Top 10 Best Action & Adventure Movies

Action and adventure movies are perhaps the most popular to be watched on the big screen. So what is it exactly that makes a great action adventure movie? To a large extent the genre is defined (and redefined) by the movies themselves - the ones that are remembered the longest and most highly esteemed by movie-goers.

My selection below includes movies as varied as pirate adventure and science fiction yet they all fall into the action adventure genre, and are in my opinion, some of the best movies ever made. Essential ingredients include a great story or at least one that can move along at a good pace. Add to this a hero we can identify with. If our hero is slightly disadvantaged in some way, by a character flaw or overwhelming odds, then even better.

For an action adventure movie to be truly memorable we have to share our hero's experience as they face dangers and circumstances we never will (and probably wouldn't want to). In reverse order here are my top ten...

10. The Long Kiss Goodnight

Samantha Caine, a happily married suburban Mom can't remember anything before the birth of her daughter eight years ago. One night during a car accident she receives a blow to the head and her past slowly begins to come back to her. But it's a race against time when a former enemy sees her on television and breaks out of jail to take revenge for stabbing him in the eye. This is a terrific action adventure movie, which never quite got the credit it deserved.

9. The Fugitive

Respected surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble is falsely accused and convicted of the brutal murder of his wife. A failed escape by other prisoners gives Kimble an opportunity to escape. Pursued by the relentless US Marshal, Samuel Gerard, Kimble's only hope is to find those responsible for the murder of his wife. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones make this one fantastic manhunt movie.

8. Aliens

Discovered half a century later drifting through space in an escape shuttle - Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley is the lone survivor of the mining ship Nostromo. With no witnesses and no one to believe her story she is stripped of her flight officer's license. She finds out that since her ordeal a human colony has been founded on the planet were the alien was first encountered and that all contact has been lost. Recruited as advisor she joins a team of marines to return to the planet to face what turns into a living nightmare. Where Alien was scary because you hardly saw it, Aliens is scary because they are everywhere.

7. Star Wars: A New Hope

I saw Star Wars at the age of 10, after a long wait with my Mom outside the cinema. Even then I new I had seen something important - I just didn't realize then that it was one of the greatest action and adventure movies of all time.

The Flash Gordon style text rolls back into the darkness of space, a gigantic Imperial space ship screeches past nearly filling the entire movie screen. Its prey... a hopelessly out-gunned spaceship - on board... Princess Leia Organa (a member of the Imperial Senate) and two droids: R2-D2 and C3PO. Inside the R2-D2 droid are copies of the plans to the Death Star, a weapon of unspeakable power. Between these three and a handful of others the fate of the free universe hangs.

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

This movie managed to restore the pirate adventure to main stream cinema long after it had gone out of vogue but only just! Imagine for a moment the same film without Johny Depp and Geoffrey Rush - not quite the same is it?

Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner are brought together in an unlikely partnership and must face a band of cursed pirates led by the treacherous Captain Barbossa. Both have different goals: - for Will it is to rescue the love of his life Elizabeth Swann and for Jack to recover the Black Pearl.

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark

After outrunning a massive boulder we see our hero surviving a snake pit, escaping elaborate booby traps, and taking on evil Nazis in pursuit of the Ark of the Covenant. Against all odds Indiana Jones will stop at nothing to attain the prize. With more action than you could crack a bullwhip at, this film, with the help of Harrison Ford, redefined what an action adventure movie could be.

4. Terminator II: Judgment Day

Arnold IS back! Not to terminate Sarah Connor but to protect her son. In the sequel to The Terminator, two robots from the future are sent back in time - one to kill John Connor (the future leader of the human resistance against the machines) the other to protect him. Our now "nice guy" Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) well and truly meets his match in the form of the T-1000, an advanced prototype liquid metal terminator which can imitate anything of similar size that it comes into physical contact with. Some shaky stop-frame animation in the first film is replaced with some cutting edge special effects in this one.

