10 (Kinda) Ultimate Action Movies Streaming on Disney Plus

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Ultimate Action Movies
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The best of the very limited number of action movies on Disney+.

We’ll be honest, it’s doubtful that you’re investing in Disney Plus for the tons of 80s and 90s action movies. Sadly, there isn’t a single Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris or Van Damme film in the vast vaults of Disney. So, instead you’re looking at tons of kids’ movies and a few action-oriented flicks.Looking for more Ultimate Action Movie Streaming Options, check out some our full list below:

But don’t give up hope. If you do have Disney Plus already, and don’t mind counting some mega-franchises like Star Wars, Marvel and Pirates of the Caribbean as quasi-action, then you’re in luck. Here are the best “ultimate” action movies streaming on Disney.

Tron

Man, we had to really search to see if we could find anything at all worthy from the 80s and 90s, and your best bet might have to be TRON from 1982. Although it’s really much more of a sci-fi adventure film, it does have some pretty classic action scenes and sequences. Plus, while Jeff Bridges is no Sylvester Stallone, he probably could have had an action career on par with Kurt Russell if he had really applied himself to the genre. Watch it here!

Turner & Hooch

Again, not quite an action movie, but we do have the makings of a solid “buddy cop but the other cop is a dog” movie. And come to think of it, I’m not really sure where this whole concept originated as 1989 saw both K-9 starring James Belushi and Turner & Hooch starring Tom Hanks come out two months apart. But catch Turner & Hooch if ya like buddy cop yelling and at least a couple of action sets thrown in. Watch it here!

Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies

Yes, you could easily count any movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as “action” movies, we just simply don’t count them as “Ultimate Action” movies here at UAMC because they’re much more fantasy, sci-fi and CGI. Not to knock them or anything, as they’re obviously widely successful for a reason, but our focus is on a certain “golden era” of the genre. But, they’re here, they’re big, loud and great action. Watch them here!

Home Alone

OK, here us out on this one. Home Alone IS an action movie! It’s Die Hard but with a kid! Sure, Macaulay Culkin isn’t Bruce Willis or anything, but he’s very quick and surprisingly resourceful in setting up some killer traps that John McClane would be impressed with. Plus Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are great bad guys that would be awesome in any action movie. Watch it here!

Avatar

See our explanation for the Marvel films for our reasoning, but Avatar (and presumably its upcoming sequels) fall into the same category. That being said, if you can get past the oddities of the CGI, it’s also a very solid action adventure flick. A mix between Pocahontas but with Aliens-level commandos. Watch it here!

The Rocketeer

We’ve actually covered this one here at UAMC before, although it had to be a real exploration to find its ultimate action movie exploits. For a superhero movie, The Rocketeer definitely fits its era though coming from 1991 with some great performances from Billy Campbell and Timothy Dalton thrown in. Watch it here!

The Rocketeer: The Fun Love Letter to Pulp Action That Failed

Pirates of the Caribbean Movies

Yo-ho, more mega-franchises that are big budget “action and adventure” in their billing. Sure, pirate movies have been around for ages, and they do check the boxes for sword fights, shoot outs and high-flying stunts, so can definitely recommend them. But unless Pirates of the Caribbean have added in some new cameos from Michael Dudikoff they’re not quite ultimate. Watch them here!

Flight of the Navigator

Another fun one that maybe, if you were a child in 1986, it would serve as a leader-in film for future action movies, Flight of the Navigator is a perfectly adept sci-fi adventurer that has some early action elements that can be quite enjoyable. Watch it here!

Star Wars Movies

Star Wars! Actually a bit hard to qualify because of its cross-genre-ism, but still perhaps a no-go for “ultimate-ness”. Although, there is plenty of action to be found. Yet, for every lightsaber duel or space battle, there’s also some riveting sequences spending a big too much time discussing the intergalactic senate. Watch them here!

Escape to Witch Mountain

Disney had a pretty good streak going in the 70s and 80s producing family-oriented sci-fi/action/fantasy adventure films that have actually aged pretty similarly to many of the ultimate action classics which we hold near and dear. Escape to Witch Mountain is another fun one that harkens back to a simpler time and is maybe a good pick to sneak some action into movies with the kids. Watch it here!

Action Movies From the 80s and 90s You Can Make A Bingo Card With

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Ultimate Action Movies
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As writers, we’re told that if we want to improve our craft, we have to read — a lot. It can help us develop a palate for the tricks and writing styles that those before us established. Directors and screenwriters follow a similar mantra, in the sense that they can learn from the thematic tropes that have appeared in previous works of cinema. While some viewers consider these tropes to be clichés, they allow a movie to flow from point A to point B. And, sometimes, these clichés can make for great game nights.

Action movies, especially those released in the 80s and 90s, have their share of clichés. Rather than beat up on this fact, why not turn them into a bingo card to enjoy with your loved ones? Bingo has always been a way to socialize with friends and family, and like with action movies, there are variations to the game. You can try a bingo game online, whether it’s classic games like 90 and 75 ball games, new bingo games like Secret Garden Jackpot, or use screen splitting software to play bingo slots.

