Top 5 Action Movies of 2013

Thank the Norse Gods for Marvel, is all I can say. Well, I can say more, so I will – At least one, ONE studio appreciates the extreme necessity of spectacle and dynamism in their cinematic empire. But this can’t numb the pain of witnessing traditional action perish from our screens.Perhaps with The Raid 2: Berandal leading the charge in 2014, things will be different. For now though, behold 2013’s slim pickings…5.Title – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Action QualityAction QuantityAction Pace Watch instead of…. Kick Ass 2

4.

Title – Pacific Rim

Action QualityAction Quantity THAT

Without it, Pacific Rim is kinda stingy on the awesome sauce…Action Pace – Classically paced with recognizable set-pieces in all three acts. It takes its sweet time to deliver the Hong Kong flavoured goods, but on the whole, it’s nippy enough.Watch instead of…. ElysiumThese are both Sci-Fi, both original screenplays, and both concern the liberal application of robots and power armour. But while Pacific Rim embraces the fact it is utter tosh, Elysium was flat, pretentious and uneventful.

3.

Title – Fast Six

Action Quality A LITTLE Action Quantity

But not so strong it doesn’t still require half a dozen set-pieces to bolster it!Action Pace – Breakneck! It starts with Rocky chucking a guy through a roof and escalates until the cockpit of a cargo plane gives fiery birth to a muscle car!

And there’s hardly an abundance of down time in between.

Ideal for an action film like this. Fast. Furious…. Also, Six.Watch instead of… A Good Day to Die HardBoth share the traditional guns/quips/cars/punch-ups action movie template. But while Fast Six is fast becoming the definitive Action Franchise, Die Hard 5 is a polished turd. Without the polish.

2.

Title – Man of Tai Chi

Action Quality MOVE

Sadly, the occasional dollop of Tai Chi mysticism rots the final product.Action Quantity – Man of Tai Chi has many, many fights. I can think of 12 off the top of my head ranging in runtime from thirty seconds to five solid minutes… Keanu aint stingy!Action Pace – Man of Tai Chi’s many, many fights aren’t long in coming, drip feeding audiences something flashy to look at every ten minutes or so. It’s an exhausting experience and arguably betrayed by its final fight. But few actioners offered the same value for money in 2013!Watch instead of… 47 RoninBoth 47 Ronin and Man of Tai Chi feature martial arts, push eastern sensibilities to the fore and Keanu Reeves was heavily involved in the production of both. But if you had to watch just the one, the decision aint exactly taxing…

1.

Title – Iron Man 3

Action Quality NOTAction QuantityAction PaceWatch instead of… Man of Steel

The other is Man of Steel.

Yes, I had my problems with the latter. But while Shane Black conjured up never before seen feats with an exoskeleton (that fight when he’s wearing the Mk 42 glove and boot, heaven!) between them Snyder, Goyer and Nolan couldn’t conceive of a single stimulating deed for a hero who has literally ALL of the superpowers at his disposal!

Propulsion. Invincibility. Strength. Speed. Laser eyes. Frosty breath. Limitless stamina. Telescopic vision. Sonar hearing. God-like olfaction. X-ray eyes. I could go on…In Short: The Hunger Games Catching Fire, Man of Tai Chi, Pacific Rim, Fast and Furious 6 and Iron Man 3 all duke it out for the title of best action movie 2013

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