3. The Matrix

This is the movie that raised the bar in cinema in terms of fight scenes and special effects. The makers of The Matrix invented completely new ways to use the camera (cameras even) creating something called "bullet time" which revolutionized the action sequence.

Mild mannered programmer by day - hacker by night, Thomas Anderson has always questioned his reality. His search for a legendary hacker named Morpheus attracts sinister attention from "government" agents. Thomas Anderson is about to have his question answered and find out the true nature of The Matrix.

2. Blade

Born to a mother dying from a vampire attack, Blade is the "day walker" - man with all the strengths of a vampire but none of their weaknesses. Blades' mission is to hunt down the vampire as revenge for the death of his mother. This movie is a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end with some of the most spectacular sword-fighting scenes to be seen on the big screen.

1. The Bourne Identity

Found floating, half dead in the sea by the crew of an Italian fishing boat, Jason Bourne has nothing, not even his memory. The only clue to his identity is the Swiss bank account number embedded in his hip. In Zurich the discovery of passports, cash and a handgun in a safe-deposit box set alarm bells ringing, not only for Jason, but for those that want him dead.

Top Ten Best Action Movies

Here are the ten best action movies that got our adrenaline pumping and the dynamite exploding. We love action movies and have seen hundreds in our time.

10. Robocop: A cop is transformed after he is brutally murdered execution style by a notorious gang leader. He becomes a super crime fighter, a Robo Cop who is mostly machine with some remnants of his human memory/life. This film had lots of innovative fight scenes with robots, when that was the huge craze and robots were just becoming known in the late 80's. Interestingly, Darren Aronofsky has been hired to film the remake, and Aronofsky is a brilliant director (The Fountain, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream).

9. Commando: One of Arnold's earlier films in the 80's, the title speaks for itself. Schwarzenegger is on a mission to get back his kidnapped daughter, and not even an army will stand in his way. "You know when I said I'd kill you last... I lied." This is Arnold doing what he does best, shooting machine guns and blowing stuff up. A movie where you don't have to think.

8. Mission Impossible: Another great film with suspense and excitement. The Mission Impossible team is stealthy and sneaky. Suspended above lasers detection and holding on for dear life as an elevator rockets towards the ceiling. This message will self destruct in five seconds.

7. Rocky: You gotta love this one, "Yo Adrian!". Rocky Balboa is the prototypical Philly Boxer, he don't know much, but he can fight. This series was full of excitement except for Rocky V, that one sucked. But with Rocky heads up against fighters like Apollo, Clubber, and Drago, there is tons of boxing action!

6. The Transporter: Fast cars, fast fighting, and hot women. What could be better? Not much, "The Transporter" has it all and like to show off. The car chase scenes and fight choreography are to be admired. The plot is intriguing too, the women, are the package to be delivered.

5. Rambo: An ex special forces guy who can take out an entire police department with a rock and some sharp sticks. The Rambo series show us that with enough will power and makeshift technology, one man can be "an army of one". One thing you don't want to do is get on Rambo's bad side. And yes they've made too many in the series, Stallone obviously never says die.

4. Aliens: The first and second and resurrection films in this series were well done. The Aliens depicted in these films are not to be messed with. They are scary looking and will haunt your dreams. Only flamethrowers and a helluva lot of ammunition will take them down. And even then after you shoo them, there could be acid splash back at you. Only Ripley seems to know how to take them down, and maybe that's because she is carrying one of them inside her, and they don't want to kill their own. These Aliens are like worker ants only much bigger and much deadlier. The hierarchy is the same though.

3. Predator: How do you kill what you can't see? Arnold thinks "if it bleeds we can kill it". Easier said than done as the Predator lives for the hunt and wants humans for trophies. His technology is vastly superior to the measly humans, but lucky for them he will fight on their level for "honor". This is the only weakness that allow Arnold to have a sporting chance.

