G
Gamer
2.5 action rating
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Gangster Squad
A throwback to the "Untouchables."
2.5 out of 5 action rating. |
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Garden of Evil
More of a psychological thriller than a western. The plot revolves around a woman who hires a band of men, including Cooper and Richard Widmark, to help rescue her husband. The only problem is that he’s deep in Apache country. When the men find out there may be a treasure map involved, conflict breaks out among themselves. It’s evident that the director didn’t want to make a normal western. I’ll give him that because it’s definitely out of the ordinary. The only problem is that a western needs to entertain, and this one doesn’t. The movie attempts to reveal profound breakthroughs in human nature but doesn’t do that either. I rarely use the B-word for an “action” movie, but this movie is just Boring. 1.5 action rating
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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
2 out of 5 action rating
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G.I. Joe
4 action rating
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The Glory Guys
This is “Fort Apache” without big-name actors. The action is about average, and Tom Tryon and James Caan can’t carry this movie by themselves. It would have helped if there was more than just the one major battle at the end. 2 action rating
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Godzilla (2014)
3.5 out of 5 action rating
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Gold of the Seven Saints
When outlaws find out that two men have discovered gold, they track them for days on end through the desert. Running out of options, the two men, played by Clint Walker and Roger Moore, decide to hide the gold and return for it later. But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. An interesting pairing of Walker, who plays the usual “strong silent type,” and Moore, who plays his Irish fur trapping partner. Not a bad match, but this western’s downfall is the lack of action and an uninspiring ending. 2 action rating
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A Good Day to Die Hard
This is certainly not the best Die Hard in the franchise. But let's be honest. If you're a guy, every day is a good day to...watch a "A Good Day to Die Hard." 3.5 out of 5 action rating.
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Go Tell the Spartans
See it – 4 action rating
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The Great Escape
See it – 3.5 action rating
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The Green Berets
See it – This is classic John Wayne, and one of the best war movies he ever did. He plays his usual character, but this time he replaces his cowboy hat with (you guessed it) a beret. With a great ensemble cast that includes “Captain Sulu” from Star Trek, you forget that the action doesn’t start until about an hour and fifteen minutes in. But wants it starts, it never lets up. There’s a long battle at the U.S. base, some jungle combat, and a final assault on an enemy stronghold. 4 action rating
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The Green Lantern
3 action rating
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Green Zone
See it - Before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight – this is not a Bourne Identity sequel. If we’re making comparisons, it is more likely the illegitimate child of “Black Hawk Down” and “Body of Lies.” Sure, this fast-paced action movie re-teams Matt Damon with director Paul Greengrass. And as usual, the hand-held camera shots add to the “frantic” feel of the film. But this fictional story, at its heart, is a war movie. And I might add, it’s one of the best films to date about the Iraqi War. Though the plot is hypothetical, it provokes a lot of thought, not to mention paints a pretty realistic picture of life in Iraq. But what you really care about is action, and you won’t be disappointed. The compelling story becomes more and more intense as the movie progresses. A small firefight leads to another, then to another. The climactic final pursuit scene has one of the best foot chases you’ll ever see. 3 action rating
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The Grey
Free tip - when hunting wolves, make sure you bring Liam Neeson along. Another free tip - Stay after the credits roll for a hidden scene. 2.5 action rating
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Guadalcanal Diary
See it – This war classic has plenty of action if that’s what you’re looking for. You might have to deal with some corny acting and screenplay. Also, this is one of the most racist war movies I’ve ever seen. The Japanese aren’t even considered human. However, you realize this is all propaganda considering this movie was made mere months after the actual Battle of Guadalcanal ended! After watching it, I can see why it was so popular back in the day. Unfortunately, it may not have translated very well over the generations since. And the only household-name actor is Anthony Quinn. But some good combat scenes redeemed this one for me. 4 action rating
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Guardians of the Galaxy
4 out of 5 action rating
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A Gunfight
See it - As the title suggests, this western is about a gunfight - but not just any gunfight. Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash play two retired gunmen who agree to duel to the death in front of a sold-out crowd for money. The film is similar in concept to “The Quick and the Dead,” and the viewer must wait until the climactic ending to see who lives and who dies. But perhaps the main question is whether this is a western or a character study. I would lean more toward character study. The movie is a bit slow and the ending is a bit abrupt, but seeing Johnny Cash as a gunslinger is well worth the watch. 2 action rating.
