Action movie bracket madness

[Black Irish]

I'm not into college hoops, but I'll get in on the March madness bracketology with something I do like: action movies. I did this on another site and it was fun, so I figured I'd set it up on IE. It's easy, I've picked 32 top action movies (completely subjective and my own opinion) and pit them against each other in randomly drawn match-ups. IE members vote on the winners of each match until we get down to the final 2. I'll post the first round shortly.

To vote, shoot me a PM (I'll count votes in the forum, but I prefer PM). You can do it either by 1.) just listing the seed numbers of all of your winning picks, for instance: 1,5, 19, 22, and so on. Or 2.) you can give the names of all your winning movies. I'll count any submission as long as its clear who is the winner. The only rules are that you can only vote once and you have to pick a winner between each movie match-up. Even if the choice is between 2 movies you hate, just pick the one that you despise slightly less. That's all there is to it. Have fun and thanks for playing.

 

[Black Irish]

Here is the complete movie list to start and the first match-up round will come shortly.

1.) Die Hard
2.) Die Hard 2
3.) Die Hard with a Vengeance
4.) Hard Boiled
5.) Speed
6.) Predator
7.) True Lies
8.) The Killer
9.) Face/Off
10.)The Expendables
11.) 48 Hrs.
12.) Trespass
13.) Casino Royale (2006)
14.) Rambo (1985)
15.) Goldfinger
16.) From Russia with Love
17.) Last Action Hero
18.) Commando
19.) Rambo (2008, the 4th one)
20.) Demolition Man
21.) Hard Target
22.) Broken Arrow
23.) Total Recall
24.) Under Siege
25.) The Last Boy Scout
26.) Rambo 3
27.) Supercop (Police Story 3)
28.) Lethal Weapon
29.) Lethal Weapon 2
30.) The Road Warrior
31.) Fist of Legend
32.) The Bourne Identity

 

[kmoose]

No Pulp Fiction? Blasphemy!!!

And, even though JT is in the above mentioned Pulp Fiction, in terms of Travolta action movies, I would put Basic up there against any other.

 

[NDinFL]

Commando FTW

 

[irishpat183]

Blood Sport?

 

[Black Irish]

No Pulp Fiction? Blasphemy!!!

And, even though JT is in the above mentioned Pulp Fiction, in terms of Travolta action movies, I would put Basic up there against any other.

I love Pulp Fiction but I don't consider it an action movie. The same goes for Basic even though I liked it, I'm a big John McTiernan fan, and I thought it was underrated.

 

[Black Irish]

Blood Sport?

Maybe we can do a Guilty Pleasure bracket after this. Final has to be Roadhouse vs. Bloodsport.

 

[Black Irish]

Here’s the first round of match-ups. Voting for this round will close at 4 p.m. EST on Thurs 3/15

14.) Rambo (1985) vs. 28.) Lethal Weapon
23.) Total Recall vs. 25.) The Last Boy Scout
22.) Broken Arrow vs. 30.) The Road Warrior
15.) Goldfinger vs. 21.) Hard Target
7.) True Lies vs. 19.) Rambo (2008)
5.) Speed vs. 27.) Supercop
10.) The Expendables vs. 16.) From Russia with Love
12.) Trespass vs. 18.) Commando
11.) 48 Hrs vs. 32.) The Bourne Identity
6.) Predator vs. 17.) Last Action Hero
1.) Die Hard vs. 31.) Fist of Legend
24.) Under Siege vs. 26.) Rambo 3
2.) Die Hard 2 vs. 8.) The Killer
13.) Casino Royale vs. 20.) Demolition Man
3.) Die Hard with a Vengeance vs. 29.) Lethal Weapon 2
4.) Hard Boiled vs. 9.) Face/Off

 

[irishpat183]

Maybe we can do a Guilty Pleasure bracket after this. Final has to be Roadhouse vs. Bloodsport.

Holy sh*t! I forgot about our boy Dalton!

How can we not have either of those in this bracket?

 

[IrishLax]

We have to go to 64. Why? Because there no way you can The Rock or Independence Day or Boondock Saints and put in movies like The Expendables.

There are some others I'd like to see on there... like Taken, Top Gun, Gladiator, The Matrix, Terminator 2, Kill Bill, and Aliens... but those 3 I listed above are all-time greats IMO.

Also... stretching you could say movies like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings... and Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction. I guess it depends on what you call action.... but I think those qualify.

Anyways, let's make it 64! Reps for a great idea.

 

[irishpat183]

Here’s the first round of match-ups. Voting for this round will close at 4 p.m. EST on Thurs 3/15

14.) Rambo (1985) vs. 28.) Lethal Weapon
23.) Total Recall vs. 25.) The Last Boy Scout
22.) Broken Arrow vs. 30.) The Road Warrior
15.) Goldfinger vs. 21.) Hard Target
7.) True Lies vs. 19.) Rambo (2008)
5.) Speed vs. 27.) Supercop
10.) The Expendables vs. 16.) From Russia with Love
12.) Trespass vs. 18.) Commando
11.) 48 Hrs vs. 32.) The Bourne Identity
6.) Predator vs. 17.) Last Action Hero
1.) Die Hard vs. 31.) Fist of Legend
24.) Under Siege vs. 26.) Rambo 3
2.) Die Hard 2 vs. 8.) The Killer
13.) Casino Royale vs. 20.) Demolition Man
3.) Die Hard with a Vengeance vs. 29.) Lethal Weapon 2
4.) Hard Boiled vs. 9.) Face/Off

Where do we vote?

 

[IrishLax]

Jesus, and how did I forget Blackhawk Down! Another great one.