2. Terminator: First Schwarzenegger plays a cyborg from the future that comes to kill Sarah Connor, then in T2 he plays one that comes to save Jon Connor to fight for the resistance against Sky Net. I don't know why but I always think that this apocalyptic scenario is always possible with our technology available. We all await to see whether Terminator: Salvation will be a blockbuster or a failure.

1. Die Hard: "yippy ka yay" This film has action ingrained in its cellophane. Most definitely the best action film of all time. An NYPD cop is trapped in Nakatomi plaza with a bunch of terrorist who hold his wife's co workers hostage at during an office party. John McClane slips away when they seize control, and manages to undermine and kill off the terrorist one by one. John McTiernan directed this film along with the Predator film, and does an impeccable job.

Top Action Movies

From time to time, a friend will ask me for suggestions about the top action movies ever made. I always give the same answers, so I thought I might as well write them down for the enjoyment of others. While there's a strong chance that you've seen all the films listed below, younger readers might discover a whole new world of explosions and gunfights opening up for them. And even if you've already watched them all, they're still good enough to warrant repeat viewings.

Enter the Dragon (1973) - Combining elements of the action, thriller, and martial arts genres, Enter the Dragon tells the story of Lee (Bruce Lee), a Shaolin monk who's invited to participate in a martial arts tournament on the island of crime lord Han (Shih Kien). Lee has no interest at first, but he changes his mind after being approached by British Intelligence and later informed that one of Han's goons had a hand in the death of Lee's sister. Heading to the island, he also encounters an American playboy named Roper (John Saxon) and a black activist named Williams (Jim Kelly). From there, the tournament begins in earnest, with a number of the competitors winding up dead. In the middle of the fighting, Lee must find proof of Han's wrongdoing so the forces of law and order can bring him to justice. Bruce Lee wasn't the greatest actor, but his martial arts abilities were second to none. Check out this action masterpiece to see what I'm talking about.

Lethal Weapon (1987) - Days away from retirement, veteran L.A. cop Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is saddled with new partner Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), who everyone believes to be suicidal. As the mismatched pair bicker and bond, they must also work together to bring down a drug cartel run by former Vietnam commandoes. The classic buddy cop movie, Lethal Weapon would spawn three successful sequels. It's fun to watch Mel Gibson in action back before everyone thought he was crazy in real life.

Speed (1994) - LAPD bomb expert Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) finds himself trapped on a bus that's wired to blow if the speed drops below 50 miles per hour. While he tries to save the passengers and bring a mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) to justice, he also finds plenty of time to flirt with the vehicle's sassy and lead-footed driver (Sandra Bullock in the role that shot her to stardom).

Die Hard (1988) - In my humble opinion, Die Hard is the greatest action film ever made. It's got an underdog hero (Bruce Willis) that you can really root for, a villain who's just as cool as the hero (Alan Rickman in his movie debut), and plenty of explosions, shootouts, and fistfights. The lines are memorable, the supporting cast is great, and the Christmas-in-L.A. setting only adds to the allure. A number of sequels would follow, but none of them came close to this original tale of a NYPD cop trapped in an L.A. skyscraper during an attack by European criminals.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - Before he broke the box-office records with Titanic and Avatar, director James Cameron followed up his groundbreaking sci-fi hit The Terminator with this summer blockbuster sequel starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie plays a killer robot from the future who's sent back in time to protect young John Connor (Edward Furlong), the man destined to one day save humanity. Our muscular hero is opposed by an all-new, all-improved model from the future known as the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), and the two artificial beings waste no time in destroying large chunks of Los Angeles. The sound on the film is amazing, and I've known more than one person who's used this DVD to show off their new home entertainment system. The stunts are great, the shootouts thrilling, and Linda Hamilton got all kinds of buzz for her buff body. Although it's almost 20 years old, it still remains a classic of both the action and sci-fi genres.

