ActionFan-Reviews

First he was the TRANSPORTER.... than he was the MECHANIC and even fought THE MEG - now he is the BEEKEEPER. This is one of his better action movies and delivers on what you would want as a fan of this genre.

Statham proves he is one of the top action stars of this generation and one of the best of all time. He is at his bad ass best in this. It is action packed from beginning to end with some inventive and violent kills. It didn't even feel as long as it was and was very fast paced and no-non sense. The overall set up of the story is relatable as we've all heard of or known someone who has fallen prey to these types of phishing scams. You want to see these guys get their comeuppance - which they do. It has a strong supporting cast - Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons are solid. Sure, it may be a bit illogical at times and Statham is pretty much invincible, but if you like 80/90's one man army, R rated action movies it is quite entertaining and delivers.

Overall, this movie provides on plenty of action and as a Statham fan I enjoyed and consider this one of his better movies. These types of ol' school R rated action movies are great to see in cinema and I'd recommend it on the big screen.

7.5/10.

I think people will either love or hate the concept of no dialogue. I personally loved it. It's one of the more unique action movies I've seen in recent years. If it had dialogue, it wouldn't have been as memorable. The story is told visually, through strong acting, a fitting musical score and of course the impactful and violent action and John Woo's expert direction.

The acting from Joel Kinnaman is top notch. He really conveys a lot of emotion with his scenes with out saying a word and you really feel for his character and the pain he is going through. The direction from John Woo is amazing, he proves why he is one of the best action directors of all time. The action is violent, and hard hitting and expertly crafted and shot. Story is simple and straightforward , something you've seen so many times in an action movie, which is why the no dialogue makes it unique.

Overall, a future cult and Christmas action classic. One of the best of 2023 and will go down as one of the best in this decade. A unique, artful and surprisingly emotional and high impact action movie. A must watch for fans and glad I watched it in cinema.

7.5/10.

Who'd have thought 15 years ago Liam Neeson would be one of this generations most reliable and notable action stars after being known for being a dramatic actor all those years.

If your a fan of his Taken style movies, you'll enjoy. As a fan I was entertained and think it's one of his better overall action thrillers. He plays these roles so well as a worn out, gruff, vengeful anti hero. He elevates any average action movie with his performance and presence such as this film. It's action packed and is another solid entry in both Liam's and director Martin Campbell's filmography.

This is definitely better than Blacklight and some of his other pandemic era movies (5 and counting since 2020). It is a bit more unique in terms of his Alzheimer's as it adds some tension and character development. It has a great supporting cast. Overall, it doesn't surprise me critics didn't like the movie but If your a fan of his movies and action in general, I'd give it a watch and judge for yourself.

7/10 or 3/5 stars.

As an average movie fan and not some snooty critic, I thought the movie was pretty entertaining for a late summer shark attack movie. If you liked the first one and other similar movies like Crawl, The Shallows, you'll like this. It was a surprise, and better than expected and a good movie to watch on the big screen. It had some thrilling moment's that were tense and was an enjoyable ride that was fast paced. Overall, it was a fun B movie with a cool premise and I personally liked it better than the first because it had a better story and more fun/thrilling moments. It was an entertaining movie for me and my girlfriend and would recommend it for a good creature feature horror/thriller.

6.5-7/10

Everyone remembers Van Damme as the legendary action star of great 80s and 90's genre classics. In the last decade, he's proven he's more than that especially in his post JCVD (2008) career and has shown more depth to the roles he has done. This is more than action, it has a dramatic story with genuinely good performances from the actors which make you care about the characters more than a typical action movie. The story felt realistic, had a good message and was better than expected for a B direct to VOD movie. Overall, the movie may not be as action packed as some of his earlier work, but is still recommended for fans as Van Damme gives a solid performance. Good to see JCVD doing better than Seagal after all these years, and this is one of his better latter career movies alongside his recently released film - The Bouncer.

