arts outing for Japanese icon Sonny Chiba, mugging his heart out as a brutal enforcer who turns the tables on his…
Sugarland Express, The (1974): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Goldie Hawn; Spielberg's second feature is a redneck road comedy deployed with consummate skill. Goldie Hawn features in what is probably her best role.
Super Cops, The (1974): Dir. Gordon Parks Snr.
Feat. Ron Leibman, David Selby, Pat Hingle…; 70's buddy cop movie which was released almost simultaneously with the more well–known and similar SERPICO, and lifted from relative obscurity…
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974): Dir. Michael Cimino
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges; Eastwood employs high–powered artillery to blast bank vaults, but complications arise when he teams with carefree Jeff Bridges to retrieve loot…
Towering Inferno, The (1974): Dir. Irwin Allen, John Guillermin
Feat. Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway…; Sensational adventure epic that spawned numerous films about man's futility against Mother Nature. McQueen takes the hose ahead of a cream of famous…
White Dawn, The (1974): Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Warren Oates, Timothy Bottoms, Louis Jr. Gossett; Adventure film set in the Canadian arctic where three ship wreck survivors are saved and adopted by an Inuit tribe, but take advantage of them and…
Zorro (1974): Dir. Luciano Martino
Feat. Alain Delon, Sir Stanley Baker; Transposed from California to South America, the masked, sword–wielding hero (Alain Delon) maintains his reputation for exciting…
Arena, The (Naked Warriors) (1973): Dir. Steve Carver
Feat. Pam Grier; Unusual B–movie, even by Roger Corman standards, this has Pam Grier and various buxom cohorts fight in all–women gladiatorial contests in…
Black Mama, White Mama (1973): Dir. Eddie Romero
Feat. Pam Grier, Margaret Markov; Pam Grier plays a prostitute who teams up with a white revolutionary after they bust out of jail together, with guerrillas, bounty hunters and the…
Blackeye (1973): Dir. Jack Arnold
Feat. Fred Williamson; Former pro–footballer Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson plays Stone, a black PI whose search for a murderer links in a religious cult, a porno ring,…
Emperor of the North (1973): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Keith Carradine…; Depression set actioner with Borgnine as a violent train conductor determined to prevent hobo Marvin bumming a ride.
Enter the Dragon (1973): Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Bruce Lee, John Saxon; The martial arts film by which all others are measured, Lee gets to display his masterful skill at every opportunity. Virtually plotless, but loaded…
Female Yakuza Tale (Yasagure anego den: sôkatsu rinchi) (1973): Dir. Teruo Ishii
Feat. Reiko Ike; A scorned Reiko Ike returns in this remarkably trashier sequel to SEX AND FURY, ready to unleash another roaring rampage of revenge on sadistic…
Four Musketeers, The (1973): Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain…; Similarly irreverant follow–up to dir. Lester's THREE MUSKETEERS with the same cast continuing in the swashbuckling vein. Excellent cast with a…
Game of Death (1973): Dir. Robert Clouse
Feat. Bruce Lee, Gig Young, Dean Jagger…; Bruce Lee chop–socks his way to justice as a kung–fu film star exploited by gangsters out to punish him off–screen as well as on.
High Plains Drifter (1973): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom; A spooked town enlist Clint Eastwood's mystical bounty–hunter. A self–conscious hybrid of many sources, Clint brings the drama an…
Illicit Desire (Feng liu yun shi) (1973): Dir. Han Hsiang Li
Feat. Hong-Yip Cheng, Chen Ping; Shaw Brothers sexploitation from the early 1970s, this was actually a huge hit at the Hong Kong box–office with three steamy scantily costumed…
Lady Snowblood 1 (Shurayukihime) (1973): Dir. Toshiya Fujita
Feat. Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon…; A classic samurai B–movie made in the heyday of 'Wu Xia' influence, with Kaji playing a bereaved young woman who seeks revenge on the gangsters…
Last American Hero, The (1973): Dir. Lamont Johnson
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Valerie Perrine, Geraldine Fitzgerald…; Jeff Bridges' mix of redneck roughness and choirboy sweetness is just right for this 1973 true story of a country kid running moonshine and making…
Live and Let Die (1973): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Roger Moore, Jane Seymour, Yaphet Kotto; Roger Moore succeeds Sean Connery in the role of 007, with exotic elements "borrowed" from the blaxploitation craze of the time. The superagent…
Lone Wolf & Cub 5: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Michiyo Ookusu…; The continuing adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro. In this 5th instalment, Itto must battle 5 samurai to…
Magnum Force (1973): Dir. Ted Post
Feat. Clint Eastwood; Dirty Harry sequel in which supercool Clint tracks down a ruthless vigilante ring. The irony is purely intentional.
My Name Is Nobody (1973): Dir. Tonino Valerii
Feat. Henry Fonda, Terence Hill; Leone–influenced western has Henry Fonda as a faded outlaw pestered by adoring fan Terence Hill to learn some new tricks from the old dog.
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan; Restored version fully realises the director's vision of events surrounding Sherriff Garrett's pursuit of the legendary outlaw. A strange brew of…
Scorpio (1973): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Paul Scofield…; Burt Lancaster plays the CIA agent in this solid suspense yarn set at the height of the Cold War. Plotwise this is a little overcomplicated, but…
Serpico (1973): Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Al Pacino; Pacino plays a tough, non–conformist cop who exposes police corruption and suffers persecution. Influential, authentic crime drama.
Sex and Fury (Furyô anego den: Inoshika Ochô) (1973): Dir. Norifumi Suzuki
Feat. Reiko Ike; Japanese exploitation cinema proves itself unrivaled with this slice of 70s celluloid anarchy, trailing a mostly nude Reiko Ike as she slashes and…
Shaft in Africa (1973): Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. Richard Roundtree; Shaft goes international with Richard Roundtree returning as the detective forced into helping an African nation stop latter–day slave trading.
Stone Killer, The (1973): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Charles Bronson, Martin Balsam, Jack Colvin…; Charles Bronson and director Michael Winner duet for this pre–DEATH WISH actioner about a disgraced NYC cop who joins the L.A.P.D. where he…
That Man Bolt (1973): Dir. David Lowell Rich, Henry Levin
Feat. Fred Williamson, Byron Webster, Miko Mayama…; Colourful action film blending blaxploitation, martial arts, and spy influences, with Fred Williamson (HELL UP IN HARLEM) starring as a karate sex…
Three Musketeers, The (1973): Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Oliver Reed, Michael York, Richard Chamberlain…; Splendidly cheeky version of Alexandre Dumas' enduring classic with dashing gents clearly enjoying the romp. It's Raquel Welch, however, who's the…
Walking Tall (1973): Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Hartman; A professional wrestler decides to become a sheriff after discovering his home town in Tennessee is beset by corruption, and sets about delivering a…
Way of the Dragon (1973): Dir. Bruce Lee
Feat. Bruce Lee; Bruce Lee wrote, directed and stars as an innocent who clashes with gun–toting mafioso in this tough Kung–Fu flick with a sense of humour.
White Lightning (1973): Dir. Joseph Sargent
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Jennifer Billingsley, Ned Beatty…; Low–budget b–movie was a runaway hit, and the movie that made Burt Reynolds a star. Good old boys, souped–up cars, moonshine and…
Zatoichi's Conspiracy (Zatoichi 25) (1973): Dir. Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Feat. Shintaro Katsu; Blind masseur and swordsman Zatoichi returns to his home town after decades of wandering and trouble, only to find inevitable conflict with a…
A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die! (Una Ragione per vivere e una per morire) (1972): Dir. Tonino Valerii
Feat. James Coburn, Telly Savalas, Bud Spencer…; Uneven spaghetti western set during the American Civil War concerns a private battle between a DIRY DOZEN style group and brutal Confederate…
Across 110th Street (1972): Dir. Barry Shear
Feat. Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Franciosa; Three black youths steal from the mob, urging Anthony Quinn to prevent an explosion of ethnic unrest. A brutal excursion through the streets of 70s…
Adventurer, The (TV Series) (1972): Feat. Gene Barry, Catherine Schell, Barry Morse…; Cult favourite crime series sees Barry as a government agent posing as a Hollywood star as he travels the globe in search of danger and intrigue. At…
All Men are Brothers (Sui woo juen) (1972): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. David Chiang, Ti Lung, Danny Lee; Slathered with great fight scenes, this Shaw Brothers sequel to THE WATER MARGIN ups the ante considerably, with the band of Outlaw warriors…
Bad Company (1972): Dir. Robert Benton
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Barry Brown, John Savage; A crafted, deliberately unromantic western which follows a young Jeff Bridges’ flight to escape from army recruiters into an 1863 West…
Boxcar Bertha (1972): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Barbara Hershey, David Carradine; Dir. Scorsese's first 'for hire' effort, constructing an atmospheric and reasonably sturdy period gangster film, set in the Depression. Produced by…
Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972): Dir. Shunya Ito
Feat. Meiko Kaji, Fumio Watanabe, Kayuko Shiraishi; A classic of Japanese 70s exploitation cinema, this charts the grim road to freedom for a gaggle of women escaped–convicts with a feverish…
Fist of Fury (1972): Dir. Lo Wei
Feat. Bruce Lee; Lots of slow–motion violence and laughs as Bruce Lee avenges a rival Kung–Fu school for the murder of his teacher in 1900's Shanghai.