Either way, the Internet’s inspired more people to play online bingo, and with streaming platforms like Netflix reviving cult action favorites, why not combine the two for a night? To get you started, here’s a handful of clichés from action movies in the 80s and 90s to go on your bingo card.

A Character Turns Bad After a Traumatic Event

Action movies in the 1980s and 90s understood that trauma changes a person and that there are many different reactions to a traumatic event. One of which, however, is anger. This is why in any action movie you watch, you will be able to mark off a character turning sour after something bad happens to them on your bingo card. Take Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981). A former Special Forces U.S. Army Lieutenant, Plissken turns to a life of crime after the U.S. Police Force burned his parents alive in their home. 

The Bad Guy is Foreign

While another cliché in action movies, the 80s and 90s were all about having their bad guys from Europe or the Middle East. You’ll be able to mark this one off on your bingo card just by watching the likes of Die Hard (1988), where bad guy Hans Gruber is from Germany. His right-hand man, Karl Vreski, is also from Germany. (Fun fact: Russian-American ballet dancer Alexander Godunov portrayed Vreski.) 

A Character Has a Catchphrase

Most characters in the action movies released in the 80s and 90s had a catchphrase. From Die Hard’s “Yippee Ki Yay” and “Hasta La Vista Baby” in Terminator 2: Judgement Day to Roddy Piper’s iconic “I came here to chew bubblegum” line in the 1988 movie They Live, this is a must for your bingo card.  

Playing bingo, whether it’s online or at a bingo hall, and hosting movie nights have always been a way to have fun and build connections. So, it makes sense to combine the two. And what better genre to do this with than action movies from the 80s and 90s, knowing they are full of thematic tropes?

Chuck Norris Kicks Supernatural Ass in ‘Hellbound’ (1994)

By
Andrew Babcock
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A look back at another Chuck Norris Cannon Films masterpiece.

For my days off this week, I made it a later-era Cannon Films/Christopher Neame double feature. First up was the Speakman classic, Street Knight (which you can read about in a previous UAMC review) and then I rounded it off with a movie that is truly one of a kind, Hellbound.

This is a Chuck Norris flick that you either love or hate. It is such a unique entry into his catalog, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of it. Norris stars as a Chicago cop named Frank Shatter. He and his partner played by Calvin Levels (Adventures In Babysitting/Skyscraper) go from normal everyday stuff like cleaning up the streets of pimps and hookers, to battling an ancient supernatural being, in a globetrotting adventure.

The 11 Greatest Chuck Norris Ultimate Action Movies

Chuck Norris and Calvin Levels

The investigation of a rabbi leads them to Israel for questioning. While they are there, things get crazier and crazier. On the other side of the story, there is an ancient demonic entity that was buried thousands of years ago and due to some people digging where they shouldn’t, he is free once again to unleash his darkness on the world.

This devil-like character is played flawlessly by Christopher Neame (Street Knight/License to Kill/Irresistible Force). He just looks the part and even is helped out by a dubbed evil voice and an even more sinister haircut. He literally rips the heart out of one of his victims, so yea, this maybe isn’t for everyone in the Walker, Texas Ranger crowd.

Walker, Texas Ranger to Get Reboot (But Without Chuck Norris)

A Darker Texas Ranger

Yes there is that darker, horror element as the backdrop, but what really made me enjoy the way this movie was done, is that it didn’t take itself too seriously. They managed to throw in some really fun buddy-cop elements along the way, and it worked very well.

It feels like we get two films in one here, but it somehow works and is no doubt entertaining. Chuck’s Walker Texas Ranger co-star Sheree J. Wilson is a nice, familiar face that helps out along the way here too. They always had a natural on-screen chemistry together.

Chuck Norris Kills in ‘The Hero and The Terror’ (1988)

But How Ultimate is it?

We get to see Chuck deliver the goods, with his brand of cool and in the action department as well. In the early scenes sees him confronting a thug on the street and says, you call that a hit? This is a hit! And he punches him so hard, he flies over the hood of a car. Then in the middle of the film, there is a pretty extensive fight as he takes on a group of hooded bad guys. The finale sees the inevitable showdown between Norris and Neame. Chuck unleashes so many kicks, even the devil didn’t know how to handle that kind of power comin right at his face.

Cannon Films. Directed by Aaron Norris. A Walker reunion with Sheree J Wilson. Hellbound has a lot of familiar ingredients, but is totally unique. As the tagline goes; “Mess with this Chicago cop and there’s hell to pay!”

An Ultimate Look Back at ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift’

By
Daniel Pappas
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The Long and Winding Road: Chapter 3 – Study Abroad

Despite another successful movie a sequel wasn’t guaranteed for our beloved underground street-racing scene. Producer Neal H. Moritz struggled to lock down ANY of the original cast. He knew the concept was strong. The Fast and the Furious movies could make money with or without Vin Diesel. The only question was: How do you make a Fast and the Furious movie without ALL of your stars? The answer would invite the two biggest architects of the entire franchise and prove to be the true turning point for Fast and the Furious movies forever after.