7/10

Peppermint is definitely one of the better action movies I've seen in 2018. It was a solid action packed, tale of revenge that was pretty entertaining and thrilling. Jennifer Garner was great, she was a perfect fit for the role. I couldn't see too many actresses do a movie like this, but she is great emotionally portraying a mother who has just lost her family and physically in the action heavy scenes as she performed most of her own stunts and kicks plenty of ass. The story may not be the most original, but anyone can relate to a movie about revenge as the theme is universal. It is fast paced, action packed, violent and worth a watch if you enjoyed movies like John Wick, Equalizer and other similar R-rated action titles. Overall, better than the similar plotted Death Wish remake that came out in early 2018. Ignore the mainstream critics, they generally hate these kinds of movies anyway. It is much better than what Rotten Tomatoes says.

7/10

Keep in mind most of these direct to VOD, bargain bin action titles are crap. I admit I am a bit of a connoisseur of B-action movies which led me to the generically titled " Vengeance". I had heard of the main star from his WWE days as "Wade Barrett" and from another decent B - Level action film "Eliminators" with fellow action star Scott Adkins. I did not expect much from the movie and I'm sure most people who watch it won't either, but it does deliver on some solid action. Plenty of fights, shootouts, violent bad guy deaths with one liners thrown in for good measure, A good body count from the former WWE star who would do well in other low/mid level action movies. Perhaps a Russian henchman or sidekick to some aging action star. Overall, if you dig these kinds of movies you should give it a watch and ignore the (current) 4.0 rating and enjoy these movies for what they are.

6/10

I hadn't heard of this movie up until I seen a trailer titled "The Japanese John Wick". As a huge fan of the action genre, I was immediately interested. Considering this movie has barely gotten a release outside of some film festivals a couple of years ago, it has got to be one of the best action movies that has just flown under the radar with no notice this year. It is absolutely jam-packed with wall to wall action, with the final 45 minutes being one extended action sequence loaded with some breakneck choreography, camera & stunt work. The story is pretty straight forward with an absolute bad-ass main character. Overall, a must watch for any fan of action films and one of the best of 2018. It puts most western, Hollywood action movies to absolute shame. Highly recommended & underrated hidden gem.

8/10

Bruce is back and kicking ass in this take no prisoners, Hard - R remake of the classic Charles Bronson movie "Death Wish". Admittedly right off the bat I will say this movie is not as good as the original. However, it still is a decent throwback vigilante action movie to the 70's/80's exploitation era. Fans of Bruce will enjoy seeing him dispose of plenty of bad guys. It's his best film in years and perhaps his most violent action movie to date. Eli Roth sure doesn't skimp on the blood & gore in this one, let's just say people in the theater were even wincing at some of the bad guy deaths. He handles the action nicely, practical effects with little CGI & ol' school shootouts the way Bronson handled things. Don't listen to the whiny, Liberal critics who always look for something to be offended by. It may not have lived up to it's potential and does have it's flaws. Overall, it's still an entertaining, straight forward action movie that you can turn your brain off, watch on a late night with some junk food and enjoy.

6/10

"24 Hours To Live" is one of the better action films I've seen all year and surprisingly came out of nowhere on VOD with little fanfare. It is a must watch for any fan of the genre. It is loaded from beginning to end with plenty of solid R rated action. Shootouts, car chases and practical stuntwork with little to no CGI. Plus an explosive action packed climax that reminded me of the classic finale in "Hard Boiled". Ethan Hawke hasn't racked up a body count like this since the "Assault on Precinct 13" remake. An underrated movie that will no doubt be overlooked as a John Wick clone, but if you enjoyed those films, you'll like this. In my opinion, this will go down as a cult classic in the genre similar to the direct to DVD Universal Soldier sequels. If you consider yourself an action purist like myself, this movie is for you.

7.5/10

2017 has seen the return of Antonio Banderas in full Liam Neeson action hero mode, First punishing the bad guys in the decent B-level action flick "Security", and now another in "Acts Of Vengeance". These kinds of low budget action flicks are pretty bland and run of the mill for the most part, but with a solid yet underrated action director like Isaac Florentine (Ninja II, Undisputed II & III) and a good actor like Antonio Banderas, the movie does stand out as a good direct to VOD action flick. As a guy who grew up on these throwback action films, I liked it. Overall,a fast paced, efficient, action packed movie. Loaded with some well shot and choreographed fights and Banderas delivering justice and kicking ass like its back in the 90's.