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Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
See it – There have been about a dozen movies made about this Wyatt Earp/Doc Holliday story. They include Dodge City, My Darling Clementine, and Tombstone. While I would agree with most that Tombstone is the best, this is a close second. Great screenplay, great gun play. Lancaster and Douglas are super smooth as Earp and Holiday. When you consider the overall quality of this film, it ranks among the best classic westerns of all time. 3 action rating
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The Gunfighter
See it – This is easily one of Gregory Peck’s best movies, let alone best westerns. Let me set the mood for you. It‘s the story of a famous gunfighter who drifts from town to town, not looking for any trouble. But eventually some cocky young buck will try to see if he can take him, and when the young buck gets himself shot, the gunfighter is run out of town. But he’s tired of running, and there’s one last stop he needs to make. Only this town is different…are you feeling the vibe yet? Alright, I’ll stop. This is one of those tragic psychological westerns that doesn’t have many showdowns, but the tension just builds and builds until the ending you know is coming still hits you upside the head. It won’t score very high on the action scale, but this must-see classic was an early pioneer for dozens of similar westerns that would soon follow. 2 action rating.
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Gun Fury
This is a fun little western. It’s very fast-paced and old-fashioned. Unfortunately, it has a mediocre plot and it is really just another unmemorable B-movie. Rock Hudson plays a man whose fiancé is kidnapped when their stagecoach is held up. There’s plenty of action, but nothing that will stand out. Plus, this film is pretty cheesy and could easily be mistaken for a Disney movie. 3 action rating.
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Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders
A WWII propaganda film that is not bad compared to most made during the war, but still does not deserve to be ranked among the great war movies. Devoid of any character development or storytelling, it is more of a straight forward retelling of the events surrounding the American raid on Makin Island. Starring Randolph Scott and a young Robert Mitchum, the film waits until about an hour in for the action to start. There is, however, more than one battle as the Americans work their way across the island. This is not a “one and done” action movie. There are some pretty decent combat sequences in the second half of the movie, so if you can put up with the old-fashioned feel, it might be worth a watch. 2.5 action rating
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Gunpoint
See it – If you could only watch one Audie Murphy western, this is the one you want to see. Not only is it his best western, it ranks pretty high amongst the most action-packed westerns of the 50’s and 60’s. Showdowns, train robberies, Indian fights, and stampedes will keep you entertained throughout. The story is about a small band of men, each with his own intentions, who ride out in search of a gang of outlaws. 4 action rating.
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Guns at Batasi
This is not an action movie, so if you want excitement, you are in for a let down. Richard Attenborough is great, however, as the strict, no-nonsense British officer in command of an outpost in Africa. When a political coup erupts, Attenborough must defend the outpost. Unfortunately for us, the coup is merely political, and the British soldiers never fire their guns once. Also, the story is fictional, so this film really amounts to a low-budget, yet well done drama. 1 action rating.
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Guns for San Sebastian
A pretty stereotypical plot about villagers who must stand up for themselves and fight against the bad guys who have been pushing them around for years. It sounds like “The Magnificent Seven,” but this story is unique enough in its own right. Anthony Quinn is a fugitive on the run who is shown kindness by a priest. When the priest is killed, Quinn impersonates the priest and becomes the leader that the village of San Sebastian so badly needs. A leader who is willing to fight against the villain played by Charles Bronson. A pretty average movie, but it has an awesome “Alamo-like” final battle and a great ending! 3 action rating.
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Guns of Diablo
Skip it - 1.5 action rating
The Guns of Navarone
3 action rating
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