Screenwriter Chris Morgan, on one of his first writing gigs ever, took up the challenge of drafting a new story. The movie was set in Tokyo, a tale of high school adventure and romance. Moritz found a particularly young director, Justin Lin, to take up the mantle of the FF movies. These two names are important. Morgan would go on to write every single FF movie (inventing the continuity that consists of the ‘Saga’) and Lin would direct four out of the nine total movies. These two would usher in the era of the FF saga but before that they had to prove their worth.

In this movie the cars really take off. The camera flies around its subjects. The soundtrack blasts exotic new hip-hop into the speakers. It continues the tradition of masculine posturing and female fetishizing, Its plot feels outlandish and extremely contrived but it wouldn’t be an Ultimate Action movie without a some genuine car-racing.

Read along on the rest of our Fast Saga coverage with these articles on the other Fast & Furious installments:

The Long and Winding Road of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ Franchise

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Tokyo Drift immediately distances itself from the previous movies. It happens in Tokyo (obviously) and features none of the original cast. In it Lucas Black plays Sean Boswell, an American sent to live with his dad in Japan after getting into street-race related trouble in school. Sean makes friends with Twink (Lil Bow Wow), Neela (Nathalie Kelley), and the best character of them all: Han Lue played by Sung Kang. Sean ends up feuding with the local race king over high school crush Neela.

Despite Sean’s initial failures Han teaches him how to drift (that is, slide your car around a narrow turn by yanking the electronic brake). Their friendship flowers as Sean learns to be comfortable in his new home. Unfortunately Han gets in trouble with local yakuza and ends up dying at the hands of Sean’s high school nemesis. The two decide to settle their beef and race each other down a mountaintop.

Justin Lin was originally approached to direct this movie in 2004 after his debut film Better Luck Tomorrow. The original script was described as “cars drifting around Buddhist statues and geisha girls.” Only after his first multi-million dollar budget picture did Lin return to the script and insist on a “much more postmodern” Tokyo. This is the Tokyo we’re granted.

The neon lights of Tokyo skyscrapers beam over the massive crowds underneath. We go into karaoke bars and pachinko parlors all with their flashing lights and video game sounds. It’s a vision of Tokyo that’s overwhelming and yet intriguing all at once. We feel claustrophobic in this Tokyo. Car garages tuck into narrow alleyways.  People play soccer on rooftop courts. Tokyo truly embodies an urban jungle.

Much has been made of the performances in this movie. Lucas Black serves as a functional teenager with a watered down version of his natural accent. Lil Bow Wow delivers the role of hype man and comic break capitalizing on his popularity at the time. Nathalie Kelley makes it through the film with a serviceable act. The leads are all… functional.

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Respect the Drift!

The real joy is watching Sung Kang glide through space as if he’s too cool for gravity. His calm demeanor, sly smiles, and job as a smuggler has convinced many he’s an analogue for Star Wars’ Han Solo. Spiritual sequel or not, Han rules every scene he occupies. He never gets flustered and never freaks out. He’s always munching on something (recalling Brad Pitt’s Rusty from the Ocean’s Eleven movies.) His cool-guy attitude brings some much-needed style to the film.

In the narrow confines of Tokyo streets and parking garages racing consists of effortlessly gliding around corners outwitting your opponent at every turn. The introduction of drifting (a very real thing) adds new stunt work and introduced a generation to moves they didn’t think a car could make. It was so successful a disclaimer is the first thing you see when the credits roll.

That sense of awe and wonder at the ability to make a car defy gravity or centripetal force really boosted the movie. It also established stronger stakes. One wrong wheel turn and the car could spin out. The central stunt of the film involves cars drifting through a crowded street in Tokyo as they empty of people at the very last minute. It’s nail-biting and impressively shot.

Lin’s direction contributes greatly to this film. Where John Singleton and Rob Cohen used digital effects to show the engine at work or stretched the oncoming lights into hyper-space mode Lin stuck to what works. His tight coverage of the actors with quick inserts of gear shifting all fit within the larger chase. Instead of staying particularly close to the action he steps away from it from time to time in wide shots (like a helicopter) to reestablish geography. Amazingly this method works as he stretches out the final showdown into a twenty-minute race down a mountain. Lin lets the car’s practical effects fill the screen preferring to show off the miracles a stunt driver can pull off on their own.

What underground racing scene wouldn’t be complete without scantily clad women and a pulsing soundtrack?. The camera ogles women in mini-skirts and tube tops as they leg their way across screen. Typically it starts at butt height finally landing on their bare shoulders. While poorly dressed these extras serve a purpose.

Much like in the previous films our protagonist’s interaction with the groupies sets him apart from his male counterparts. Even as Sean marvels at the women present his eyes fixate on Neela. He ignores the other women for Neela. Brian O’Conner did the exact same thing in the previous two movies. Compare Sean to his counterparts: Twink and Han literally have their arms around several women. The groupies, while sexy, do not interest the protagonist. Instead, the protagonist pursues the chaste yet dangerous woman who’s connected to a criminal. It is one of the most common tropes to action movies throughout history.

Fast to the Future: Is ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ an Ultimate Action Sci-Fi?

The Ultimate Legacy of Tokyo Drift?