Getaway, The (1972): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw; Husband–and–wife crime team Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw have a nightmare of a time escaping to Mexico after a botched bank robbery. …
Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, The (1972): Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Robert Duvall, Cliff Robertson; Hard–edged Western tells the story of the fading Jesse James gang and their most daring and ill–fated bank raid. Duvall and Robertson…
Joe Kidd (1972): Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall, John Saxon…; An amoral Clint Eastwood gets involved in a range fued between land baron Robert Duvall and Mexican settlers. Despite a screenplay by Elmore Leonard,…
Junior Bonner (1972): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Steve McQueen, Robert Preston, Ida Lupino…; Rodeo–rider Steve McQueen is on the end of a losing streak when he revisits his hometown, and a last chance at a new life. Filled with amiable…
Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972): Dir. John Huston
Feat. Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, Ava Gardner…; Huston's surreal Western stars Paul Newman as Roy Bean, the eccentric hanging 'judge' of American folklore.
Lone Wolf & Cub 1: Sword of Vengeance (1972): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Fumio Watanabe…; The LONE WOLF AND CUB series chronicles the adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro, who sell their services to…
Lone Wolf & Cub 2: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Kayo Matsuo; The continuing adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro. In this second episode, Ogami battles a group of…
Lone Wolf & Cub 3: Baby Cart to Hades (1972): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Go Kato…; The continuing adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro. Ogami volunteers to be tortured by the Yakuza gang…
Lone Wolf & Cub 4: Baby Cart In Peril (1972): Dir. Buichi Sato
Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Michie Azuma…; The continuing adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro. In the fourth installment of the series, Itto is…
Man of the East (1972): Dir. Enzo Barboni
Feat. Terence Hill, Gregory Walcott, Harry Jr. Carey; Harebrained western has Terence Hill as a poetry–loving city slicker who in order to inherit his fathers ranch must become a…
Mechanic, The (1972): Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Charles Bronson, Jan-Michael Vincent, Jill Ireland…; Charles Bronson broods away as an ageing hitman (or 'mechanic') who takes on a apprentice (Vincent). Although none–too–distinguished this…
Poseidon Adventure, The (1972): Dir. Ronald Neame
Feat. Leslie Nielsen, Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters…; One of the better 70s disaster movies has an ocean–liner 'turned turtle' and the survivors trying to find a way out. Often unintentionally…
Protectors, The (TV Series) (1972-1973): Feat. Robert Vaughn, Ngaire Dawn Porter, Tony Anholt; A suave, jet–setting suspense series that was Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's (THUNDERBIRDS) second foray into live–action, depicting the…
Revengers, The (1972): Dir. Daniel Mann
Feat. William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Woody Strode…; One of the more violet westerns not to be directed by Sam Peckinpah, starring William Holden as a rancher and Civil War hero who assembles a posse of…
Shaft's Big Score (1972): Dir. Gordon Parks Snr.
Feat. Richard Roundtree; Richard Roundtree as Shaft goes upmarket for this first sequel, having moved away from urban squalor to fight crime Bond–style with a bigger…
Tarzan (TV Series) (1972): Feat. Ron Ely, Sally Kellerman, Diana Ross; Ron Ely maintains jungle justice in this TV series from 1972. Two episodes include guest star turns from Sally Kellerman and Diana Ross!
Trouble Man (1972): Dir. Ivan Dixon
Feat. Ivan Dixon, Robert Hooks, Paul Winfield…; Blaxploitation movie about a hard–edged but elegant private detective who wades into a drug war in South Central Los Angeles. A studio budget…
Ulzana's Raid (1972): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Bruce Davison; Burt Lancaster saddles up to hunt a band of Apache Indians who have escaped their impoverished reservation and have gone on the warpath. One of…
Water Margin (Seven Blows Of The Dragon) (1972): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. David Chiang, Ti Lung; Perhaps the most spectacular of the 1970s Hong Kong swordplay productions by the Shaw Bros, this epic is set in 12th century Sung Dynasty China,…
Zatoichi At Large (Zatoichi 23) (1972): Dir. Kazuo Mori
Feat. Shintaro Katsu, Rentaro Mikuni, Hisaya Morishige; Late–period inclusion to the Zatoichi series has the eponymous blind swordsman helping to deliver a baby, then finding himself honour bound to…
A Fistful of Dynamite (Duck, You Sucker!) (1971): Dir. Sergio Leone
Feat. Rod Steiger, James Coburn, Romolo Valli; Leone’s final spaghetti–western is a sprawling adventure set in the Mexican revolution, with fistfuls of action and comedy aplenty to rival…
Bad Man's River (1971): Dir. Eugenio Martin
Feat. Lee Van Cleef, Gina Lollobrigida; Jokey spaghetti–west has an outlaw outsmarted by a gang of Mexican Banditos and a conniving widow.
Big Boss, The (Fists of Fury) (1971): Dir. Lo Wei
Feat. Bruce Lee; Lee's first Kung–Fu exploiter is cheap, rough and necessarily nasty – censorship problems held this one up for years.
Black Beauty (1971): Dir. James Hill
Feat. Mark Lester, Walter Slezak; Faithful version of Anna Sewell's childrens' novel, concerning a magnificent black horse who is cursed with a cruel owner.
Diamonds Are Forever (1971): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray; A slightly jaded Sean Connery returns as Agent 007, on the trail of a powerful diamond smuggling syndicate. Bond is joined by Tiffany Case as he…
Dirty Harry (1971): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Clint Eastwood; Classic genre film with Clint Eastwood as Inspector Callaghan, a dynamic cop determined to bring in a psycho–killer, even if he has to break a…
Duel of Fists (Kuen gik) (1971): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. David Chiang, Ti Lung, Ching Li; Chiang plays a Chinese boxer who travels to Bangkok, Thailand to find his long–lost brother. Although he is successful, events precipitate a…
French Connection, The (1971): Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider…; An influential crime picture based on the largest narcotics seizure of all time. Won the Oscar for Best Picture for its realistic portrait of New…
Hannie Caulder (1971): Dir. Burt Kennedy
Feat. Raquel Welch, Robert Culp, Christopher Lee…; Raquel Welch dons poncho and six–shooters in this violent quasi–spoof Western, playing the victim of a gang rape who, with the help of a…
Horsemen, The (1971): Dir. John Frankenheimer
Feat. Omar Sharif, Leigh Taylor-Young, Jack Palance…; An ambitious historical epic concerns the quest of an Afghani tribal horseman (Sharif) to regain his honour after losing a ritual Buzkashi…
Kidnapped (1971): Dir. Delbert Mann
Feat. Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Jack Hawkins…; A dashing Michael Caine heads this ambitious adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s tales of 18th century Scotland. Grand, if ultimately unrealised…
Last Valley, The (1971): Dir. James Clavell
Feat. Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Brian Blessed; Epically framed, though a little ponderous, this action vehicle for Michael Caine is set in the final decade of the 17th century 'Thirty Years War'.…
Le Mans (1971): Dir. Lee H. Katzin
Feat. Steve McQueen; A motor–racing action film that has attracted a considerable cult, in part based on star Steve McQueen himself laying rubber in most of the…
Man in the Wilderness, The (w/ The Deadly Trackers) (1971): Dir. Richard Serafian
Feat. Richard Harris, John Huston, Percy Herbert…; Double Bill Western starring Richard Harris. THE MAN IN THE WILDERNESS is based on the same source material that inspired the Oscar–winning…
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins (1971): Dir. Al Viola
Feat. John Hurt, Hayley Mills, Dudley Sutton…; Worthy version of NZ–er Graham Billing's classic novel about an immature young scientist who volunteers for a season observing penguin…
Murphy's War (1971): Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Sian Phillips, Philippe Noiret; Shipwrecked off the coast of Venezuala by a U–Boat near the end of WWII, Peter O'Toole decides to recuperate a derelict seaplane and mount a…
Organization, The (1971): Dir. Don Medford
Feat. Sidney Poitier; Poitier takes on heroin traffickers in an adept second sequel to IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT.
