Action is by far one of the more popular genres of film. In fact, it has been a very popular genre for decades, with each decade putting its own unique spin on the proceedings. The 70s featured more gritty and brutal action flicks. The 80s turned the genre into loud bombast.
The 90s brought it back down to Earth, thanks in large part to Die Hard. And the 2000s and 2010s have largely ditched the more traditional action flick in favor of blockbusters like Fast & Furious and the MCU. And then there are the little movies. These are 10 obscure (but awesome) action movies you can stream today on Netflix.
10 Train To Busan (2016)
Train to Busan wonderfully mixes action with horror, creating one of the most unique and terrifying zombie films in recent years. The movie was released in Korea under the title Busanhaeng, but it has since gained a rather sizable following in North America.
Train to Busan was widely acclaimed by critics for its production, relentless pace, and topical social commentary, resulting in a stellar 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's a zombie film with brains.
9 Ip Man (2008)
Ip Man is a Hong Kong film starring Donnie Yen as Ip Man, the grandmaster of Wing Chun and eventual teacher of acclaimed martial artist Bruce Lee. Ip Man chronicles the grandmaster's life through the Sino-Japanese War, concluding with his founding of the Wing Chun School, which Lee would eventually attend.
The movie contains exciting martial arts action, but it also serves as a delightful character study and a grounded glimpse into the life of one of martial arts' greatest practitioners.
8 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Maybe Scott Pilgrim vs. the World isn't obscure in the traditional sense, but it should certainly be more popular. Adapted from Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels of the same name, Scott Pilgrim sees the titular character battling his girlfriend's seven ex-boyfriends.
The movie is full of wacky character interactions and eye-popping visuals, and it contains a relentless editing style that will keep even the most attention-deficit of viewers glued to the screen.
7 End Of Watch (2012)
End of Watch is a more grounded police drama that eschews traditional movie concepts of corruption and bombastic action in favor of more honest police work.
It stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena as Brian and Mike, two police officers who cover South Los Angeles. The story follows their personal lives, their partnership, and their interactions with local gangs - all with a handheld, Blair Witch-esque approach.
6 The Patriot (2000)
Despite its status as a blockbuster starring Mel Gibson, The Patriot has seemingly fallen into obscurity in recent years. It follows an American Colonist named Benjamin Martin who is swept into the southern theater of the American Revolutionary War.
Martin is a composite of four historical figures, but the movie generated controversy for its loose re-telling of historical events and fictional characterizations of real people. Controversy aside, the movie is suitably entertaining and epic.
5 The Night Comes For Us (2018)
The Night Comes For Us is certainly not for the fainthearted. This is an Indonesian film starring Joe Taslim as Ito, an organized crime gang member who leaves his old life behind to rescue a young girl. However, the crime syndicate of which he was a part sends violent enforcers to eliminate both Ito and the girl, forcing Ito to go on the defense.
The movie is gorgeously stylish, and the violence should satiate even the most bloodthirsty of viewers.
4 Salt (2010)
Everyone knows that Angelina Jolie can kick butt, and Salt proves it. Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent.
The plot is somewhat derivative and convoluted, but the action sequences prove endlessly thrilling and inventive. That's because the movie eschewed CGI in favor of practical effects, and the results couldn't be more engaging. For those sick of modern CGI-fests, Salt is your ointment.
3 Defiance (2008)
Defiance is like Schindler's List if Schindler's List was an action film. The movie was adapted from a 1993 book titled Defiance: The Bielski Partisans, which chronicled the story of the Bielski Partisans. This was a resistance group that rescued fleeing Jews and battled the Germans in Nazi-occupied Belarus.
The Bielski brothers are portrayed by Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, and George MacKay.
2 Blood Father (2016)
Blood Father is a French film starring Mel Gibson and directed by Jean-Francois Richet, based on Peter Craig's novel of the same name. Gibson stars as John Link, a war veteran and ex-con who is forced to protect his estranged teenage daughter from violent drug dealers.
Viewers get what they expect with Blood Father, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with a movie meeting expectations. In many ways, the movie is even better than expectations may suggest.
1 Code 8 (2019)
Code 8 is what you get when you combine the modern superhero craze with a grounded crime thriller. The movie stars Robbie Amell (of The Flash fame) as Connor Reed, a construction worker who uses his superpowers to aid a gang in their criminal pursuits.
He does so because people with superpowers live in poverty, and he needs money to help his ailing mother. Great world-building and a unique combination of genres make Code 8 an action movie unlike any other.
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July 07, 2020 at 05:30AM