I owned a copy of this soundtrack on CD back when walkman’s were a thing. It’s only in watching this movie did I realize just how much I listened to this film. I got way more mileage out of this soundtrack than I remember.

Unlike previous movies this soundtrack doesn’t rely solely on rap. Instead, Tokyo Drift incorporates bouncy pop rock (the 5,6,7,8’s) grunge rock (Atari Teenage Riot) and New York indie rap (DJ Shadow with Mos Def.)  The titular track ‘Tokyo Drift’ by the Teriyaki Boyz embodies the ethos of this movie: cool and underground Japanese hip-hop bars. While none of these tracks would go on to win a Grammy they were carefully curated by Pharrell Williams and Dr. Dre along with the movie’s composer Brian Tyler. Gone are the South L.A. gangster rap tones or the bass-heavy southern rap. Only at the very end does Don Omar’s ‘Bandolero’ show its face and for a VERY important reason.

In 2005, when the film was being shot, Vin Diesel wanted the rights to his Chronicles of Riddick character. He thought he could make some money off this character. Universal, the same studio that owned the Fast and the Furious rights, owned Riddick. In lieu of payment he negotiated a cameo appearance in Tokyo Drift in exchange for this character. It promised a return to the very first movie’s storyline. Vin Diesel himself never starred in Tokyo Drift, but his singular cameo changed the history of the franchise.

Dominic Toretto explains to Sean how Han was his friend and lent him this same car once upon a time. It begs the question: When was Han a part of Dominic Toretto’s family? This, ladies and gentlemen, created the flimsy strand that the web of FF films base their continuity on for the NEXT FIVE MOVIES. This bizarre tie-in, done as a horse trade, became a soft cornerstone for a franchise that would go on to earn Billions, capital B.

Ultimately Tokyo Drift did not quite pass muster. It earned a little more than $157 million worldwide (far behind the previous two movies) and on a budget of eighty five million. It’s the lowest regarded entry into the franchise. It rests at a metacritic score of 45. Despite the box office gross director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan crafted a compelling movie to watch. It shows off what the cars are capable of. The performances are lackluster but it’s kinetic cinematography make it exciting without being exhausting. While it didn’t work enough to merit it’s own story sequel it created enough runway to launch this thing into the early stages of a full on franchise and introduced the men who would make The Family what they are today.

Stacie Randall Carves Her Own Legacy in ‘Excessive Force 2’ (1995)

By
Andrew Babcock
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The legacy of Thomas Ian Griffith is secure in the very ultimate follow up Excessive Force II: Force On Force!

EXCESSIVE FORCE II, Stacie Randall, 1995, (c) New Line

Let me start this off by saying what a big fan I am of the original Excessive Force starring Thomas Ian Griffith. It had a certain old school magic to it, with an all-star cast to boot.

Excessive Force II: Force On Force is a sequel in name only. The feel of it is definitely a bit lighter of a tone, and the faces aren’t so familiar. But yet, it has this immediate fun factor that grabs you and carries on throughout the entire ride. And what a ride it is.

Enter our lead heroin, the beautiful Stacie Randall. Take notice Cynthia Rothrock. Okay, that is exaggerating, but what a star making vehicle this could have and should have been for Randall. She has the lethal combo of looks and martial arts skills and both are on full display.

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Stacie Randall as Harley Cordell

She stars as Harley Cordell (gotta love that name), an ex-special forces agent, who is now an investigator. She suffers from occasional bouts of trauma and disorientation from this bullet fragment stuck in her head.

Ignoring the surgery she needs, she continues to do her job as she has the opportunity to finally confront her past. It is revealed that she was shot in the head by her former commanding officer and lover named Lydell (Dan Gauthier/Tour of Duty), after she turned down his offer to be a part of this assassination squad that he was forming.

The movie revolves around her quest to take him down once and for all. In the process, she gets in the middle of a mafia war, and tries to make her current relationship with a Dr. work, all at the same time.

7 Reasons Why Cynthia Rothrock is the Queen of Kicking Ass

One Woman’s Quest for Ultimate Justice!

The film is very fast paced and doesn’t take itself overly seriously… plenty of funny innuendo, one liners and memorable moments. One of the best comedic scenes is where she picked up this random guy at this club. She was undercover and just using him to get upstairs, but he was already asking her how many children they should have together and planning their life together, only to be disappointed. Poor guy.

Like I mentioned, Randall gets to show off some really nice kicks and martial arts skills throughout the film. The fights were all very solid. So it all made sense when I found out Phillip Tan and James Lew served as the fight choreographers for the film. Lew even appeared in one fight at this cemetery early on.

Gauthier plays a fun bad guy. Too bad he had the most bumbling of idiots on his crew. At one point he gets so annoyed at one of his guys (Bradford Tatum/Black Scorpion), he tells him to settle down, that he acting like a kid in the car, having to go pee.

Thomas Ian Griffith Deserves our Ultimate Respect for ‘Excessive Force’

But How Ultimate is it?

The explosive finale features a nice shootout at this police station as Gauthier attempts to kill a mafia informant that is being held there. This leads to a pretty cool car chase and final showdown under a bridge.