Raid on Rommel (1971): Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. Richard Burton, John Colicos, Wolfgang Preiss; In 1942 Libya, a German–speaking British Intelligence officer uses former British POWs, some dressed in German uniforms, to fulfill a secret…
Red Sun (1971): Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, Toshiro Mifune…; Exotic western with samurai elements that boasts an international cast. The plot involves a munhunt to retrieve a ceremonial Japanese sword from a…
Romance of a Horse Thief (1971): Dir. Abraham Polonsky
Feat. Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Jane Birkin…; Curious picaresque features Yul Brynner as the ruler of a small Polish community. When he commandeers the town's horses a small band of rebels led by…
Valdez Is Coming (1971): Dir. Edwin Sherin
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Frank Silvera…; An underrated late Western, with Lancaster playing a down–heels Mexican sherriff who takes a dangerous stand on principle against a powerful…
Zatoichi Meets The One Armed Swordsman (Zatoichi 22) (1971): Dir. Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Feat. Shintaro Katsu, Yu Wang; An above–average entry in the continuing series, this has the titular blind swordsman assist the Chinese One–Armed Swordsman, who has…
A Man Called Horse (1970): Dir. Elliot Silverstein
Feat. Richard Harris, Dame Judith Anderson; Notorious yet serious–minded late western is set around the capture by Sioux of an English nobleman and his subsequent initiation into the…
Ballad of Cable Hogue, The (1970): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Jason Robards Jr., Stella Stevens; A lyrical Western in which Jason Robards plays an endearing, lone gold propector who develops an oasis in a remote part of the old west. His…
Beguiled, The (1970): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman; Clint Eastwood plays a wounded Union soldier taken refuge at a Confederate girl's school, where his presense stirs up a hornet's nest. The closest…
Cromwell (1970): Dir. Ken Hughes
Feat. Richard Harris, Alec Guinness, Robert Morley…; Routine, if spectacularly staged rendition of the career of English revolutionary and King–slayer Oliver Cromwell (Harris). Unfortunately, the…
Dr Seuss - Horton Hears a Who (1970): Dir. Chuck Jones; Remastered edition of the original animated Seuss story of a sentimental elephant who determinedly protects the tiny inhabitants of the microscopic…
Heroic Ones, The (1970): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. David Chiang, Chin Han, Ti Lung…; Martial arts film set in 1880s imperial China, where a Mogul king secretly assembles his loyal generals on a mission to take on his greatest rivals.…
Incident at Blood Pass, The (Machibuse) (1970): Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Shintaro Katsu; Pedigree shogun face off between genre icons Mifune and Katsu in a tautly conceived show down over hijacked gold between a remote mountain pass.…
Man Called Sledge, A (1970): Dir. Vic Morrow
Feat. James Garner, Dennis Weaver, Laura Antonelli…; Spaghetti western with James Garner slumming it in the role of a grimy villain who connives his way into a prison intending to steal a large shipment…
McKenzie Break, The (Escape) (1970): Dir. Lamont Johnson
Feat. Brian Keith, Helmut Griem, Ian Hendry; Mostly engrossing, and certainly unusual and authentic, this is a WWII POW escape yarn with a difference – here, it's Germans attempting to…
Pippi In The South Seas (Pippi Longstocking III) (1970): Dir. Olle Hellbom
Feat. Inger Nilsson, Pär Sundberg, Maria Persson; Sea faring shenanigans with Pippi in search of her father kidnapped by fiendish pirates. Pleasant whimsy populated with unlikely sequences strung…
Pippi Longstocking (1970): Dir. Olle Hellbom
Feat. Maria Persson, Inger Nilsson, Pär Sundberg; Classic kids adventure in this, Pippi's first feature–length film. Here the troublesome redhead moves into an abandoned house with her monkey…
Pippi On The Run (Pippi Longstocking IV) (1970): Dir. Olle Hellbom
Feat. Inger Nilsson, Maria Persson, Pär Sundberg; Fourth and final outing for the popular preteen heroine with this time the freckled star accompanying two runaways on their journey. There's a…
Too Late The Hero (Suicide Run) (1970): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Michael Caine, Cliff Robertson, Ian Bannen…; An impressive WW2 actioner from one of the experts, dir. Aldrich (ATTACK) investing a dangerous mission in the Pacific with a certain moral…
Twelve Gold Medallions, The (Shi er jin pai) (1970): Dir. Cheng Kang
Feat. Yue Hua; A Shaw Brothers "wuxia" film starring Yueh Hua as an emperor loyalist trying to prevent a message enscribed on twelve gold medallions delivered by…
Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Clint Eastwood, Shirley Maclaine; Mexican–set western adventure following a mysterious nun pursued by the French Army who begins a mutually beneficial relationship with a…
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (Zatoichi 20) (1970): Dir. Kihachi Okamoto
Feat. Shintaro Katsu, Toshiro Mifune; An enjoyable spin on the Japanese samurai genre, depicts a comedic rivalry between Katsu and Mifune in a secluded mountain village. Although lacking…
Zatoichi: Festival of Fire (Zatoichi 21) (1970): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Shintaro Katsu, Tatsuya Nakadai; One of the strongest of the later films in the 25–strong Zatoichi cycle (this is 21), with the blind masseur with the cane sword getting into…
100 Rifles (1969): Dir. Tom Gries
Feat. Jim Brown, Raquel Welch, Burt Reynolds; Explosive action–western cliche of the late–70's featuring Burt Reynolds, unfortunately cast as a half–Indian bank–robber,…
Battle of Britain (1969): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Trevor Howard…; Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier head an ensemble cast of British old boys for this extravagant re–enactment of the famous aerial battle that…
Bridge at Remagen, The (1969): Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. George Segal, Robert Vaughn, Ben Gazzara…; One of the tougher, smaller 60s Hollywood depictions of war in a period otherwise dominated by epic clunkers. In the later stages of WW2, George…
Chairman, The (1969): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Gregory Peck, Anne Heywood, Arthur Hill…; Engrossing and utterly preposterous spy flick with Peck as a scientist who must sneak into communist China to steal a secret formula, and to…
Che! (1969): Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Omar Sharif, Jack Palance; Made barely two years after his death, this Che Guevara biopic boasts the reputable acting talents of Omar Sharif and Jack Palance and picks up where…
Mackenna's Gold (1969): Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif; Sprawling Western adaptation of the best–selling Will Henry novel about an Arizona Marshal travelling to an unknown canyon of gold who gets…
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Dir. Peter R. Hunt
Feat. George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas; Unique among Bonds not only for the one–off casting of George Lazenby but also the greater sensitivity given to his character (007 falls in…
Over the Hill Gang, The (1969): Dir. Jean Yarbrough
Feat. Walter Brennan, Edgar Buchanan, Pat O'Brien…; Laidback reunion for various horse–opera stars of old cleaning up a lawless town in the old west. Telemovie doesn't quite have a script worthy…
Pippi Goes On Board (Pippi Longstocking II) (1969): Dir. Olle Hellbom
Feat. Inger Nilsson, Maria Persson, Pär Sundberg; Second in the popular series follows on directly from the previous with Pippi abstaining from a voyage with her father and instead setting off for…
Pit Stop (1969): Dir. Jack Hill
Feat. Brian Donlevy, Richard Davalos, Sid Haig; Stock car racing movie tracking the rise and fall of a rookie Figure Eight driver who breaks into the racing circuit with the help of a ruthlessly…
Probability Zero (1969): Dir. Maurizio Lucidi
Feat. Henry Silva
Red Lion (Akage) (1969): Dir. Kihachi Okamoto
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Shiwa Iwashita; A fine samurai comedy from dir. Okamoto (KILL!), has a luckless soldier (Toshiro Mifune) don a brilliant red hairpiece (thus impersonating a…
Ace High (I quattro dell'Ave Maria) (1968): Dir. Giuseppe Colizzi
Feat. Eli Wallach, Terence Hill, Brock Peters…; Spaghetti western starring Eli Wallach as a bandit seeking revenge on those who framed him, teaming up with two bounty hunters and an acrobat in the…
Anzio (1968): Dir. Edward Dmytryk, Duilio Coletti
Feat. Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, Arthur Kennedy…; Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk lead an international cast for this ropey war epic – an Italian–American co–production about…
Bullitt (1968): Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn…; A taut, action–packed cop thriller boasting the most spectacular car chase to be committed to screen, through the streets of San Fransisco.