7/10

I've been a fan of Jackie Chan since I was a kid. I grew up watching movies like Rumble In The Bronx, Rush Hour, First Strike. So I was excited to see him back and he proves he is one of the best action stars ever.

The Foreigner provides on plenty of action, suspense, thrills and a surprisingly fair amount of drama. You may be used to his movies of the past that are light hearted and fun. This was not your typical Jackie Film, as it is quite serious with little to no humor and more like his films "Crime Story" & "New Police Story" which also differ from Jackie's usual style of action films. Both Jackie & Pierce were both solid in their roles and the acting was quite good with the characters being allowed to develop along with the story. It may seem like a typical revenge, Taken style action movie, but as the film progressed it turns more into a story involving political intrigue and conspiracy which I thought at times slowed the movie, but still was entertained and thrilled throughout.

Overall, if your an old school Jackie Chan fan and love his films like I do, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. One of the best action movies of 2017.

7/10

Unfortunately, this has got to be one of Van Dammes worst films. It looks like after all those years of hard partying sure has caught up to him in 2017 as he looked pretty miserable in this. This makes Universal Soldier II look golden. The trailer looked like it would of been a cheesy, so bad it's good 90's throwback action film, but it was just plain bad. It did have a decent supporting cast and a couple of OK action scenes and it was a bit better than say Steven Seagal's stuff, but that isn't saying much. Overall, it's a shame this couldn't have been at least half decent considering Van Damme as of late seemed to have been doing better projects like his show - "Jean Claude Van Johnson". But with a movie like "Kill Em All" his action career doing movies like he used to are long and gone.

3/10

Boyka returns as the most complete fighter in the world in the third sequel to this underrated action packed franchise that really came out of nowhere in the early 2000's.The latest delivers on the testosterone driven, bone breaking action you would expect with Adkins delivering on the solid fight and stunt choreography which is captured by amazing camera work. The kind of which is sorely missing from most mainstream Hollywood shaky cam, CGI driven action films.The latest sequel does have quite a crazy looking, roided out freak of nature as a main villain which definitely makes for a great looking bad guy and final fight scene. Overall, a bad ass, barebones B-action movie that doesn't disappoint. Fans of parts II and III will definitely enjoy and along with John Wick 2 and Logan will be among my favorite action films of the year.

7/10

Being a big fan of The Raid I & II, I was looking forward to watching this movie once I had seen the trailer. Headshot proves to be one hell of a brutal action film that really earns its R rating. The action is pretty relentless and doesn't let up with with the movie racking up a solid body count within the first 20 minutes. Iko Uwais is a great up and coming action star and choreographs and pulls off some amazing fight sequences like he's done in other films (Man of Tai Chi, Merantau). Although the movie probably could of been more focused and efficient in terms of the story and the characters motivations, it is still well paced for a two hour film and action packed throughout. Overall, a solid early contender for one of the best action films of 2017.

7/10

At first I did not expect much from Eliminators.But As a fan of Scott Adkins brand of action, I'd say it ranks as one of his better films. This isn't the thinking man's type but more of a simple, straight forward, one man army 80/90s action movie . For that much it is entertaining and somewhat of a hidden gem. Adkins proves he is a solid yet underrated action star by providing some kick ass and innovative fights with some cool locations for it to take place in. Unlike most bland, low budget action films shot in eastern Europe this was actually shot in London which added to the movie. Sure, acting may not be a strength of the movie and the story may not be the most original but it is leaps and bounds better than other low budget DTV films like the crap washed up action stars like Seagal churn out every few months . Overall, Eliminators is a fairly decent entry into the sub-genre of the direct to DVD/VOD action movies. Adkins brings the goods and racks up a healthy body count and one of the better movies made by WWE studios.

6/10

With a movie like Mechanic: Resurrection, you won't expect Oscar worthy acting or dialogue and it certainly isn't going to reinvent the action genre or an established formula.

