Five Favourite Action Movies of the Nineties

Face/Off (1997)

#5

Is there a more quintessential Nineties action movie? Fresh off the boat from Hong Kong, Hard Boiled director John Woo announced his Hollywood presence with this confident début. Keep an eye out for the slow-motion flying doves, Woo’s signature motif, recently parodied in 22 Jump Street. Originally pitched as a star vehicle for Schwarzenegger and Stallone, the studio thankfully settled on Nicholas Cage and John Travolta. The pair trade roles seemlessly, making the film’s ludicrous plot appear somewhat believable. The character transitions are a joy to watch: Cage from psychotic kingpin to cowed fugitive, Travolta from hero cop to malevolent insider.  Terrorist attacks, prison breaks and high-octane speedboat chases ensue. You won’t be disappointed.

Goldeneye (1995)

#4

In 1985, the 58-year-old Roger Moore finally holstered his Walther PPK. After fourteen (official) films, the James Bond franchise had long since descended into self-parody. A pair of decent efforts by the uncharismatic Timothy Dalton failed to set the box office alight. Dormant for a record six years, 007 was resurrected in 1995’s Goldeneye. “You know the name. You know the number.” Although the series soon escalated to new heights of ridiculousness (invisible car, anyone?), Goldeneye remains a classic. (Even if Generation X has fonder memories of Nintendo 64 Goldeneye deathmatches.) Death-defying stunts, scorching pyrotechnics – and even an exploding pen – colour the dazzling action sequences. The film features no fewer than THREE career-defining roles: Judi Dench no prisoners in her as the unyielding, icy M. Sean Bean’s MI6 operative is self-assured, a rare equal to 007. And Pierce Brosnan brought his own brand of charm and suaveness to the role, easily the best since Sean Connery.

Léon: The Professional (1994)

#3

Once upon a time, a twelve-year-old girl had a choice: to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer – or to give it all up and be an actress. Luckily for us, Natalie Portman chose the latter. In Léon, she plays a traumatised orphan who is reluctantly taken in by the titular hitman. Portman steals every scene. The dynamic between her and the gruff Jean Reno is especially memorable, clearly inspiring 2009’s Kick-Ass. Taken writer/producer Luc Besson directs, using his relatively-modest budget to great effect. The action-packed finale is creative and unrelenting. And the ever-versatile Gary Oldman chews the scenery in as our deranged DEA villain. A modern classic. (Even if it is technically a thriller.)

The Matrix (1999)

#2

“What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?”

“ When you’re ready, you won’t have to.”

The Matrix is a truly revolutionary action film. Its unique blend of “wire fu” choreography, Platonic philosophy, technophobia, black trenchcoats, green screen CGI, and slow motion bullet time would inspire countless imitations and parodies. The Matrix set the course for the subsequent decade: its fingerprints can be seen on everything from noir video game Max Payne to the similarly mind-bending Inception. Hell, it was the singular reason many people bought a DVD player! Its overblown (Reloaded) and geuinely awful (Revolutions) sequels would go on to undo much of the impact of this stellar original. But Trinity’s rooftop escape, “Red Pill, Blue Pill” and Neo’s spine-tingling awakening remain unforgettable. As are “the first jump”, explosive lobby sequence and skyscraper shootout: the special effects may now be dated, but their jaw-dropping thrills remain unsurpassed.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

#1

“Hasta la vista, baby.”

How could you choose anything else? James Cameron brought (still-stunning) computer-generated imagery to the mainstream two years before Jurassic Park in this peerless sequel. These are seemlessly combined with a frankly-surprising quantity of traditional prosthetics, robotics, and identical twins. (No, really.) The film avoids the artificial glossy sheen of more recent CGI extravagazas, which will ironically age worse. The sequel cleverly subverts our expectations from the original, as Arnold Schwarzenegger goes toe to toe with Robert Patrick. The T-1000 has wicked regenerative powers – and the world’s most awesome sprint. The motorcycle chase, prison escape and steel mill face-off are among the most breathless and exhilarating action sequences ever put to celluoloid. Terminator 2: Judgement Day is a rare sequel that not only equals the original, but surpasses it in every way imaginable. It lives up to the hype. And it’s my favourite action movie of the 1990s.