Charge of the Light Brigade (1968): Dir. Tony Richardson
Feat. Trevor Howard, John Gielgud, David Hemmings; Updated version of the Mid–Victorian battle made in the sardonic spirit of the swinging sixties. Trevor Howard, John Gielgud and David Hemmings…
Countdown (1968): Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. James Caan, Robert Duvall, Joanna Moore…; An early and unusual space–travel drama from dir. Altman, in which American astronaut Caan must undergo tough training with instructor Duvall…
Death Rides A Horse (Da uomo a uomo) (1968): Dir. Giulio Petroni
Feat. Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega…; 'Spaghetti Western' about the years–in–the–waiting revenge mission of an orphan to hunt his parent's bandit murderers. Although…
Devil's Brigade, The (1968): Dir. Andrew V. McLaglen
Feat. William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards…; Efficient actioner with an American colonel tasked with creating a special forces unit from Canadian troops and a ragtag group of American misfits.
Great Silence, The (1968): Dir. Sergio Corbucci
Feat. Klaus Kinski, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Frank Wolff; A 'pure' spaghetti western in the Italian language, with Trintignant playing a mute desperado being pursued by bounty–hunter Kinski through a…
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) (1968): Feat. Jack Lord, James MacArthur; Cult policier set in the sunny underworld of Hawaii with a special task force assigned to combat crime in paradise. While best remembered for its…
Hellfighters (1968): Dir. Andrew McLagen
Feat. John Wayne, Katharine Ross, Bruce Cabot…; A John Wayne–led action melodrama about a group of Houston–based oil well firefighters who are sent down to Venezuela to deal with a…
Kill! (Kiru) (1968): Dir. Kihachi Okamoto
Feat. Tatsuya Nakadai; A sharp and blackly comic tale set in 1830s Japan around two bedraggled swordsman – one a former samurai (Nakadai), the other a farmer aspiring…
Mod Squad, The (TV Series) (1968-1969): Feat. Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III; Love beads, afros and hipster pants abound in this jive–talkin' police series that tapped into the excitement and paranoia of the 60's youth…
Play Dirty (1968): Dir. Andre De Toth
Feat. Michael Caine, Nigel Davenport, Nigel Green; During the Desert War in North Africa, a group of British commandos disguised in Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital…
Scalphunters, The (1968): Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Ossie Davis…; A 'mountain' Western, with fur trapper Lancaster and ex–slave Davis teaming up to recapture a cargo of stolen pelts. The script aims at various…
Villa Rides (1968): Dir. Buzz Kulik
Feat. Yul Brynner, Robert Mitchum, Herbert Lom…; Violent western set during the Mexican revolution, with Robert Mitchum playing a corrupt Texas gunrunner and pilot who joins Pancho Villa (Yul…
Will Penny (1968): Dir. Tom Gries
Feat. Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett, Donald Pleasence…; An impressive, unromanticised view of an aging cowpuncher – played by Charlton Heston in possibly his finest dramatic performance – as he…
Assassin, The (Da ci ke) (1967): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. Yu Wang; More understated than later Shaw Brothers efforts, this costume actioner stars 'Jimmy' Wang Yu as a patriotic swordsman of ancient Han–era…
Dirty Dozen, The (1967): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson…; A group of hardened criminals redeem themselves when recruited for a suicide mission during World War 2. An exciting adventure classic.
Django Kill... If You Live, Shoot! (Se sei vivo spara) (1967): Dir. Giulio Questi
Feat. Tomas Milian, Ray Lovelock; A rather entrancing surrealistic version of the 'spaghetti western' involving a robbery gone wrong and an avenger from beyond the grave... but also…
Flim-Flam Man, The (1967): Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. George C. Scott, Sue Lyon, Harry Morgan…; Light–hearted comedy in which a veteran Southern conman attempts to pass on his tricks to a young army deserter, only to discover his novice is…
Hell on Wheels (1967): Dir. Will Zens
Feat. Marty Robbins, John Ashley; While not quite living up to the title, this action–comedy set around two stockcar–obsessed brothers has a certain kitsch 60s appeal…
King Kong Escapes (1967): Dir. Ishiro Honda
Feat. Mie Hama, Akira Takarada, Rhodes Reason…; Kaiji co–production between Japan and the USA which pits a robot version of King Kong (MechaniKong!) against a giant dinosaur Gorosaurus. A…
Night of the Generals, The (1967): Dir. Anatole Litvak
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay…; WWII crime thriller concerning the prolonged investigation of the murder of a Polish prostitute and German agent that implicates three generals, and…
One Armed Swordsman (Dubei dao) (1967): Dir. Chang Cheh
Feat. Yu Wang; Jimmy Wu Yang predates his one–armed boxer classic MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE as a disabled swordsman training in the art of…
St. Valentines Day Massacre (1967): Dir. Roger Corman
Feat. Jason Robards Jr., George Segal, Ralph Meeker…; A great, trigger–happy actioner from cult film–maker Corman, based on events that led to the murder of many of Chicago's underworld,…
You Only Live Twice (1967): Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Tetsuro Tamba; The fifth Bond film starring Sean Connery as the agent supreme. A space flight is hijacked by sinister crime organisation Spectre, bringing the world…
Zatoichi: The Outlaw (Zatoichi 16) (1967): Dir. Satsuo Yamamoto
Feat. Shintaro Katsu; A middle–installment in the longrunning Zatoichi series, sees the wandering masseur become embroiled in a violent plot involving two rival…
Alvarez Kelly (1966): Dir. Edward Dmytryk
Feat. William Holden, Richard Widmark; Set during the American Civil War, this violent western concerns a running feud between the leads over cattle–rustling activities.
Appaloosa, The (Southwest to Senora) (1966): Dir. Sidney J. Furie
Feat. Marlon Brando, Anjanette Comer, John Saxon…; Minor, though well–crafted and photographed Western set around Brando's attempts to recover his prized horse from a Mexican bandit (Saxon).