Top 5 Action Movies Ever Shown

Action movies are Hollywood'sï؟½ top grosser in the box office so it seems easy to come up with a list of the best of them. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Any action movie sucker knows that creating a compilation of the best action movies to have ever hit the screen is an epic task. This is simply because each of these great action movies are the best in their own right. In addition, each person has or her own taste when it comes to selecting the best of the best action movies there is. No matter how many times you watch a favorite movie, there will always be something new to get from it as if it was the first time you watch it. The list below is a personal compilation of the author, and as such, should never constitute an aesthetic standard when it comes to action films selection.

1. Saving Private Ryan--This soldier's-eye view of the Second World War storming of Normandy during D-Day is simply devastating. This film is the father of all WWII films and is considered a good measure for filmmaking. There are many action movies with the same theme but Saving Private Ryan simply supersedes all of them. The most striking part was the beach assault of Omaha. Excellent use of filmmaking techniques such as muted colors, slight speeding up of images, hand-held cameras, and many others, all contributed to the uniqueness of the film. Amazing movie creation.

2. Terminator 2:ï؟½ Judgment Day--Released in 1991, this sequel of the original Terminator is considered the best of the series even after the release of Terminator 3. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred as an android sent from the future to protect a young boy who will lead the future revolutionary movement against the machines that will take control of the world. This is also, by far, Schwarzenegger's best action movie.

3. Gladiator--If you have a flair for history and historical settings, Gladiator will never fail to deliver the excitement and adventure you are looking for.ï؟½ Russell Crowe perfectly portrayed the hardy qualities of Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius even in the face of personal adversity and extreme hardships. This movie also offers an excellent accurate display of the tale of gladiators in the once blood-thirsty Roman Empire.

4. Die Hard --Looking for raw action? Die Hard, released in 1988, is the best one to start your movie marathon. Bruce Willis, playing the part of a gung-ho NYPD cop, is the ideal fit to take on the role. His character managed to neutralize a terrorist group who took over a large skyscraper in New York. You will never tire out watching this one.

5. Troy--Should you want a healthy dose of ancient warfare, Troy, released in 2004 and starred by Brad Pitt, is your best choice. This movie tells the story of the Trojan War in the eyes of Achilles, the mightiest Greek warrior that Trojans feared for several years.

Although this list does not include the latest blockbusters and new release movies lately, these movies are still considered "classics" in their own right.ï؟½ They have proven their worth by standing out in the midst of hundreds, if not thousands, of many good action movies that Hollywood produced over several decades.

The Top Action Movies to See in HD

Of all the genres of movies on the market - horror, chick flick, drama, comedy, etc. - some will clearly benefit from a nice, flat-screen high definition television more than others. The colors will come alive, the special effects will seem real and viewers will feel like they are right in their favorite actor or actress' action sequences. High speed car chases and action fighting sequences are great for this type of television, especially if the TV is mounted on the wall or if you have surround sound installed, making your living room seems like a home entertainment or movie theater. All of the following movies are available on satellite TV most of the time, so be sure not to miss the best action movies:

The Dark Knight (2008): Constantly available on demand through satellite TV, "The Dark Knight" earned the late Heath Ledger the second posthumous Best Actor Oscar in Academy Award history in his role as The Joker. His menacing painted face, car chases with Batman and creepy laugh make this action thriller one of the greates movies of the early 2000s.

Sin City (2005): Another movie based off a comic book or graphic novel series, "Sin City" may not feel like a movie you need to watch in HD because, well, it's mostly filmed in black and white with splotches of vibrant red. However, the difference in picture clarity and crispness shines through in the optimal viewing as the characters jump off the screen the way they do in a newspaper.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the Kings (2003): The details are not in the colors or even the action sequences for this film, but rather the incredible special effects. Released around the same time as the ever-popular "Harry Potter" films, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy makes use of computer technology and graphics to make every creature seem real.

Mighty Ducks (1992): Not so much an action movie as it is a sports movie, the Mighty Ducks combines the excitement of hockey and teamwork to make one awesome film. Check to find out if this movie has been remastered on DVD to fit HDTVs.