 

[Mr. Larson]

POINT BREAK

 

[NDFan4Life]

Just watched "Red" over the weekend. I have no idea why that one isn't listed.

 

[Mr. Larson]

You ever hear of Slider, Jester, the Iceman...how about Maverick?? How could you leave off Top Gunn?

Lax mention The Rock (great flick), but I would even settle for one starring The Rock. Pick any besides The Tooth Fairy.

Mission Impossible- all but II should qualify.

And for the love of God...where is THE DARK KNIGHT?

 

[Mr. Larson]

Just watched "Red" over the weekend. I have no idea why that one isn't listed.

Good flick for sure...and despite her being more than twice my age Helen Mirren is still a friggin' fox.

 

[irishog77]

Good flick for sure...and despite her being more than twice my age Helen Mirren is still a friggin' fox.

I would.

 

[NDFan4Life]

Good flick for sure...and despite her being more than twice my age Helen Mirren is still a friggin' fox.

Yeah, she is.

 

[rikkitikki08]

How could you guys forget the greatest action movie of all time?


BATTLEFIELD EARTH!

ok just kidding but i agree with whoever said black hawk down. Also i recently watched kick ***, its more of a superhero movie but boy does it have some impressive action scenes

 

[RyCo1983]

No "Invasion USA" ???
Boycotting this tournament!

 

[Black Irish]

We have to go to 64. Why? Because there no way you can The Rock or Independence Day or Boondock Saints and put in movies like The Expendables.

There are some others I'd like to see on there... like Taken, Top Gun, Gladiator, The Matrix, Terminator 2, Kill Bill, and Aliens... but those 3 I listed above are all-time greats IMO.

Also... stretching you could say movies like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings... and Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction. I guess it depends on what you call action.... but I think those qualify.

Anyways, let's make it 64! Reps for a great idea.

I've got pretty strict criteria for what qualifies as an action movie. I did an independent study for a semester where I had to define the action genre in specific terms. With the exception of "Taken" and "The Rock" I wouldn't classify any other movie you listed as being primarily in the action genre, despite all of the action stylizing they may have.

 

[Black Irish]

You ever hear of Slider, Jester, the Iceman...how about Maverick?? How could you leave off Top Gunn?

Lax mention The Rock (great flick), but I would even settle for one starring The Rock. Pick any besides The Tooth Fairy.

Mission Impossible- all but II should qualify.

And for the love of God...where is THE DARK KNIGHT?

I reluctantly put "The Dark Knight" in a previous bracket challenge and it felt weird to me and other people. I think it's an excellent movie and you can make a case for it as being an action movie. But you can also make as strong a case for it not being one. It's a very marginal example of the genre so I left it off in favor of more conventional action movies. I saw all of the MI movies except part 3, and they varied in quality from mediocre to pretty good IMO. The fact that none of them entered my mind at any stage tells me they didn't make a strong impression as pure action pieces. I could see bumping off one of my selections for, say, "Ghost Protocol" which was very entertaining, but it would barely squeak into contention. Not a must have addition like "Die Hard."

 

[Black Irish]

No "Invasion USA" ???
Boycotting this tournament!

Oh man, now Chuck Norris is going to come for me.

 

[Irishnuke]

No Terminator or Terminator 2? This field of movies blows.

 

[Irishnuke]

Also forgot the Matrix. Lame.

 

[ShakeDown]

Ya'll are giving the man too hard of a time. I like the idea. Thanks for starting it up.

If you are taking additions (doesn't seem like it), I'd like to see some Bruce Lee in there... Enter the Dragon should do it.

 

[RyCo1983]

Oh man, now Chuck Norris is going to come for me.

I cleared it with Chuck...he said that if you:

1) acknowledge the fact that "Invasion USA" can't be in the tournament due to it being unfair to every other film...

and

2) you also agree that the trailer is also the greatest film trailer of all time for any genre...

that he will spare you and allow this tournament to continue.


He also ordered me to post the trailer to this thread...and you don't defy God...I mean Tebow...I mean Chuck Norris...when he gives you an order.

Enjoy!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0IMesJgw3oU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[RyCo1983]

Thrift store find of the century was the novelization of "Invasion USA"...I paid a quarter for it!

 

[Mr. Larson]

I reluctantly put "The Dark Knight" in a previous bracket challenge and it felt weird to me and other people. I think it's an excellent movie and you can make a case for it as being an action movie. But you can also make as strong a case for it not being one. It's a very marginal example of the genre so I left it off in favor of more conventional action movies. I saw all of the MI movies except part 3, and they varied in quality from mediocre to pretty good IMO. The fact that none of them entered my mind at any stage tells me they didn't make a strong impression as pure action pieces. I could see bumping off one of my selections for, say, "Ghost Protocol" which was very entertaining, but it would barely squeak into contention. Not a must have addition like "Die Hard."

If you really want to get technical The Lethal Weapon movies were in the interracial-buddy-cop genre- see also the 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop franchises- an offshoot of the buddy cop genre and very big in the 80s.

To me the Dark Knight is more than a marginal example of an action film because it passes the bazooka test. Joker blows up the Batmobile with a bazooka- hence in my eyes it's an action film.

You should watch MI 3. I thought it was on par with Ghost Protocol. Great action/suspense and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the antagonist. Like I said Two was a piece of ****.

Not trying to be a d*ck here. I can't think of a tournament where someone didn't take issue with the selection committee. Great idea on the tournament.

 

[NDinFL]

This is a great idea, and all these recommendations are nice and all...

It's just too bad Commando will pwn them all

Remember when he said he'd kill you last?

He lied