Action, Action

Not sure why, but this week we watched Transformers (2007)

The fate of humanity is at stake when two races of robots, the good Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, bring their war to Earth. The robots have the ability to change into different mechanical objects as they seek the key to ultimate power. Only a human youth, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) can save the world from total destruction.

Release date: July 2, 2007 (Canada)

Director: Michael Bay

Budget: 147 million USD

Sequel: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks

When architect-turned-vigilante Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) returns to New York City, he discovers that one of his friends has been murdered by gang members. After the cops bring Paul in for questioning, he receives a tempting offer from the police chief (Ed Lauter) : Paul can have free rein to eliminate the gangsters, as long as the police get the credit. Paul agrees and goes to war against Manny Fraker (Gavan O'Herlihy) and his vicious gang of thugs.

Initial release: November 1, 1985

Director: Michael Winner

Box office: 16.1 million USD

Distributed by: The Cannon Group, Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Based on: Characters; by Brian Garfield

Music by: Jimmy Page

This week we get a little 90s Goth with Brandon Lee's "The Crow" 

The night before his wedding, musician Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) and his fiancée are brutally murdered by members of a violent inner-city gang. On the anniversary of their death, Eric rises from the grave and assumes the gothic mantle of the Crow, a supernatural avenger. Tracking down the thugs responsible for the crimes and mercilessly murdering them, Eric eventually confronts head gangster Top Dollar (Michael Wincott) to complete his macabre mission.

Release date: May 11, 1994 (USA)

Director: Alex Proyas

Distributed by: Miramax, Dimension Films

Adapted from: The Crow

Box office: $94 million

Cinematography: Dariusz Wolski

This week we visit our old friend Bruce in "Last Man Standing"

Loyal to nobody but himself, John Smith (Bruce Willis) hires his services out to Fredo Strozzi (Ned Eisenberg), a bootlegging gangster who operates in a drab Texas town. However, he is quick to trade information to Strozzi's rival, Doyle (David Patrick Kelly). Then, having learned about Doyle's infatuation with beautiful Felina (Karina Lombard), Smith uses her to push both bosses into full-scale bloodshed. The only one who suspects anything is Hickey (Christopher Walken), Doyle's lieutenant.

Release date: September 20, 1996 (USA)

Director: Walter Hill

Box office: 47.3 million USD

Distributed by: New Line Cinema

Adapted from: Yojimbo

Cinematography: Lloyd Ahern

This week we go all out in this adrenaline filled Action flick!

Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), a hit man wanting to go straight, lets his latest target slip away, then he awakes the next morning to a phone call that informs him he has been poisoned and has only an hour to live unless he keeps adrenaline coursing through his body while he searches for an antidote.

Release date: September 1, 2006 (USA)

Directors: Brian Taylor, Mark Neveldine

Budget: 12 million USD

Box office: 42.9 million USD

Sequel: Crank: High Voltage

Screenplay: Brian Taylor, Mark Neveldine

Two drug agents find that members of the police force work for a narcotics kingpin.

Initial release: July 28, 1988

Director: Vien Hoa Binh

Language: Cantonese

Simplified Chinese: 特警屠龙

Gangsters pursue a Hong Kong lawman (Donnie Yen) framed for murder and a lawyer (Rosamund Kwan) they believe is linked to laundered money.

Initial release: August 11, 1990

Director: Vien Hoa Binh

Film series: Tiger Cage

Box office: HK $6,395,102

Language: Cantonese

Simplified Chinese: 洗黑钱

Dustin and James look back at the year that was 2023 and look forward to what Action movies they are excited to see in the new year. Happy New Year!

Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on, the Expendables are the world's last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table.

4.8/10 IMDb

14% Rotten Tomatoes

79% of Google users liked this movie

Directed by Scott Waugh

Screenplay by

• Kurt Wimmer

Story by

• Spenser Cohen

Based onCharacters 

by David Callaham

Produced by

• Kevin King-Templeton

Starring

• Jason Statham

• September 15, 2023 (China)

Running time

104 minutes[