Blue Max, The (1966): Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. George Peppard, Anton Diffring, James Mason…; Impressively staged, this WW1 actioner concerns the career of ace German combat pilot Bruno Stachel (Peppard). Although the human drama is fairly…
Chase, The (1966): Dir. Arthur Penn
Feat. Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda…; Action–packed Southern potboiler set around the attempts of a sheriff to protect an escaped convict from mob–justice in smalltown…
Daimajin: Wrath of Daimajin (1966): Dir. Kazuo Mori
Feat. Masahide Iizuka, Hideki Ninomiya, Shinji Hori; One in a series of Japanese films about the great demon god Daimajin, who repeatedly comes to the aid of villagers when tyrannical warlords threaten…
Is Paris Burning? (Paris brûle-t-il?) (1966): Dir. Rene Clement
Feat. Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer, Leslie Caron…; An international cast grace this lengthy war drama, set in 1944 Paris as the retreating Germans prepared to burn the city to the ground on Hitler's…
Naked Prey, The (1966): Dir. Cornel Wilde
Feat. Cornel Wilde; Forgotten actor–turned–auteur Cornel Wilde leads the pack in this savage survivalist adventure, on the run from African tribesman who…
Nevada Smith (1966): Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. Steve McQueen, Karl Malden, Brian Keith…; McQueen plays an orphaned half–breed in the West, who quests relentlessly for his parents' killers. Beautifully made in some stunning…
One Million Years B.C. (1966): Dir. Don Chaffey
Feat. Raquel Welch, John Richardson, Percy Herbert; One of Hammer Studios greatest hits, this genuinely well–made adventure is set among cavemen and cavewomen struggling to survive in a world of…
Sword of Doom (Dai-bosatsu tôge) (1966): Dir. Kihachi Okamoto
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai; Based on a long–running Japanese newspaper serial, this stars Tatsuya Nakadai as an evil wandering samurai in feudal Japan who sees himself as…
Tobruk (1966): Dir. Arthur Hiller
Feat. Rock Hudson, George Peppard, Guy Stockwell…; This WW2 desert actioner is about the activities of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), who ran commando raids against Rommel and his Afrika…
Triple Cross (1966): Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Christopher Plummer, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard…; Minor curio concerns the real–life adventures of English safe–cracker Eddie Chapman (Plummer) who was in prison on Jersey when the Nazis…
Battle of the Bulge (1965): Dir. Ken Annakin
Feat. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, Robert Ryan…; Admirable and far from simplistic recreation of the Nazi's WW2 counter–offensive in the Ardennes in 1944, which led to a series of bitter…
Cast a Giant Shadow (1965): Dir. Melville Shavelson
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, Angie Dickinson…; Spectacular epic concerning the Israeli War of Independence in 1947–8, that like EXODUS somewhat romanticises events. Weaves a romance around…
Flight of the Phoenix, The (1965): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch…; One of the great survival–adventure films has an all–star cast crash landing their cargo plane deep in the Sahara, with no obvious means…
Hallelujah Trail, The (1965): Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Donald Pleasence…; Unusual western adventure about a wagon train of whisky that becomes the target of the US cavalry, the Temperance League and local Indians. Overlong…
Heroes of Telemark, The (1965): Dir. Anthony Mann
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson…; Douglas and Harris are bickering leaders of an allied attempt to destroy a Nazi atom–bomb factory in the snowy wastes of Norway. Predictably…
In Harm's Way (1965): Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal…; Epic and stately treatment of the aftermath of Japan's WW2 attack on Pearl Harbour, with Wayne playing a sidelined Admiral who tries to claw back…
Major Dundee (1965): Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, Dana (Jim) Hutton…; Important homage–critique of the Western from dir. Peckinpah, with Heston playing a misanthropic prison warden who pursues a murderous Apache…
Morituri (1965): Dir. Bernhard Wicki
Feat. Marlon Brando, Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard…; Unusual WW2 adventure features Brando as an anti–Nazi German who tries to persuade a German freighter plying the Pacific to defect to the…
Samurai Assassin (1965): Dir. Kihachi Okamoto
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Keiju Kobayashi, Michiyo Aratana…; Sharply delivered samurai epic based on the infamous Sakurada Gate Incident of 1860 in which a high–ranking shogunite official was assassinated…
Samurai Spy (1965): Dir. Masahiro Shinoda
Feat. Koji Takahashi, Tetsuro Tamba, Kei Sato; This atypical samurai saga ventures from the norm through overenthusiastic plotting, a Latin–infused score, and arresting…
Thunderball (1965): Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Claudine Auger; Connery's Bond goes below the call of duty to the shark–infested depths of the ocean to battle crime organisation Spectre headed by a…
War Lord, The (1965): Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner
Feat. Charlton Heston, Richard Boone, Rosemary Forsyth…; Charlton Heston stars in this muscular historical adventure as an honoured knight who takes over a castle tower in the swampland of Normandy.…
Black God White Devil (1964): Dir. Glauber Rocha
Feat. Maurício do Valle, Geraldo Del Rey, Othon Bastos; A landmark of Brazil’s Cinema Novo movement, fusing discordant sound and imagery with the embittered folktale of a…
Daniel Boone (TV Series) (1964): Feat. Fess Parker, Albert Salmi; Daniel Boone was a big man, and Fess Parker was a huge television star as the coon–skin wearing frontier hero of this iconic TV series set in…
Devilship Pirates (1964): Dir. Don Sharp
Feat. Christopher Lee, John Cairney, Ernest Clark…; Taking a non–horror tack, this Hammer offering concerns a Spanish galleon, 'Diablo' (captained by Christopher Lee)which comes ashore in…
Goldfinger (1964): Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Sean Connery, Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman; The third Bond film, and the first to really fire the public's imagination. Connery develops his charismatic appeal as he fights the evil genius…
Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964): Dir. Richard Wilson
Feat. Yul Brynner, Janice Rule, Brad Dexter…; Set in New Mexico in the wake of the Civil War, a small bigoted town is beset by racist prejudices despite being outwardly pro–Union. Yul…
Tarzan the Fearless (1964): Dir. Robert F. Hill
Feat. Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Julie Bishop; Feature–film adaptation of the 1933 serial sees Edgar Rice Burroughs classic creation rescue the wayward father of the beautiful Mary Brooks,…
Weekend at Dunkirk (1964): Dir. Henri Verneuil
Feat. Jean-Paul Belmondo, Catherine Spaak, Georges Geret…; The decimation of French and English troops who retreated to the coastal settlement of Dunkirk in 1940 is the sobering subject of this otherwise…
From Russia with Love (1963): Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya…; Connery deals to the Russians in a race to seize the Soviet Lektor decoding machine. Featuring one of the longest chase scenes of the series, as well…
Great Escape, The (1963): Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough…; McQueen heads a star–studded international cast in this superb drama based on a true account of an escape from a German POW camp by a group of…
Long Ships, The (1963): Dir. Jack Cardiff
Feat. Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Russ Tamblyn; Expensively produced Viking epic has the Nordic warrior Widmark clash with Moorish general Poitier over a mythical treasure, the 'Golden Bell of St…
Samurai Pirate (Daitozoku) (1963): Dir. Senkichi Taniguchi
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Mie Hama, Kumi Mizuno; Odd hybrid of feudal Japan and swashbuckler fantasy, with Toshiro Mifune as a ruffian sailor assigned with rescuing a captive King’s daughter from…
47 Ronin, The (Genroku chushingura) (1962): Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Yuzo Kayama, Setsuko Hara; A grand and spectacular take on a famous Japanese legend, with 47 ronin (masterless samurai) in feudal Japan seeking revenge on those responsible for…
Cartouche (Swords of Blood) (1962): Dir. Philippe de Broca
Feat. Jean-Paul Belmondo, Claudia Cardinale; The dashing Jean–Paul Belmondo cut, thrusts, and courts the ravishing Claudia Cardinale in this quasi–Robin Hood swashbuckler steeped in…
Dr. No (1962): Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Joseph Wiseman, Ursula Andress…; First James Bond film has a wet behind the ears but dashing Sean Connery investigating strange occurrences in Jamaica, where he encounters…
Fencing Master, The (1962): Dir. Harumi Mizuho
Feat. Raizo Ichikawa, Ganjiro Nakamura, Kinuyo Tanaka; Thoughtful, if minor exploration of samurai traditions concerns an aging swordsman struggling to keep his feudal art form alive in early 20th century…
Hell Is For Heroes (1962): Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker…; An expertly written and delivered WWII adventure, where a small squad of US soldiers, headed by Steve McQueen, must hold off an advancing German…
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962): Dir. Lewis Milestone
Feat. Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard, Richard Harris…; The story of Captain Bligh and mutineer Fletcher Christian is orchestrated here with a star cast and many a visual flourish. Marred, though not…
Samurai, The (TV Series) (1962- 1965): Dir. Various
Feat. Koichi Ose; Shintaro (Koichi Ose) and his Samurai warriors protect feudal Japan from the black–robed society of the Koga Ninjas, armed with magic and…