Some other of my favorite action highlights include her fighting off an intruder at her apartment building, while another bad guy is shooting with a crossbow through the windows. She ducks and the arrow hits the intruder, he charges at her and she kicks him out the window.

I’m not saying that Excessive Force II: Force On Force tops the original, but it stands on it’s own very well and was a very nice, fun surprise that is over too quick! Definitely seek it out. I only wish that this led to at least a few more Excessive Force sequels for Randall.

The Best Action Shows to Stream on Quibi 

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Because the future of action is… Kevin Hart making fun of Die Hard?

Welp, the world as we’ve known it is over. Apparently the days of going to movie theaters or watching classic action favorites on VHS a group of friends are dead. Instead, we’re looking at a future of people streaming quick-hit content on their iPads and smartphones. And the name of the final straw… is whatever the hell “Quibi” is.

Regretfully, if bite-size content is the way of the future, here at the Ultimate Action Movie Club we promised to dedicate ourselves to keeping the 80s and 90s alive by never giving up on the VHS action classics. However, we also have to report the facts. This new app Quibi is here, and they are at least – attempting – to make some Ultimate Action worthy content.

Looking for more Ultimate Action Movie Streaming Options, check out some our full list below:

Let’s take a look at what – if anything – this new streaming platform has to offer.

Die Hart

So, the most promising offering is of course more of a comedy than a real actioner. However, the context of it is appealing. We have a fictional version of Kevin Hart taking on the quest of landing a role in an ultimate action movie – like Die Hard. Also of note, Hart enlists old school action star John Travolta (playing a fictional version of himself) to teach him the ways of Ultimate and Over-the-Top action fights and sequences. It also apparently features an “action movie school” which sounds kinda funny.

Crazy Talented

More superhero / superpower thrillers coming at ya! Although there is a bit of promise for Crazy Talented as it comes from The Bourne Identity director Doug Ligman. The series follows a charismatic leader who convinces patients at a psych ward that they possess superpowers and must stop alien weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

Code 8 Spin-Off

The rest of these picks aren’t going to be so much pure-action, as mostly a mix of action, drama and a lot of sci-fi (because that’s what people want, I guess). We have a spin-of series of the 2019 sci-fi thriller Code 8 which will be a “sequel series” starring Stephen and Robbie Amell in a world where 4% of the population is born with superpowers. Yay!

CURS_R

Another classic action name that is nominally attached to what we hope is anything but a ho-hum project, Ridley Scott is set to serve as Executive Producer for CURS_R, the story of a broke college student who discovers a way to earn fast cash by playing an obscure 80s computer game… but she soon discovers she’s playing for her life!

The Most Dangerous Game

There’s a bit more promise in the only offering which Quibi has marketed as an “action packed thriller” and stars one of the few big budget action stars of our day (albeit mostly in superhero titles) – Liam Hemsworth. Hemsy stars as a man desperate and in debt. In a dystopian thriller where the hunter turns out to be the hunted. And of course The Most Dangerous Game has a long way to go to live up to its predecessor Surviving the Game!

The Last American Vampire

Blah, in what sounds like an obvious pitch after the success of Will Smith’s Bright on Netflix a few years ago, we have another action drama featuring a young FBI agent who partners up with a 500-year-old vampire to protect the world from a new threat. I’ll hold out hope that some how this turns out a bit Blade-ish, but will have to see.

#FreeRayShawn

While the initial plot for #Freerayshawn sounds a bit Ultimate, it looks like this new politically charged thriller starring Stephan James might be a bit more drama than shoot ‘em up. A young Iraq War veteran named Rayshawn is set up by cops for a botched drug deal, he seeks shelter at his apartment with his girlfriend and child. Amid the growing media attention and a standoff with law enforcement, a kind-hearted cop – played by Laurence Fishburne at least!

Transmissions

While certainly not an action franchise by any reach of the imagination, the British drama thriller Bodyguard was one of the better action-oriented programs of the past few years that featured some truly harrowingly well-done sequences. Now, the show’s creator is launching a new sci-fi thriller that follows the sole scientist at a remote observatory who begins to receive signals from space.

The Fugitive

Now this one sounds promising! Right? We have a “loose” remake of the great 1960s television series, and the very ultimate 90s movie, The Fugitive. This time, we have UAMC-approved modern action star Boyd Holbrook on the run trying to clear his name in a L.A. bombing case by tracking down the real perpetrator, all while evading the cop (Kiefer Sutherland) hunting him down.

Pale Rider: A Look at Clint Eastwood’s Ultimate 80s Action Western

By
Mike Culton
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The Preacher and the Temporary Town in the Sawtooth Mountains in Pale Rider (1985).

You can’t really say that Pale Rider is overlooked. It was the most profitable western in the 1980s, which may be a dubious achievement given the other genre titles in the era. Sandwiched between The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven, two arguably superior movies, it seems like one of those forgotten 80s gems that many are rediscovering and blogging about.

Adding to the pile of that collected work, two themes deserve a bit more attention: retiring the classic Clint Eastwood “man with no name” character and filming on location in one of the most northern and isolated locations in the western genre.