This unexpected sequel, is another decent entry into Stathams filmography and further cements him as one of the top action stars of this generation. Plenty of bad guys get wasted in a number of ways by Statham, which is always entertaining. So for fans looking for there action fix, don't look far as this movie racks up a healthy body count. Although the film met expectations, I felt the overuse of CGI in some action sequences instead of more practical, stunt driven action brought it down a notch. I also felt the original 2011 remake was a more lean, fast paced action movie that managed to pack more solid R-rated action. Ben Fosters performance and his chemistry with Statham added more to the film and story whereas the sequel may have a great cast on paper, the supporting roles and characters they play are either forgettable or little used.

Overall, if you want some Statham fueled action, you can't go wrong with this movie on a Tuesday show or a lazy night in. And although it could be a sequel to several of his films, as the saying goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

6/10

Close Range is the latest featuring action star Scott Adkins and as a fan of his films and other bone breaking martial arts action films, I was entertained. An action movie in many ways is as good as it's star, Adkins further proves he is one of the top actors in the genre today by delivering on what he does best - kick ass. Close range contains solid action from beginning to end with a solid opening fight sequence, plenty of bloody gun play throughout and a climax with hard hitting hand-to-hand combat that will definitely please fans of such films.The main character also has a bad ass name like any true action hero should - Colt Macready. The movie is not without it's flaws though, acting certainly isn't the strength of the movie and neither is the story. Overall, a good direct to VOD action film and I look forward to more from Scott Adkins including Undisputed IV and Hard Target II. If your someone who wants a fast paced, pure action film served rated R, done with no CGI and real stunts, your thirst for some real action will be satisfied.

6-6.5 / 10

Action fans may remember Marko Zaror from "Undisputed III" . If you loved that movie and other great martial arts action films of the recent past like "The Raid" or "Ninja II", you will definitely enjoy "Redeemer". Marko Zaror further proves how underrated of an action star he really is in this solid B-movie which features wall-to-wall action packed, violent fights from start to finish that will have you saying holy sh*t at least once. The action and fights are inventive and feel fresh, gritty and realistic compared to most PG-13, shaky cam and CGI bloated action films that come out of Hollywood. Fans know that in these types of low budget B movies, story/character typically come secondary. surprisingly enough, the story is engaging and plays out like a classic western. The character is also given a little more depth and back story than you'd typically expect. This is one of the best and at the same time least known action movies you will see all year. Fans of such modern action stars like Scott Adkins, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. Welcome Marko Zaror to the club as he proves he can kick some serious ass. Overall, for the real action fans out there, your faith in modern action movies just may be redeemed after watching this !

8/10

Expectations are admittedly low for many direct to DVD action titles to star many of the former action heroes from the 80's/90's like Steven Seagal, JCVD and Dolph Lundgren. Skin Trade proves to be one of Dolph's best films to have come out in years and a gem amongst the many B action films you can find at your local Wal Mart bin. Although Dolph kicks ass in the film, the main reason to watch is Tony Jaa. It's good to see him back in action in something worth watching after the atrocious Ong Bak 3. His Acting is surprisingly good and he gets a fair amount of dialogue to practice his English skills and crack one liners. I hope to see him in many more movies like this in the future. Another surprise is the supporting cast of the film. Michael Jai White , Peter Weller and Ron Perlman definitely elevate the film above the typical mediocre status these movies have. Although the story is a bit cliché and familiar, what group of people deserve there comeuppance in an action film more than human traffickers. The movie definitely provides on the hard hitting bloody action that fans will expect. The intense fight sequences pack a solid adrenaline rush. Overall, exceeded my expectations and is a movie that action buffs will enjoy .

7/10

After watching this movie, it only confirms what I already believe, and thats critics don't know what the f*ck there talking about most of the time. I was a bit put off by all the bad reviews, but I am glad I gave it a watch because this was frickin hilarious! Sure the plot doesn't make sense or it doesn't have John Cusack, but who gives a f*ck! you get more of Craig Robinson, Rob Courddry and Clark Duke, who let's be honest provided most of the laughs from the original. Sure it's more crude and it may not appeal to all those artsy fartsy critics who are whining about the movie not being PC, but if you want a good stoner movie to watch with the guys and enjoy something without taking it too seriously, watch it! I think it is on par with the first and has been unfairly judged. Compared to most comedy sequels, that always do the same thing as the first (hangover sequels), at least this went in a completely over the top direction that was more like a bunch of comedy skits than an actual movie. Overall, I thought it was hilarious and a definite guilty pleasure. Sure it won't appeal to everyone, and its not supposed too. Obviously for a movie like this you don't expect much just a lot of laughs and this is definitely a goofy stoner comedy best enjoyed under the influence.