Sanjuro (1962): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai; The sequel to YOJIMBO unravels the story of nine would–be Samurai unveiling a government corruption ring. Kurosawa adopts a satirical…
Tale of Zatoichi Continues, The (1962): Dir. Kazuo Mori
Feat. Shintaro Katsu; The first of many sequels to the iconic TALE OF ZATOICHI, in which a blind, affable masseur (Katsu) who happens to be a lethally skillful swordsman…
Tale of Zatoichi, The (1962): Dir. Kenji Misumi
Feat. Shintaro Katsu; The inaugural movie in the iconic 'Zatoichi' series – which followed the intriguing adventures in mythical Japan of a blind masseur, who has…
Virginian, The (TV Series) (1962-1971): Feat. James Drury, Doug McClure, Lee J. Cobb; Television adaptation of Owen Wister's novel, where Jame's Drury's 'The Virginian' tries to maintain order on the Shiloh Ranch in the Wyoming…
War Lover, The (1962): Dir. Philip Leacock
Feat. Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Shirley Anne Field…; WW2 drama involving two Yankee pilots in England who form a deadly duo in the air, and two sides of a love triangle on the ground. Slow–moving,…
Daredevil in the Castle (Osaka jo monogatari) (1961): Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Kyoko Kagawa, Yuriko Hoshi…; Another solid genre excursion from seasoned dir. Hiroshi Inagaki (THE SAMURAI TRILOGY), with Toshiro Mifune again taking the lead as a despondent,…
On the Double (1961): Dir. Melville Shavelson
Feat. Danny Kaye, Dana Wynter, Wilfrid Hyde-White; Zany action–comedy set during the Invasion of Normandy, where an American soldier and talented mimic (Danny Kaye) impersonates a British high…
Samson (Sansome) (1961): Dir. Gianfranco Parolini
Feat. Brad Harris, Serge Gainsbourg, Irena Prosen; Pioneering film in "sword and sandal" genre about Samson, the character from the Hebrew bible who joins Queen Mila and a rebel army to take back the…
Yojimbo (1961): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yoko Tsukasa; Mercenary Sanjuro walks into town and sells his services to both factions of rival gangs – to stand back and watch them destroy each other.…
Gladiators 7 / The Giant of Marathon (1960-1962): Dir. Pedro Lazaga, Jacques Tourneur, Mario Bava
Feat. Steve Reeves, Mylene Demongeot, Gerard Tichy; Two dubbed 'spaghetti epics' from the heyday of the early 1960s: Gladiators 7 (1962) Directed by Pedro Lazaga – A Greek riff on THE…
Hercules (1960): Dir. Pietro Francisci
Feat. Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Gianna Maria Canale; The first of the Italian versions of 'Hercules' starring former Mr Universe, Steve Reeves. Here he embarks on a mission to retrieve the 'golden…
Long and the Short and the Tall, The (1960): Dir. Leslie Norman
Feat. Richard Todd, Laurence Harvey, Richard Harris…; A taut WW2 drama, based on a stageplay, set around a dysfunctional British patrol caught out behind enemy lines in Burma. Hinging on the treatment…
Sink the Bismarck (1960): Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Laurence Naismith…; A no–nonsense depiction of the WW2 hunt by the British navy to destroy the German super–warship Bismarck. Conveying both the allied…
Ferry to Hong Kong (1959): Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Orson Welles, Sylvia Syms, Curt Jurgens; Maritime adventure in which Orson Welles portrays a reluctant sea captain forced to take a shady rogue deportee from Hong Kong onboard his vessel…
Great St Louis Bank Robbery, The (1959): Feat. Steve McQueen, David Clarke; A little known noir gem starring a young Steve McQueen as a getaway driver for a group of criminals plotting to rob a bank in St Louis. Based on…
Last Days of Pompeii / City of Metropolis (1959-1961): Dir. Mario Bonnard, Umberto Scarpelli
Feat. Steve Reeves, Christine Kaufmann, Fernando Rey; Two dubbed 'spaghetti epics' from the heyday of the 1950s and 1960s: The Last Days of Pompeii (1959) Directed by Mario Bonnard –…
North West Frontier (1959): Dir. J. Lee-Thompson
Feat. Lauren Bacall, Kenneth More; Colonial adventure in which a British army captain must venture into India to rescue a prince and his governess who are being hunted by rebels…
Samurai Saga (Aru kengo no shogai) (1959): Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Tsukasa; Feudal Japanese retelling of Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac', with the charismatic Toshiro Mifune as the shogun–poet with a…
Hidden Fortress (1958): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Toshiro Mifune; Toshiro Mifune displays astounding skill with horse and sword as the ultimate warrior in this innovative amalgam of fairy–tale and Samurai…
Ice Cold In Alex (1958): Dir. J. Lee-Thompson
Feat. John Mills, Anthony Quayle; After a hurried retreat from the siege of Tobruk, a band of medics and nurses in an ambulance, attempt an arduous crossing of the Libyan Sahara…
Machine Gun Kelly (1958): Dir. Roger Corman
Feat. Charles Bronson, Susan Cabot; A baby–faced Bronson gives an exciting edge to this superior B–movie biopic, based around the criminal career of the Depression–era…
Men in War (1958): Dir. Anthony Mann
Feat. Aldo Ray, Robert Ryan, Vic Morrow…; Robert Ryan and Aldo Ray play the leaders of a small detachment of American soldiers cut off and desperately trying to rejoin their division over a…
China Gate (1957): Dir. Samuel Fuller
Feat. Gene Barry, Angie Dickinson; In 1954, during the French Indochina War, an Eurasian female smuggler and a group of French Foreign Legion mercenaries, infiltrate the enemy…
Fire Down Below (1957): Dir. Robert Parrish
Feat. Rita Hayworth, Robert Mitchum, Jack Lemmon…; Adventure drama set in the Caribbean, with Jack Lemmon and Robert Mitchum playing U.S. expatriates who eke out a meager subsistence transporting…
Forty Guns (1957): Dir. Samuel Fuller
Feat. Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger…; A surreal, somewhat lurid Western set in Tombstone, Arizona pits voluptuous land–baroness Stanwyck against the new, world–weary marshall…
Hell Drivers (Hard Drivers) (1957): Dir. Cy Endfield
Feat. Patrick McGoohan, Sir Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom…; Stanley Baker plays a hard–nosed trucker forced to take on a dangerous long haul, through which a bitter rivalry develops with a fellow driver…
Pride and the Passion, The (1957): Dir. Stanley Kramer
Feat. Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren…; A solemn epic set around Napoleon's campaign in Spain in the early 19th century – the cast doing their sincere best with a fairly passionless…
Throne of Blood (1957): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura; Kurosawa transposes MacBeth into a Samurai setting and the result justifies his reputation. Nothing short of an awesome spectacle Shakespeare himself…
Conqueror, The (1956): Dir. Dick Powell
Feat. John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Pedro Armendariz…; Notorious Howard Hughes produced flop with John Wayne woefully miscast as Mongol ruler Genghis Khan. Filmed downwind from a nuclear test site many of…
D-Day - The Sixth of June (1956): Dir. Henry Koster
Feat. Robert Taylor, Richard Todd, Edmond O'Brien…; Well–executed enactment of the Normandy landings in WW2, with some extravagent action scenes and solid dramatics.
Fastest Gun Alive, The (1956): Dir. Russell Rouse
Feat. Glenn Ford, Broderick Crawford, Jeanne Crain…; Modest–scale Western with Ford playing a reformed gunfighter who is not allowed to leave his past behind.
Helen of Troy (1956): Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. Rossana Podesta, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Niall MacGinnis…; Homer's epic of the Trojan War is treated with Hollywood gloves in this above–average adaptation. Centering around the the ambiguous figure of…
Lone Ranger, The (1956): Dir. Stuart Heisler
Feat. Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Lyle Bettger…; Modest but proficient movie spinoff from the popular 1950s TV series, with the masked one (Moore) and Tonto (Silverheels) taking on a rancher who is…
Battle Cry (1955): Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Van Heflin, Raymond Massey, Aldo Ray…; Entertaining WWII yarn concerning a squad of American marines romancing and training (in Paekakariki, New Zealand!) before heading off to action in…
Indian Fighter, The (1955): Dir. Andre De Toth
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Elsa Martinelli, Walter Matthau…; Douglas plays a grizzled scout who must negotiate his way through hostile Indian territory on behalf of a wagon–train. Falling in love with a…
Robin Hood: The Movie (1955-1991): Dir. Ralph Smart, Terence Fisher
Feat. Richard Greene, Leo McKern; A feature film colourized and edited in 1991 from episodes 1,2,3,5,8 & 27 of the 1955 TV Series. Notably, Will Scatlock who dies at the end of…
Apache (1954): Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire…; Although now dated in it's treatment of the subject – like casting the blue–eyed Lancaster as an Apache Indian – at the time this…
Fast and the Furious, The (1954): Dir. Edward Sampson, John Ireland
Feat. John Ireland, Dorothy Malone, Bruno Ve Sota…; Reputedly Roger Corman's first ever production, this low–budget noir follows the dueling relationship between a prison escaper (Ireland) and…
Naked Jungle (1954): Dir. Byron Haskin
Feat. Charlton Heston, Eleanor Parker, Abraham Sofaer…; Charlton Heston battles the Marabunta soldier ants that threaten to take over his South American jungle plantation. Eleanor Parker provides some…
Purple Plain, The (1954): Dir. Robert Parrish
Feat. Gregory Peck, Win Min Than, Bernard Lee…; Strong psychological drama, shot in lush Technicolor, with Peck as a shell–shocked pilot stuck with wounded comrades behind enemy lines in the…
Robinson Crusoe (1954): Dir. Luis Bunuel
Feat. Dan O'Herlihy; Daniel Defoe's classic novel of a shipwreck's sole survivor. Luis Bunuel directs with a few surrealist flourishes.