The Birth of ‘The Man with No Name’ Action Movie Archetype

Clint Eastwood’s as an Ultimate Western Legend

The original man with no name rode away into the mountains never to be seen again in 1985. Clint Eastwood redefined the western genre throughout the 60s and 70s. What set this character apart from his predecessors was his moral ambiguity and crowd-pleasing use of violence to save his skin and stay one step ahead of the even shadier hombres stalking lawless frontiers.

Clint rode that character hard, all the way to super stardom, but by the late 70s it was clear that times were changing. He transitioned to more modern crime movies, continuing the Dirty Harry franchise, and even ill-advised attempts at comedies (looking at you Honktonk Man).

Pale Rider’s The Preacher represents an end to a 20-year era of rootin’ tootin’ showdowns, beat-downs, and slick one-liners that made Clint Eastwood a western legend and household name.

An Ultimate Ranking of the Dirty Harry Movies

Some Classic Western Action Highlights

The few memorable moments in Pale Rider lean heavily on these tropes. The best scene of the movie, and one for the ultimate action highlight reel, is The Preacher’s beat-cute with the local goons sticking it to the poor schlub trying to eke out a living in the mountains. It’s a cracking and flawless victory with the Preacher using nothing but an axe handle: “a nice piece of hickory.”

Paired with the 80’s action vibe are wonderful mountain landscapes filmed at a rather unique location. Clint and co. traveled to a remote area of Idaho on federally protected land in the Sawtooth Mountains. This is about as remote and far north as any western has ever been filmed. If you consider A River Runs Through It as a western, dunk your head in a horse trough. The rugged setting greatly enhances the story and provides a singularly dramatic backdrop to the action.

Rutger Hauer Goes Action Cowboy in ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ (1987)

The Most Ultimate Western Backdrop Ever

Pale Rider’s filmmakers were dedicated to this spot 15 miles north of Sun Valley. They trucked in all of the materials for the set on a two-lane road, turned off onto an old dirt road, and drove another two to three miles up steep and rocky grades. The town in Pale Rider was built entirely from scratch, including some of the interiors.

Because this is protected land, they agreed to completely tear it all down after filming, down to the last timber and nail. If you go there now, the land is as pristine and untouched as it was before they started shooting. The dedication and resourcefulness of the production crew is a little known reason to appreciate this otherwise unassuming film.

If you are curious what the site looks like now, watch the Pale Rider review above that takes you on location while breaking down the story beats and beat-em-ups. Pop in a Pale Rider disc again with a renewed perspective and pay respects for the last outing of an original bad-ass: the Man with No Name.

Article by Mike Culton – An action aficionado who grew up on a steady stream of 80s and 90s action movies. He drunkenly tweets movie reviews on Fridays @BuzzedMovies on Twitter and produces a series of movie reviews on films that were shot in Idaho on YouTube.

Olivier Gruner Takes on Familiar Action Stars in T.N.T. (1997)

By
Andrew Babcock
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Another feather in the ultimate action movie bonnet of the 90s DTV star Olivier Gruner!

UAMC readers, it’s time for another spotlight on one of the most underrated action stars of the 90s – Olivier Gruner. This time, let’s take a look at 1997’s T.N.T., directed by Robert Radler (Best of the Best/Showdown).

Gruner, Judson Mills (Walker Texas Ranger/The President’s Man: A Line in the Sand), and Cyril O’Reilly (Navy Seals/Excessive Force II: Force On Force/Bloodfist VII) are among an elite unit called TNT (Tactical Neutralization Team). After a mission goes bad and a couple civilians are killed, Gruner decides to leave the life behind.

His commanding officer played by the one and only Eric Roberts (Best of the Best 1 & 2/The Expendables/Runaway Train) doesn’t want the security risk of a former member being out there, so naturally he sends Gruner’s former squad out to get him.

Olivier Gruner Stars in Isaac Florentine’s ‘Savate’ (1995)

UAMC Reviews T. N. T.

The film spends some time on Gruner’s and his new life and new love, Rebecca Staab (The Substitute 3/The Fantastic Four). One of Gruner’s other new friends was the sheriff, played by country music legend Randy Travis (Fire Down Below/Black Dog). Travis played a likeable role as a lawman with some nifty, quick-draw skills.

Perhaps the best fight scene of the movie came when they were all gathered at this bar for Travis’ birthday and Gruner showed restraint when some drunks were hitting on his girl. That was until Travis went to the bathroom and Gruner ended up taking ‘em all out anyway.

Eric Roberts Tries to Out Cliffhanger Stallone in ‘Freefall’ (1994)

A Bearded Eric Roberts (Plus Many More)!

This movie had a number of blink and you’ll miss them appearances, including Jason Voorhees himself Kane Hodder, David ‘Shark’ Fralick (Desert Heat) and Sam J. Jones (Maximum Force/Fists of Iron/Expert Weapon). Eric Roberts’ role was just a notch above a blink and you’ll miss him appearance, with a limited on screen time, but a memorable beard.