7/10

Liam Neeson's unexpected turn as a modern day action star has delivered some hit's and misses in the last several years. This certainly ranks as a hit and one of his better action films. His recent films pack more than action and tend to be much more dramatic and serious in tone. If you disliked the PG-13 Taken sequels and liked the R rated adult fare like The Grey or A Walk Among The Tombstones, you will enjoy this. Firstly, the movie has a compelling story that makes for an entertaining thrill ride. It provides on the action with some bloody gunfights, car chases and brutal fights. The actors involved actually make you care about the characters. Liam Neeson stands out as always, he makes you root for him even though his character has done awful things in the past. You want to see Jimmy "The Gravedigger" Conlon redeem himself and gun through the streets of NYC, kicking ass and delivering Bronson style justice to the bad guys! The supporting cast is great as well, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnamen even Common as the rival Hit-man all provide great performances. Overall, one of the better Liam Neeson action films to have come out in the last several years. Overall, it packs the action as well as the drama and character development. If you want a thrilling popcorn film to keep you entertained for a couple of hours at the cinema or at home, check it out.

7/10

The Mechanic may not have the critical praise or box office $ as movies like "Snatch", Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" "The Expendables"and the upcoming "Fast 7". But there is one thing it does rank as and that's one of his best pure, balls to the wall action films to date. In the last decade, Statham has consistently delivered hard hitting B Action films and if your a fan of the old school, 80's/90's R rated action, the mechanic is a must watch. For a brisk 90 mins, it manages to provide on some no holds barred, brutal and bloody action. It will remind you of the days when they made more adult oriented action without all that CGI and PG 13 but more fight choreography and realistic stunts and action. I think this is one of the most underrated and one of the better action movies within the last decade.Overall, this is a movie worth watching more than once and if your a fan of action and haven't seen this and your looking for a quick 90 min movie to entertain you without thinking too much, this is highly recommended.

7/10

It had been over a year since Jason Statham released a solo film. Which feels like a long time considering he comes out with about 5 films a year. Being a fan of his films, I was looking forward to sitting back on a Friday night and enjoying watching Statham do what he does best and thats kick ass. I was disappointed because the movie didn't really deliver on what I had expected. I do like his non pure action films like Snatch, Lock Stock, Bank Job, Redemption, but this film doesn't have anything to stand out in terms of story or action. The cast also looked promising and acting from Statham isn't bad either but doesn't save it from being just plain old boring and average. Overall,ranks as one of his average/mediocre movies like Chaos and Killer Elite. although the first half of the movie has promise and admitingly has some good fight scenes. It falls off by the middle and by the end doesn't hold your interest and isn't a satisfying action film or drama. If your a fan of his films and are looking for action, you'd be better off watching Safe, Expendables I/II, Transporter,Crank Homefront or many of his other better movies.

5/10

Upon first hearing of this film, I like many thought it would be a fast paced and action packed film. Unexpectedly, this movie is more like the late 90's thriller 8mm in terms of story and tone than it is some of Liam's recent films. The film much like 8mm, is a dark, tense and gripping thriller with more dramatic elements than action. Liam Neeson may seem like he is being typecast as of late, playing these burnt out, reluctant hero type characters with emotional baggage like alcoholism or family problems.These roles seem to resonate with many and he plays them with such ease and great acting ability that he is an ideal fit for these roles. Although Liam carries the film on his back, he is backed by a good supporting cast and characters. Particularly, the villainous duo who play they're roles as sadistic, creepy murderers very convincingly. Another standout supporting role comes from Liam's sidekick in the film, TJ. Both characters had good on screen chemistry and adds more to the movie and the character of Matt Scudder. The director does a great job building a creepy, tense and dark atmosphere which leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat as they build to a nail biting climax. Overall, don't expect an action packed movie. Expect a more slow, dramatic thriller that plays like a detective/mystery novel and show's Liam Neeson is an actor first and an action star second.

7/10