Avatar (2009): Though not yet released on DVD, this movie recently brought home all of the Academy Awards for special effects, action and artistry. Premium movie channels on satellite TV will vie for the rights to show this movie on television first. When it gets there, be sure not to miss one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful action films of all time, thorough in plot, action, effects and romance.

Die Hard (1988): Bruce Willis stars in this classic action movie, that easily falls in everyone's list of the Top Action Movies of All Time. Shown on both cable and premium channels, it is another action movie that has been remastered and reworked to benefit from the perks of high definition.

Top Ten Best Action Movies

Here are the ten best action movies that got our adrenaline pumping and the dynamite exploding. We love action movies and have seen hundreds in our time.

10. Robocop: A cop is transformed after he is brutally murdered execution style by a notorious gang leader. He becomes a super crime fighter, a Robo Cop who is mostly machine with some remnants of his human memory/life. This film had lots of innovative fight scenes with robots, when that was the huge craze and robots were just becoming known in the late 80's. Interestingly, Darren Aronofsky has been hired to film the remake, and Aronofsky is a brilliant director (The Fountain, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream).

9. Commando: One of Arnold's earlier films in the 80's, the title speaks for itself. Schwarzenegger is on a mission to get back his kidnapped daughter, and not even an army will stand in his way. "You know when I said I'd kill you last... I lied." This is Arnold doing what he does best, shooting machine guns and blowing stuff up. A movie where you don't have to think.

8. Mission Impossible: Another great film with suspense and excitement. The Mission Impossible team is stealthy and sneaky. Suspended above lasers detection and holding on for dear life as an elevator rockets towards the ceiling. This message will self destruct in five seconds.

7. Rocky: You gotta love this one, "Yo Adrian!". Rocky Balboa is the prototypical Philly Boxer, he don't know much, but he can fight. This series was full of excitement except for Rocky V, that one sucked. But with Rocky heads up against fighters like Apollo, Clubber, and Drago, there is tons of boxing action!

6. The Transporter: Fast cars, fast fighting, and hot women. What could be better? Not much, "The Transporter" has it all and like to show off. The car chase scenes and fight choreography are to be admired. The plot is intriguing too, the women, are the package to be delivered.

5. Rambo: An ex special forces guy who can take out an entire police department with a rock and some sharp sticks. The Rambo series show us that with enough will power and makeshift technology, one man can be "an army of one". One thing you don't want to do is get on Rambo's bad side. And yes they've made too many in the series, Stallone obviously never says die.

4. Aliens: The first and second and resurrection films in this series were well done. The Aliens depicted in these films are not to be messed with. They are scary looking and will haunt your dreams. Only flamethrowers and a helluva lot of ammunition will take them down. And even then after you shoo them, there could be acid splash back at you. Only Ripley seems to know how to take them down, and maybe that's because she is carrying one of them inside her, and they don't want to kill their own. These Aliens are like worker ants only much bigger and much deadlier. The hierarchy is the same though.

3. Predator: How do you kill what you can't see? Arnold thinks "if it bleeds we can kill it". Easier said than done as the Predator lives for the hunt and wants humans for trophies. His technology is vastly superior to the measly humans, but lucky for them he will fight on their level for "honor". This is the only weakness that allow Arnold to have a sporting chance.

2. Terminator: First Schwarzenegger plays a cyborg from the future that comes to kill Sarah Connor, then in T2 he plays one that comes to save Jon Connor to fight for the resistance against Sky Net. I don't know why but I always think that this apocalyptic scenario is always possible with our technology available. We all await to see whether Terminator: Salvation will be a blockbuster or a failure.

1. Die Hard: "yippy ka yay" This film has action ingrained in its cellophane. Most definitely the best action film of all time. An NYPD cop is trapped in Nakatomi plaza with a bunch of terrorist who hold his wife's co workers hostage at during an office party. John McClane slips away when they seize control, and manages to undermine and kill off the terrorist one by one. John McTiernan directed this film along with the Predator film, and does an impeccable job.