Gruner’s old squad ends up kidnapping his girlfriend (Staab) and he goes all commando for the rescue. The finale was pretty satisfying with some some good action and a couple more memorable fights. It was cool seeing Gruner get to square off with martial arts vet Simon Rhee (Best of the Best/Showdown In Little Tokyo) in a well choreographed back-and-forth.

Olivier Gruner Shines Once Again in the DTV ‘Mercenary’ (1996)

But How Ultimate is it?

The climactic fight between Gruner and O’Reilly took place in the middle of a winding road where one of them gets thrown in front of an oncoming semi-truck. While we still got all that good stuff, the ending seemed slightly rushed. I was looking forward to seeing him go after Roberts, but it just showed him on TV getting arrested.

Still this was another very solid entry to the Gruner’s deep catalog, and another one that should have made him more of a household name. Even so, just like his spinning back kicks to his enemies faces, Gruner’s legacy is cemented in the hearts of old school action fans!

2 Fast 2 Furious: Exploring the Sequel That Launched an Ultimate Franchise

By
Daniel Pappas
-

The Long and Winding Road: Chapter 2 – A Fork In the Road

The numbers came in. The Fast and the Furious made 207.3 million dollars internationally on a budget of thirty eight million dollars. People loved fast cars and street racing. That’s what producer Neal H. Moritz decided the moment he greenlit a sequel. Unfortunately for Neal two factors complicated production: Ja Rule wouldn’t return his calls and Vin Diesel didn’t want to do it.

Reports tell of two scripts – one that includes Dominic Toretto and one that doesn’t – and since Diesel didn’t feel like joining an offshoot (not a direct sequel) there would be no Dominic Toretto. Instead Vin Diesel went on to perform in The Chronicles of Riddick. Paul Walker, fresh off starring in Timeline, agreed. John Singleton, himself a huge fan of the first movie, signed on to direct and in so doing brought with him Cole Hauser and the infamous Tyrese Gibson. Moritz decided that with or without it’s touchstone character this train was leaving the station.

Singleton’s love for the original movie helped fuel the direction of this second piece and admittedly the script feels like a carbon copy of its predecessor in certain places. Still, Singleton’s direction and ability to shoot car chases enhance this movie into the Ultimate Action movie. 2 Fast 2 Furious backs away from the more thorough character focus of its original and delivers on more practical stunt work and car chases.

Read along on the rest of our Fast Saga coverage with these articles on the other Fast & Furious installments:

The Long and Winding Road of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ Franchise

UAMC Reviews 2 Fast 2 Furious

In this film we see the type of elaborate plot contrivances that set up action sequences common to action films. 2 Fast 2 Furious feels like a brand new entry into a street racing anthology because it stands alone from its predecessor but it continues the passion the previous film had for car chases, cops and criminals working together, poorly clothed women, and high speed stunts.

Brian O’Conner left L.A. after the events of the first movie. He lives and works in a Miami garage for Tej Parker (aka Ludacris.) After cops catch him racing on the streets he gets pulled in by U.S. customs service agents to go undercover as a mule for drug kingpin Carter Verone (Cole Hauser.) O’Conner will work with their other undercover agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes), to catch this man. O’Conner then enlists the help of his childhood friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) as he will need a real street racer to back him up. Together all three must navigate Verone’s dangerous criminal enterprise to bring him down without getting arrested by the police or killed by Verone.

The movie dives straight into its main appeal, street racing, without any hesitation. The first scene we’re granted a nail-bitingly close race between Walker in his classic Nissan Skyline against three color-coordinated racecar drivers. The turns are fast and the camera whips by them as they speed down the empty roads of Miami. There’s a decent sense of geography within the racing sequences.

This movie goes beyond its predecessor by adding ramps to launch cars off of. The big finale demonstrates this by having Pearce and O’Conner launch his car into a boat to stop the villain from escaping. It’s an Ultimate stunt that’s done practically. Despite the practical stunts there still remain several digital sequences. Just like in the first film the camera dives into the engine digitally to see the motors at work. It’s done sparsely, avoiding distraction from the audience. Similarly when racers engage their NOS buttons the camera blurs and lights stretch, like the light speed effect in Star Wars.

Fast to the Future: Is ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ an Ultimate Action Sci-Fi?

John Singleton’s Comedic Stylings

2 Fast 2 Furious dips away from its predecessor by leaning heavily into its comedic sense and away from dramatic plotting. Almost as if in direct contrast to Toretto’s gruff sulking Tyrese Gibson plays the thuggish yet charismatic Pearce. Previously shot in Singleton’s movie Baby Boy Gibson made his second role in movies one unlikely to be forgotten. He leans fully into the joyous feel of his one-liners while still menacing cops. Paul Walker tempers his bright charisma with a much more grounded O’Conner. Remember: this is O’Conner after the events of the first film. He’s a much older and wiser character. He no longer reeks of naiveté. He references the events of the first film but we never get a full understanding of why he’s in Miami.

The second film doubles down on it’s soundtrack legacy by introducing Cris Bridges. Oh, I’m sorry. You all probably know him as Cris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges – or better yet, Ludacris.