Samurai Trilogy, The (Musashi Miyamoto, Duel at Ichijoji Temple, Duel at Ganryu Island) (1954-1956): Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune; Sweeping saga of a legendary 17th century samurai Musashi Miyamoto, that made an icon of actor Toshiro Mifune. Played out against the turmoil of a…
Seven Samurai, The (1954): Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Takashi Shimura, Toshiro Mifune; Kurosawa's classic 'Eastern Western' about a village who hire an elite band of warriors to fend off marauders. Compassionate storytelling with combat…
Ulysses (1954): Dir. Mario Camerini
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano…; Kirk Douglas muscles his way home in this admittedly pretty, but vacant, adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. Anthony Quinn is gets all the best lines, but…
Beneath The 12-Mile Reef (1953): Dir. Robert D. Webb
Feat. Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland…; Adventure yarn about a Greek father and son team off the coast of Florida who dive for living sponges in dangerous waters. Brought down a little by a…
Island in the Sky (1953): Dir. William A. Wellman
Feat. John Wayne, Lloyd Nolan, James Arness; Decent action vehicle for John Wayne, who plays a pilot whose transport plane makes a forced landing in the frozen wastes of Labrador, Canada, where…
Knights of the Round Table (1953): Dir. Richard Thorpe
Feat. Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer…; Sumptuous retelling of the legends of Camelot was MGM's first Cinemascope production. Tayloris excellent as Lancelot while Ava Gardner is inspired…
Malta Story (1953): Dir. Brian Desmond Hurst
Feat. Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Steel; A taut wee adventure set among the special forces of the British Air Force defending the island of Malta during WW2. Real–life locations and a…
Plunder of the Sun (1953): Dir. John Farrow
Feat. Glenn Ford, Diana Lynn, Patricia Medina; Insurance investigator Ford, in possession of a mysterious package, is embroiled in a high stakes treasure hunt in Mexico. Ancient, exotic locations…
Sea Devils (1953): Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Rock Hudson, Yvonne De Carlo, Bryan Forbes…; Old–fashioned smuggling yarn, with Rock Hudson playing a Channel Islands contrabandist who gets involved in the French Revolution. Minor sea…
Angels One Five (1952): Dir. George More O'Ferrall
Feat. Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray…; British war film following the experience of a young fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain during WWII. Based on the book "What Are Your Angels…
Fanfan la Tulipe (1952): Dir. Christian-Jaque
Feat. Gerard Philipe, Gina Lollobrigida, Genevieve Page; Irresistible swashbuckling fluff, with Gerard Philipe imperious on the battlefield and in the bedroom. A daredevil pace matched with lusty female…
Kansas City Confidential (1952): Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Lee Van Cleef, John Payne, Coleen Gray…; A grimly tough crime drama set in the Kansas City underworld. Payne plays an ex–con who is jailed for an unrelated crime, and on release…
Mutiny (1952): Dir. Edward Dmytryk
Feat. Angela Lansbury, Mark Stevens; Adventure movie set during the War of 1812, where a captain collecting a war loan of gold finds that his crew have plotted a mutiny to try to obtain…
Snows of Kilimanjaro, The (1952): Dir. Henry King
Feat. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Susan Hayward; One of the more convincing attempts to adapt Ernest Hemingway for the screen, this follows the deathbed reverie of an American writer (Peck) from his…
Sound Barrier, The (1952): Dir. David Lean
Feat. Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, Nigel Patrick…; Ralph Richardson excels as an aircraft manufacturer aiming to break the titular barrier with a newly developed jet, but exacting a bitter cost on his…
Desert Fox, The (1951): Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. James Mason, Jessica Tandy, Sir Cedric Hardwicke…; James Mason gives a definitive performance as Nazi General Rommel (which he repeated for THE DESERT RATS), whose troubles proved overwhelming despite…
Outcast of the Islands (1951): Dir. Carol Reed
Feat. Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, Robert Morley…; Sturdy British adventure melodrama from the director of THE THIRD MAN and FALLEN IDOL based on Joseph Conrad's 1896 novel. A riveting Trevor Howard…
Red Badge of Courage, The (1951): Dir. John Huston
Feat. Audie Murphy, Royal Dano, Arthur Hunnicutt; A classic film version of the classic American Civil War novel by Stephen Crane, which depicts the line between courage and cowardice in the Yankee…
Sirocco (1951): Dir. Curtis Bernhardt
Feat. Humphrey Bogart, Lee J. Cobb, Zero Mostel…; Standard–issue thriller, with Bogie playing a gun–runner who tangles with the Syrian authorities, French occupiers and an underground…
Bitter Springs (1950): Dir. Ralph Smart
Feat. Chips Rafferty, Tommy Trinder; Racially dubious Australian bush western about a 20th century settler (Chips Rafferty) trying to make a living off land shared by an Aboriginal tribe.
Flame and the Arrow, The (1950): Dir. Jacques Tourneur
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Nick Cravat; Middling, though colourful medieval epic with Lancaster leading as a 'Robin Hood' who leads the peasants of Lombardy into a revolt against the local…
Halls of Montezuma (1950): Dir. Lewis Milestone
Feat. Richard Widmark, Jack Palance, Karl Malden…; Unflashy and well–cast war film, that follows the US Marines into action on a Pacific island. Makes a fairly gung–ho contrast to dir.…
Kim (Rudyard Kipling's Kim) (1950): Dir. Victor Saville
Feat. Errol Flynn, Dean Stockwell, Paul Lukas…; Adventure based on the classic Rudyard Kipling novel of the same name, set during the British Raj in India, where the orphan of a British soldier…
Morning Departure (Operation Disaster) (1950): Dir. Roy Ward Baker
Feat. John Mills, Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough; A British submarine patrolling in the period just after WWII, hits a leftover mine and plunges seriously damaged to the sea–bed. The captain…
Battleground (1949): Dir. William A. Wellman
Feat. Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban…; A tough depiction of WW2 combat set among an American squad during the gruelling Battle of the Bulge, that stands as something of an early classic.…
Omoo Omoo The Shark God (1949): Dir. Leon Leonard
Feat. Ron Randell, Trevor Bardette, Devera Burton; Sea–faring B–movie cheapie takes liberty with the Herman Melville story of a ship captain who falls under a shaman's curse after pinching…
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949): Dir. Allan Dwan
Feat. John Wayne; Popular WWII saga with John Wayne as a tough Sarg, spurring his troops on in the Pacific.