In 2003 Ja Rule wouldn’t take John Singleton or Neal Moritz’s calls. They offered Ja Rule half a million dollars to star in the sequel and he ghosted them. Instead the role went to the then-young rapper Ludacris. For the movie’s soundtrack Ludacris created “Act a Fool.” The song was later nominated for a Grammy award. Standout artists on the soundtrack include Trick Daddy, 2 Chainz, Dead Prez, Joe Budden, and Mr. Worldwide himself: Pitbull. This time the music incorporated Miami hip-hop and reggaeton into its oeuvre along with the classic LA hip hop from the first.

Considering this movie revolves so directly around the underground street racing scene 2 Fast 2 Furious continues the tradition of color-coordinated street racers with their color-coordinated groupies. All of whom don booty shorts and tube tops. As far as shorthand goes it’s spelled out very clearly for you in bright neon letters. Given that the movie’s set in Miami they take time to visit the beach, showing off bikini-clad beach goers. It’s the thing Miami’s known for and arguably adds little extra value to the film other than showing off skin outside of the blacktop. The movie clearly courts it’s male audience with the heaviest possible hand.

Bloodshot: Vin Diesel as the Ultimate Action Movie Superhero

But How Ultimate is it?

This follow up to it’s more character-driven predecessor leans heavily into the contrived plotting for vicious car races. It introduces gimmicks (like the ejector-seat) as part of it’s grand finale. It touches briefly on family drama (in an open and shut way that doesn’t feel earned but also doesn’t feel central to the drama.) It demonstrates a profound practical stunt that audiences can enjoy. It is everything the Fast and the Furious would come to be known for. The main difference is it’s swing towards comedy by introducing Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson. The levity these two provide clearly add value given that they came back for several more movies.

2 Fast 2 Furious stands on its own as an Ultimate Action flick. It delivers on impressive car flipping, car chasing, and mid-car fighting. It’s plot fits wholly outside of the first film and that helps it to stand on its own. Audiences resonated with this second entry despite critical dislike. It went on to earn 236 million dollars in the international box office, and this was in 2003!

The Fast and the Furious series, producers started to see, might have legs. The second entry added to the success of the first and merited a further addition. Still no vision for a shared universe or a decades-long saga came to mind. At this point in time these were cash cow flicks aimed at summer blockbuster moviegoers. This movie had yet to become the franchise we all know and love today but it drew one step closer with 2 Fast 2 Furious.

4 Best Movies to Cure The Pandemic Blues

By
Ultimate Action Movies
-

Since early 2020, we have been living in uncertain times due to the ongoing pandemic and the global infection rates soaring with each passing day. With the first quarter of 2021 being passed, we are still not settling down as nothing is returning to normal.

In that context, with remote working and an online education system, we have nothing much to do inside our homes. Boredom gives space to anxiety, stress, and boredom, also known as the pandemic blues. It gets worse when you get infected with the virus and find yourself stranded all alone inside your room and quarantining yourself back to health.

What are you all doing to pass these scary times? I would be surprised if no one mentioned movies and seasons. What else can be more entertaining to curb the pandemic blues than indulging in movies which can provide temporary relief? Speaking of movies, let us agree that we select the movie genre based on our moods. The below-given list contains top movies that are a must-watch if you are being struck with the pandemic blues’ global phenomenon.

Watching awesome movies like these will certainly instigate you to produce your own pandemic movie with film studio Miami, for instance. Nonetheless, without further ado, let us jump straight into the list of the best movies to watch during the pandemic.

Deadly Illusions

If you are in for a psycho-thriller, then this is the best movie to watch. Also, if you are looking for familiar faces in the movie with a thriller story, Deadly Illusions will keep you on the edge while you will eagerly go through the exciting movie plot.

Deadly Illusions revolves around a novelist who hires a nanny to focus on her last book in the meantime. As you might have guessed by the movie title, the novelist’s world blurs and turns into a blend of reality and illusions, which, in the end, might end up horrible and deadly for her.

If you are thinking who the hot guy in the movie is, playing his role of Kristin Davis’s husband, say less: it is Dermot Mulroney!

The Disaster Artist

If you are looking for some inspiration, we have the best movie queued in the line: the Disaster Artist, which revolves around a Hollywood outsider but an aspiring filmmaker and his best friend. Together, the two best friends work on the long-time dream to make the classic (worst movie) “The Room.”

You can expect many famous faces to pop up in this movie, including Zac Efron and Dave Franco. This film truly captures all aspiring filmmakers’ dreams and takes the audience back to those days when dreams were definitely bigger than reality.

Diana: In Her Own Words

With Oprah and the Royals’ latest interview, we believe that this is the perfect time to dig into more Royal drama. Besides, this movie is for everyone who is a die-hard fan of “The Crown” and wants to know a different perspective on Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s fraught relationship. This movie falls into the documentary genre and is narrated by Princess Diana herself during her different interviews that she gave in the year 1991. Her interviews display her life and legacy, which have been beautifully presented in “Diana: In Her Own Words.”

Attack on Titan

We know that this falls into the anime genre and is a season instead of a movie. However, we believe that this pandemic is all about leaving one’s comfort zones and exploring new horizons from the safety and comforts of your homes. This is where Attack on Titan comes in.

 

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