We Were Strangers (1949): Dir. John Huston
Feat. Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Pedro Armendariz…; Adventure drama with Jennifer Jones playing a woman who joins the Cuban Underground and helps devise a plot to bring down the country's corrupt…
13 Rue Madeleine (1947): Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. James Cagney, Annabella, Richard Conte…; A group of OSS operatives penetrate behind German lines in this rough–edged WWII thriller. Seeking a secret missile site, they must also…
Captain from Castile (1947): Dir. Henry King
Feat. Tyrone Power, Jean Peters, Cesar Romero…; Extravagant technicolour epic set in the early years of the 16th century, recounting the adventures of a young nobleman (Tyrone Power) who flees…
Sinbad, the Sailor (1947): Dir. Richard Wallace
Feat. Douglas Fairbanks, Douglas Jr. Fairbanks, Maureen O'Hara…; Swashbuckling technicolour adventure set in medieval Persia telling the story of the eighth voyage of Sinbad, where he discovers the lost treasure of…
Overlanders, The (1946): Dir. Harry Watt
Feat. Chips Rafferty, Daphne Campbell; A rather odd blend of high adventurism, wartime propaganda, and agricultural instruction, this Ealing production recounts the true story of a…
Theirs is the Glory (Men of Arnhem) (1946): Dir. Brian Desmond Hurst
Feat. Stanley Maxted; British war movie depicting the 1st Airborne Division's involvement in the 1944 Battle of Arnhem, a battle which was also the subject of A BRIDGE TOO…
Virginian, The (1946): Feat. Joel McCrea, Sonny Tufts, Brian Donlevy; Fourth time out of the stable adaptation of Owen Wister's influential novel. Local ranch hand (McCrea) risks losing his best friend and the woman…
Captain Kidd (1945): Dir. Rowland V Lee
Feat. Charles Laughton, Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton…; Charles Laughton has a great time playing the 17th century English pirate, who swindles King William III. Rollicking production is a nicely comic…
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944): Dir. Arthur Lubin
Feat. Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Leif Erickson…; Adventure film based on 'The Book of One Thousand and One Nights' about a boy prince who takes revenge on the Mongol invaders who murdered his father…
Frenchman's Creek (1944): Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Córdova, Basil Rathbone…; A faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel about an aristocratic English woman who falls in love with a French pirate during the reign of…
Henry V (1944): Dir. Laurence Olivier
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton, Leslie Banks; Brimming with zest, this Shakespeare adaption became an instant classic when released, featuring Laurence Olivier in full sail as the youthful…
Purple Heart, The (1944): Dir. Lewis Milestone
Feat. Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, Farley Granger…; Watchable flag–waver from WW2 depicts the show trial of a crew of American airmen (led by Andrews) who are shot down over Tokyo in 1944. Has…
Rats of Tobruk, The (The Fighting Rats of Tobruk) (1944): Dir. Charles Chauvel
Feat. Chips Rafferty, Peter Finch; Aussie battler Chips Rafferty fight hard in the Battle of Rommel in this chest–thumping follow–up to FORTY THOUSAND HORSEMEN.
Guadalcanal Diary (1943): Dir. Lewis Seiler
Feat. Anthony Quinn, Lloyd Nolan, Preston Foster…; Filmed just after US victory in the Solomon Islands during WW2, this standard issue war–film is a reasonably solid account of a grueling…
Munchhausen (1943): Dir. Josef von Baky
Feat. Hans Albers; This adaptation of the Rudolph Raspe novel about the extraordinary tall–tales of a German baron is a genuine oddity, both historically and…
We Dive at Dawn (1943): Dir. Anthony Asquith
Feat. John Mills, Eric Portman, Niall MacGinnis; Sturdy WWII actioner has a British sub sent out to sink a heavily–armed Nazi battleship with the help of three German sailors, but getting into…
One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942): Dir. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Feat. Eric Portman, Bernard Miles, Hugh Williams; Brisk war–thriller about how a six man British aircrew must find their way back to England across the Occupied Netherlands. Raised above the…
Tarzan's Secret Treasure / Tarzan's New York Adventure (1941-1942): Dir. Richard Thorpe
Feat. Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan; Double feature of the 5th and 6th TARZAN films from Johnny Weissmuller. TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE (1941) – Here Tarzan fights…
Forty Thousand Horsemen (40,000 Horsemen) (1940): Dir. Charles Chauvel
Feat. Chips Rafferty; This rollicking war romp depicts the deeds of the Australian Light Horse cavalry during WWI. Stars the archetypal Aussie bushman, Chips Rafferty.
North West Mounted Police (1940): Dir. Cecil B. DeMille
Feat. Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll, Lon Jr. Chaney…; Technicolour western set in 1885, with Gary Cooper playing a Texas Ranger who travels to Canada to arrest a fugitive who is inciting rebellion…
Santa Fe Trail, The (1940): Dir. Michael Curtiz
Feat. Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Olivia de Havilland…; Set in the leadup to the American Civil War, this professionally executed Western has future Confederate general Jeb Stuart (Flynn) lead the charge…
Torrid Zone (1940): Dir. William Keighley
Feat. James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Pat O'Brien; Caribbean–set adventure–comedy in which a fruit company executive (Pat O'Brien) has his plantation plagued by revolutionaries so he…
Man in the Iron Mask, The (1939): Dir. James Whale
Feat. Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, Warren William…; Early, often imitated adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' musketeer legend, with Louis Hayward as the eponymous man in the mask.
Tarzan Finds a Son (1939): Dir. Richard Thorpe
Feat. Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Johnny Sheffield…; Tarzan and Jane raise a boy – the only survivor of a jungle plane crash – in their vine–swinging style. Later, his relatives search…
Adventure in Sahara (1938): Dir. D. Ross Lederman
Feat. C. Henry Gordon, Paul Kelly; Based on a story by Samuel Fuller. Following the death of his brother, Jim Wilson joins the French Foreign Legion and is stationed in Northern…
New Adventures Of Tarzan, The (1938): Dir. Edward Kull
Feat. Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett); Surprisingly gutsy version of the Edgar Rice Burroughs character, originally presented as a 12–part movie serial in competition to the…
King Solomon's Mines (1937): Dir. Robert Stevenson
Feat. Paul Robeson, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Roland Young…; Stirring original film version of this well–known novel based African adventure about a group of intrepid explorers on a life–changing…
Tarzan Escapes (1936): Dir. Richard Thorpe
Feat. Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Benita Hume; One of the best Weissmuller TARZAN sequels, has the jungleman kidnapped by hunters and taken back to England. Excitingly action–packed.
Lives of a Bengal Lancer, The (1935): Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Richard Cromwell; Set in India during the British Raj, this rousing literary adaptation follows a British regiment struggling to retain it's stronghold in the…
Sanders Of The River (1935): Dir. Zoltan Korda
Feat. Leslie Banks, Paul Robeson; Fascinatingly skewed epic set in a colonial protectorate in West Africa, where the British Commissioner (Banks) tries to cultivate 'civilized'…
Count of Monte Cristo, The (1934): Dir. Rowland V Lee
Feat. Robert Donat, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer…; Exemplary version of Alexandre Dumas' classic swashbuckler. Robert Donat plays the imprisoned officer seeking revenge with steel and panache.
Tarzan The Fearless / Tarzan And The Trappers (1933-1958): Dir. Charles Haas, Robert F. Hill
Feat. Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Gordon Scott; "Tarzan The Fearless" is feature film stitched together in the 1960's from the first four chapters a 12–part 1933 serial starring Buster Crabbe…
Three Musketeers, The (1933): Dir. Colbert Clark
Feat. Jack Mulhall, Raymond Hatton, Francis Bushman…; An early John Wayne movie serial set in distant Arabia, where he rescues three French Legionaires (Hatton, Mulhall and Bushman) from Arab attacks and…
Bird of Paradise (1932): Dir. King Vidor
Feat. Dolores Del Rio, Joel McCrea, John Halliday…; Erotic adventure drama about a sailor who falls in love with a woman from an unnamed Pacific island where the film is set. Plenty of colonialist…
Hell's Angels (1930): Dir. Howard Hughes
Feat. James Hall, Jean Harlow, Ben Lyon…; Still highly watchable, this early sound feature financed and 'directed' by the notorious Howard Hughes, boosts its melodramatic story of WWI heroics…
Der Heilige Berg (The Holy Mountain) (1926): Dir. Arnold Fanck
Feat. Leni Riefenstahl, Luis Trenker; One of the landmark films of German Cinema, this is chiefly remembered as the awesome debut of Leni Riefenstahl who later became chief filmmaker for…
Eagle, The (1925): Dir. Clarence Brown
Feat. Rudolph Valentino; Rudolph Valentino's penultimate picture – and one of his most popular – in which he plays a Russian lieutenant who becomes a masked…
Robin Hood (1922): Dir. Allan Dwan
Feat. Douglas Fairbanks, Wallace Beery; The first memorable version of the story with the lithe Douglas Fairbanks Snr leaping around some remarkable period sets. Initially we find Robin…
Les Vampires (1915): Dir. Louis Feuillade
Feat. Musidora, Edouard Mathe; The legendary French movie serial created by the enormously prolific silent dir. Feuillade, set around a murderous crime–ring who operate in…

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